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Newly Elected Officials Course

Newly Elected Officials Course. “Intergovernmental Cooperation and Relationships” Thursday, February 21, 2008 Michael Foreman Governor’s Center for Local Government Services 412 565-5199 Fax: 412 565-7983 mforeman@state.pa.us www.newpa.com. What is Intergovernmental Cooperation? .

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Newly Elected Officials Course

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  1. Newly Elected Officials Course “Intergovernmental Cooperation and Relationships” Thursday, February 21, 2008 Michael Foreman Governor’s Center for Local Government Services 412 565-5199 Fax: 412 565-7983 mforeman@state.pa.uswww.newpa.com Local Government Academy

  2. What is Intergovernmental Cooperation? • PA Constitution (Article IX-Local Government, Section 5) • Intergovernmental Cooperation Law • Municipalities Authorities Act • Municipalities Planning Code • Local Tax Enabling Act • Uniform Construction Code • Municipal Codes Local Government Academy

  3. Why Do It? • Reduce duplication and overlap in service delivery and administration • Reduce Fragmentation • Reduce rate of cost increases - Cost Sharing • Improve Service – Bring greater resources to service delivery and admin • New Service Local Government Academy

  4. Why Do It? • Necessity – Meet Local and Regional Need • Preserve Local Autonomy • Economies of Scale Local Government Academy

  5. Who Can Do It? • Two or more municipalities, school districts, municipal authorities, planning commissions, zoning hearing boards, tax & UCC appeals boards, etc. • County and its Municipalities • State, County and Municipalities • State and Municipalities (COSTARS; AGILITY) Local Government Academy

  6. When To Do It? • Mutual Interest • Common Concerns • Community of Interest – Geographic • Regional Focus • Win-Win Outcome • Issues NOT Personalities • Timing Local Government Academy

  7. Where To Do It? • Sharing of: • Personnel • Delivery of Services • Administration • Vehicles • Equipment • Facility Local Government Academy

  8. Where To Do It? • Sharing of: • Professional Services • Joint Bidding • Infrastructure • Pooling Local Government Academy

  9. How To Do It? • Informal Arrangement (Handshake) • Formal Agreement – ordinance/resolution • Council of Governments (COG’s) • Service Delivery Associations • Other Organizations (SPC, ALCOSAN, MAWC, Insurance Trust, etc.) Local Government Academy

  10. How To Do It? • Contract for Services • Functional Consolidation of Services • Establishment of Policy Board to oversee service delivery and administration and liaison to governing body Local Government Academy

  11. Examples • Cooperative Piggyback Purchasing Program • Shared Public Works Program – Vehicles, Equipment, Facilities • Shared Code Enforcement Officers • Regional Police Departments • Joint Competitive Bidding • Revenue Sharing (Homestead Waterfront) Local Government Academy

  12. How To Get Started… • Start with service/program/activity that is relatively non-controversial • Establish policy board made up of representatives of participating municipalities to oversee administration and service delivery once commitment exists (officers, bylaws, meetings, policies, services, funding, etc.) Local Government Academy

  13. How To Get Started… • Have regularly scheduled meetings to discuss proposed project to be undertaken; once implemented, continue to meet to monitor progress, troubleshoot, set policy, etc. • Come to consensus on how to deal with personnel and administrative matters (wages, benefits, collective bargaining, adding new participants, apportion cost, liability and conflict resolution, etc.) • Identify start-up costs, direct/indirect ongoing operating and capital costs relative to implementation over multi-year period. Local Government Academy

  14. How To Get Started… • Assure there is administrative capacity to manage and oversee implementation of intergovernmental cooperative program on regular basis (payroll, recordkeeping, day-to-day operations, timely appropriation of funds, chain of command & capital purchasing) • Review and evaluate program/project to make improvements, changes and accommodations on regular basis Local Government Academy

  15. Obstacles To Intergovernmental Cooperation • Inability to reach consensus or agreement on how to undertake program or distribute costs among participants (cost distribution formula, frequency of use of service, need greater than program can meet) • Clashing of Personalities • Political Rivalries • Parochial View • Historical Animosities Local Government Academy

  16. Obstacles To Intergovernmental Cooperation • Lack of Interest or Resistance to Change • Lack of Funds (including grant funds) • Perception of Loss of Local Control, or Autonomy of Service Provided • Geographic Location • Lack of ongoing commitment to continue Local Government Academy

  17. What Do You Think? • Opportunities • Impediments • Case Studies • Greatest Need/Common Interest • Political Considerations • Fear of Giving up Authority • Power in Numbers • What does tax paying public expect or perceive? Local Government Academy

  18. What Do You Think? • Resistance • Feasibility • Cost Savings • Cost Containment • Essential Governmental Functions • Proprietary Activity • Collaboration/Sharing • Policy-Making Body Representation Local Government Academy

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