This class is a must-attend for anyone who has responsibility for HR and personnel management in their township. In this seminar, the team from Eckert Seamans will detail what to expect in human resources and labor relations.

Qualifies for 5 PMGA Administrative Points

Eligible for 5 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

Agenda:

The agenda for this event will include the following topics:

• And Then This Happened: The Year in Review (Plus….A Look Ahead) - This session focuses on developments in labor and employment law over the past year.  We will discuss recent employment law cases that affect townships of all sizes.  Given the pace of change in 2022 so far, an hour may not be sufficient time to cover all the developments in this fluid area of the law. We will also discuss how the recent state and federal elections may impact the world of municipal employment in the coming years.

• Correcting Employees – What Works and What Does Not - We will discuss the steps necessary to hold employees accountable and to, when necessary, impose appropriate discipline.  We will discuss the law on employee supervision, rules about which employees can be held accountable and outline best practices on how to improve the personnel function in your township so that you get the best out of any employee.

• Social Media and the Public Sector Workplace - The use (and more often misuse) of social media by employees has been a substantial issue in determining whether an employee’s social media posts (both on and off duty) can either be regulated by an employer.  We will cover all the rules necessary to determine when an individual’s online posts can be subject to discipline and when they cannot.

• Medical Marijuana in the Workplace - Employers are seeing an increase in individuals seeking to use medical marijuana cards across all industries.  Many townships have seen the same increase.  In this session, we discuss best practices to address employees who test positive for drugs and how to engage on the issue of legalized marijuana use in the public sector.

• Employment Contracts, Agreements, Side Letters, and “Understandings” - Many individual employees have different working arrangements with townships including “contracts” which may or may not be legal.  We will break down who in a township can have a contract and what agreements with employees are binding and why.  We will examine common misunderstandings regarding what employers can—and cannot—do.

• Municipal Employment Jeopardy - Moderated by PSATS staff, Eckert lawyers and their teams will compete against each other to earn bragging rights by answering questions about labor and employment law.  Yes, there will be a Daily Double.

Date:

               December 5, 2022

Time:

              9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Lycoming County
                 Holiday Inn Williamsport
                 100 Pine Street
                 Williamsport, PA 17701

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $ 125.00

                CLE Credits - $ 75.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

In this webinar, Tricia Springer, an experienced practitioner before the Office of Open Records, will provide the latest insight into what is confidential and what cannot be considered confidential in the workplace. She will use real world examples to make sure that your records are properly protected.  She will also discuss the increasing use of electronic data in the workplace and who can access that data.

Qualifies for 1 PMGA Administration Point

Eligible for 1 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credit

Date:

               November 16, 2022

Time:

                12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 30.00

                Non-Member –  $ 40.00

                CLE Credit - $ 15.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

This class is a must-attend for anyone who has responsibility for HR and personnel management in their township. In this seminar, the team from Eckert Seamans will detail what to expect in human resources and labor relations.

Qualifies for 5 PMGA Administrative Points

Eligible for 5 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

Agenda:

The agenda for this event will include the following topics, several of which will be offered as breakout sessions:

• And Then This Happened: The Year in Review (Plus….a Look Ahead) - This session focuses on developments in labor and employment law over the past year.  We will discuss recent employment law cases that affect townships of all sizes.  Given the pace of change in 2022 so far, an hour may not be sufficient time to cover all the developments in this fluid area of the law. We will also discuss how the recent state and federal elections may impact the world of municipal employment in the coming years.

• Correcting Employees – What Works and What Does Not - We will discuss the steps necessary to hold employees accountable and to, when necessary, impose appropriate discipline.  We will discuss the law on employee supervision, rules about which employees can be held accountable and outline best practices on how to improve the personnel function in your township so that you get the best out of any employee.

• Social Media and the Public Sector Workplace - The use (and more often misuse) of social media by employees has been a substantial issue in determining whether an employee’s social media posts (both on and off duty) can either be regulated by an employer.  We will cover all the rules necessary to determine when an individual’s online posts can be subject to discipline and when they cannot.

• Medical Marijuana in the Workplace - Employers are seeing an increase in individuals seeking to use medical marijuana cards across all industries.  Many townships have seen the same increase.  In this session, we discuss best practices to address employees who test positive for drugs and how to engage on the issue of legalized marijuana use in the public sector.

