Burkholder sworn in as USC police chief
By Carla Valentine Myers
For The Almanac
writer@thealmanac.net
The former deputy chief of police was sworn in as the new chief of police for Upper St. Clair Township before the commissioners meeting Sept 3.
Douglas Burkholder, 60, will now take over the department after the retirement of Ronald J. Pardini. Pardini had joined the department in 1969 and had been the chief since 1986.
Township Manager Matthew Serakowski said the police department had been operating without a chief since Pardini’s retirement on June 24. He said Burkholder had been serving as the officer in charge of the department since then.
Burkholder was sworn in by D. Michael Fisher, United States federal judge of the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Serakowski said Sept. 4 that Burkholder’s salary as the chief had not yet been determined, but the range for the position is $96,436 to $135,010.
Burkholder joined the Upper St. Clair Police Department in 1976. He was promoted to sergeant in 1980, to lieutenant in 1987, and to deputy chief of police around 2000, according to Serakowski.
On Sept. 3, the commissioners also:
• Granted approval for outdoor dining at Chipotle Mexican Grill at 1720 Washington Road. A drawing on file at the township’s library shows a row of table seating outside the north wall of the restaurant. Scott Brilhart, community development director for the township, told commissioners July 29 that a row of planters are planned to shield the tables from view, and will still allow a 4-foot-wide area of sidewalk for use on the other side of the planters.
• Received a petition, with 47 signatures, from Steve Mesinere of Sky Ridge Drive asking the township to look into a speeding problem on his street. He said traffic and speeding have been a problem on his road since the township’s Community and Recreation Center opened. He said the street was studied for possible traffic calming measures about two years ago, but he is asking that it be examined again. Mesinere said, “My neighbor across the street wears a bright yellow vest to mow his grass because he’s afraid of getting hit. That’s no exaggeration.” He said aggressive driving is an issue in addition to speed.
Serakowski said he’s aware that things have changed in the past five years, since the C&RC has been open. “We’re cognizant of those issues,” he said.
Commission president Bob Orchowski said the township has a process for handling such requests and it will be put into the process.