• As Planning, Zoning, Business & Industrial Development (PZBID) Chair, organized and convened West Chester Workshop #1:
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    • April 1, 2006 “Prioritizing Borough Initiatives for 2006-2007″ creating a list of initiatives that has been a useful reference to Council and the public over the past two years. (At no cost to the Borough) Over 100 in attendance including Borough elected and appointed officials, heads of all Borough Departments, Borough Manager, Borough Solicitor, WCU, business and community leaders, residents.
      • Environmental issues were identified unanimously as the number one issue of concern. This led to the formation of the BLUER (Borough Leaders United for Emissions Reduction) Committee in 2007. BLUER’s mission is to help our entire community-including our municipal and county government operations, residents, businesses, and nonprofits-reduce greenhouse gas pollution 10% over 2005 levels by the year 2015. www.wcbluer.org
      • The ENERGY STAR program all but ensures that these buildings will be among the most energy efficient in the country. To earn the ENERGY STAR label, a building must be in the top 25% of similar buildings nationwide in terms of overall energy efficiency. “Borough Council’s unanimous vote demonstrates our commitment to a greener, more sustainable West Chester through a common-sense program that conserves energy. There are no drawbacks to anyone, only positive actions for our economy and our environment,” says Councilwoman Carolyn Comitta, who was instrumental in ‘greening’ West Chester’s conditional use criteria.

        WC Energy Star Press Release
  • As PZBID Chair, organized and convened West Chester Workshop #2:
    • Sept 2006, “Building Heights in the Borough” as well as several follow-up ad hoc meetings leading to successfully amending the Borough height ordinance with a unanimous vote by Council, June 2007. (At no cost to the Borough
  • Chaired the University Area Neighborhood Task Force
    • March 2006 through Sept 2007 leading 12 community representatives in the successful process of developing practical, actionable recommendations for improving the quality of life in our university area neighborhood and the Borough’s downtown. (At no cost to the Borough)
  • Convened Ad Hoc Committee
    • Residents who volunteered their time to review and improve the Standards & Criteria for the Height Overlay District, Summer/Fall 2007, passed unanimously by Council, December 2007. (At no cost to the Borough)
  • Facilitated meetings between Borough representatives and West Chester Area Housing Association resulting in a compromise agreement on a rental fee formula.
  • Was awarded a position on the NLC’s Leadership Training Council 2007 and 2008.
  • Member of the steering committee of the NLC’s University Communities Council, 2007 and 2008.
  • Convened meetings between WCU officials and area residents to attempt to resolve the conflict over a proposed university parking garage in a residential neighborhood. The meetings resulted in WCU instituting annual informational town meetings held each July for the purpose of presenting university campus plans and to encourage timely dialogue between the university and its neighbors.

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