Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Planning Commission official earns statewide award
Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director Brian O’Leary recently received an award from Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf for his dedication to strengthening communities and providing assistance to residents.
The Chester County Board of Commissioners recognized Brian’s accolade at this week’s Sunshine Meeting. Commissioners’ Chair Michelle Kichline noted, “In addition to his dedication to public service, Brian was recognized for providing many opportunities to collaborate and share best practices. He is currently leading our Landscapes3 comprehensive plan development process, which is built upon partnerships with teams of people who provide input on the key topics, as well as members of the public who are joining in the conversation, both in person and through our surveys. This is a perfect example of how Brian – and Chester County – is strengthening our community through collaboration.”
Brian was among 10 government officials and 11 communities from across Pennsylvania that received awards in Harrisburg in April as part of the 21st Annual Governor’s Awards for Local Government Excellence.
“It’s a great honor receiving this award along with the other honorees, and it’s wonderful to see the state acknowledge the work done by so many people at the local level to improve our communities,” Brian said.
Brian has more than 25 years of experience with community planning and smart growth initiatives and has worked on planning projects at the local, county, and statewide levels throughout his career. He is a government board representative for the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance and the past president of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association. He has a certification from the American Institute of Certified Planners.