Lower Valley municipalities earn ‘Banner’ designation
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It was a banner day for several Lower Valley communities — Sharpsburg, O’Hara, Aspinwall, Etna and Indiana Township — which were named among the best by the Allegheny League of Municipalities.
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, joined by other local officials, announced the 2019 Banner Community Program honorees March 8 during a recognition ceremony.
This year, 65 municipalities and four municipal authorities were awarded for professional development, fiscal management, transparency and communications. It was the first year municipal authorities were included in the program.
Aspinwall earned its banner designation for the first time.
It is the sixth straight year the county designated Sharpsburg as a banner community.
“The award recognizes our responsible and sustainable approach to governing and growth, as well as the services we provide to residents, visitors and business owners,” Mayor Matt Rudzki said.
Etna officials acknowledged the “nice shout-out” and said they were proud to have received the honor for seven consecutive years since the program’s inception in 2013.
“We are all very proud,” Manager Mary Ellen Ramage said. “It takes a village, and as we always say, we have one awesome village.”
Fitzgerald said in a release he was glad to see the program growing.
“Local governments are the closest to the residents they serve, and I’m thrilled to see so many officials and local leaders continuing to strive towards effectiveness and efficiency for those residents,” he said.