CRANBERRY TWP — The slate of supervisors in 2024 will look the same as 2023, as both chairman Mike Manipole and vice chairman Bruce Hezlep were reelected by the board on Tuesday, Jan. 2. Manipole has served in his current capacity since the passing of longtime supervisor Richard Hadley in August 2022.

“It’s an outstanding group of people to work with,” Manipole said. “Both the public and internally. We have great staff, people that are dedicated. It’s so good to be a part of it. It’s being a part of a better thing, the greater good for people.”

Manipole said he is most looking forward to the township’s continued growth and improvement during his next year as chairman. He cited several projects on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting, including the improvement of the Bush Creek Water Pollution Control Facility and the appointment of the Powell Farm Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee.

“I think the thing we’re most excited about is continuing on the path we’re currently on,” Manipole said. “The farm is going to be a great thing,. The upgrade to our sewage treatment plant is very exciting. Our staff does a great job at bringing in grant money, so looking at how to improve our transportation is something we’re excited about. Recently, thanks to our police department, we were named the ninth safest community in the United States. Continue to look at ways to make this a safe place to live, there’s so many things to be excited about.”

The design of Bush Creek’s solids handling upgrade is at 90% completion and a current estimate is about $35 million. Solids handling is the process used to stabilize the sludge from sewage and remove it from the water. A significant step in the cleaning process, making it important for the wastewater facility itself.

The Powell Farm Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee was talked about the longest at the meeting, demonstrating the excitement both Manipole and township manager Daniel D. Santoro have for the project.

“Farming is a great occupation, but unfortunately it’s a very difficult occupation and people are staying away from it,” Manipole said. “We want to try and preserve, show gratitude, and increase the opportunities in farming in our community and have our children understand what it’s all about. The biggest thing we’ll always say is, ‘where does milk come from? Giant Eagle? We want kids to know where it really comes from.”

The committee, made up of 10 members from the community and regional experts on farmland, is tasked with determining the path forward for the preservation of Powell Farm. The dairy farm was recently granted to Cranberry and is guaranteed preservation as farmland for the next 100 years.

“Because there are so many ideas flowing, we wanted ideas from different areas of expertise,” said Santoro of selecting committee members. “It really is to get that diverse view on what is possible. All those ideas are at the top end of the funnel and we’re trying to shake it down to what is the most effective and important to the community.”

The advisory committee members are: Andy Hack, resident and executor of Denton Powell’s estate; Ken Moniot, Butler County Agricultural Preservation Board member; Dr. Sean McCarty, Seneca Valley School District assistant superintendent; Dana Hadley, Seneca Valley environmental science teacher; Andy Zavmik, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy member; Craig Conforti, Penn State extension; Tim Casey (Cranberry Township environmental advisory committee member; Jim Halstead, Butler County Farm Bureau member; and Cranberry Township residents Bret Lester and Brian Miller.

“Each of the committee members was identified as a strong leader in their various disciplines,” Manipole said. “We’re hopeful on what they can all bring to the table, and they’re all people that are well known to work well cooperatively. They’re very good people in that sense. We’re hoping that picture incorporates the whole broad scope of our community.”

The board appointed Matthew Marshall of Dillon, McCandless, King, Coulter & Graham as special counsel for an upcoming conditional-use hearing concerning an application by Wolfgate Devco for a billboard in the area. The public hearing will be at the board’s Jan. 25 meeting.

The board also handled other reorganization decisions such as the appointments and reappointments of several positions. Those reappointed were township manager Daniel D. Santoro, and the law firm Campbell Durrant as solicitor. Several members appointed to boards and commissions included Glenn Giesel, zoning hearing board; James Beck, building/fire codes board of appeals, and Jerry Andrew, vacancy board.

New appointments included sewage enforcement officer Jeffrey D. Winkle, alternate sewage enforcement officer Micheal J. Groves; and Darlene Corey and Stephanie Reese to the library board.