Leetsdale Council president receives state recognition for community service

Leetsdale Mayor Sandra Ford knows a hard worker when she sees one.

Someone who helps make the borough better through countless hours of community participation, continuing education and volunteerism.

It is that spirit and drive that Ford sees in Maria Napolitano, council’s president and planning commission secretary .

The elected official was instrumental in updating the borough’s website and subdivision and land development ordinances.

Napolitano drafted the parks and recreations portion of Leetsdale’s comprehensive plan and led the first tree inventory study last summer with the assistance of a Local Government Academy intern.

She also helps with the borough’s food pantry, senior picnics and luncheons; led focus groups with residents; and sought numerous grants for everything from playground equipment to capital purchases and historic preservation efforts.

When the opportunity to have Napolitano recognized on a state level for her efforts, Ford did not hesitate.

The mayor recommended her for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs’ Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes borough officials who provide outstanding service to their community.

“I cannot remember a time where Maria was not available if you needed her help — and this includes our residents,” Ford said. “If a resident has a problem or concern, she personally calls them and tries to solve the problem. As a council president, if council does not agree on an issue with the borough, she gets all involved opinions and tries to come to a compromising solution with everyone walking away happy.”

Napolitano was chosen and received her hardware at the association’s 112th annual conference June 5 at the Hershey Lodge.

Awards were presented by PSAB President Don “Stretch” Reed of Emporium, Cameron County, and the awards committee chair, Ed Child of Trumbauersville, Bucks County.

Ford also recognized Napolitano during the mayor’s community shoutouts portion of the June 13 council meeting. The pair took photos with the award and mingled with residents after the voting session.

“This is my main job,” Napolitano said of her community service. “I put 200% in it. Sometimes it becomes a full-time job depending on how much is going on. (This award) is nominated by your peers. It meant so much to me. It means someone noticed (my work) and put my name in a hat.”

Napolitano, a mother of five, also recently received a PSAB certificate of achievement and was named a “certified borough official” by the association after completing a plethora of webinars and seminars through its voluntary professional development leadership program.

She said she learned a lot about code enforcement, zoning, legal updates and other topics through the PSAB’s program and recommended it to everyone in local government.

The PSAB is a statewide, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving 955 borough governments.

Other distinguished service award winners this year were Zachary Filous of Freeport, Joseph Giunta of Schwenksville, Robert J. McKown of Whitehall and Beaudrem Tilghman of Modena.