Authority_October_2020

28 October 2020 - The Authority Fall Virtual Training Schedule Although PMAA’s in-person events, including Board Member Training, Management Workshop and the An- nual Conference, did not take place this year, we are working hard to bring you the same valuable experiences by offering educational sessions virtually. Topics include: stormwater, tenants’ rights and fair credit reporting, CO- STARS, acquisitions, accounting/ finance for board members, litigation review, legislative and regulatory updates. Now is a perfect time to experience these great learning opportunities all from the comfort of your office or home! How does virtual training work? All workshops are held via a webinar platform accessible from your comput- er or mobile device. You will receive links to each workshop the day of the event. What do you need to participate? • A computer (Mac or PC) or mobile device with high-speed internet access • Speakers or headphones to listen to the audio portion of the sessions • A valid email address for registration An asterisk (*) after the webinar title denotes it is part of the Virtual Con- ference series. If you registered for the entire Virtual Conference, you are automatically registered for the additional conference webinars at no additional charge. If you are not able to attend any of these sessions, please contact us and you will be sent a link to the recorded session. Meeting dates are subject to change. Make sure your authority is aware of today’s issues by attending these edu- cational sessions! October 7 1:00 – 2:00 pm Cost: $40 Stormwater Authorities 2.0 – Opti- mizing Implementation & Program- ming through the Next Permit Cycle (1 PDH)* Adrienne Vicari, PE, Herbert, Row- land & Grubic, Inc. It’s been seven years since Act 68 authorized the formation of municipal authorities for stormwater manage- ment, and programs have evolved sig- nificantly over that time. The presenter will look at the lessons communities have learned as implementation has progressed and will share best practic- es that are generating success across the state. It will also provide a preview of the challenges anticipated in the next MS4 cycle and offer guidance on how to address these challenges as the evolution of stormwater authorities continues. October 14 1:00 – 2:00 pm Cost: $40 Successfully Utilizing COSTARS and Other Procurement Best Prac- tices (1 PDH)* Joshua T. Fox, Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. John Shaffer, PennBid Whether purchasing equipment or putting construction projects out to bid, authorities have many options to consider when putting together a plan on their purchasing processes. These engaging presenters will provide an overview of the COSTARS program, its advantages, and its disadvantages, using real-world examples from nearly a dozen projects. It will also discuss how applying several simple Best Practices, supported by the analysis of over 7,000 PA projects and 31,000 sealed bids, can create conditions that attract more competent bidders, yield- ing more competitive pricing. Participants will leave with a better understanding of identifying basic requirements of the public bidding process, especially as it relates to the Municipality Authorities Act; when using COSTARS can be advantageous versus traditional competitive bidding; the advantages and disadvantages of purchasing through COSTARS as part of a larger project; understanding the analytics from large population of PA projects; implementing a few basic Best Practices that can lead to higher bidder participation, better pricing, and enhancing risk management. October 21 1:00 – 2:00 pm Cost: $40 Tenants’ Rights, Fair Credit Report- ing & Customer Service Programs (CAPs)* Candace Hoover, Manheim Area Wa- ter & Sewer Authority Kathy L. Pape, McNees Wallace & Nurick, LLC John Sweet, PA Utility Law Project Explore the Utility Service Tenants’ Rights Act and best practices for municipal authorities to protect against liability and shield the rights of ten- ants. Discuss fair credit reporting and best practices for establishing well-de- signed and funded customer service programs (CAPs). October 28 1:00 – 2:00 pm Cost: $40 How to Grow Your Authority and as a Result Reduce Future Rate In- crease: A Case Study of an Authori- ty Growth Strategy – LASA’s Three Recent Acquisitions (1 PDH)* Michael A. Kyle, Lancaster Area Sew- er Authority This presentation includes a case study of Lancaster Area Regional Sewer Authority (LASA) and three recent system acquisitions.