Dave Zarnick, president of the Butler Township commissioners, was elected president of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners at PSATC's recent educational conference in Gettysburg.

Zarnick ascended PSATC's ranks from third to second to first vice president before being elected to serve as president until June 2020. He said he is the first president from Western Pennsylvania.

He said the association works to benefit first class townships — which have populations of at least 300 inhabitants — across the state and his time in the organization has and will continue to benefit the township.

“We have to have four meetings across the state each year, so I'll be responsible for setting up the meetings,” Zarnick said. “We meet. We discuss issues that are if importance to each township across the state. The knowledge and ideas I learn at these conferences and the contacts I make will definitely help Butler Township now and in the future.”

PSATC's next “lobby day,” when members meet with lawmakers in Harrisburg, will be held next May.

“We spend the day on the hill. We talk to our senators and representatives about issues important to first class townships,” Zarnick said.