Informational Statement
O'Hara Township Council and staff have always strived to
provide the best services to our residents. Public Safety
is one of those important services. The Fox Chapel Area School
District communities, through cooperation, collaboration and
mutual aid agreements have always helped one another with
the delivery of excellent Public Safety service. Recently,
there have been discussions among community elected officials
about how the communities could improve efficiencies and effectiveness
of Public Safety delivery. As a result of these meetings,
the Township has been asked to participate in an information
gathering study conducted by the State Department of Community
and Economic Development (DCED). The study would gather, compile
and present valuable information about the operation of the
Police Departments participating in the study.
The information gathered by studying police operations would
be a valuable input in updating the Township's Comprehensive
Ten Year Plan (the overall Plan addressing the direction and
priorities of our Township). This study would be done at no
cost to all of the local municipalities. Council has invited
Ron Stern from the DCED who would conduct the proposed police
study to give a presentation on the study methodology, process
and timeline at our April 3 Workshop meeting. Ron Stern is
a local government policy specialist with the Governor's Center
for Local Government Services, a DCED office. He is a retired
police officer with 20 years of service, including 10 years
as a municipal police chief. If the Township agrees to participate
in the study it will have to execute a standard DCED form
letter of intent. A letter of intent to participate in the
DCED study does not commit O'Hara Township to make any changes
in our Police Department or to join any other communities
in a Joint or Regional Police Force.
Council wishes to invite all interested parties to attend
the April 3rd Workshop. The Workshop is held in Council Chambers
at the municipal building and starts at 7:00 PM.
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