We congratulate Butler Township and Cranberry Township for having been recognized as 2022 Banner Communities.

The honor recognizes municipalities that show a commitment to professional development, prudent fiscal management, transparency, accountability and proactive communications that engage stakeholders in their communities.

A total of 80 organizations — of which Butler and Cranberry townships were the only Butler County municipalities among them — were recognized as Banner Communities by the Allegheny League of Municipalities this year.

Impressively, this was Butler Township's 10th year in a row to get the nod.

There are a number of requirements for an organization or municipality to be selected. Some of them include municipality officials participating in educational training aimed at governmental relations, a municipality taking part in at least 50% of county association meetings, conducting an activity for the purpose of community outreach during Local Government Week, and promoting and implementing long-term sustainable governing practices.

Butler Township's assistant manager said township officials make it a point to attend annual meetings and take part in development conferences. The township, which has been certified as a gold sustainable community by Sustainable Pittsburgh since 2017, hosted a community day event in 2021 at the Vagabond Center to introduce residents to the township's commissioners and other administrators.

"It demonstrates to the residents we are committed to the best practices and always operating the township under transparency and integrity and looking for the highest operation possible," township assistant manager Cheryl McNeill said. "So it's nice to be recognized for that."

We're pleased to see them recognized. During the course of any given year, we report on community board meetings and other organizations that serve county municipalities, and issues of transparency occasionally arise between those running meetings and those attending them.

It's important for people tasked with serving their communities — whether as elected officials, township administrators or other forms of public service — to get to know their constituents and remain transparent.

Butler Township and Cranberry Township have been recognized for doing so — and we're glad to see it.

— NCD