Blog of the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office

Category: Certified Local Government (Page 1 of 4)

Meet the New PA SHPO Staff!

Since the last time I officially welcomed our new SHPO staffers, three new colleagues have joined our team. We are very excited to have Megan McNish and Frank Grumbine as the new Eastern and Central Region Community Preservation Coordinators and Alli Davis as the new Historical Marker Program Coordinator. I’m also happy to announce Casey Hanson’s promotion!

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PA SHPO Special Announcement! We’re Hiring an Eastern PA Community Preservation Coordinator

Are you a preservation professional who is skilled at collaboration, outreach, and technical assistance? Then we want to hear from you!

The Position

The Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) is seeking a historic preservation specialist to work as the Eastern Pennsylvania Community Preservation Coordinator.  This position is based out of PHMC’s Hope Lodge in Fort Washington, Montgomery County.

Responsibilities include working with PA SHPO staff and partners to provide technical assistance with municipal preservation programs across a defined region, working with the Certified Local Government program, and coordinating updates of SHPO’s preservation planning guidance.

Description of Work

The Eastern PA Community Preservation Coordinator is responsible for a comprehensive range of technical assistance including delivery of the PA State Historic Preservation Office’s (PA SHPO) programs within a defined region.  

This position regularly collaborates with state and regional partners as well as provides guidance and training to municipalities and local organizations. The Coordinator also has responsibilities under the SHPO PennDOT work plan.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Required Experience, Training & Eligibility

Two or more years of experience working on an architectural survey, an architectural restoration and preservation project or program, and a bachelor’s degree in architectural history, American history, art history, or course work in Pennsylvania history; or

Any equivalent combination of experience and training.

Additional Requirements:

  • Meet or exceed the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualification Standards, published in the Code of Federal Regulations, 36 CFR Part 61
  • Demonstrate experience in determining the eligibility of resources for listing in the National Register of Historic Places
  • Demonstrate excellent ability working with a team of individuals and independently
  • Experience in outreach and public speaking
  • Demonstrable experience interpreting and applying National Park Service guidance and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties

Preferred Qualifications (not required):

Excellent computer and word processing skills using MS Office products and data management systems such as SHPO’s  PA-SHARE.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

Telework

Telework eligible (part-time): You will have the opportunity to work from home (telework) not to exceed 3 days a week. Specific days will be determined by bureau directors according to bureau needs. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Fort Washington or Harrisburg.

APPLY BY 12/02/2021 11:59 PM Eastern.

External applicants: For complete position description, salary and benefits information, and to apply, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau/jobs/3307258/eastern-pennsylvania-community-preservation-coordinator?keywords=eastern&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs.

Internal (CWOPA) applicants: For complete position description, salary and benefits information, and to apply, visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/pabureau/jobs/3309532/eastern-pennsylvania-community-preservation-coordinator?keywords=eastern&pagetype=promotionalJobs.

The Flagship City is now a CLG!

The PA SHPO extends hearty congratulations to Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city, the City of Erie, which on May 17th, became one of Pennsylvania’s newest Certified Local Governments (CLG).

The certification of Erie City as a CLG is the latest success in a long string of preservation projects and initiatives undertaken by public, private and non-profit entities in Erie County that illustrate the well-trod aphorism If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

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Welcoming Milford to the CLG program!

Travel north along Route 209 through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and you’ll arrive at the Borough of Milford, Pike County. The small town of nearly 1,200 full time residents appears like Brigadoon as you leave the lush forests of the Water Gap and has a long and layered history. Milford is also one of the newest Certified Local Governments in Pennsylvania with a lot of preservation success stories packed into a little place.

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Designing for Distance in Pennsylvania’s Historic Communities

To say that COVID-19 changed things about away we live our lives would be the understatement of the century. Virtually everything about the ways in which we live, work, learn, recreate, shop – everything – changed in an instant and we have spent the last 12+ months learning how to adapt, as individuals and communities. The pandemic has also prompted a lot of pondering and forecasting about the long term effects on our society and how many of these adaptations will become part of our “normal” lives going forward. In Pennsylvania’s traditional communities, the sudden loss of foot traffic, festivals, and events hit small businesses and restaurants especially hard. Revitalization organizations and local governments have had to reimagine, with little or no time or experience, how to allow people to use streets, sidewalks, parks, and trails in a safe and responsible manner. Enter Designing for Distance.

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Preservation’s March Madness

“March Madness” in the historic preservation world isn’t quite the same as the highly competitive, single-elimination college basketball tournaments that happen each March.

I’ve coopted the phrase to describe National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and the days leading up to it in our office. Just like the NCAA I players that begin prepping and practicing weeks and months before their games, we kick off each New Year with making plans, preparing materials and partipants, and scheduling visits for Advocacy Week.

One big difference, of course, is that preservationists don’t compete against each other in a nail-biting, winner-takes-all game. One big similarlity, however, is the frenzy of activity, nerves, and excitement before the big event.

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