Board of Supervisors

Government - Board of Supervisors

Meet the Supervisors | Meetings | Terminology

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The functions and purposes of Moon Township’s Administration are vast and varied. The five individuals seated on the Board of Supervisors are elected at-large to serve a six year term. Among other things, they are responsible for adopting ordinances that regulate Township activities, establishing policy decisions and adopting the annual budget.

The Supervisors are governed by the Second Class Township Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The current board members are as follows:

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Board of Supervisors Meeting Agendas & Minutes

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Meet the Board of Supervisors:

David Bachman (Chairman)

• Position: Board of Supervisors
• Occupation: President, Bachman Builders
• Living in Moon Township Since: 1972
• Education: B.A. Colgate University, Economics
• Family: Married to Deby Bachman since 1977, three adult children, six grandchildren
• Areas of Interest: are hiking, gardening, reading, Bible studies, and playing with my grandchildren
• Goals for the Township: Making a true town center on University Boulevard, so it becomes more of a walkable, pedestrian friendly town center with a vibrant restaurant scene than a suburban shopping mall. Working with Robert Morris University to create a college town feel for the area around Robert Morris. Fostering an environment that attracts responsible, sustainable development in order to increase our tax base so we do not need to raise taxes. Re-develop Moon Crest so it is a model working class neighborhood and becomes a magnet for lower income families who desire a safe environment with good schools to attend. Improving the parks and hiking trials, in conjunction with The Montour Trail and Hollow Oak Land Trust. To create a Moon Twp government that people believe is working for the people.
• Best Kept Secret of Moon Township: the tremendous network of trails that are being developed to connect neighborhoods with parks, trails, and other natural areas.
• Email: dbachman@moontwp.com

John Hertzer (Vice Chairman)

• Position: Board of Supervisors
• Occupation: Vice President, Marsh & McLennan
• No. of Years Living in the Township: Since 1996
• Education:BSBA from Clarion University of PA in 1986
• Family: Married to Helen, since 1989, with two sons John and Sam
• Areas of Interest: Baseball, saltwater aquariums, reading
• Goals for the Township:
• I want to improve the look of the University Boulevard corridor and I'd like to complete the refurbishment of Moon Park.
• Improve Township infrastructure - parks and roads
• Provide public safety that is second to none through our police force and dedicated volunteer fire department
• Best Kept Secret of Moon Township: "The diversity of our neighborhoods. ""
• E-Mail: jhertzer@moontwp.com

Michele Santicola

• Position: Board of Supervisors
• Occupation: Attorney
• Living in Moon Township Since: 2004
• Education: B.A. Duquesne University; JD Penn State University's Dickinson School of Law
• Family: Husband Mike, daughter Sarah, and son Michael
• Areas of Interest: Running, reading and watching my children play sports
• Goals for the Township: I would like to see Moon Township foster relationships with local businesses, so together we can provide both employment and civic partnership opportunities for our residents. I also would like to see Moon attract additional businesses, thereby increasing our tax base. Finally, I would like to work with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to prevent the growing opioid epidemic from coming here.
• Best Kept Secret of Moon Township: Moon Township is close to everything ... the city, the shopping in Robinson Township, the airport ... yet it remains a small, tight-knit community.
• Email: msanticola@moontwp.com

Jim Vitale

• Position: Board of Supervisors
• Occupation: Account Executive - The Tyler Mountain Water Co.
• Living in Moon Township Since: 1999 years
• Education:BSBA in Management @ Robert Morris University
• Family:Married to Luanne for 20 years with two children Maria and Bob
• Areas of Interest: Analyzing case studies (Monday morning quaterbacking), sports and spending time with my family. The residents of Moon Township are fortunate that we are part of a strong and vibrant community with a tremendous future.
• Goals for the Township:To make Moon Township the envy of all Western Pennsylvania municipalities.
• Improve Township infrastructure - parks and roads
• Provide public safety that is second to none through our police force and dedicated volunteer fire department
• Best Kept Secret of Moon Township: "The residents. Our neighbors want to make a difference for the betterment of all."
• E-Mail: jvitale@moontwp.com

