ZELIENOPLE — While a variety of topics were discussed at the Butler County Borough Association meeting, there was a central theme to the workshop that brought mayors and council members from across the county together.

Cooperation.

“We want to network with each other,” Zelienople Mayor Thomas Oliverio said. “We want to try to help each other out and solve any problems that (the municipalities) may have.”

On Saturday, March 9, elected officials from across Butler County gathered in Zelienople for a workshop that allowed public officials to strategize to best serve their municipalities. Elected officials from Harmony, Zelienople, Connoquenessing, Evans City, Verona, Harrisville, and Slippery Rock along with representatives Allegheny County municipalities participated in the three-hour workshop.

“We want to learn from other people’s experience,” Oliverio said. “Just because I’ve been a mayor for a long time doesn’t mean I know all the answers, but there may be a council member or a mayor that may be able to help.”

Key talking points at the workshop were police, policymaking, roles and responsibilities of elected officials and networking.

Mayor Raymond Betz, of Connoquenessing, was one of the key speakers at the event. He spoke about his experience as a newly elected official and the importance of surrounding oneself with experienced public servants.

“Knowledge is extremely important,” Betz said. “And you don’t have that unless you’ve served some other way before, so it’s important to try to get (experienced) people. If they are not on your council if they are not your borough secretary, you need to find that in your solicitor, engineer, and other people that you can employ to help supply you with information.”

Zelienople police chief James Miller gave advice on working with law enforcement.

“You have to get along locally first” Miller said. “I think that’s most important. Your police department is reflection of what your community is like.”

Slippery Rock borough council member John Hicks said the meeting was an opportunity to learn from other public officials.

“I love getting to meet people doing what I’m doing from other places and hearing some of things that they’re dealing with and comparing to what we have,” Hicks said.

Harrisville’s newly elected council president Kathy Gray said the workshop was an opportunity for her to continue learning how to best serve her constituency.

“I’m glad I’m able to network and bounce off ideas because I am so new to government,” Gray said.

Mayor Lori Trosky of Valencia is also a newly elected official. She said the workshop was a positive learning experience.

“There were a lot of great ideas today,” Trosky said. “You learn from other people.”