Franklin Park council interviews applicants for environmental advisory and planning commissions

Franklin Park Borough Council used part of its work session to interview candidates for vacant seats on the Environmental Advisory Commission (EAC) and the Planning Commission.

The most detailed interview was with Pat (Patrick) Pergano, who applied for the EAC. Pergano described a long research career in vascular biology and pharmacology and said he has been active in local community beautification projects. “I wanted to be a meteorologist when I was a kid,” Pergano said, adding that his scientific training gives him a capacity “to read the literature deeply and critically and ask analytical questions.” He told council he has attended some EAC meetings and helped with past plantings.

Councilors also interviewed Dr. Peter Adler for a seat on the Planning Commission. Adler identified himself as an emergency physician who trained at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said he moved back to the area in 2014 and that he and his family live in the Settlers Walk development. He described prior work with the North Carolina Department of Transportation doing mapping and small-scale planning and said he wants to help the borough shift from case-by-case project review toward longer-range planning.

A second applicant who identified himself as a Franklin Park resident and a bioengineering professional (worked with a company spun out of the University of Pittsburgh) said he and his wife bought their house in Franklin Park several years ago and would like to bring commercial planning and long-range strategy experience to the commission. He said he has worked in commercial planning roles and is interested in the borough’s 10-year plan.

Councilors discussed which skill sets the commissions currently lack. Several members said they valued applicants who could help the Planning Commission move from reactive reviews of subdivision and building applications toward proactive, multi‑year planning. No formal votes were recorded at the session; councilors said they would place appointments on a forthcoming meeting agenda for formal action.

The interviews were short; applicants described availability and monthly meeting frequency for the commissions and answered council questions about time commitment, prior volunteer service and relevant technical experience. Councilors noted the Planning Commission’s regular schedule (third Tuesday of each month) and the EAC’s hybrid meeting option.

Council members present asked follow-up questions and compared applicants’ backgrounds to existing commissioners’ skills. Several council members indicated they were prepared to recommend Pergano for the EAC and to appoint at least one of the Planning Commission applicants at the next meeting. The council did not take any binding appointment votes during the work session.