Joseph M. Wise

• Position: Board of Supervisors
• Occupation: Public Affairs
• Living in Moon Township Since: 1983
• Education: B.A. Political Science, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; MBA Marketing, Duquesne University
• Family: Wife of 18 years, Mary Jo, and son, Christian, 9
• Areas of Interest: Transportation and Economic Redevelopment, Building Codes and Land Use/Zoning, Rediscovering the Lost Art of Respectful Public Discourse
• Goals for the Township: Reinforce our status as a great place to shop, dine, work, and live; Champion initiatives that improve our quality of life, including pay-as-you-go improvements of our parks, library, and recreational services; Strengthen our community’s curb appeal so that families and businesses see Moon Township as the perfect place in which to raise a family, work, and worship.
• Best Kept Secret of Moon Township: We have the most dedicated municipal employees in the Commonwealth.
• Email: jwise@moontwp.com

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Meetings:

The Board of Supervisors meet twice per month. Their regular public meeting is held the first Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Township Municipal Building Auditorium. Workshop meetings are held the previous Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Township Municipal Building Conference Room. Special meetings of the Board of Supervisors can be called at any time; all meetings are advertised in the Allegheny Times. Meeting agendas can be accessed here.

The Workshop Meeting

The workshop meetings are held so that Supervisors can review and discuss items on which action will be taken during the regular meeting. Please note, however, that action can be taken at any properly advertised meeting of the Board of Supervisors. Public comment on agenda and non-agenda items is welcome at the beginning of the meeting. Minutes are taken by the Township Manager’s administrative assistant, who records all formal actions taken by the Board as well as summarizes public comments and discussion.

The Workshop Meeting Agenda

The format of the agenda for the workshop meetings usually appears in the following order:

• -Executive Session (if needed)
• -Call to Order
• -Pledge of Allegiance
• -Roll Call
• -Public Comment on agenda and non-agenda items
• -Public Hearings (if needed)
• -Township Solicitor
• -Township Engineer
• -Township Manager reports
• -Additional Business
• -Minutes/Regular Meeting Agenda

The Regular Meeting

A majority of the actions taken by the Board of Supervisors are done so at the regular monthly meeting. Public comment on agenda action items is welcome at the beginning of the meeting. Comment on non-action items must be held until the end of the meeting. Public Hearings are recorded by a legal stenographer. Any individual wishing to speak about the Public Hearing must be sworn in by the stenographer. Minutes are taken by the Township Manager’s administrative assistant, who records all formal actions taken by the Board as well as summarizes public comments and discussion.

The Regular Meeting Agenda

The format of the agenda for the Regular Meeting usually appears in the following order:

• -Executive Session (if needed)
• -Call to Order
• -Pledge of Allegiance
• -Roll Call
• -Public comments on agenda action items
• -Approval of the minutes
• -Reports
• -Manager’s Update
• -Announcements
• -New Business: Public Hearings and Action Items
• -Unfinished Business: Action Items
• -Motion to pay the bills
• -Supervisors’ Comments
• -Public Comments

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Terminology

Public Hearing

Public Hearings are held for any amendment to the zoning and/or subdivision ordinance, any action on a Planned Residential Development or any request for Conditional Use Approval. A Public Hearing is a formal meeting held pursuant to public notice by the Township, intended to inform and obtain public comment prior to taking action. This part of a public meeting is more formal and requires specific legal proceedings.

Public Meeting

A Public Meeting is a meeting of the Board of Supervisors that has been advertised pursuant to the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act. The Act requires all public agencies to take all official actions and conduct all deliberations leading up to official actions at public meetings.

Quorum

A quorum is a majority of board members. The Moon Township Board of Supervisors consists of five members, making it so that three members constitute a quorum. An affirmative vote of a majority of the enter Board of Supervisors at a public meeting is necessary in order to transact any business.

Motion

A motion is a verbal action taken by the Board. A motion must be seconded and approved by a majority of the Board for it to pass.

Resolution

A resolution is a written action by the Board on a non-legislative matter.

Ordinance

An ordinance is a written action by the Board of a legislative nature and is required to be advertised in advance of the meeting at which it will be considered.

Executive Sessions

Executive Sessions are private meetings of the Board only in which they are permitted to discuss the following four topics: legal matters, personnel issues, negotiations and acquisition of land. All Executive Sessions are announced, including their person, by the Chairperson.

Minutes

Minutes are taken of every public meeting and include the date, time and place of the meeting, the names of members present, the substance of all official actions and a record of roll call votes and the names of all citizens who appeared officially at the meeting as well as the subject of their testimony.

Township Solicitor

The Township Solicitor is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and must be licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Solicitor may be one person or a law firm, partnership, association or professional corporation. The Solicitor serves at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors.

Public Comment Period

The Public Comment Period is the time on the agenda where visitors can bring matters before the Board. Speakers are asked to sign in upon arrival and to be conscious of the limited time available.

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