Center for Excellence in Local Government

Berks County Representative

Reading, PA 19601

Authority Representative

Sinking Spring, PA 19608

Judicial Representative

Reading, PA 19601

City of Reading Representative

Reading, PA 19601

Borough Representative

Vacant  

First Class Township Representative

Reading, PA 19605

Second Class Township Representative

Mohnton, PA  19540

Berks County Cooperative Purchasing Council (BCCPC)

Reading, PA  19606

Past Chairpersons

Reading, PA  19601

Wyomissing, PA 19610

Chairman, CELG Berks Municipal Partnership

West Lawn, PA 19609

CELG Premier Sponsors

Shillington, PA 19607

Reading, PA 19610

Wyomissing, PA 19610

Wyomissing, PA 19610

Reading, PA 19604

Mike Malinowski, EHD (Info. listed above)

Chip Bilger (Info listed above)

Reading, PA  19612

Reading, PA  19601

Government Representative

Reading, PA

Albright Representatives

Ms. Debra Townsley, President, Albright College

Michael Armato, Associate Professor of Political Science

DiMornai Blackwell, Controller, Albright College

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 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

• 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

Corporate Sponsorship Benefits

• $300 Promotion at all CELG programs Members-only registration rates for all CELG programs
• Entry to Annual Master Planner Award & Sponsor Recognition Open House
• Company logo on the CELG website

• $1,000 Includes all Entry Level benefits, PLUS:
• Two invitations to the Municipal Officials Dinner
• 25-word corporate advertisement on the CELG website

• $2,000* Includes all Entry Level and Bronze Level benefits, PLUS:
• Event sponsorship at the Municipal Officials Dinner
• Four invitations to the Municipal Officials Dinner
• 50-word corporate advertisement and home page link on CELG website
• Mention at our annual golf tournament save-the-date card

• $3,000* Includes all Entry Level, Bronze Level and Silver Level benefits, PLUS:
• Annual golf tournament hole sponsorship and program mention
• One foursome at the CELG/BCW&SA golf tournament
• Mention on the Municipal Officials Dinner program
• One vendor table and one attendee at the BCW&SA annual conference

• $5,000* Includes all of the above PLUS:
• Four invitations to the Municipal Officials Dinner; two seats at a head table
• One vendor table and one attendee at the BCW&SA annual conference

*Silver, Gold and Premier Level sponsors may divert part of their commitment to the Berks County Water & Sewer Association for annual membership.

Municipal Sponsorship Opportunities

CELG accepts municipal contributions at many levels.

• Sustaining Contributors ($5,000+)
• Benefactors ($2,500 -$4,999)
• Patrons ($1,000 - $2,499), Donors ($500 - $999)
• Supporters ($200$499), and Friends ($100 - $199)

The Berks County Commissioners match every dollar contributed from the CELG member municipalities.

• General Information
• Pennsylvania Municipalities League
• Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB)
• Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors
• Berks County Planning Commission (BCP)
• Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA)
• Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Berks County Industrial Development Authority
• Berks County Workforce Development Board
• Berks County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Greater Berks Development Fund
• Smart Growth Alliance of Berks County
• BCTV