Visioning Pennsylvania's Future: Building Progressive County Coalitions

Prepared by: Thomas Alan Linzey, Esq.
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF)
Copyright 1999

I. The Central Nature of the County and Townships in Pennsylvania Governance

In Pennsylvania, the County governments (governed by County Commissioners), and the Township governments (governed by Township Supervisors), occupy a central role in the governance of Pennsylvania's population. There are sixty-seven (67) county governments in Pennsylvania. The 1,459 second class Townships represent 56.7% of all general purpose municipal governments in Pennsylvania. The state's township supervisors govern a combined population of 4.2 million, representing more than 35% of the state total, more than any other municipal classification. A vast majority of these Townships contain 5,000 individuals or less.
A good guide to County and Township Governments (called "Handbooks") and the roles that Commissioners and Supervisors serve can be obtained through the Center for Local Government Services, at 1-888-2Center.

Township governments, while originally serving solely to maintain the roads within a Township, have acquired vast land-use and legislative powers. These powers include the powers of zoning (ensuring that incompatible land uses are separated within the Township) and the passage of ordinances, resolutions, etc. that govern the day-to-day life of Township residents.

Their size ensures that the Township government will remain the closest form of governance to an individual township citizen. Meetings of the Township are advertised and open to the public. Usually, periods of time will be set aside to accept public comments, and under the Sunshine Act, all meetings must be open for videotaping and the use of all recording devices. Printed agendas are generally available hours before the Township meetings, and are also available during the meeting itself.

Individual citizens can have an immense impact on this process - either in an organizing capacity or in running for Township office. Either method can have a profound impact on the future course of policy-making for the Township. Most citizens wishing to run as independent candidates for Township office only need ten signatures to obtain a ballot line in the general election. This specific booklet is focused on how to increase the influence of progressive organizations in the Township at large. Another CELDF manual, dealing with Green Ballot access, is located on CELDF's web page at http://www.celdf.org

II. Counterbalancing the Chamber of Commerce's County Vision

In many of the more populated Boroughs, Cities, Counties, and Townships, the County Chamber of Commerce currently defines the "vision" for the governmental unit. This "vision" usually includes the common sales pitch on economic growth - that of introducing businesses to the area to encourage job growth and stimulate the tax base. However, the agenda of the Chamber of Commerce (and other groups seeking to use these incentives) ignores the additional community costs that are imposed by their "growth at any cost" mantra. Planned growth principles are ignored, as is any emphasis on the growth of Sustainable Cities and support of small, locally owned and operated businesses. Additional community costs can include increased taxes due to the need for infrastructure for new suburban housing developments, greater crime due to increase of population and urban decay, and other hidden costs that are "externalized" from the corporations and developers and thus, imposed on local government. In short, the Chambers and other entities operating along the same philosophical line have packaged their message of short term growth, with an irresponsibility towards what a Sustainable County or Township would look like ten to fifteen years into the future.

Chambers and other industrial entities have begun to institute "visioning" processes as well. In the West, the visioning process used by these entities copied a process known as the Quincy Process. Under the Quincy Process, industry holds a general meeting at which all members of the public are invited, while making sure that industrial allies are present in overwhelming numbers at the meeting. Under the term "consensus", this group then hammers out a document outlining shared business principles.

The problems with the Quincy Process are myriad. First of all, in many communities, progressive groups and individuals are in the minority of the population. This means that the consensus process will ignore the minority views that are voiced. This leaves the progressive community with a Faustian bargain, either (1) to participate in the event knowing that the minority voice will be ignored, and that the hosts of the event will use their participation as an endorsement of the end result, or (2) to not attend or participate in the event, and have the host accuse the progressive community of ignoring a chance to voice their opinion, and thus ignoring the community itself.

Most often, the consensus vision produced by the Quincy Process simply results in the lowest common denominator ending up in the Declaration of Principles.
CELDF's visioning process involves a selection of progressive organizations from the County to draft a progressive set of principles. The Fund is less interested in finding the lowest common denominator than in putting forth a progressive set of principles that will guide the thinking of local government personnel over the next 10- 20 years. After all, isn't that what a "visioning" statement should do?

III. Step I: Selection of Township and Borough Organizations

As an initial step in forming these County Coalitions, you must thoroughly know the area in which you will attempt to form the Coalition. A good start is to begin collecting the maps that you will need as you begin to contact Township and Borough based organizations in the County. A map entitled "Pennsylvania Political Subdivisions" is available via the Center for Local Government, at 1-888-223-6837 at no charge. In addition, most Townships maintain Township maps that are available to residents at minimum cost. A well organized County Coalition effort will be based on the Pennsylvania map, which gives an overview of the political subdivisions of each County; and the individual Township and Borough maps, which will give a complete understanding of the areas from which the Coalition is being formed.

