FEDERATION OF NORTHERN CHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITIES

 

Charles Jacob, Chair Lisa Lacroix, Vice Chair Miriam Newman, Secretary Stan Stubbe, Treasurer

P.O.Box 130 lisadan88@comcast.net newman.miriam2@gmail.com 1438 Shaner Drive
St. Peters, PA 19470 Pottstown, PA 19465
warwicktwp@aol.com csstubbe@gmail.com

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF JUNE 11, 2013

Municipal Members:

Charles Jacob, Jack Stefferud Warwick

Lisa Lacroix West Pikeland

Mariea Geho, Kathryn Alexis East Coventry

Stan Stubbe North Coventry

Sara Shick West Vincent

Bill Nesley South Coventry

Call to Order – Chairman Jacob called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

Review of Minutes of May 14: Motion to approve by Stan Stubbe, seconded by Lisa Lacroix. All in favor.

Treasurer’s Report: Checking $1,198.12, Savings $8,052.32, Total $9,250.44. There was one expenditure for $120 for secretarial services. Motion by Mariea Geho, seconded by Lisa Lacroix, to approve treasurer’s report. All in favor.

Presentation: Guy Donatelli, a partner in the Litigation Department at Lamb McErlane and solicitor to two local townships and a school district, spoke about legal issues faced by regional planning bodies. The Northern Federation is seeking his advice in helping develop an organizational structure and bylaws everyone feels comfortable with. He felt we should consider the following: 1) do we want to maintain immunity as governmental officers; 2) do we want to have the ability to borrow money; 3) do we want to have the ability to take advantage of bids and grants; 4) if the Federation wants to depart from a given direction, how can we best act on a project; 5) do we want to be an entity that has a revenue stream?

One model studied for his presentation was Municipal Planning Code Commissions. The Federation is not constituted in that manner. An example would be DARC, a consortium funded by member municipalities and covered by a Statement of Financial Interest, public meetings and advertisement. Mr. Donatelli studied various authorities, councils of government, etc.

Some Councils of Government programs include ambulance services, fire departments, flood insurers, canine teams, dog law enforcement, police departments in other areas, etc. Some share zoning officers.

Consortiums would be a second choice, but he did not advise this form of organization as some protections would be lost.

Note that an agreement for a Council of Government would contain the dues structure, content of ordinances, specific conditions of the agreement, duration, purposes and specifications of the agreement, manner and extent of financing the agreement, organizational structure (bylaws), manner in which real or personal property can be acquired and disposed of, and enter into contracts of insurance and benefits. It is necessary to select an institution for banking purposes. Someone is appointed to sign checks. Periodic audits are conducted.

Mr. Donatelli will send Lisa Lacroix attachments and links for members regarding COG programs. Examples can be seen at www.PACOG.com. He is working pro bono at this time but may need to charge for future services to the Northern Federation.

Announcements:

Upper Uwchlan Block Party will be held Saturday night from 6 – 9 p.m. on Route 100.

 

There will be a meeting of the By-Laws Committee on June 26 at 7 p.m. at the Warwick Township Building. A final draft of the bylaws will be attached to these minutes.

The July and August meetings of the Northern Federation have been waived. Our next meeting will be Tuesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. at the Warwick Township Building.

 There being no further business, a motion was made by Jack Stefferud and seconded by Sara Shick to adjourn at 8:07 p.m. All in favor.

Respectfully submitted:

Miriam Newman

Secretary

Next Meeting: Tuesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. at the Warwick Township building.

 

Att.