Commission President Kelly Fraasch, standing, thanked members of Mt. Lebanon’s boards and authorities for their volunteer service, which inspires other residents to share their skills with local government.
At a dinner in April, Mt. Lebanon honored residents who volunteer as members of municipal boards and authorities. More than 100 residents share their expertise with about 20 advisory boards, helping the municipal commission and staff make informed decisions.
Commission President Kelly Fraasch thanked board members for serving as inspirational examples for others who might be interested in community service. Volunteers facilitate and enhance many of the initiatives Mt. Lebanon undertakes.
Manager Keith McGill paid tribute to the late Wallace Workmaster, who was a founder/president of the historic preservation board and also served as president of the the Historical Society of Mount Lebanon. McGill noted that Workmaster’s efforts spotlighted the importance of historic preservation, not just as an aesthetic effort but as an economic development tool.
Commissioner Steve Silverman and Community Relations Board President Susanne Wagner presented the first-ever Community Service Award to lifelong resident Robert F. Fischer. The award will be presented annually to a volunteer who has made a significant, long-lasting impact on local quality of life.
[1]Fischer joined Mt. Lebanon’s volunteer fire company 13 years ago after graduating from the Citizens Fire Academy. He is a firefighter first class, an apparatus operator and an instructor for the state fire academy and has served as president of the volunteer company. Fischer has amassed 11,073 hours of department activities, including 5,395 responses to emergency fire calls. He is in charge of the Citizens Fire Academy and each year represents Mt. Lebanon at a ceremony at National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, that honors firefighters killed in the line of duty. Fischer has served on Mt. Lebanon’s zoning hearing and civil service boards, is an active member and fundraiser for the Dormont/Castle Shannon/Mt. Lebanon Rotary Club, volunteers every year for the Halloween Parade and Relay for Life and is an active member of Peters Creek Baptist Church.
This spring, the commission appointed nine new members to eight boards. They are: Andrew Campanaro, appeals; Mitchell Bober, civil service; Stacey Reibach, economic development; Hillary Lohr, library; Cynthia Wolfe, parking facilities; Lynn Hagan, sports advisory; Mark Cooke, sports advisory; Brian Neft, traffic, and Richard Wimer, zoning hearing. Residents interested in serving on a board should submit an application, which can be downloaded from the municipal website [2] or picked up at the municipal building, 710 Washington Road. The website also describes the boards and lists current vacancies.