ANNUAL REPORT - Lower Providence Township

TownshipM A N A G E RIn 2006, Lower Providence Township recorded majormilestones, earned significant achievements, and overcameunexpected obstacles. The Township completed anaggressive road reconstruction project and many facilitiesimprovements, our Police Department joined a select fewby earning state accreditation status, and exciting planswere initiated for the revitalization of the Township’sRidge Pike gateway area and corporate center. In addition,the Township met the considerable challenge itfaced when damaging rain and windstorms hit the Townshipin late June and July, causing flooding and knockingout power in some sections for up to five days. Throughit all, the Lower Providence Township’s focus remainedconstant: To respectfully address our residents concernsand efficiently and effectively meet their needs.Because of the foresight of the Board of Supervisors, an investmentwas made in the Township’s Emergency Managementand Planning department in 2005 and these provedto be monies well spent following the summer storms.The department coordinated the Township’s emergencyresponse effort, communicating with residents, managingevacuations and working with Township staff to provideComfort Stations and alternate sources of water for thosein need.The storms’ affects reached every Township departmentand each was up to the challenge. When several sitesof the Parks and Recreation Department’s Camp Perkiomywere forced to close, the Township accommodatedcampers at the Township Building. Those counselors notneeded for their regular duties volunteered to help howeverthey could. A concert in Eagleville Park, plannedfor the evening after the windstorm, was able to go onas scheduled. Meanwhile, the Township found a sourceof dry ice when none was forthcoming from PECO andmobilized staff members and volunteers to deliver it toaffected neighborhoods. I’d like to express my gratitudefor the exceptional dedication demonstrated by Townshipemployees, the hard work of countless volunteers, andthe patience of the residents. I would like to extend mythanks, also, to West Norriton, Skippack, Upper Merionand Upper Dublin townships for providing manpowerand equipment to assist with our storm cleanup.Administration Department staff members: fromleft, Township Manager Joseph Dunbar, DeniseWalsh, Maureen Nelson, and William Roth.The weather events of the summer prompted the Townshipto take an even closer look at our emergency planning.Work was started in 2006 on a Township Continuityof Operations Plan to ensure that critical services willbe maintained whatever the emergency, and an InfluenzaPandemic Response Plan to address the threat of a widespreadflu outbreak. In addition, an Emergency PreparednessGuide was compiled and distributed to residents,providing important information specific to Lower ProvidenceTownship as well as general preparedness guidelines.Throughout the year, the Township continued to focuson cost-saving reorganization, technology upgrades,capital improvements and regional projects. In 2006,a business development committee was formed, taskedwith reshaping the future of the Township’s corporatecenter. The exciting announcement of the Lower ProvidenceVelodrome and Events Center has generated renewedinterest and the Township will work to revitalizethe area and to attract a variety of businesses that willprosper in our strategically located business park. TheTownship continued its cooperative effort with our municipalneighbors on the Route 422 River Crossing projectthat will bring infrastructure improvements neededto ease regional traffic congestion. The CVS Pharmacyand Commerce Bank projects, and the accompanying intersectionimprovements, also moved forward in 2006.I would like to acknowledge the diligent work and dedicationof the members of the Board of Supervisors. Weovercame many hurdles in 2006; I look forward to theachievements on the horizon for 2007.2 0 0 6 A N N U A L R E P O R T5