Upcoming Events, Area Workshops & Webinars
PSATS' Webinar Wednesdays fit your busy schedule!
PSATS is offering a series of webinars on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. Each month, the topics will rotate among the four tracks of the PSATS Municipal Government Academy (PMGA): public safety, planning, administration, and public works. PMGA enrollees can earn one secondary credit per webinar. UPCOMING TOPICS
November 6, 2019
FirstNet Public Safety Communications in Pennsylvania This webinar is targeted to policy makers, both elected and appointed, who serve in Pennsylvania townships. The purpose is to inform and educate these policy makers on public safety broadband communications and applications that are being enabled by the National Public Safety Broadband Network, commonly known as FirstNet. Topics that are covered include a brief introduction to FirstNet, Uses and Applications, Planning and Adoption of FirstNet services, and Statewide Communications Inter-operability. November 7, 2019
Weed Better Talk--Understanding the Impact of Medical Marijuana in the Workplace In this webinar, John Martin and Cory Iannacone from Pillar+Aught will discuss what municipal employees and employers can and cannot do when it comes to medical marijuana in the workplace. They will provide answers to questions like “Are we permitted to ask employees if they use medical marijuana?” and “One of our CDL drivers just failed a drug test, but has a medical marijuana card…what now?,” best practices for what should be in your employee policies about medical marijuana, and much more. November 12, 2019
Excel Tips and Tricks Participate in this webinar for a primer on Microsoft Excel. The presenters will demonstrate the software's traditional and non-traditional functions, such as PivotTables, formulas, and graphs. Along the way, township officials and staff will learn valuable Excel tips and tricks and how to transform raw data into useful graphs and tables. November 13, 2019
Economic Ecology™ Community Based Compliance for Floodplain Restoration Economic Ecology™ is a comprehensive approach to meeting regulatory compliance by effectively utilizing resources. Case studies will reveal how a strategic floodplain restoration project can maximize pollutant reductions, create numerous environmental benefits and provide financial incentives for communities. Included is an overview of a proven approach to achieving PRP compliance, actual measurable results and a how-to on leveraging partnerships to create opportunities and fund projects. November 20, 2019
Supervisors Have Rights Too! A Look at Working with Your Elected Auditors In this webinar, Gery Nietupski, an attorney who has navigated through numerous disputes between supervisors and elected auditors, will review all relevant provisions of the Second Class Township Code pertaining to elected auditors, discuss court decisions setting forth the legal authority (or lack thereof) that elected auditors have regarding numerous important issues, including setting wages and benefits of working supervisors and imposing surcharges against supervisors, and offer best practices for how to address other common interactions between supervisors and auditors, including requests for information and copies of township financial records. November 26, 2019
Creating "Green" Public Works Facilities This presentation focuses on case studies of newly designed and renovated public works facilities that incorporate "green" technologies that conserve energy and costs, even as they help the buildings harmonize with their surrounding communities. Gone are the days of "unsightly" garages! December 4, 2019
Codes, Caution & Quality: When You Need Structural Engineer This webinar will help township officials and employees understand when it is best to engage a structural engineer, both in emergency situations and when addressing more routine code violations. The webinar will also help officials and employees understand the code violation process starting with the initial notice of violation, moving through structural inspections, and ending with, in some instances, demotion. December 5, 2019
Understanding Municipal Real Estate Tax Collection During this webinar, learn about the duties and responsibilities of taxing districts and tax collectors. Janis Creason, the treasurer of Dauphin County, will cover a range of topics, including setting compensation, filling vacancies, approving deputies, establishing office hours, bonding, performing end-of-year settlements, approving tax collector fees, and following depository requirements. She will also touch on legislation affecting tax collectors. December 10, 2019
Are You Prepared for Your 2020 Organization Meeting? If you are unsure whether you have everything ready for your township's 2020 Organization Meeting, required to be held the first Monday of January, then make sure to attend this webinar. Holly Fishel of PSATS will review best practices and checklists to help ensure that your township has a smooth organization meeting. December 17, 2019
Under Fire: Trends in Zoning and Validity Challenges This year has seen a reemergence of development pressure and, with it, the return of validity challenges of old from those wanting to shake free of land use restrictions. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a recent decision involving the regulation of short-term rentals, signaled a shift in thinking about how zoning ordinances are to be interpreted (in the context of a validity challenge). Join Michael Crotty of Siana Bellwoar as he uses these events to highlight the importance of familiarizing municipal planners and officials with the legal framework and processes behind validity challenges. December 18, 2019
Preventing Fraud in Local Government This webinar will explore fraud in local government with real-life examples. Along the way, municipal officials and employees will learn proactive steps they can take to prevent fraud and how to respond when they suspect something is amiss. |
2019 BRC Grant WorkshopThis video will guide the applicant through the grant process for the 2019 DCNR C2P2 Grant Portal.
LEMC Quarterly Meeting
Townships and boroughs please send your Local Emergency Management Coordinator to the LEMC Quarterly Meeting which will be held on the 16th of October at the Clarion County Administration Building at 330 Main Street. It will start at 6:00 PM and usually last 2 hours. Guest speaker this time is from the Red Cross.
Under Pennsylvania's Emergency Management Service Code (Title 35); each individual township, borough, and city in the state; must have a Local Emergency Management Coordinator (LEMC). These LEMCs, after recommendations from their Township Supervisors and/or Borough Councils, are appointed by the Governor of Pennsylvania and must meet certain training requirements within one year of their appointment. The LEMC is responsible for the emergency management planning, administration, and operations for their township or borough; subject to the direction and control of the executive officer or governing body of said township or borough. When a disaster strikes or an emergency occurs; the LEMCs along with their elected officials, are responsible for the public safety of their residents. By maintaining an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Notification and Resource Manual (NARM), the LEMCs are able to prepare their township or borough for almost any type of incident that may occur. If the individual township or borough is overwhelmed by any disaster or emergency; the LEMC and the local elected officials make a Disaster Declaration; then the LEMC will work hand in hand with the Clarion County Emergency Management Agency. 
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