• Employment Contracts, Agreements, Side Letters, and “Understandings” - Many individual employees have different working arrangements with townships including “contracts” which may or may not be legal.  We will break down who in a township can have a contract and what agreements with employees are binding and why.  We will examine common misunderstandings regarding what employers can—and cannot—do.

• Selecting and Training Supervisors - Most townships have a limited staff.  How do you select the manager or supervisor that will get the most out of a small staff?  What does that person need to know?  We will examine common issues with selection and training that can either elevate a workforce or make life much more difficult.  The goal is to identify a way in which selection and training can result in a net positive for the office.

• Difficult Words and Difficult Conversations - These days what you say can get you in trouble.  Using best practices, we will explain what you can say in the workplace and which conversations will get you in legal trouble.  We will apply that across the spectrum from hiring to termination and everything in between using examples from cases we have tried.

• Municipal Employment Jeopardy - Moderated by PSATS staff, Eckert lawyers and their teams will compete against each other to earn bragging rights by answering questions about labor and employment law.  Yes, there will be a Daily Double.

Date:

               November 15, 2022

Time:

              9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Montgomery County
                 Holiday Inn Lansdale
                 1750 Sumneytown Pike
                 Kulpsville, PA 19943

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $ 125.00

                CLE Credits - $ 75.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

This seminar will cover a wide variety of emerging and important trends and issues vital to the practice of every municipal solicitor. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from experts and network with your peers from around the state.

This class is eligible for 5 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits.

9:00 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast Begins

9:25 AM Welcome and Introduction

Scott E. Coburn, Esquire

Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors

9:30 AM A Wawa in My Backyard? Lessons from a Recent Land Use Appeal

Catherine M. “Kate” Harper, Esquire, Timoney Knox LLP

This session will focus on the Commonwealth Court’s recent decision in Conshohocken Borough v. Conshohocken Borough ZHB, which involved the proposed development of a Wawa in a residential/office zoning district. The case addressed numerous issues, including: (1) spot zoning; (2) advertising deficiencies; (3) a bias challenge; and (4) expert issues, that municipal solicitors are likely to face with their own clients.

10:30 AM Best Practices for Buying and Selling Municipal Real Estate

Thomas H. Dinkelacker, Esquire, Norris McLaughlin P.A.

The focus of this session will be on the municipal codes that govern the purchase and sale of municipal real estate, as well as eminent domain and the impact of the Donated and Dedicated Property Act.

 
11:30 AM Break

 11:40 AM TBD

Ryan Cassidy, Esquire and Scott Blissman, Esquire

12:40 PM Lunch

1:20 PM Recent Case Law Update

Joan E. London, Esquire, Kozloff Stoudt

This session will cover all of new decisions from the Pennsylvania appellate courts and federal courts that are of interest to solicitors.

2:20 PM Break

2:30 PM TBD

Christopher P. Gerber, Esquire, Andrew M. Rongaus, Esquire, & Sheryl L. Brown, Esquire, Siana Law

3:30 PM Adjournment

PSATS 2022 SOLICITORS ASSOCIATION SPONSOR 
 

Date:

               November 10, 2022

Time:

              9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:

               Doubletree by Hilton Plymouth Meeting
               640 Fountain Road
               Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 175.00

                Non-Member –  $ 225.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

PSATS’ Regional Forums are back! This series of full-day educational sessions is scheduled for multiple locations statewide. Learn more about issues that matter to your community, discuss common interests with other local leaders, earn PMGA and other professional credits, and attend specialized workshops designed for township officials. This educational event will be the perfect opportunity to hear from experts on the local issues that matter to you and your municipality.

* Handouts will be emailed to registrants the week of the event. No hard-copy handouts will be distributed at the forum.

Date:

               November 1, 2022

Time:

                9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Lehigh County
                 Hyatt Place Allentown/Lehigh Valley
                 621 Grange Road 
                 Allentown, PA 18106

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $149.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

This class is a must-attend for anyone who has responsibility for HR and personnel management in their township. In this seminar, the team from Eckert Seamans will detail what to expect in human resources and labor relations.

