News: East Goshen Township Wins Leadership Award
Marty Shane, Supervisor / mshane@eastgoshen.org
Rick Smith, Manager / rsmith@eastgoshen.org
East Goshen Township, Chester County
East Goshen Township Sweeps Statewide Leadership Award
Two East Goshen Township officials, supervisor Marty Shane and manager Rick Smith, received the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors' 27th Annual President's Leadership Award this morning at the association's 94th Annual Educational Conference and Trade Show in Hershey.
This is the first time in the award's history that two leaders from the same township have received the honor in the same year.Established in 1990, the award is presented annually to a township supervisor and administrator whose outstanding projects or programs have benefited their communities.
Considered a dynamic duo in governing, Shane and Smith have served East Goshen Township for decades, molding what was once a rural farming community into a flourishing suburban municipality.
Described as "a Chester County institution," Shane, the board chair, has been a township supervisor for three decades, while Smith, well-known as a consensus builder, started working on the township's road crew 47 years ago at the age of 17. He was appointed manager in 1987.
The pair, honored individually forspearheading several major community and regional improvement projects,received kudos from a number of federal, state, and local colleagues.
"While the work of a township supervisor has its challenges like any other elected position, Marty's combination of steadfastness, sense of responsibility, and transparency have allowed him to manage every circumstance the township has faced, both planned and unplanned," said state Rep. Dan Truitt, an East Goshen Township resident.
"I have known Marty Shane for 20 years through my work as a county commissioner and state senator," state Sen. Andrew Dinniman said, "and have high regard for all that he does for East Goshen Township and Chester County."
U.S. Congressman Ryan Costello, who began his political career in neighboring East Vincent Township, said that Smith "has served with distinction and made immeasurable contributions to East Goshen Township."
"I have worked with Rick for years and have the utmost admiration for everything that he does," said Kevin Kerr, a supervisor for Upper Uwchlan Township and first vice president of the Chester County Association of Township Officials. "His stalwart approach is recognized and respected by all who come in contact with him."
Marty Shane's accomplishments have included the following:
· Hechaired a countywide task force that obtained funding for the Exton Bypass, a 5.5-mile-long, four-lane expressway that helped to ease gridlock on area roads. Shane's involvement got the $125 million project back on track after decades of delays.
· Leveraging his experience on the county task force, Shane led East Goshen Township's participation in the "Z Project," a multi-municipal road upgrade that reduced traffic congestion and improved access to a major highway in suburban Philadelphia.
· He facilitated the acquisition and development of the 311-acre Applebrook Farm parcel while working with a mix of private, public, and nonprofit groups. Today, the parcel includes a 100-acre, township-owned park, an award-winning 18-hole golf course, an office complex, and private homes.
· He played a significant role in several other projects, including the construction of a new township building and public works garage; the conversion of a former supermarket into a facility that today houses the district court and the township's public works annex; and the construction of a state-of-the-art police building for the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department.
Rick Smith has done the following:
· He spearheaded several major projects that have attracted residents and businesses to East Goshen Township and improved the quality of life. This includes the "Z Project," a multi-municipal road upgrade that alleviated gridlock; the Applebrook Farm project, a mixed-used development that includes housing, award-winning recreational facilities, and office space; and the construction of the township complex, public works annex, and regional police station.
· He led the expansion and improvement of the township's sewer infrastructure, a project that included upgrading lines and residential connections, expanding a treatment plant's capacity, and eliminating or upgrading pump stations.
"Rick had the foresight to put in place so many of the infrastructure improvements and lifestyle amenities that have allowed East Goshen to become a premier residential community in Chester County," said Senya Isayeff, vice chair of the East Goshen Township supervisors, who nominated Shane and Smith for the Leadership Award. "It has also become a commercial hub that is the home of a number of thriving businesses with a global reach, including QVC.
"In turn," Isayeff added, "these improvements and amenities have enabled homes in East Goshen to retain their value, even during the depths of the 'Great Recession.'"