UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Having an active and effective commission is an important part of planning at all levels. Commission members that are aware of their roles and are committed to service enhance the impacts of planning efforts.
A Penn State Extension webinar “Planning Commissions in PA: Requirements & Recommendations” will discuss how planning commissions can enhance their services on October 21, 2020, at noon. It will be eligible for 1.25 CM credits for AICP planners.
This webinar will be led by Neal Fogle, Penn State Extension educator; Denny Puko, former Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development planner; and Raymond Stolinas, AICP, Director, Centre County Department of Planning & Community Development.
“Common problems planning commissions face in in carrying out their duties include being unclear of role, lacking knowledge, becoming a hurdle in municipal affairs, or being disconnected with or at odds with elected governing bodies,” Puko said. “It is important to effectively match the work of planning commissions to the individual capabilities of commission members and the municipality they serve.”
The webinar will provide information on membership requirements for planning commission members under the Municipalities Planning Code, as well as the powers and duties that they have a role in. It will also address items to consider when recruiting, training, and retaining board members.
“This webinar provides ideas for focusing planning commission work on a comprehensive plan and its implementation, getting training, adopting a value-adding mindset, and establishing a working relationship with the governing body,” Stolinas said.
“Planning Commissions in PA: Requirements & Recommendations” is the fourth webinar in the Penn State Extension Summer/Fall 2020 Land Use webinar series that runs until November 18, 2020. The webinar series assists municipal elected and appointed officials, planners, landowners, farmers and community organizations in being informed regarding land use issues and decisions in their communities.
Other topics and dates in the webinar series include:
– July 15, 2020 – Pedestrians: Safety, Speed, and Crosswalks (recorded)
– August 19, 2020 – The Future of Zoning: The View from the COVID-19 Lens (recorded)
– September 16, 2020 – Farmers Markets Before, During & After COVID-19 (recorded)
– November 18, 2020 – Changing Consumer Food Sourcing in the COVID-19 Pandemic
All of these programs will be recorded and available for viewing.
The cost of the webinar series is $50 for all five sessions, or $95 for all five sessions for those who want to receive AICP certification maintenance credits from the American Planning Association. The cost is also $95 for all five sessions for Professional Engineers needing PDH credits.
In addition, Registered Landscape Architects can receive continuing education credits for a fee of $65.
For more information, contact Peter Wulfhorst at 570-296-3400 or by email at ptw3@psu.edu. To register for the webinars, visit https://extension.psu.edu/
–Myrannda Kleckner, Penn State University