Qualifies for 5 PMGA Administrative Points

Eligible for 5 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits

Agenda:

The agenda for this event will include the following topics:

• And Then This Happened: The Year in Review (Plus….A Look Ahead) - This session focuses on developments in labor and employment law over the past year.  We will discuss recent employment law cases that affect townships of all sizes.  Given the pace of change in 2022 so far, an hour may not be sufficient time to cover all the developments in this fluid area of the law. We will also discuss how the recent state and federal elections may impact the world of municipal employment in the coming years.

• Correcting Employees – What Works and What Does Not - We will discuss the steps necessary to hold employees accountable and to, when necessary, impose appropriate discipline.  We will discuss the law on employee supervision, rules about which employees can be held accountable and outline best practices on how to improve the personnel function in your township so that you get the best out of any employee.

• Social Media and the Public Sector Workplace - The use (and more often misuse) of social media by employees has been a substantial issue in determining whether an employee’s social media posts (both on and off duty) can either be regulated by an employer.  We will cover all the rules necessary to determine when an individual’s online posts can be subject to discipline and when they cannot.

• Medical Marijuana in the Workplace - Employers are seeing an increase in individuals seeking to use medical marijuana cards across all industries.  Many townships have seen the same increase.  In this session, we discuss best practices to address employees who test positive for drugs and how to engage on the issue of legalized marijuana use in the public sector.

• Employment Contracts, Agreements, Side Letters, and “Understandings” - Many individual employees have different working arrangements with townships including “contracts” which may or may not be legal.  We will break down who in a township can have a contract and what agreements with employees are binding and why.  We will examine common misunderstandings regarding what employers can—and cannot—do.

• Municipal Employment Jeopardy - Moderated by PSATS staff, Eckert lawyers and their teams will compete against each other to earn bragging rights by answering questions about labor and employment law.  Yes, there will be a Daily Double.

Date:

               October 27, 2022

Time:

              9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Allegheny County
                 Doubletree by Hilton Pittsburgh-Monroeville
                 101 Mall Blvd.
                 Monroeville, PA 15146

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $ 125.00

                CLE Credits - $ 75.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

PSATS’ Regional Forums are back! This series of full-day educational sessions is scheduled for multiple locations statewide. Learn more about issues that matter to your community, discuss common interests with other local leaders, earn PMGA and other professional credits, and attend specialized workshops designed for township officials. This educational event will be the perfect opportunity to hear from experts on the local issues that matter to you and your municipality.

* Handouts will be emailed to registrants the week of the event. No hard-copy handouts will be distributed at the forum.

Date:

               October 25, 2022

Time:

                9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Centre County
                 Wyndham Garden State College
                 310 Elks Club Road 
                 Boalsburg, PA 16827

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $149.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

This webinar will review all of the ways in which municipal officials and employees can get tripped up with the Ethics Act. Mary Fox, the Ethics Commission’s Executive Director, will cover conflicts of interest, voting conflicts, statements of interest, requesting advisory opinions, and much more, as well as provide tips for how your municipality can best avoid finding itself in the unwanted spotlight due to an Ethics Act issue.

Qualifies for 1 PMGA Administration Point

Eligible for 1 Continuing Legal Education credit (CLE) (1 Ethics)

Date:

               October 19, 2022

Time:

                12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 30.00

                Non-Member –  $ 40.00

                CLE Credit - $ 15.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

PSATS’ Regional Forums are back! This series of full-day educational sessions is scheduled for multiple locations statewide. Learn more about issues that matter to your community, discuss common interests with other local leaders, earn PMGA and other professional credits, and attend specialized workshops designed for township officials. This educational event will be the perfect opportunity to hear from experts on the local issues that matter to you and your municipality.

* Handouts will be emailed to registrants the week of the event. No hard-copy handouts will be distributed at the forum.

Agenda:

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

* Welcome and Introductions

David M. Sanko, Executive Director, PSATS, and Scott E. Coburn, Esquire, Counsel & Director of Education, PSATS

9:15 - 10:15 a.m.

* Building Great Teams

Teams today are different from the teams of the past: they’re far more diverse, spread out, and dynamic (with frequent changes in membership). But while teams face new hurdles, their success still hinges on a core set of fundamentals for group collaboration. This session will be an interactive workshop that will have you questioning your previous perceptions of teamwork and embarking on a journey of discovery for priming teams of today for success.

