The Allegheny League of Municipalities (ALOM), along with Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, has designated 31 municipalities as 2014 Banner Communities. Cranberry Township, the only honoree outside of Allegheny County, was also recognized last year.
Banner Communities are municipalities recognized for implementing best practices in their operations and for governing in an inclusive, collaborative manner. Of the 31 municipalities recognized this year, 18 were designated last year and 13 are receiving the honor for the first time.
“The Banner Community Program is designed to recognize municipalities that implement best practices, and this year’s designees have done just that,” said County Executive Fitzgerald, who is also the current Chairman of the ALOM Board.
To be eligible for consideration in the Banner Communities Program, the municipality’s elected and appointed officials must:
* Participate in educational or training programs through ALOM
* Be active members in good standing with ALOM and county municipal associations
* Be active members in good standing in a COG and attend COG meetings
* Conduct a Local Government Week activity
* Conduct an effective Citizen Communication Program
* Promote and implement long term sustainable governing practices
“The success of this region begins with the work of our local governments, and ALOM is excited to recognize this year’s Banner Communities,” according to Richard Hadley, Executive Director of ALOM and longtime member of Cranberry Township’s Board of Supervisors. “This year a new requirement of promoting sustainable government practices was added to the Banner Community designation. We are extremely pleased by the positive response of our local leaders.”
The Allegheny League of Municipalities, a non-profit, umbrella organization of municipalities in Western Pennsylvania, was founded in 1963 by the Allegheny County Commissioners.