Politics & Government

Rectenwald Sworn In As Upper St. Clair Commissioner

Donald Rectenwald, Jr. is sworn in by district Judge Robert Wyda.

Donald Rectenwald, Jr. is officially an commissioner after being sworn in by district Judge Wyda on Wednesday.

Rectenwald was to serve out the rest of , which ends Dec. 31, 2013. on Monday night.

"It's a wonderful opportunity to serve the community," Rectenwald told Upper St. Clair Patch. "I just want to continue to see us (Upper St. Clair) do the right thing. I have no agenda. Right now, I just want to be a good team player and play catch up on the issues."

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One of the issues, no doubt, will be . Rectenwald said he supports it.

"Let's make sure it gets developed the right way," he said. "It's appropriately placed (in the township). The residential plan makes it more appropriate."

Find out what's happening in Upper St. Clairwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Rectenwald stressed that—being a Fieldgate Drive resident—he is also concerned about the additional traffic the plan could cause and would like to look at ways to ease congestion.

However he pointed out, "The mall () was there before the houses."

Rectenwald said the development might help "keep taxes under control."

"I'm not talking about (commercial expansion), not to make it (Upper St. Clair) like . It's (Upper St. Clair) different and it should stay that way," he said.

Rectenwald is one of those business owners in Peters Township. He is president of —a business his grandfather started in the 1950s. He said his family's fourth generation is now helping run the company, which is giving him the time to be able to commit to serve as a commissioner.

Rectenwald has lived in Upper St. Clair for 20 years. He served on the Upper St. Clair Parks and Recreation Board for seven years.


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