Jim Carchidi, Chief Enthusiasm Officer, JFC Staffing Companies

10:25 - 11:25 a.m. (choose one)

* Steps to Take After Your Municipal Audit

In this session, municipal auditors will review best practices to ensure that your township’s audit process goes as smoothly as possible. We will cover what to communicate with your auditors between audits, the review of the audit by the board and municipal management, and potential areas in which your municipality can improve.

Kevin Stouffer, CPA, and Krista M. Gardner, CPA, SEK CPAs & Advisors
 

* TBD

TBD

Sam Wiser, Esquire, Salzmann Hughes, P.C.

11:35 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. (choose one)

* Right-to-Know Law Update 

This session will review new developments and cases that impact the administration of the Right-to-Know Law, discuss common problem issues, such as specificity, requests for information from databases, and preparing affidavits, and provide tips and best practices to allow you to respond to requests more effectively. 

Liz Wagenseller, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Office of Open Records 
 

* Five Policies Every Township Should Have

In this fast-paced session, we will review several key policies that every township should have in place to better protect itself and position its staff to achieve the township’s goals.  

Scott E. Coburn, Esquire, Counsel & Director of Education, PSATS 

12:35 - 1:15 p.m.    * Lunch

1:15 - 2:15 p.m. (choose one)

* Solar Energy Ordinances – Notes from the Trenches

Andy and Cory have represented numerous utility-scale solar projects or “solar farms,” obtained zoning and land development approvals from townships across Pennsylvania and assisted multiple municipal clients to prepare and adopt solar ordinances. They will give an overview of typical parts of a solar ordinance and provide their own insights on what is most important in those ordinances. They will discuss zoning and overlay districts, fencing, setbacks, screening, stormwater management, agrivoltaics, panels, noxious weeds, toxicity, glare, noise, property values, off-site transmission lines,  and battery storage. They will also share some of their “notes from the trenches” about what is working and not working in real life and touch on the status of the pending decommissioning and community solar legislation in Pennsylvania and how those bills may further change the landscape for solar development.

Andrew J. Miller, Esquire, & Cory J. Dillinger, Esquire, MPL Law Firm, LLP
 

* Tips for Using Social Media to Better Communicate with Your Residents

It is no secret that more and more residents rely on social media for information. Social media provides townships with excellent opportunities to reach more of their residents in a very timely and cost-effective manner, whether it is to inform them about public safety concerns, upcoming events, or other township matters. In this session, you will learn ways to better utilize social media for the benefit of your townships and your residents, including through examples from other local municipalities.

Jeannette Magaro, Owner, Storytelling Marketing Communications

2:30 - 3:30 p.m. (choose one)

* QuickBooks Tips and Tricks

This session will cover a variety of timely topics and how you can best use QuickBooks to navigate them. This will include accounting for American Rescue Plan Act reporting, annual reports, and budgeting.

Bonnie Aleshire, Support Accountant Supervisor, SEK CPAs & Advisors
 

* How Can We Better Recruit Volunteer Firefighters

This session will share case studies of what works and does not work when recruiting volunteer firefighters and, more importantly, discuss the changes that are necessary to keep people volunteering. The same principles discussed here can also be used when seeking volunteers for boards and commissions.

Jerry Ozog, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

* Q&A and Open Discussion

4:00 p.m.

* Program Concludes

Date:

               October 11, 2022

Time:

                9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location:

                 Adams County
                Wyndham Gettysburg
                95 Presidential Circle 
                Gettysburg, PA 17325

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $149.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.

PSATS’ Regional Forums are back! This series of full-day educational sessions is scheduled for multiple locations statewide. Learn more about issues that matter to your community, discuss common interests with other local leaders, earn PMGA and other professional credits, and attend specialized workshops designed for township officials. This educational event will be the perfect opportunity to hear from experts on the local issues that matter to you and your municipality.

* Handouts will be emailed to registrants the week of the event. No hard-copy handouts will be distributed at the forum.

Agenda:

9:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions

David M. Sanko, Executive Director, PSATS, and Scott E. Coburn, Esquire, Counsel & Director of Education, PSATS

9:15 - 10:15 a.m. (choose one)

* Right-to-Know Law Update

This session will review new developments and cases that impact the administration of the Right-to-Know Law, discuss common problem issues, such as specificity, requests for information from databases, and preparing affidavits, and provide tips and best practices to allow you to respond to requests more effectively.

