Category: Certified Local Government (Page 1 of 4)

Celebrating the Slate Hill Cemetery

May 22, 2024 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 2 Comments

This week’s 2023 Community Initiative Award winner spotlight is on the Slate Hill Cemetery in Lower Makefield Township, Bucks County.

Lower Makefield’s Slate Hill Cemetery is an intact Colonial-era graveyard that was established in 1690 as a Quaker burial ground and was later expanded to include the township’s first public cemetery. It contains about 580 burials, including veterans of the U.S. Colored Troops who served in the Civil War. The earliest known burial dates to 1698 and the last known burial was in 1918.

Recently, the Township – which is one of Pennsylvania’s Certified Local Governments (CLG) – began an ambitious project to document, preserve, and promote the history of the cemetery. I asked some of the folks from the Historical Commission, which is spearheading the effort, to share the story with us.

#PreservAtionHappens at the Local Level with CLG Grants

June 21, 2023 / mmcnish / 2 Comments

Each year, the PA SHPO awards grants to the Commonwealth’s Certified Local Governments (CLG) for the purpose of advancing local historic preservation activities.

Meet the New PA SHPO Staff!

April 20, 2022 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 4 Comments

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!

Tredyffrin Township and its Neighbors go to CAMP

February 23, 2022 / Guest Contributor / 0 Comments

Although there were no campfires or smores, the Tredyffrin Township Historical Commission (TTHC) and friends had a lot of fun in summer CAMP.

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

November 15, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

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.

PA Special Announcement! We’re Hiring a Community Preservation Coordinator

September 30, 2021 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

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

The Flagship City is now a CLG!

September 29, 2021 / Bill Callahan / 1 Comment

The PA SHPO extends hearty congratulations to Pennsylvania’s fourth largest city, the City of Erie, which on May 17^th, 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.

The Borough of Milford, Pike County, Pennsylvania

Welcoming Milford to the CLG program!

August 25, 2021 / Cory Kegerise / 1 Comment

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.

Large brick building with tall central tower surrounded by grass and mature trees. — Sewickley Municipal Hall at 601 Thorn Street. Photograph by Kathe Barge, May 2020.

Welcome, Sewickley! One of Pennsylvania’s New CLGs

July 21, 2021 / Guest Contributor / 3 Comments

The PA SHPO is excited to announce the Borough of Sewickley in Allegheny County has become one of the newest members of Pennsylvania’s Certified Local Government program. There are now 48 CLGs in the Commonwealth; Sewickley is one of only seven in the entire PA SHPO Western Region.

Designing for Distance in Pennsylvania’s Historic Communities

April 21, 2021 / Cory Kegerise / 0 Comments

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.