Before Allegheny Township residents are enticed to vote for James Morabito for supervisor, I would like to share some information.
A township is kept rural by leaders refusing to upgrade infrastructure like sewers, water, roads, broadband, etc. Supervisor Kathy Starr has strived to keep all infrastructures in top-notch condition in order to make the township inviting to both residential and commercial developments. Our housing plans, businesses and beautiful farms and park areas co-exist in harmony, and the tax base is vibrant and strong, with no tax increases in eight years.
Morabito says he will apply for more grants than are being applied for now (“Incumbent Allegheny Township supervisor has a challenger in the Republican primary,” April 25, TribLIVE). In the 12 years I was a supervisor, he never attended a public meeting and needs to know this: The supervisors apply for and administer grant dollars every year for police, parks, roads and special projects, such as the school resource officer for Kiski schools, state-of-the-art police equipment and the Tredway Trail — over $1.9 million in the past nine years.
Regarding his comments about working with a national commercial Realtor to bring businesses to empty plazas: One does not have to be an elected official to contact developers to help his community. Where has Morabito been all these years while looking across the street from his business in Lower Burrell at the empty Wards and Penney’s properties?
I urge you to vote to keep Kathy Starr as supervisor.
Joseph G. Ferguson
Allegheny Township Westmoreland County
The writer serves on the township municipal authority.