TOWNSHIPS AND BOROUGHS

     Some 87 percent of the residents of Lancaster County live in the 18 boroughs and 41 townships that exist within the county (with the other 13 percent living in Lancaster City). A borough is a town that has incorporated; a township is an area without a specific center, such as a town has, but it is a governmental unit. State law says that a first class township must have more than 300 inhabitants per square mile, and in Lancaster County, although numerous townships meet that requirement, only Manheim Township chose to become a first class township. The other 40 townships are all ranked as second class.

     These local units perform many of the services and set the policies that affect the day-to-day life of the residents. Police service, although it is not required, is probably the most apparent. Most of Lancaster County’s suburban townships have paid police forces, although six contract with larger, adjacent townships for police service. Road building and maintenance are another important responsibility. All municipalities have planning commissions and zoning boards and all are required by law to have an emergency management director, and recreation boards are found in the more populous areas.

     While fire protection can be offered by a township or borough, volunteer fire companies provide this service in Lancaster County, often with financial support from the municipality. Their members receive training in a county-operated school.

     With some exceptions, until 1972 the structure and powers of all municipalities — whether borough, city, township, or county

— were determined by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In 1972, the General Assembly passed the Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law, which grants municipalities (including counties) the right — with voter approval — to draft home rule charters and to determine for themselves what structure and powers they will have. The only powers denied them are those specifically forbidden either by the state Constitution or by state law. Also included in the 1972 law are optional plans for different sized municipalities, such as three mayor-council plans, any of which municipalities may adopt with voter approval. As of 2002, no governmental unit in Lancaster County has moved to write a home rule charter or to change its basic structure. Hence, the descriptions that follow are the standard forms as prescribed in the state codes, and those currently in use throughout the county.

First Class Township

     A first class township is governed by a commission of five elected members serving staggered four-year terms. Often commissioners informally divide governmental areas, with each overseeing the ones in which he/she takes an active interest. A secretary or manager may be hired to run the administration. Staff, engineers, a solicitor, and department members also may be hired. A tax collector and auditors are required by law. Manheim Township, population 33,697 (2000 census), is governed by a commission of five, with the township manager serving as secretary and the elected tax collector as treasurer.

     A Planning Commission and a Zoning Hearing Board oversee growth in the area. The township hires an outside engineering firm, the sewage disposal officer, and an auditing firm as well as a Director of Public Works and staff, a Recreation Department, a Code Compliance Department, a Finance Department, and a Police Department and staff. A Civil Service Commission administers tests for the police. The General Municipal Authority is appointed and acts as a financing arm for the commissioners. The Planning Commission and the Parks and Recreation and Zoning Hearing Boards are all appointed.

Second Class Township

     A second class township is governed by three elected supervisors (or five, if approved by referendum), who serve staggered six-year terms. Their responsibilities, and the staff they are required or permitted to hire, are similar to those set down for a first class township. Other elected officials include the tax collector and three auditors. In addition, a township secretary, manager, chief of police, fire chief, engineer, and solicitor, as needed, may be appointed. A state-certified sewage enforcement officer is required, and can be either hired staff or an outside consultant. All townships also have planning commissions, zoning hearing boards, and road crews. In Lancaster County, second class townships range in population from 1,856 residents in Eden Township to 21,399 persons in East Hempfield Township. The more populous communities often have water authorities and industrial development authorities.

Borough

     A borough is governed by the weak mayor form, which all incorporated municipalities used during the 19th century. A borough has a strong, elected council, which is the governing body, a mayor, and other elected officials, such as the tax collector, tax assessor, and auditors. A manager, secretary, engineer, solicitor, and police force may be employed. Health boards, zoning boards, planning commissions, recreation boards, Civil Service Commission (required if there are more than three police), building and plumbing inspectors, and firemen may be appointed or hired. The mayor is elected for a four-year term; council members are elected for overlapping four-year terms. If a borough is divided into wards, at least one and not more than two persons are elected to council from each ward. Otherwise, a minimum of seven members are elected at large. In most boroughs, the chief administrative officer is the manager, who is appointed by council to carry out council policies and see to the day-to-day operations of the borough.

     There are 18 boroughs in the county, and according to the 2000 census they range in size from 1,124 people in Christiana to 13,213 in Ephrata.

 In recent years there has been an increased interest among the county municipalities in sharing some services and equipment, thereby reducing costs.

The Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee, made up of representatives from the City of Lancaster and eleven surrounding municipalities, coordinates events (such as Trick or Treat Night) and cooperates in such areas as parks and open space, zoning, purchasing of bulk supplies, and the sharing of heavy equipment.

Lititz Borough and Warwick Township developed a Joint Strategic Comprehensive Plan in 1999 in a cooperative effort to plan for future needs.

     The Hempfield Area Recreation Commission, Lancaster Recreation Commission, and Lampeter-Strasburg Recreation Commission are all cooperative intergovernmental efforts to provide recreational activities and services for residents of all ages. And the Elizabethtown Area Regional Authority, established in 1999, encompasses three municipalities in a major sewer upgrade and expansion program.

     The Susquehanna Municipal Trust, made up of six Lancaster County and two York County municipalities, was formed in 1996 to create a workers’ compensation pool — a self-insurance plan which officials expected to cut costs by 50%.

     The Susquehanna Regional Police Department was established in 1996, combining police departments from Conoy and East Donegal Townships and Marietta Borough. The merger has meant 24-hour coverage for the entire region, with 11 police officers in place. A three-person commission, consisting of one elected official from each municipality, oversees the force.

     Perhaps the best know cooperative venture is the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority (LASA), in which seven municipalities own and operate facilities for the collection and treatment of sewage. A Board of Directors, consisting of one representative appointed from each of the cooperating municipalities serve staggered five-year terms. The Suburban Lancaster Sewer Authority collects and conveys sewage for West Lampeter, Pequea, and part of Lancaster Township and conveys sewage from Strasburg Borough for treatment by the City of Lancaster. A board of five persons is appointed by municipality officials and meets monthly.