The next step consists of locating Township and Borough organizations that would be interested in participating in a County Coalition effort. Many times, the best sources of information about the existence of Township community organizations are the local newspaper reporters, who will probably be able to refer you to a name or number where a local contact can be reached. Another good source is the Township Supervisors themselves, who will be aware of any local organizations that regularly attend Township meetings. A good example of some sample newspaper coverage is included at the end of this Manual.

You will be searching for progressive organizations in the County - these could be local environmental organizations, historical societies, fishing and hunting clubs, fair tax groups, civil rights organizations, etc. You should make sure that the groups that you choose are reflective of the general progressive philosophy that the County Principles will embody. This means that you will have to be careful about selection of the participants. Seek out individuals that have been in the area for a long time - and use their advice on the standing of local organizations, and whether those organizations have progressive ideals and goals.

Once you have a listing of these organizations and contact information for them, draft a letter that formally invites them to an initial meeting of the Coalition. For simplicity sake, the County Coalition can simply be called the "Franklin County Coalition", with a substitution of a specific County in the name. This type of name will also lessen the suspicion of individuals in the area, who may see the Coalition as a vehicle for radical ideas. Arrange the first meeting in a friendly, non-threatening location - such as the classroom of a local University or at your home. The first meeting is more about putting individuals at ease than at getting any real work completed. The neutral name of the organization should also allow you to attract groups traditionally un-included in the type of work that the Coalition will seek to accomplish.

The first meeting will be the place where you will determine whether putting together a County Coalition will be feasible. Do not be dismayed if the first meeting only attracts members of two or three organizations. Use these groups as a building block to bring new organizations into the group and make sure that you set up another meeting in which you can introduce new organizations to the concept of building a County Coalition.

IV. The Drafting Process for Declaration of Principles

A sample County Declaration of Principles can be found on CELDF's web page at http://www.celdf.org under our Sustainable Communities Program and at the conclusion of this Manual. A draft of these Principles was the starting point for the Franklin County Coalition. The initial draft was then amended and altered by the participants in the County Coalition, until the final draft was produced. The final draft of the Franklin County Coalition Declaration of Principles is reprinted on the web page.

A good facilitator is needed for the County Coalition process. The framework Declaration will be re-worked by the participants, with an eye towards two goals (1) drafting a progressive statement that will make changes in the way that the County is governed with respect to environmental and progressive issues, and (2) ensuring that the Declaration of Principles will gain the support of a majority of residents by drafting the Declaration in a clear, concise, easily understandable fashion.

Three or more drafting sessions will be necessary before a final product is turned out. E-mail becomes a helpful tool as the facilitator must make changes on the Declaration document and re-send the next draft out to each core group prior to the next meeting at which the document will be tinkered with again. It is essential that one key person become a "point person" for making changes to the document and either e-mailing or mailing the Principles back out to the core participants. This give and take which will result in the production of a final document is essential because it establishes a sense of ownership by the participating groups over the process.

The final draft should have several primary points that are of interest to each group - otherwise each group may not feel comfortable supporting the document. After the drafting is complete, and a final copy has been produced, each core organization participating in the Coalition will then take the document back to their organizations for endorsement by their groups.

V. Step II: Endorsement by County Organizations and Businesses

The next step involves the endorsement of the County Coalition Declaration of Principles by other County Organizations in the area, and by locally owned or operated businesses. The County endorsers will assist the Coalition in becoming a legitimate entity, and one that encompasses a wide range of organizational interests in the County. The business endorsers also assist the Coalition in becoming a legitimate entity. Their appearance on the Coalition document also greatly enhances the document's ability to influence local Township Supervisors and Borough Council members, as these elected individuals tend to care solely about the "bottom line" - employers and other industry in their local governmental jurisdiction.

You should make ten copies of the document for each organization that participated in the drafting, as these groups will be primarily responsible for gathering additional business and organizational endorsers. These copies should be mailed to the groups with a suggestion to obtain ten organizational or business sponsors. If one of the groups runs out of copies of the document, be prepared to make additional documents for them. Once again, having a central person to handle the coordination is essential to timely dispersal of the document.

