Center for Excellence in Local Government

The Center for Excellence in Local Government (CELG) connects Berks County municipal leaders and their communities, promotes partnership between the public and private sectors, and provides education and best practices for legislation, related skills, relationship building and citizen education. Established at Albright College in 1994, the CELG is located in Roessner Hall. The CELG is funded by Albright College, as well as municipal and private sponsors. A community advisory board, representing all three sectors provides oversight, and a 20-person local government advisory council supports program guidance.

Classes & Events

Berks job openings

Directions to Albright

Upcoming Events /Classes

Subdivision and Land Development Review Course (Flyer for more information)
Register

Thursdays, November 7, 14 21

6:30 – 9:30 pm

Meet the Staff

Paul Janssen has served as Director of the Center for Excellence in Local Government since August, 2012. Paul holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Bloomsburg University and a master’s degree in public administration from American University. Prior to coming to the center, Paul was a township or city manager for over 25 years in four Pennsylvania municipalities. Paul also was a consultant to local government and non-profits over the past six years including a 30 month commitment as an interim borough manager. Additionally, he has served as the coordinator for the consortium of communities for Montgomery and Chester Counties.

Andrea Weist has been the center’s administrative assistant since December 2009. She is responsible for all program promotion and registrations; communication with the Berks County Cooperative Purchasing Council, Berks Municipal Partnership and the Local Government Advisory Council, as well as many other administrative matters. Andrea is married with three daughters and resides in Muhlenberg Township.

John Kramer is Director Emeritus of the Albright College Center for Excellence in Local Government. He founded the Center in September 1994 and served as its director until his retirement in August, 2012. John holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Drexel University, and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Cornell University. Prior to coming to the center, John was CEO of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Syracuse, New York; was a senior planner for the Montgomery County, Pa. Planning Commission, and served as supervisor of playgrounds and community centers for the city of Reading.

Community Advisory Board (CAB)

Berks County Representative
Michael Rivera
Commissioner, County of Berks
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601

Authority Representative
Leonard Bilger, II
Chairman, Berks County Water and Sewer Association,
Executive Director, Western Berks Water Authority
91 Water Road
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

Judicial Representative
James M. Lillis, J.D.
Judge, Berks County Court of Common Pleas
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601

City of Reading Representative
Eddie Moran
Mayor, City of Reading
815 Washington Street
Reading, PA 19601

Borough Representative
Vacant

First Class Township Representative
Michael Malinowski
Chair of the Board of Commissioners,
Muhlenberg Township, Premier Sponsor, EHD
210 George Street
Reading, PA 19605

Second Class Township Representative
Jeff Fiant
Brecknock Township
889 Alleghenyville Road
Mohnton, PA 19540

Berks County Cooperative Purchasing Council (BCCPC)
Don Miller
Chairman BCCPC
Manager, Ruscombmanor Township
1 Quarry Road
Blandon, PA

Past Chairpersons
Terrence Naugle
Great Valley Consultants
75 Commerce Drive,
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Chairman, CELG Berks Municipal Partnership
Frederick C. Levering
2213 Quarry Drive
West Lawn, PA 19609

CELG Premier Sponsors

Glenn Kraft
President, Kraft Code Services,
34 East Lancaster Avenue
Shillington, PA 19607

Brian Kelly
President, Spotts Stevens McCoy
1047 North Park Road
Reading, PA 19610

Daniel P. Becker, Esq.
Managing Partner, Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys
2640 Westview Drive
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Jim Gerlach
President and CEO,
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
606 Court Street
Reading, PA

Christopher J. Hartman, Esq.
Hartman, Valeriano, Magovern & Lutz
1100 Berkshire Boulevard, Suite 301
P.O. Box 5823
Wyomissing, PA 19610

Bill Murray
Reading Area Water Authority
1801 Kutztown Road
Reading, PA 19604

Mike Malinowski, EHD
(Info.Listed Above)

David Turner
Regional External Affairs Manager,
Met-Ed, Potomac Edison
2800 Pottsville Pike
Reading, PA 19605

Government Representative(s)
Pamela Shupp, AICP, CEcD,
Deputy CAO/Director of Economic Development
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601

Albright Representatives
Karen Campbell, Ph.D.
Provost and Senior Vice President
of Academic Affairs, Albright College

Master Planner / Advanced Master Planner Certification

Master Planner Certification

The center holds three courses in cooperation with the Berks County Planning Commission, Berks County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute for elected officials, appointed planning and zoning officials and other individuals interested in the following topics:

Zoning Basics
Subdivision and Land Development Review
Community Planning

Individuals completing all three courses (27 hours) receive their Master Planner Certification from the Center for Excellence in Local Government and the Berks County Planning Commission.

130+ individuals from a variety of municipal and development backgrounds have now been certified since the program began in 2000.

