Politics & Government

Township Manager Reflects on 35 Years

Manager Michael Silvestri remembers purchasing the Montour Railroad, which he said was one of his original ideas, and fondest moments; The railroad is Peters' Arrowhead Trail today.

June 1, 1976 Michael Silvestri became assistant manager/planning director for Peters Township. Four months prior, he started an internship with the municipality, and four months post-start date he was married (in October). This year, he is celebrating his 35th anniversary working for the township.

"I remember I got the Monday off after my wedding and I missed my first planning commission meeting," he laughed. "They approved a plan I didn't recommend, so then I said 'I can't miss anymore meetings!'"

That year, the township had switched to a Home Rule Charter, which was one reason Silvestri was hired, he said. 

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"The Home Rule Charter required us to have a planning director. There was a whole turnover in council, which was actually fortunate for all of us. We all started fresh."

Silvestri recalled accepting the township manager position in 1981.

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"I was only the second manager the township had had," he said. 

Since 1981, quite a few significant events made headlines. 

"We had this big battle to stop the turnpike from going through the township," Silvestri remembered. "We organized a lot of committees and volunteers, and rather than the road coming through the center of town, it only hit the most southern tip."

When asked if then-residents' concerns equated with those today facing the drilling issue he said: "I think it does, if not bigger. We had a lot more people turning out for meetings then than we have for drilling." 

Some of his fondest memories include purchasing the Montour Railroad and making it a bike trail, which he said was not the original intent. 

"We wanted to purchase it to keep the right-of-way with hopes to have a trolley line come through," he said. "In the interim, we got grants to do the bikeway and it just took off from there."

Creating departments within the administration is something he said he is very proud of.

"When I first started here, it was the manager and myself, and the police, but we didn’t have a lot of administrative staff. I became every position—zoning officer, building inspector, public works director and recreation director."

The , built in 2004, was a project he and council pushed for, which he said proved to benefit the township and Washington County. 

"Back then, we had a lot more services than most communties," he said. "A lot of the recreation stuff was focused on big projects—buying the lake property and building the actual recreation center. 

"We're always competing with other communities and we have to have the right mix of facilities—nice park system, , etc. We have to keep the whole package in mind." 

Silvestri laughed when asked what career he would pursue if he weren't township manager. 

"I've been trying to figure that out a long time," he chuckled. "It probably would have to be something in the service industry—work with a nonprofit. It’s hard to say. I’ve always tried to be active in other things. I'm involved in the heavy."

Originally from Moon Township, he applied for the Peters position while in graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received his master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning.

He said at least six students from his program applied for the position, and he recalled at least a dozen managers in western Pennsylvania, who he went to undergratuate school with at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. 

"For a while there, it was Doug Watkins (Upper St. Clair Township manager), Frank Siffrinn (North Strabane Township manager) and me," he said. "Unfortunately, Doug passed away about a year and a half ago.

"Uniquely in western Pennsylvania, there's a core group of us," he said. "I've probably been around the longest, but everyone has for at least 20-plus years. We collaborate and serve on committees together."

A new thing for Silvestri was his , which started last winter. He said he is always looking for ways to communicate with the public. Silvestri stopped the series before the start of summer, but said he is thinking about bringing it back. 

"I'm reformatting it," he said. "I might make it topical, as opposed to open to everything. I might focus the next one on the budget."

He jokingly admitted he stole the idea off of the Mt. Lebanon manager, who he said stole it from the manager in Cranberry.

In the '80s, the township started a newsletter—the first issue won first prize in the state, according to Silvestri.

"It was very council-driven," he said. "We've always had very good, disciplined council members doing good for the community. It's been one of the things that's kept me here. 

"The members are non-political, have no personal interests, and just are here to do their thing, and treat it like a business. They've always understood their role as policy makers, and it's worked out well."

In 35 years, sure it's tough to choose specific moments or people who've made an impact. Silvestri said there are quite a few. 

"There have been a lot of residents I’ve dealt with, and not to short-change anyone, but there are a couple that stick out," he said. "One is Joan Jessen. She’s a senior citizen now, but still remains active. After she left our planning commission, she joined the county’s, and she’s very active in the Watershed Association and League of Women Voters. She was very helpful in developing ordinances for the township.

"Another is Mr. O. Forest Morgan, who served as chairman of council for a long time. We worked well together and got a lot of things done.

"There are a lot of council members that stick out. It's hard to pick. Our first female council member was Jackie Campbell. She was active in the township and for the League of Women Voters as well. We're still friends today. She was probably one of our longest-serving members.

And, the same goes for employees, he said. 

"We've had a lot of good employees. You hear cliches about government employees, but ours have always been very dedicated. We've always had a core group of people: 'Peter Overcashier, public works director, who's been with us for 30-plus years; Paul Lauer, assistant towship manager, who's been with us for 30-plus years; and Harry Fruecht, police chief, who's been in Peters Township for 20-plus years, just to name a few.'

"When you're manager of the town, you try to be active in a lot of aspects," he said. "I coached soccer when my daughter was younger, and Paul and I got the Cable TV programs going. We would go around taping everything—football games, soccer games, etc., all over the state."

Silvestri recalled taping state championships in the freezing snow at Shippensburg University.

"We wanted to get people interested," he said. "It was something we were very proud of." 

When asked if he'll be here another 35 years, he laughed and said "No, but I hope to be here a while—at least five more years, if they let me."

At only 24, Silvestri started working for the township. He said he's happy he stayed here, and kept his daughter in .

"We wanted her to finish high school here," he said. "We have a good school system. I'm from western Pa., and my family's all here."

Silvestri blogs monthly. Visit the township website for updates.


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