At this point in time, it may also be helpful to gather some publicity for the Coalition itself, by tapping a local newspaper for a story on the formation of the Coalition. Usually such a newspaper story serves several valuable purposes: first, you may pick up additional County organizations that wish to become a part of the Coalition from the distribution of the article, and second, local businesses will be more willing to endorse the Declaration of Principles if they see a supportive newspaper article about the existence of the Coalition and its goals.

The group must make it easy to endorse the Principles. A phone number should be listed with the Principles to allow possible endorsers to make a local phone call to endorse the Principles. After more endorsements are made, a fresh copy of the Declaration should be made and circulated to the groups.

VI. Finalization: Distribution to Local Government Entities

The final step of the process is to present a finalized copy of the Declaration, complete with all organizational and business endorsers, to all local government officials, including Township Supervisors, Borough Council Members, County Commissioners, and Planning Commissions. All other local government entities should also be given a copy. This will be where the real influence will occur - as the Principles are assimilated into local governmental decisionmaking. This final step of the process will also make it easier for individuals already working in the local government areas to push their concepts and ideas more aggressively - such as preservation of open spaces, fair taxation practices, etc. The Declaration basically offers the platform from which to lobby for these issues.
The Declaration will become an evolving instrument. When new issues arise, the Coalition can reconvene to produce a new document, and one that confronts these additional problems. The Coalition itself is of value as well, serving as a communication network through which resources and contacts can be passed back and forth.

VII. Conclusion: Using the Principles to Build Democracy

Not only can the Principles then be used for local organizing, and to support aggressive lobbying for environmental and community protective mechanisms, it can also be used for electoral purposes. Endorsing the County Principles can be used as a litmus test for local and County candidates for office. In addition, independent candidates that wish to run for County and local offices can use the Principles as a political platform through which a campaign can be run.

Note that non-profit, 501(c)(3) organizations are not permitted to engage in electoral activities. However, individual members may decide to run for local office on the basis of the enunciated County Declaration of Principles. The Fund has also recently completed a ballot access guide for independent candidates that wish to run for the office of Township Supervisor. The Manual is accessible on the Fund's web page at http://www.celdf.org.

Newspaper Article:

Coalition: Preserve land, control development
by Paul Resch, Staff Writer
Chambersburg Public Opinion

Eight citizens' groups are trying to send a message to Franklin County's elected officials: Preserve farmland, control development, and ensure the quality of life here.
The groups - called the Franklin County Coalition - have created a list of principles they would like elected officials to consider when voting on important issues.
After getting endorsements from up to 500 local businesses, the coalition will send the principles to all boroughs and townships and to the county.
"What we're hoping to do is get the people at the grassroots level involved," said Stephen Bucher of the Greene-Guilford Environmental Association.
"We don't want to bog down the system, but we just want them to consider some basic American principles."
The coalition is urging governments and citizens to address several problems that it says threaten Franklin County:

• The loss of open space and farmland.
• The lack of regional land-use planning.
• Urban sprawl and a lack of cluster development.
• Reduction in standards of living.
• Irresponsible waste management.

The coalition, which first met in February, hashed out the 16 principles in three drafting sessions. A key message: Control developments and encourage renewal of urban areas.

"The only vision that's being offered is the chamber of commerce's vision that let's build everywhere," said Thomas Linzey, the director of Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund in Shippensburg.

"We don't want more Kmarts and Wal-marts, we want more family-owned businesses."
An excerpt from the principles: "The Franklin County Coalition believes that the Franklin County area is currently experiencing serious environmental degradation as a result of industrial development, land use practices and insufficient participation in government at all levels."

Through the principles, the coalition is trying to support local businesses and endorsing land use planning and a more evenly applied tax base.

The coalition supports citizen involvement in local government and encourages residents and governments to buy from locally owned businesses.

"We would hope that our government would do business with companies in our area," Bucher said. "I would hope they would consider these principles prior to making their final decision."

The coalition urges governments to preserve farmland, wildlife and wildlife habitats.

"If they're in favor of preserving farmland, we're already doing that," said Greene Supervisor Paul Ambrose.

"We want to protect agriculture and natural resources," he said, "We'd like to stop sprawl and contain development."

The coalition also includes the Fair Tax Coalition, Unity Coalition, Citizens for Planned Responsible Growth, Shippensburg Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC), Conococheague Chapter of the Audubon Society, the Green Ballot Clearinghouse, and the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF).

WHAT YOU CAN DO: For more information about the Franklin County Coalition or to endorse the group's declaration of principles, call Stacey Schmader at 717-709-0457.