Peter Adams appointed to Sharpsburg Council

Sharpsburg officials have tapped a health care professional as their next council member

Peter Adams, an administrative fellow at UPMC, was recently appointed to fill the vacant seat of Brian Kozera, who moved out of the borough.

Kozera was elected to his first term in November.

Adams’ appointment is for two years of the four-year term. He will have to run in the 2023 election if he wants to serve out the other two years.

“It’s an exiting opportunity really,” Adams said about the position. “My goal is to give back to the community and hopefully contribute to positive development.”

Adams moved from Pittsburgh to Sharpsburg in March 2019. He was selected out of six candidates, of which five interviewed for the council seat.

“Peter will make a fine councilor as he has already been involved with the zoning hearing committee,” Councilman Jonathan Jaso said. “He will bring a younger perspective to council, and I look forward to working with him for many years. His attention to detail and his analytical thought process is what made him stand out.”

Councilwoman Carrie Tongarm and her colleagues asked the candidates about their backgrounds and how they would handle certain situations.

Tongarm, who is in her first year on council, said selecting one of them was not easy.

“What stood out about Pete was he was very composed. He seemed very articulate in his answers and his resume was impressive. His skill set was impressive … I think it’s always good to have some new perspectives.”

Adams, 33, is a former acting staff director for the University of Pittsburgh’s Multidisciplinary Acute Care Research Organization, a research group that did clinical trials.

He also served as an advanced patient care technician for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and at UPMC Passavant.

Adams earned a bachelor’s in health services from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as a master’s in business administration from the university’s Katz Graduate School of Business. Adams also has a master’s in health administration, health policy and management from the Pitt’s School of Public Health.

He has volunteered for Foxwall EMS since 2008 during his undergraduate studies. Adams is an advanced EMT and a crew representative on Foxwall’s board of directors.

Adams said he sees his time at Foxwall as another way to give back to the Fox Chapel area communities.

“I like being able to help people when they’re having a bad day (and) enjoy working with communities we serve,” he said.

Some issues he plans to address on council include storm water management issues and Riverfront 47, a proposed mixed-use development that stretches along the Allegheny River from Aspinwall into O’Hara and Sharpsburg.

A project of The Mosites Company and Fox Chapel resident Susan Crookston, it is expected to bring 500 housing units, light industry and retail shops.

As far as running for election in 2023, Adams said, that is a decision for another time.

“I think we have to see how it goes,” Adams said. “See how people like me, which hopefully they respect the decisions I make and the votes that I make. I’m here to serve the people. That‘s a question for a year or so from now.”

Adams was sworn in Feb. 24 before the regular monthly legislative council meeting.

Residents can sent their ideas, comments and such to him via email at padams@sharpsburgborough.com.