PSATS Southwest 2023 Regional Forum - 8/29/23 - Cranberry Township

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.

Eligible for 5 PMGA Administration points

Eligible for 3 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits

Agenda:

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking

9:00 - 9:10 a.m.

Welcome and Introductions

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

9:10 - 10:05 a.m. (choose one)

* Planning for Recreation, Parks, and Public Spaces (1 PMGA Planning/Zoning Point)

This session will address the opportunities and challenges associated with providing your community with quality recreational facilities and programs. Representatives from DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation & Conservation and the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society will share the numerous resources that are available for communities. They will discuss various available funding and program options and provide you with links, contacts, and advice on how to tap into these resources. Real-world examples from local communities will be highlighted to inform participants how you utilize these opportunities. There will also be time for participants to ask questions and receive information specific to their situation.

Dan Hendey, CPRP, CPSI, Education Manager, Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society, and Adriene Smochek, Regional Advisor, Southwest Regional Office, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

* Police Regionalization: Legal Issues and Best Practices (1 PMGA Public Safety Point)

Widespread recruitment issues and municipal funding difficulties have more local governments considering the consolidation of law enforcement agencies. This discussion will address the legal authorization for consolidation, the process by which it occurs, and the various forms of consolidation, including regionalization. We will also discuss collective bargaining obligations relating to the establishment of consolidated or regional police departments and the handling of pensions for officers of participating municipalities.

Joshua Hausman, Esquire, Campbell Durrant, P.C.

10:15 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. (choose one)

* Expanding Broadband Service in Your Community (1 PMGA Admin Point)

This session will provide a practical guide to expanding broadband service in your township. It will first discuss preparing a broadband feasibility study and then provide a step-by-step plan for coordinating and administering the buildout of a wireless and/or wired network. A key component will be tapping available federal funds for broadband deployment.

Daniel S. Cohen, Esq., Founder, Cohen Law Group

* Workforce in Crisis: Shifting the Total Rewards Outlook (1 PMGA Admin Point)

There is a workforce crisis.....Conditions are constantly changing, and it is especially hard for municipalities to compete with the private sector. In this session, we will discuss how your municipality can adopt a total compensation approach by creating offerings to address the demands within today’s workforce. These options permit tradeoffs of various parts of total compensation and provide flexibility for employees so that you can attract and retain the best employees.

Elliot N. Dinkin, President/CEO, Cowden Associates, Inc.

11:20 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. (choose one)

* How to Leverage Different Types of Plans to Maximize Value for Your Community (1 PMGA Planning/Zoning Point)

Planning ensures you are working toward community goals efficiently by focusing and prioritizing your efforts.  It can also improve your position for grants and subsidized loans, but there are so many different types of plans: Comprehensive Plans vs Comprehensive Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plans, Master Site Plans, Active Transportation Plans, and more.  What’s the difference between each plan? Which ones does your community need? How do they work together and with broader regional plans? How do you leverage them for funding and collaboration opportunities to stretch your budget further?  We will answer these questions and more in this informative session.

Laura Ludwig, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc.

* The Ethics Act: A Short Guide on How to Stay Out of the News (1 PMGA Admin Point)

This session will provide attendees with real-world examples of Ethics Act violations and help attendees spot, address, and avoid such violations.

Mary Fox, Executive Director, State Ethics Commission

12:15 - 1:00 p.m.

* Lunch

1:00 - 1:55 p.m. (choose one)

* Hot Button Issues in the Volunteer Fire Service (1 PMGA Public Safety Point)

We will discuss several key issues currently impacting municipalities and volunteer fire companies. These include volunteer fire training, standards of cover, fire relief, junior firefighters, and recruitment and retention. There will be opportunities for attendees to share their successes and challenges.

Tracie Young-Brungard BS, EMTP, RRC, Administrator, Recruitment & Retention, Office of the State Fire Commissioner

* The Implementable Comprehensive Plan, From Top to Bottom (1 PMGA Planning/Zoning Point)

This session will give participants a thorough overview of the implementable comprehensive plan. Topics will include: • What is an implementable comprehensive plan, and how does it differ from a traditional comprehensive plan? • Why should my municipality, or municipalities, choose an implementable comprehensive plan? • What are some examples/success stories for implementable comprehensive plans?  • What resources are available for funding implementable comprehensive plans?

Honey Stempka, Local Government Planning Specialist, Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

2:05 – 3:00 p.m. (choose one)

* Preparing for a DEP MS4 Inspection (1 PMGA Public Works Point)

This session will highlight a case study from one township that had its MS4 stormwater program inspected by DEP. You will learn tips about practices that your township can implement so that you are better prepared if and when DEP shows up at your township building.

Beth Uhler, Pennsylvania Director, Center for Watershed Protection, Inc.

* Preventing and Responding to Fraud: A Case Study (1 PMGA Admin Point)

This presentation will include the case study of a fraud at the Borough of Dormont. Topics to be covered will include how to identify potential fraud, commonly seen red flags, internal controls that may prevent or detect fraud, and suggestions for how to respond once fraud is discovered.

Krista M. Watt, Assistant Borough Manager, Borough of Dormont; Brian F. Webster, CPA/ABV/CFF, CMA, CVA, Director, Schneider Downs Consulting; Bernard J. Rafferty, CPA, CFE, Manager, Schneider Downs Consulting

3:10 – 3:40 p.m.

* Municipal Jeopardy (.5 PMGA Admin Point)

Test your knowledge of important aspects of township government so that you are better prepared to lead and manage your townships.

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

3:40 – 4:00 p.m.

* Open Forum and Q&A

David M. Sanko, Executive Director, PSATS

Date:

               August 29, 2023

Time:

                9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Location:

                Butler County
                Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Cranberry
                2000 Garden View Lane
                Cranberry Township, PA 16066
 

Registration Fee:   - Each Regional Forum registration is partially funded through a scholarship provided by the Pennsylvania Leadership Institute.   

                Member* -  $ 99.00

                Non-Member –  $149.00 

                CLE Credits - $ 45.00                                          

        *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.