MESSAGE FROM STEPHEN L. KORBEL
As the summer comes to a close, I thought this would
be a great time to review the progress and the important
accomplishments that have been achieved by the current Board
of Commissioners. As you will read, the Board of Commissioner
has been very active and has not been willing to accept
the status quo. Instead, the Board of Commissioners have
implemented many changes that moves the Township forward
on a variety of fronts and issues.
Since January of 2018, the Board of Commissioners has:
• Passed Balanced Budget with no property tax increases
• The FY 2019 Budget was balanced and had no property tax
increase.
• Although the budgeting process for FY 2020 has just begun,
the Township’s fiscal position is strong and the budget is on
track to be balanced with no property tax increase.
• Continued to invest in our Township roads, parks and
other infrastructure
• In FY 2019, the Board invested nearly $2.6 million in
our road paving program – the most ever invested by
the Township - and a stark contrast to prior Boards that
eliminated the paving program altogether.
• Refurbished Rosecliff and Denny Parks with new playground
equipment and other amenities.
• Investing $100,000 to improve the quality of Township ball
fields including Mayer Field.
• Continued to provide top-notch Public Safety, Public
Works and other municipal services
• Added one new police officer to the ranks in order to keep
our residents safe.
• Added one additional public workers laborer to ensure that
the Township continues to provide public works services to
our residents.
• Enacted a trio of Ordinances dubbed the “Green Initiative”
• These ordinances will protect the Township’s existing
tree canopy and green spaces from over-development,
update and modernize logging regulations and create an
Environmental Advisory Council that will be tasked with
developing a Climate Action plan for the Township among
addressing other important environmental concerns.
• Made Township business and Board of Commissioners’
activities more transparent than ever before
• Post Board of Commissioners meeting summaries the day
after our BOC meetings.
• Hired a director of communications to
improve communication between the Township and
residents.
• Purchased a meeting/adenda management software
that will update our meeting agendas and supporting
documents in real time for public consumption.
• Produce extremely detailed meeting minutes so that
residents can see the context of the decisions being made.
• Banned smoking, vaping and tobacco usage at all
Township parks and ballfields
Stephen L. Korbel, Esq.
• Implemented important ethics reform for elected and
appointed officials and Township Employees
• New Ethics Ordinance prohibits elected and appointed
Township officials from using their positions to enrich
themselves or their family members.
• Eliminated taxpayer-funded health insurance for
Township commissioners
• Several years ago, providing tax-payer funded health
insurance to commissioners and their families cost the
Township over $150,000 per year.
• Enacted an Equal Opportunity Ordinance to provide equal
rights to all residents and created an Equal Opportunity
Board to hear complaints related to employment, housing
and public accommodation matters.
• Adopted a policy to provide paid leave to Township
employees that are victims of domestic violence, sexual
assault or stalking.
• Banned the placement of temporary signs (including
political signs) in Township rights-of-way to de-clutter and
improve the overall curb appeal of the Township.
• Created the Durachko-Gottfried Citizen of the Year award
and awarded it to Dr. Peg Durachko and her late husband
Dr. Richard Gottfried, who was a victim at the Tree of Life
Synagogue mass Shooting in October 2018.
As always, I am interested to hear your feedback on these
issues as well as what you would like to see the Township
accomplish in the future. Please do not hesitated to contact me
at [email protected] or by phone/text at 412-600-6798 to
discuss Township business!
Stephen L. Korbel, Esq.
President, Ross Township Board of Commissioners
Commissioner Ward 2
ROSS TOWNSHIP
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FALL 2019
35