Township Annual Report - 2007 - Lower Providence Township

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special projects & technologyFocusing on efficiency through technology and cost containment, thedepartment moved forward on many fronts in 2007. The improvementsplanned and implemented by the department during the yearincreased staff productivity and allowed the Township to better serve itsresidents. Much of the work was funded through grants.Technology AccomplishmentsWireless Broadband Connectivity - Provided wireless broadband accessfor the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the EOC’s mobilecommand bus.Online Registration - Obtained software to allow online registration andpayment for Park & Recreation programs.Township Marquee - Oversaw the purchase, installation andimplementation of a scrolling message marquee to replace the Townshipsign that was damaged during a wind storm. The marquee, controlledby authorized staff members from their computers, provides real-timeemergency messages, meeting notices and news of Township-sponsoredevents.Security Gate - Programmed new security gate at the Public Worksgarage. The keypad entry system provides added security at the PublicWorks facility.Public Computer Station - Setup a computer workstation in the mainlobby of the Township Building to allow residents to utilize the GeographicInformation System and access data at the Township website.Meeting Videotapes – Coordinated the videotaping of two Board ofSupervisors meetings that were rebroadcast on the Cable CommunityAccess Channel; plans are moving forward to videotape monthly meetingsin 2008.Website – Continued improvements to the Township website, making iteasier to navigate with the addition of “Community Alerts” and “Events& Happenings” pages. The site was expanded to cover such topics asrecycling and the Valley Forge Corporate Center Master Planning.SPECIAL PROJECTSThe department is part of a Township committee that has been workingwith a team selected in 2007 to develop a master redevelopment plan forthe Valley Forge Corporate Center. The team includes Simone Collins,Landscape Architecture; Urban Partners, market consultants; McMahonAssociates, the Township transportation engineer; and ChambersAssociates, the Township engineer. Township officials, business/propertyowners, and residents have been working with the team to explore waysto revitalize the business park. Final recommendations are expected earlyin 2008.The goals of the Valley Forge Corporate CenterMaster Redevelopment Plan are to reducevacancies in the center, increase tax ratables,improve circulation and access, and add amenitiesto create an identity and sense of place.The Department also serves as liaison to the Valley Forge CorporateCenter Business Association and has played and integral part in the effortsto retain and businesses across the Township.2007 GRANTS• Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, “Arts on Tour” Grant providing$540 for the Parks & Recreation Department’s summer concert series.• PECO Green Region Grant of $7,500 to be used for plantings inCranberry Park• Tree Vitalize Watershed Grant providing $17,000 for the naturalizationof two Township detention basins• Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)Grant of $15,500 for replacement of Police firearms• DCED Emergency Responder Preparedness Grant of $10,000 used toprovide broadband connectivity for the Emergency Operations Center• DCED Grant totaling $5,000 for the Parks& Recreation Department’sMaster Plan for Gabriel’s field and replacement of playgroundequipment• Act 904 Recycling Grant of $83,041, based on 2006 data.• PA Commission on Crime & Delinquency grant of $74,165 for theSchool Resource Officer program offered in the Methacton SchoolDistrict schools located within the TownshipThe assistance of State Sen. John Rafferty resulted in a grant for the purchase of the new marquee. On hand to say thanks are, from left, TownshipManager Joseph Dunbar; Emergency Management Coordinator Charles DeFrangesco; Police Chief Francis Carroll; Sen. Rafferty; Parks and RecreationProgram Coordinator Angela Johnson, and Community Relations Coordinator Denise Walsh.14l o w e r p r o v i d e n c e t o w n s h i p
LIBRARYAt the Lower Providence Community Library, the year 2007could be characterized as a year of evaluation and planningfor the future during another record setting performance year.How busy were we? One hundred, seventy-six thousandpeople came through the doors in 2007, they checked outover 234,000 items, and we saw nearly 12,000 people attendour programs!All of this business happened while we were working on aCommunity Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan. We asked youmany questions about how the library is serving you and whereyou wanted to see it progress in the future. This report is in thefinal draft stages and should be available early in 2008. In theinterim, we added new services in 2007, including: e-mailingannouncements about upcoming programs; a redesignedwebsite; partnership with BookLetters to provide more websitecontent and work with other libraries in Montgomery County toadd access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest for genealogicalinformation.Thanks to a solid book budget and skilledcataloging, more than 6,700 items wereadded to the library’s collection in 2007,bringing the total to nearly 59,000 items.The library is able to meet the publics’ needs due to the dedicatedsupport of many people: A seven-person volunteer Board ofTrustees, the Library Director, and 1 full-time and over 20 parttimeemployees who staff the library’s 60 hours of operation perweek (or 3,000 hours per year). Over 60 individuals volunteereda total of more than 2500 hours throughout the year. Finally, thededicated Friends of the Lower Providence Community Libraryprovided program and financial support.The Board of Trustees developed a strategic plan and a series ofobjectives to be met in 2007 and, with the staff, worked diligentlyto achieve the objectives. The Board directed significant attentionto fundraising, including the wine-tasting and very successfulFlamingo Flocking events. In the Board’s role of caretaker ofthe physical property, this year saw much planning for work tobe performed in 2008 including: new front doors with poweredopeners & major maintenance on the facility’s roof.Library service was provided at a cost (including Capital Projects)of $31.30 per capita, with $18.41 per capita provided by localtax money. The Board of Trustees and Friends of the Libraryraised over 23 percent of the budget from non-governmentalsources.Children’s Programs and Special EventsThe Children’s department, under the dynamic leadership of Ms.Sandrah Moles, has brought a tremendous energy to the Library.The Children’s Department offered 430 programs to over10,500 people including the Summer Reading Club, sponsoredthis year by the Friends of the Lower Providence CommunityLibrary, and Science in the Summer (Sponsored by Glaxo-Smith Kline and the American Academy for the Advancementof Science). The Library also participated in Lower ProvidenceFall Fest. The Adult Services Department expanded its programofferings this year while leadership transitioned from TracieNichols to Marissa Wadsworth. In 2007, 60 programs wereheld that over 1200 people attended. Our attendance at Adultprograms increased by more than 25%!Information AccessLibrary cardholders also can access the library from home(www.lowerprovidencelibrary.org) by using their library cardbarcode number. The Lower Providence Community Libraryholds membership in the Montgomery County Library andInformation Network Consortium (MCLINC). This allows usto share materials with most other libraries in the county. PublicInternet access currently is available at the library through awireless Hotspot and at seven dedicated workstations.Friends of the Lower Providence Library, Inc.The Friends of the Lower Providence Community Library, Inc.continued to provide financial and program support this pastyear. Support in 2007 generously included:• Continued assistance with children’s programs, especiallySummer Reading Program• Donations toward books for children and young adults• Contributions targeted to update and improve the Adultcollection in the Computers, Law and Business sections• Purchase of a computer LCD projector for programmingand new shelving• Readers’ aid materials such as “Book Page” and “Read-a-Likes” to help patrons find the books they want to readThe Friends junior division is the “Teen Advisory Board”. Thestudents select officers and are meeting regularly. They arelooking at ways to raise funds and help at the library.The Library staff, Friends, and Trustees look forward tocontinuing to provide a high level of library service to the LowerProvidence community in 2008. We welcome and encourageyour involvement with your local library!Visit the library at our website: www.lowerprovidencelibrary.organd/or feel free to direct any comments to JSherwood@mclinc.org.Joseph L. Sherwood, Library Director2 0 0 7 A N N U A L R E P O R T 15
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Township Annual Report - 2007 - Lower Providence Township

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