Advanced Master Planner Certification

Individuals completing their MP certification are eligible to pursue Advance Master Planner Certification in accordance the following guidelines.

Purpose and participants:

Goal: To assist Master Planners (and other officials) enhance their core knowledge and understanding of planning principles, techniques, and best practices they can apply to promote and sustain smart growth communities.
Target audience: The program is designed initially for officials who have completed the Master Planner program; other officials who have sufficient knowledge of a given topic may participate in the educational activities but will not receive credit for their work

Expectations:

Officials must complete fifteen (15) units of training in at least two core workshops plus additional training activities to fulfill the AMPP requirements
Each land use training program offered by the center will be assigned a specific number of units based on the length of the activity (e.g. a dinner program will be worth one unit; an evening workshop will be worth 2-3 units; and the PA Land Use Institute will be worth 3-5 units)
To receive credit, officials will be expected to attend the educational activity and complete the pre-session assignments (on-line or hard copy), where applicable

Content:

Core areas (a minimum of five units required): Officials must complete the required activity for at least two of the following three core areas of training (each activity will be worth two to three units)
- community planning
- land use regulation
- design
Optional training (in addition to the core activities)
These activities will include on-going, regularly scheduled programs offered by the center (e.g. PA Land Use Institute) as well as special initiatives designed to address contemporary topics/issues and best planning practices, site tours, and smart growth efforts
Officials also may choose to undertake an independent case study of a specific issue or development in their community; the topic will be pre-approved and the official will present his/her final report to the center’s Local Government Advisory Council; a maximum of three units will be received following the completion of the study
A maximum of three units may be earned through participation in a land use training program(s) offered by another organization.

Format:

Activities will be offered in various formats, such as classes/workshops; on-line; tours; dinners, and independent study primarily during evening hours, with some daytime or weekend sessions

Berks County Cooperative and Purchasing Council

Berks County Cooperative Purchasing Council is an unincorporated association of public entities organized and existing under the applicable provisions of P.L. 526 of April 29, 1937 (53 P.S. section 5431 et seq.), as amended, and Act 57 of May 15, 1998, as amended, (Title 62 Pa C.S. 1902) known as the Commonwealth Procurement Code for the purpose of joint purchases of materials, equipment, supplies, services, and/or construction.

Membership List available upon request from CELG Office Administrator, Andrea Weist at aweist@albright.edu
By-Laws
Operating Procedures
Resolution to Join
Resolution to Appoint a Member

Intergovernmental Cooperative Initiatives

Berks County Cooperative Purchasing Council is an unincorporated association of public entities organized and existing under the applicable provisions of P.L. 526 of April 29, 1937 (53 P.S. section 5431 et seq.), as amended, and Act 57 of May 15, 1998, as amended, (Title 62 Pa C.S. 1902) known as the Commonwealth Procurement Code for the purpose of joint purchases of materials, equipment, supplies, services, and/or construction. Membership List available upon request from CELG Office Administrator, Andrea Weist at aweist@albright.edu
Berks Municipal Partnership was established by the CELG as a forum for discussing common issues that can be addressed on a regional level or county-wide basis, obtaining local officials’ comments on proposed cooperative initiatives; providing a focal point for communication between regions of the county and county government; fostering pilot projects on a regional level; and linking regions to resources.
Governor Mifflin Area Coordinating Council was established by the center and the participating public entities to foster on-going communication among the five municipalities (three boroughs and two townships) and the school district on issues of common interest.
County of Berks – Berks County Planning

Sponsorship Levels

Premier Sponsors

Berks County Commissioner’s Office

EHD is already a trusted partner for more than 50 public entities and offers an expert depth of knowledge to governments and authorities. Its public entity division partners with administrative leaders to provide budgeting advice for insurance programs and training and development programs for staff. It also provides extensive risk control and claims management services to support safety committee and accident and illness prevention programs.

Because limited insurance markets exist for public entities, EHD will find the right fit — one that provides optimum coverage and protection while ensuring that total indirect costs as well as direct premium costs are managed as closely as possible.

Its tailored insurance programs include guidance and placement on the following:

Workers’ compensation
Public Law 477 (Heart and Lung Act)
Public liability
Commercial auto, including school bus fleets
Public officials liability
Employment practices liability
Law enforcement legal liability
Crime and bonding for public officials
Builders’ risk programs

To learn more about partnership and programs for public entities, please contact:
Michael S. Malinowski, vice president and public entity practice group leader
610-374-4893 or msmalinowski@ehd-ins.com

Hartman, Valeriano, Magovern & Lutz performs services in nearly every field of law actively practiced in our community.

Its attorneys have developed individual areas of concentration, because today’s complex legal system requires lawyers to be specialized to properly advise their clients. It has committed to the use of the most advanced modern technology and methods, but strives to retain the professionalism, seriousness and integrity that it believes clients have the right to expect.

