LOCAL PROGRAM 2023-2024
In 1967 the PA Capital Region League (then known as the Harrisburg League (LWVHA)) undertook a study/inventory of the Harrisburg metropolitan area and came to consensus on intergovernmental needs resulting in the adoption of the LWVHA Local Program in 1971. In 1981 and 1991 the intergovernmental position was re-examined and found still relevant, and the position has been readopted unchanged yearly since that time. In 2014 LWVHA determined it was desirable to revisit the Local Program to determine if it continued to be responsive to the needs of the community and the LWVHA. It would be desirable for a new study/inventory to be undertaken. Limited resources have made a full study/inventory of the area out of reach of the LWVHA. A committee was created to revise the existing Local Program to eliminate redundancy and to reflect notable changes in issues. Below is the current Local Program as adopted.
INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION
The League will act to support all efforts of the county and all municipal governments to cooperate with one another to increase efficiency, avoid duplications, and save money and other resources. Keeping principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind, the League encourages and supports local governmental cooperation in the following specific areas.
Public Safety: The League encourages municipalities to work with one another to achieve cooperation and uniformity in various aspects of police and emergency services such as communications, record-keeping, purchase and use of equipment, investigations, assignment of staff and volunteers, and standards for personnel training and selection. The creation of regional police forces will be encouraged.
Planning: Recognizing the need to improve the implementation of multi-jurisdictional plans and programs, the League supports an integrated planning process carried and implemented on a regional level. Zoning districts should be compatible along municipal boundaries.
Recreation and Open Space: The League supports and encourages municipalities to jointly acquire and preserve land for recreation, permanent open spaces and other public, multi-jurisdictional uses.
Solid Waste Management: The League encourages municipalities to work toward joint disposal facilities and supports adoption of uniform ordinances and procedures concerning storage, collection, transportation, processing and disposal of solid waste including recycling and source reduction
Building and Housing Codes: The League supports the cooperation and code enforcement of All Municipal codes throughout the area. The adoption and enforcement of the Commonwealth’s Housing Building Code is supported.
Housing: The League recognizes that safe, decent and sanitary housing for all income groups is an area of concern, involving boroughs and townships as well as the city and county. The League supports cooperative approaches to the solution of area housing problems.
Public Transportation: The League supports cooperative governmental approaches to improve public transportation within the area to make it more responsive to the area’s social, economic and environmental needs. The League supports alternative regional forms of transportation to accommodate the region’s growing population.
Libraries: The League supports increased, equitable and continuing financial support for libraries with the area by municipalities and county government. The League encourages access to libraries in all areas of the region.
Water Resources Management: The League supports regional approaches to the provision of sewage facilities, water supply and conservation, storm drainage and flood plain management and the protection of wetlands.
PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY
Recognizing the unique role water plays in our lives, the League has adopted more specific positions supporting government action dealing with the Public Water Supply:
Insure each public water supplier, whether public or private, be expected to provide (1) an adequate quantity of treated water at all times for drinking and other household, commercial and public uses, including firefighting; (2) water that is aesthetically acceptable (tasteless, colorless and odorless); (3) free of impurities that threaten health; and (4) water that is reasonably priced for all.
Protect the quantity and quality of ground and surface water sources.
Insure adequately designed, constructed and equipped water systems; efficient and dependable operations staffed by qualified personnel; and the implementation of necessary capital improvements.
Insure emergency provisions to maintain adequate service in the event of drought, flood, contamination, equipment failure or a main break
Insure that each system’s chemical treatment, filtration and monitoring processes are appropriate to achieve consistency with Federal Standards for contaminants and aesthetic qualities as well as to insure that unregulated synthetic organic chemicals are not present in hazardous amounts.
Insure State enforcement of up-to-date, comprehensive State purity and operating regulations, which are applicable to public and semi-public suppliers.
Encourage an integrated approach by State and local governmental agencies to water-related activities. Planning should be done with regard to watershed distribution.