PORT ALLEGANY — An official of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors who spoke Thursday at the 106th annual convention of the McKean County Association of Township Supervisors mentioned the importance of networking with these local government leaders.
James Wheeler, development director, CDL/TEMA/Environment, said, “Not only do we need to know our neighbors as we deal with their needs, but events like this convention are beneficial since this where we get to know each other. The young learn from the veteran supervisors.”
Wheeler then shared some experiences of the benefits of supervisors knowing each other and how this friendship resulted in positive outcomes. He then asked the audience how many met someone new today and how many learned something new today.
Wheeler said this familiarity is especially important for the township coordinators of emergency management services as they deal with a variety of serious cases. A good way to know other EMA coordinators, Wheeler noted, is by joining the Township Emergency Association that sponsors programs on the best emergency management practices and technical assistance.
PSATS, Wheeler noted, was founded in 1921, and shortly thereafter, Governor Gifford Pinchot, the famous conservationist, initiated his campaign to “get the farmers out of the mud,” and the state allocated funding for improving these rural roads, which form an integral part of the state’s transportation system.
Today, there is state funding through the Dirt and Gravel Roads Program, a partnership between PSATS and Trout Unlimited, for unpaved roads that cause stream pollution.
“This program has been so successful that its funding has increased from $5 million to $34 million,” said Wheeler.
Wheeler also commented on PSATSs various training opportunities, saying, “Education is important because residents expect you to do the right thing, and mistakes cost money.”
Wheeler pointed to the PSATs Boot Camp, where new and veteran supervisors can learn more about their everyday duties in governing a municipality.
Making education even more important is the fact that many of the newer generation of supervisors do not serve as long as their predecessors, making it difficult to pass on knowledge, according to Wheeler.
“Traffic Incident Management” is a PSATS-sponsored safety-on-the-road program for firemen, police officers and road crews to allow them to come home safely.
Additional training is available through PSATs Regional Fall Forums that feature programs on township issues and are held around the state.
Wheeler mentioned PSATs Salary Survey, which uses townships’ year-round data to create custom reports that are available only to those townships that enter data.
In his remarks, Barry Mayes, local government services coordinator for the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, spoke briefly about this agency’s different areas of economic development. In particular, he spoke about the Local Technical Assistance Program and its training in transportation technology.
Mayes has assisted Hamlin Township with road posting and bonding projects.
Those townships that are considering infrastructure projects with the help of the Appalachian Regional Commission should contact Bob Rusiewski at North Central because of the process and time limit involved, Mayes advised.
“This could be a two-year process,” he added.
Also representing North Central was Bert Lahrman, the transportation planning coordinator. He spoke about The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s Connects Program, which, according to the agency, improves planning for transportation projects through consideration of changing technology and demographics.
Lafayette Township Supervisor Chairman John Ryan, who also chairs the association’s nominating committee, announced a vacancy in the office of second vice-president.
“After four years, this person will automatically move up to president,” said Ryan.
