This virtual session will review the top 10 challenges facing volunteer fire departments and identify the responsibilities of the township when it comes to volunteer fire companies. Methods for assessing community expectations will also be discussed. Participants will be provided “show and apply” methods to conduct a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of their current fire service operations and how to develop a standard of response based on public expectations.

Too often, the only communication between the volunteer fire company and a township occurs either at budget time or when a crisis hits. Yet, positive relationships between fire companies and public officials are essential to providing the best possible service to a community. This virtual session will identify why unclear expectations between public officials and fire company leaders can lead to problems and how solutions may be easier than expected. As they say, it’s all about relationships.

This is a separate 2-day virtual event that is designed to meet the educational needs and busy schedules of all those responsible for your municipality’s emergency management program, including elected officials, municipal managers, road crew/public works personnel, and emergency management coordinators (EMCs).

It's no secret that many townships are struggling to provide adequate fire and EMS services. Attend this webinar to hear from and question a panel of fire and EMS leaders ((1) William Jenaway, Chair of Upper Merion Township Board of Supervisors, President, MCATO, President, Congressional Fire Services Institute Board of Directors and President/Assistant Chief, King of Prussia VFC; (2) Bruce Trego, Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner; and (3) Jerry Ozog, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute), and about trends, best practices, and other public safety issues, including leadership, funding, volunteerism, consolidation and what recent legislative efforts may mean for the future of fire and EMS services in your township.

This session will focus on the future of ambulance service and why all levels of government need to be concerned. Topics will include the EMS business model, current funding mechanisms, and short- and long-term solutions.

The best way to handle a crisis is to prevent it. The second best way is to be prepared for it. Having a crisis plan in place before a crisis happens is key to getting your township on the road to recovery. Attend this session led by an accredited public relations counselor to learn: the stages of a crisis; how to go about creating a crisis plan; must-have content for your crisis plan; and best practices for effective communication during a crisis.

Participants will learn the tips & tricks of assigning addresses to the seemingly unaddressable parcels--landlocked, vacant, those with no room in the numbering sequence, and the like.

Attend this session to learn about changes to Pennsylvania's One Call Law and the impact this has on your township's compliance responsibilities. The presenters will explain the Alleged Violation Report (AVR) process and the renotification response requirement for facility owners. They'll also discuss tools to enhance communication and collaboration.

In this workshop, attendees will learn best practices for recruiting and hiring a police chief, including conducting skills assessments, figuring the "fit" for their particular community, and the importance of a thorough background investigation.

During these turbulent times, an assessment of your police department’s use of force policies and internal affairs procedures is recommended for municipal officials responsible for police oversight.