The following resolutions were adopted by CCATO at the November 6, 2014 Fall Conference and were forwarded to PSATS for consideration at the April 2015 Convention.

2014F – 1 (Adopted by PSATS) -- Resolved, that PSATS support legislation that would amend the Second Class Township Code and the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law to allow municipalities to impose a late fee and/or penalty interest rate on unpaid sewer, water or refuse bills 45 days after the billing date. 

Explanation of need – Currently, a municipality must wait 90 days before it can impose a penalty or late fee. This causes problems for municipalities that invoice for these services quarterly.

2014F – 2 (Adopted by PSATS) -- Resolved, that PSATS support legislation that would amend Act 600  and/or the Second Class Township Code to allow for a defined contribution pension plan for new officers. 

Explanation of need – Act 600 requires that if a municipality has a police department with three or more full time officers, and it provides those officers with a pension plan; it must be a defined benefit plan. Having the ability to provide a defined contribution plan would help municipalities control pension.

2014F – 3 (Adopted by PSATS) -- Resolved, that PSATS support the legislation that would amend the Noxious Weed Control Law to add bamboo species: Bambuseae, Phyllostachys and Pseudosasa, including Common Bamboo, Golden Bamboo and Arrow Bamboo to the Noxious Weed Control List. 

Explanation of need – Bamboo is a problem for many municipalities and having it added to the list will give municipalities another tool in their fight to control it.

Submissions for April 2014 PSATS Convention 
 

The following resolutions were adopted by the Chester County Association of Township Officials on March 13, 2014 and forwarded to PSATS for action at their April 2014 Convention.
  
2014-1 -- RESOLVED, that PSATS seek legislation amending sections 404 and 406 of Article IV of the Second Class Township Code to permit the Board of Supervisors to petition a Court of competent jurisdiction to eliminate the positions of elected Auditor and/or elected Tax Collector one (1) year prior to the conclusion of a current term of office for either position, and to further amend the Code to establish a process for the setting the salary of Township Supervisor-Employee(s) in such situations where the Auditor position is eliminated.

2014-2 (Adopted by PSATS) -- RESOLVED, that PSATS seek legislation amending the Municipal Records Act (Title 53 PA C.S.A., Part III,   § 1381 – 1389, the “Act”) to define as a permanent public record any papers, books, maps, photographs or other documentary materials existing in a non-physical secure electronic form.  BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,  that the Act authorizes the formal recording and copying of a permanent public record in a non-physical secure electronic form.

Resolution 2014-3 (Adopted by PSATS) -- RESOLVED, that PSATS monitor the current state employee and school teacher pension problem, to ensure that any proposed solution does not adversely affect existing Township pension plans.

Resolution 2014-4 -- RESOLVED, that PSATS seek legislation appropriating public monies to a Commonwealth agency for the purpose of designing, developing and deploying a uniform and web based information system collecting, disseminating and reporting on damage to public infrastructure and utilities.  The information system shall be common to all counties, common to all utilities, based upon a single set of standards, and be possessed of a common training protocol.   

2014-5 -- RESOLVED,  that PSATS seek to study the feasibility of potential legislation that would amend the applicable sections of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in order to improve public safety during severe weather, to require the Public Utilities Commission to develop rules and regulations implementing the ultimate underground burial of existing electric and telecommunication distribution and service lines through the long term capital infrastructure replacement and planning schedules, and permitting the funding of the utility companies for the burial of existing underground  distribution and service lines.

2014-6  (Adopted by PSATS) -- RESOLVED, that PSATS seek legislation to provide a regulatory environment for siting pipelines not presently administered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission including a notification framework that would require pipeline companies giving written notice to municipalities, counties, easement holding nongovernment entities, and property owners where pipeline activities are planned. Written notice shall be provided prior to submittal to a regulatory agency for review or approval.