After four successful decades managing East Marlborough Township, Jane Laslo will be retiring in early September and handing over the reins to Laurie Prysock, writes Fran Maye for the Daily Local News.

“In her 40 years, she served as principal protector of the character of the community,” commented Cuyler Walker, former chairman of East Marlborough supervisors. “We are all better off for that. She has really been dedicated to making East Marlborough a better community.”

Laslo has achieved tremendous things during her tenure, including keeping taxes in check, championing open space preservation and helping bring public sewers to historic Unionville.

Initially working as a reporter covering municipal and school board meetings, she also taught at Unionville High School. Then out of the blue, her township career came calling, beginning with something as simple as small garage facilities that lacked both running water and a bathroom.

“When I started, I didn’t realize it would be such a long commitment,” Laslo said.

One of her first accomplishments was to set up a traffic signal at the intersection of routes 82 and 926.

“I remember one woman came to the meeting and asked if she had to strip down naked and go to the middle of the intersection to get some attention,” said Laslo. “There were a lot of passions over that issue.”

While achieving most of her goals, there is one in particular that has remained elusive.

“My greatest loss despite my best effort is that I have not been able to make any headway in getting bikeways built in the township,” she said. “It’s something that is really needed.”

Read more about Laslo’s years at East Marlborough at Daily Local News here.