Leet, Leetsdale, Sewickley and Edgeworth among Banner Communities

Several Quaker Valley area communities were among 80 Allegheny County towns and municipal authorities designated as 2022 banner communities by the Allegheny County League of Municipalities.

They are Leet Township, Leetsdale, Edgeworth and Sewickley.

This marks the tenth year of the program, which recognizes municipalities that show a commitment to professional development, prudent fiscal management, transparency, accountability, and proactive communications to engage community stakeholders.

Township Manager Betsy Rengers said Leet has been a Banner Community since 2019.

“Leet Township is committed to sustainable practices including professional development, sound fiscal management, proactive communications, and intergovernmental cooperation,” Rengers said, in part, via email.

Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford said her town’s recognition is the result of hard work by administrators, council and many others.

“We were really thrilled when we heard this,” Ford said. “We’re really proud of Leetsdale because it’s a unique little town. Our council people are on board with everything. They are very easy to work with. Our people are a lot different and they deserve us to keep them involved in everything. We’re all for the same cause. We’re all trying to make Leetsdale a better place to work and live.”

Borough Secretary Jennifer Simek said Leetsdale has been a Banner Community since 2014.

To be eligible for consideration for the Banner Communities Program, the entity’s elected and appointed officials must:

Participate in educational or training programs through the league of municipalities, Local Government Academy or the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, or participate in a governing mentoring program;

• Be active members in good standing with the league of municipalities and the county municipal associations, and have a representative attending at least a minimum of 50% of county association meetings;

• Be active members in good standing in a council of governments and attend COG meetings, participate in a COG cooperative purchasing program and participate in at least one shared municipal service;

• Conduct a Local Government Week activity by conducting a local activity promoting local government or communicating with the community about delivery of services;

• Conduct an effective citizen communication program by offering a municipal newsletter or web-based communication effort, and participate in a class discussion on local government or conducting a shadowing program for junior or senior high school students;

• Promote and implement long-term sustainable governing practices by earning certification through Sustainable Pittsburgh, managing employee pensions at funding levels of 90% or above, participating in the annual Allegheny League of Municipalities Wage and Salary Survey Program, and implementing goals of an up-to-date municipal comprehensive plan.

“Edgeworth is proud to be selected as a Banner Community for the fifth consecutive year,” Manager John F. Schwend said. “As a small local government, the elected officials and professional staff strive to provide an exceptionally high quality of service to our residents.

”The service delivery efforts are made possible through the vision of the elected officials, the dedication of the municipal staff, including the public works department, police department and administration, as well as the service of all the resident volunteers who serve on boards and commissions in the borough.”

Sewickley has been a Banner Community since 2013.

Council president Cynthia Mullins said the borough will continue to work hard to maintain this achievement year after year with an increased focus on communication.

“This recognition means we are committed to good management, professional development, and effective communication with our residents,” Mullins said. “We aren’t resting on our laurels. We continue to look for ways to boost community engagement. We are getting more involved with social media and looking at a text messaging system that will allow us to contact citizens with emergency information. We are also looking at ways to make our website easier to navigate.”

The municipalities and authorities will be recognized during a luncheon as part of the league of municipalities’ spring education conference in April.