Board sends off longtime code department official
Marita Stoerrle honored for her 20-year career with township
A longtime fixture of Montgomery Township’s Code Enforcement department is moving on.
Marita Stoerrle, development coordinator for Montgomery’s Code Enforcement department, was recognized by the township’s supervisors Monday night, June 26, for a fourdecade career in local government, including the last two decades for Montgomery Township, which ended Friday, July 1.
“In her role as development coordinator, Marita witnessed over 2,150 dwelling units being constructed in the township,” said Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe.
“Marita ensured that the coordination and distribution of information for over 230 residential and nonresidential land developments in the township was done in a professional and timely manner,” he said.
Before coming to Montgomery Township, Stoerrle had worked part-time for two years in Warminster Township, before an 18-year career there is an administrative assistant, assistant manager, and occasionally as acting manager.
“While there, she found she really enjoyed the family feeling of local government, and was excited to be part of a positive change in her local community,” Shoupe said.
In October 1996 Stoerrle joined Montgomery Township, and Shoupe said while her job title has remained the same the entire time, the equipment needed to get the job done has changed dramatically.
“To complete the resolutions for the board of supervisors considerations for these projects in the time of snail mail, Dictaphones and fax machines, Marita would literally cut and paste outstanding items from various review letters submitted to complete the development approval resolutions,” he said.
Stoerrle received a parting gift, a formal resolution, and a round of applause from the township supervisors, and board Vice Chairman Robert Birch joked that he would not be able to function with the technology Stoerrle started her career with.
“Forty-two years, God bless you for your service. We’ve come a long way,” Birch said.
In addition to a motion recognizing Stoerrle, Montgomery’s board also unanimously approved a contract with website provider eGov Strategies, as a first step toward revamping the township’s website www.MontgomeryTwp.org. eGov has been the township’s web provider since a redesign of the township’s website in 2010, and the time has come to start planning another update, Public Information Coordinator Kelsey McMeans told the board.
“Not only will eGov be able to make the website more mobile- and tablet-friendly, give it a modern look, make it more organized and user friendly, and include social media integration, they will also be able to help better market all the township has to offer,” McMeans said.
An add-on in the proposed package from eGov Services would let the township create dedicated pages or subsections for its Community and Recreation Center, annual events like its Autumn Festival and summer concert series, available resources like parks and trails, and more. The total cost for the revamp would be $10,200, and $9,500 was included in the 2017 township budget for a website redesign, meaning $700 will need to be allocated from elsewhere in the budget, she said; the board voted unanimously to approve that request.
Other approvals from the township supervisors included a new contract with Morgan Stanley to act as financial advisors for the township police pension fund, and accepting the resignation of planing commission member Andrew Terreri.