Pa. Township News

In the January 2026 Pa. Township News

PSATS Public Works Expo Has a Successful First Run
Nearly 300 municipal attendees descended upon the Poconos for two-plus days of workshops, networking, hands-on demonstrations, and information as pars of PSATS’ first-ever Public Works Expo. PennDOT Executive Deputy Director Larry Shifflet and a panel of Municipal Services representatives answered questions Tuesday, capping an event that truly catered to those who keep townships moving throughout the year.

PSATS Annual Conference & Exhibit Show
The Annual Conference is the capstone of the Association’s educational programs and includes the largest municipal exhibit show in the commonwealth. The four-day event in Hershey, scheduled for April 19-22 at the Hershey Lodge, offers more than 75 educational sessions on the topics that are most important to townships, while providing ample opportunities for networking, discussion, and problem solving. Find out what’s in store for this year’s conference.

Crafting PSATS Policy: The Resolution Process Begins and Ends with Townships
PSATS resolutions may originate at a township meeting, county convention, or standing committee meeting and must be reviewed by the Resolutions Committee before PSATS’ membership sees them in writing at the Annual Conference. This process, which creates PSATS’ legislative marching orders, begins and ends with townships.

Streamlining Procurement: COSTARS Saves Townships Time and Money During Purchasing Process
COSTARS, the commonwealth’s cooperative purchasing program, has been saving townships time and money when procuring goods and services for more than 20 years. Learn how COSTARS can benefit your township and how to get started with the program.

Managing Meetings: Parliamentary Procedure Keeps Public Meetings on Track
Most public meetings run like a well-oiled machine. There is a reason for that, just as there is a reason when meetings venture off track. Using well-established procedural tools can help townships ensure their meetings run smoothly and efficiently.

Moving Forward: PSATS Standing Committees Discuss Township Matters, Propose Association Policy
From approving the Association’s budget to reviewing member services and discussing the issues that matter most to townships, PSATS’ standing committees covered a lot of ground at their annual meetings in November. The committees made valuable suggestions for guiding the Association through the coming year, including proposing resolutions for consideration by the Resolutions Committee prior to the 2026 Educational Conference and Exhibit Show.

Giving Smaller Communities a Voice: National Association Empowers Leaders, Strengthens Townships
Just as PSATS advocates for townships in Harrisburg, the National Association of Towns and Townships, or NATaT, advocates for townships and other small municipalities on Capitol Hill. NATaT ensures that townships have a voice in Washington as Congress considers transportation funding, cybersecurity, broadband access, and other issues that affect them and their residents.

Grid-Scale Decommissioning: Townships Should Include Financing for Cleanup in Solar Ordinance
Grid-scale solar installations bring many considerations for townships, from location to aesthetics to emergency services. Then there is the issue of what happens to the facility when it reaches the end of its useful life, especially who should pay for the cleanup. Townships should be sure to include a detailed plan for financing the decommissioning of such facilities in their ordinance to ensure that the cleanup and restoration of the sites remain the responsibility of the facility owners.

And More …
The January edition also profiles a 2025 PMGA graduate and includes upcoming educational opportunities and all the regular columns you count on each month.