Representatives from 48 different municipalities (64% of the communities in Berks County ) participated in the workshops, including 18 boroughs, 28 townships, the City of Reading and Berks County. As a result, training was provided for 60% of the boroughs and 64% of the townships in Berks County

Through its partnerships with state municipal associations, the Center also served officials from 25 municipalities outside Berks County.

Based on the program evaluations completed by the participants:

• 100% felt the information would be useful in fulfilling their public responsibilties;
• 77% rated the programs as excellent or very good;
• 67% anticipated making changes in their local operating procedure

1999-2000 Workshop Summary:

Last year the Local Government Program conducted workshops on the following topics:

• Becoming a More Skillful Grant Writer
• Developing Effective Ordinances for a Changing Agricultural Industry
• 1999 Governmental Accounting Update
• Volunteer Fire Service: Assuring High Quality Futre Protection by Sharing Resources
• Keeping Local Zoning Ordinances Up-to-Date
  (co-sponsored by the County of Berks and the Berks County Bar Association)
• E-Commerce/E-Government
• Developing a Community Master Plan for Youth
• Revitalizing Older Communites: How Municipalities are Being Successful

In addition, the Center was pleased to host the following workshops with the PA State Association of Township Supervisors:

• Census 2000 Complete Count Committees
• Newly-Elected Officials Workshop

Finally, the Center hosted the "Basic Course in subdivision Review" with the PA State Association of Boroughs.

The Municipal Roundtable:

In order to provide a forum for local officials to share information and expertise on local issues, five sessions of The Municipal Roundtable were held to discuss the following topics:

• Obtaining Professional Services Efficiently
• Citizen Involvement for Community Safety
• Municipal Employee Performance Evaluations
• Media Relations
• Collective Bargaining