Freeport Architect Hired to County Planning Team

by Jonathan Weaver

Tom Swisher only started in January at the Armstrong County Planning and Development office on Market Street, but already has a desk full of drawings to review.

The Freeport resident who grew up in DuBois is the newest member of the nearly-10 member staff after previously working as a landscape architect.

Now Planning Coordinator, Swisher will maintain his license but now will plan PennDOT transportation projects, upcoming bridge inspections and maintenance, the Act 167 County stormwater management ordinance required by the Department of Environmental Protection and other municipal services.

Notably, Swisher will oversee Phase II of the Downtown Kittanning Market Street Revitalization Project with Community Division Director Jennifer Bellas, and is keeping track of County Liquid Fuel grant disbursements.

“I was in my other profession for 15 years, and just wanted to expand my horizons a little bit and learn some new things,” Swisher said.

Swisher was previously Project Manager at Greentree-based Gateway Engineers and before that at Pennoni Associates, designing commercial sites for some areas such as Hampton Inn in Butler, Holy Sepulcher Church on Route 8 and other community parks.

While serving as Freeport Borough Councilman the past six years, Swisher met Planning Division Director Sally Conklin and Industrial Development Council Executive Director Michael Coonley.

“I made some phone calls, and thought it would be a good fit,” Swisher said. “I applied, interviewed and got hired.”

Swisher is also learning new skills and resources at Planning and Development that can also assist Freeport Borough

A graduate of both West Virginia University and Keystone College (in La Plume, Lackawanna County), Swisher knew when he was 16 he wanted to break away from the family business and into architecture.
“I always liked drafting. I always liked art,” Swisher said. “I did quite-a-few pseudo-engineering projects, but more design-oriented. The engineers did the math that I don’t like to do, and I got to do the artistic part that they don’t like to do.”

Freeport Borough did receive $15,000 for the paving of Main Street and Old Pike Road, but Swisher was not involved in that grant-writing process.

Conklin said she was “glad to have (Swisher) on board.”

Swisher lives in Freeport with his wife, Optometrist Dr. Cynthia Neff.