Nathan Byerly, Deputy Director, Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

* Preparing for a DEP MS4 Inspection

In this session, the presenters will share the experience that one municipality in the region recently had when DEP inspected the municipality’s MS4 program. They will also provide tips so that you can be better prepared if and when DEP shows up at your municipal building.

Beth Uhler, Project Manager, CEDARVILLE Engineering Group, and Jon Altshul, Manager, Westtown Township, Chester County

10:25 a.m. - 11:25 a.m. (choose one)

* Stranger Things: The Case for a 4-Day, 36-Hour Workweek

As the issues faced by municipalities become more complex and time-consuming and as the general job market becomes increasingly challenging and competitive, municipalities have to be more creative to make themselves attractive to potential candidates. In this session, learn about how one township researched the pros and cons associated with a shorter workweek and how implementation of its new policy has worked.

Jamie Gwynn, Manager, New Hanover Township, Montgomery County

* Operational and Financial Considerations for Electric Vehicles

This session will feature a panel discussion regarding the operational and financial issues that municipalities must consider with respect to the use of electric vehicles within their borders, including zoning considerations, methods to encourage placement of charging stations, and choosing providers for EV charging stations for municipal and public use.

Scott Petri, Principal, ParkTrans Solutions, LLC, and Kevin Woznicki, Principal, ParkTrans Solutions, LLC

11:35 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. (choose one)

* Local Regulation of Grid-Scale Solar Projects

Many townships are experiencing an increase in permit applications from solar project developers. This session will share insights from research conducted by Penn State about solar projects at the local level while focusing on common elements in solar zoning ordinances and communication strategies for community discussion of solar projects.

Tom Murphy, Director, Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research

* Zoning Trends 2022-2023

Join Michael Crotty and Eric Brown to discuss old, new and emerging zoning uses. The discussion will touch on short term rentals, shooting ranges, wedding barns/event venues, warehouse distribution facilities, and residential accessory animals. Apart from highlighting recent caselaw or legislation affecting these uses, the goal in each case study is to evaluate the challenges that each use presents from a zoning perspective, common neighbor complaints/concerns, and best practices for managing them through the zoning and permitting process.

Michael G. Crotty, Esquire, and Eric Brown, Esquire, Siana Law

12:35 - 1:15 p.m.      * Lunch

1:15 - 2:15 p.m.

* Municipal Employment Law Update (and Top 10 List!)

Get caught up on all of the current issues facing municipal employers, as well as be entertained by Pat’s always-popular Top 10 List of things gone wrong in municipal government.

Patrick J. Harvey, Esquire, Campbell Durrant, P.C.

2:30 - 3:30 p.m.

* 20 Ways to Improve Your Public Meetings

It's time for your monthly meeting, and you couldn't be more excited! Well, maybe not...which is understandable because public meetings can sometimes get difficult. If you grow a little anxious as meeting day approaches, this session is for you. Learn how to build a better meeting structure, prepare better meeting materials, improve communications with residents, and more!

Tommy Ryan, Manager, Worcester Township, Montgomery County

3:30 – 4:00 p.m.

• Q&A and Open Discussion

Date:

               October 6, 2022

Time:

                9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Location:
                Montgomery County
                Doubletree by Hilton Plymouth Meeting
                640 Fountain Road
                Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462

Registration Fee:

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $149.00

             *PSATS Member = Registrant has paid current annual membership dues to PSATS or one of its professional associations (e.g., Township Emergency Management Association, Township Engineers Association, Township Planners Association, Township Solicitors Association, or the Pa. Assoc. of Zoning Officials).

CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS / NO SHOW POLICY:

Cancellations must be in writing, and can be sent to us by email to cancellations@psats.org; by fax to (717) 763-9732; or by mail to PSATS Education Program, 4855 Woodland Drive, Enola, PA, 17025. Refunds will be determined by the sent date of the notice.
Refunds for cancelling a webinar at any time will be subject to a $10 processing fee. 
For classes, (in-person and virtual), refunds for a cancellation sent to us between 10 and 2 business days before the class you are registered for will be subject to a $20 processing fee. Those who cancel within two business days of the class you are registered for, or do not attend, forfeit the full registration fee which, if unpaid, will be invoiced.

ACCESSIBILITY & OTHER NEEDS:

If you require alternate format, sign language, or have other needs, please contact PSATS directly (717) 763-0930, x-159.