New Hempfield manager excited to continue township's 'upward trajectory'

Aaron Siko has followed in Jason Winters’ footsteps within Hempfield government.

In 2018, Siko took over as director of Parks and Recreation when Winters was promoted to township manager.

Now, as Winters left the managerial role Friday, Siko will fill Winters’ shoes once again. Township supervisors unanimously appointed him as manager and Right to Know officer at their meeting last week.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to work with the staff, board and community to effect change in the community and to continue the upward trajectory the township is on,” Siko said.

As manager, Siko said, he hopes to continue to make Hempfield a good place to live and raise a family. Key priorities include keeping people in Hempfield, bringing more people into the township, expanding a friendly business environment and continuing to work with volunteer firefighters.

Siko plans to interact with residents in an open and transparent way. He said he already has learned about the community and talked to residents through his role in parks and recreation, and he is excited to continue growing those relationships.

In January, he began serving as assistant township manager — a job that prepared him for the day-to-day operations of the managerial role.

“I want to continue to build off the legacy of (Winters), who laid a great framework for Hempfield’s future,” Siko said.

Winters announced his resignation in October. He began working for the township in 2012.

The Hempfield resident, who is taking a job in the private sector, looks forward to watching projects that started under his tenure come to fruition. He is confident Siko will excel in the role.

“I think he will continue to move the township forward and take it in the right direction,” Winters said.

Supervisors had only positive things to say about Winters’ leadership. Chairman George Reese described his time in the manager’s position as “a job well done.”

“You made a difference here in Hempfield,” Reese said. “You were always caring, you always answered and you always addressed issues. You did a good job.”