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA) was formed as a result of a strategic alignment of three existing business organizations serving Berks County: Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Greater Reading Economic Partnership; Greater Berks Development Fund. The primary mission of the GRCA is to encourage business attraction, business expansion, job creation and business investment in an effort to foster and promote a thriving economy throughout Berks County.

Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys’s experienced lawyers represent clients in a wide array of transactional and litigation matters. For over 70 years, its practice has fought to protect the rights of the people of Berks County, Central and Southeastern Pa. Its diversified practice enables it to provide a comprehensive array of legal services to almost every potential client. The firm’s commitment to clients drives it to work hard to safeguard clients from being taken advantage of by others.

Kraft Code Services, LLC is certified by the PA Department of Labor and Industry as a third party inspection agency to provide code enforcement services in accordance with the Uniform Construction Code. It also offers inspection and administrative services related to property maintenance, rental inspection programs and zoning.

Kraft Code Services provides:

Building Inspectors
Zoning Officers
Code Enforcement Officers
Construction Observation
Third Party Electrical Inspections

Spotts, Stevens and McCoy (SSM Group, Inc.) is a family-owned regional engineering, environmental, and surveying firm serving local and global clients. Its work touches everyday life; from the water people drink, to the air they breathe, to the buildings and communities where they live, work and play. Everything we do begins with a client’s need or vision to make part of the world better: cleaner, safer, healthier, faster, smarter, closer, more modern, more efficient or otherwise more useful.

Reading Area Water Authority aims to provide customers with the highest quality water at an affordable price with the highest level of service, around the clock assistance, and a concern to any problem from its entire organization. Its goal is to deliver dependable, quality, affordable water to our customers.

Gold Sponsors

Comcast Financial Services

Comcast is working to shape the future of media and technology. It strives to create the best content and constantly pursue innovation to delight our customers. Comcast has extraordinary businesses and game-changing products – but is at its best when using its collective strength to make the world a better place.

Masano-Bradley Attorneys at Law

The lawyers at Masano Bradley possess wide ranging expertise in different areas of the law. Clients will find them to be experienced, thorough, responsive and cost effective. Clients can become comfortable with Masano-Bradley as both people and professionals as they strive to handle both business and personal matters with compassion and as counselors at law.

Great Valley Consultants was founded in 1991 to provide quality professional consulting services in the disciplines of engineering, architecture, planning, consulting and surveying. They provide engineering services to local governments and other public-sector entities in eastern and central Pennsylvania and offer comprehensive architectural and engineering services for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional projects.

Silver Sponsors

Fox Rothschild, LLP

Fox Rothschild has grown to a 900-lawyer national law firm with 27 offices by focusing on client service and responsiveness, and by attracting bright and creative lawyers who know how to deliver.

Individuals and businesses – public, private and nonprofit; startup, family-run and multinational – receive our unwavering commitment to client satisfaction.

Georgeadis-Setley, Attorneys and Advisors

A full-service law firm, known for its practice in municipal law, corporate and municipal finance, real estate, commercial and municipal finance, zoning and land use, business and commercial law, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and family law.

Met-Ed is a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers’ lives brighter, the environment better and communities stronger.

Barry Isett & Associates is a multi-discipline firm that can provide single-source engineering and start-to-finish project involvement in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation and replacement of facilities.

Bronze Sponsors

McMahon Associates

Since 1976, McMahon Associates has specialized in delivering innovative engineering, planning, design and technology transportation solutions to clients.

Gilmore & Associates, Inc. is one of the region’s most dynamic civil engineering firms, offering a diverse yet complementary portfolio of professional consulting services.

Boyer Engineering is one of the leading firms in the region, offering over 30 years of experience with subdivision and land development, civil engineering, environmental services and project management.

Kraft Engineering and Surveying, Inc. has the professional staffing, knowledge and experience to perform computer aided civil engineering design and planning services utilizing an extensive library of engineering and related disciplines.

Entry Level Sponsors

Entry E. J. Breneman, L. P. Entry
Mogel, Speidel, Bobb and Kershner

Supporters ($200 – $499) (continued)
Jefferson Township
Mohnton Borough
Mount Penn Borough
Penn Township
Robeson Township
Rockland Township
Ruscombmanor Township
Shillington Borough
Tilden Township
Topton Borough
Tulpehocken Township
Upper Tulpehocken Township
Washington Township
Wernerville Borough
Womelsdorf BoroughFriends ($100 – $199)
Bechtelsville Borough
Bernville Borough
Caernarvon Township
Centerport Borough
District Township
Douglass Township
Fleetwood Borough
Hamburg Borough
Marion Township
Maxatawny Township
North Heidelberg Township
Ontelaunee Township
Richmond Township
Shillington Borough
Union TownshipUnder $99
Lyons Borough

Tools and Resources