News & Insights

Sometimes, it takes one question to reveal a deeper issue. That was the case in recent township supervisors meeting, where the board was debating a proposed “nuisance ordinance.” The community is somewhat rural in nature, and typically few residents attend the supervisors meetings. But during this ordinance vote, it only took one question from one constituent to show that there was more to the “nuisance ordinance” issue than originally thought. “Just what constitutes a nuisan

The average citizen who uses a public sewer system tends to have a mindset of “flush and forget” when it comes to sewage. The importance of quality oversight of your municipal sewer system cannot be overstated. It is not uncommon for a municipality to fall behind in the critical review of its system and how it operates, leading to sometimes desperate and very expensive remedies that could have been avoided if professional help had been utilized early on, before the system rea

I’ve often said: “If you don’t have a base, you don’t have a road.” That’s literally true in road management, and figuratively true in...

In the world of local government, much attention is often given to the role of the municipal manager—the individual who oversees...

In local government, the role of a municipal manager is critical. These individuals oversee daily operations, implement policies, guide...

In local government, integrity and transparency are non-negotiable. Public officials are entrusted with serving the community's best...

The recent arson attack on the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg – while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were home sleeping – has...

The world is full of walls. A wall can symbolize protection and separation but can also divide and restrict people and ideas. Some of you...

When you think about local governance, Homeowner Associations (HOAs) are probably not the first things to come to mind. But that may soon be changing.

Remember the days when the local volunteer fire department was the hub of activity for the community? The firehouse was a social meeting...

Recently there has been a surge by some municipalities to utilize online platforms that may be beneficial for local government in...

Municipal managers are responsible for the daily operations of virtually every part of municipal government – but not the operation of a...

When discussing municipal authorities, two key types are often contrasted: operating municipal authorities and financial-only municipal...

In public office – whether you’re an elected official or a municipal manager or department head – it’s pretty much inevitable that at...

Do you mean to tell me you’ve never heard of the Amish Outhouse Controversy of 2004?   Well, after more than two decades of legal...

In Pennsylvania, municipalities are required by law to ensure emergency medical services (EMS) are available for residents when needed....

Borough manager positions are increasingly difficult to fill – especially with candidates who have the breadth and depth of experience,...

In local government operations, the “right of way” denotes the legal right of the government to use or control a specific area of land.

The municipal secretary often plays a crucial but largely unrecognized role in the administration and smooth functioning of local...

Sometimes, it just takes one tiny word to completely change the meaning of an entire sentence. Such is the case with “may” versus...