Future Plans
Several municipalities in the western Berks County region have voluntarily joined together to study local, regional, and state-wide issues of mutual interest and concern. Working through a Council of Governments, the member municipalities are able to define objectives and formulate plans in response to those concerns that directly impact their municipalities or the western Berks region.

Uniform Construction Code
Increasing Membership

Uniform Construction Code

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Pennsylvania State Act 45 of 1999, also known as the "Pennsylvania Construction Code Act," establishes a mandatory Uniform Construction Code (UCC) for all construction in the state of Pennsylvania. According to the provisions of Act 45, there will be a minimum of five mandatory inspections on all residential and commercial construction: Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, and Energy. In addition, all construction that requires a permit will require an inspection. The UCC will take effect in January of 2003. Municipalities will then have a prescribed period of time in which to make a decision regarding how they will enforce the Uniform Construction Code. To help municipalities in Berks County comply with these inspections, WBCOG intends to utilize the inspection services of Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc.

ABOUT BUILDING INSPECTION UNDERWRITERS, INC.

Building Inspection Underwriters, Inc. (BIU) has been in the business of performing building inspection services for more than forty years. They currently conduct inspections for approximately 400 municipalities in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. Their corporate office is located just outside of Philadelphia in Feasterville, Pennsylvania. BIU employs over 100 certified inspectors. The company carries comprehensive general liability insurance and professional liability insurance.

ADVANTAGES OF USING WBCOG FOR UCC INSPECTIONS

A municipal member of WBCOG, if it elects to use the COG for municipal inspections, can participate in these benefits:

• BETTER RATES
  Serving a larger area allows BIU to offer a reduced inspection fee rate to the home owner or commercial property owner.
• FLEXIBILITY
  A member municipality may utilize the inspection services of WBCOG for any one or more inspections that the municipality's own inspector does not perform. Additionally, a member municipality may also use WBCOG's inspection services during brief time periods when its own inspector is on vacation or unable to perform inspections for whatever reason.
• APPEALS BOARD
  The UCC will require an Appeals Board to be formed to address any complaints that may arise as a result of the inspections. The individuals who comprise the Appeals Board must be familiar with UCC requirements. A Council of Governments will be able to easily assemble an Appeals Board by selecting one knowledgeable resident from each member municipality to serve on the Board.
• INCOME
  A percentage of the inspection fees will be returned to the municipality, ensuring a steady source of income without the added expense of administrative costs or liability coverage.

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Increasing Membership

The current six member municipalities have been members of the Western Berks Council of Governments since its inception and are looking to increase membership. Each member municipality pays $200.00 annual dues; this entitles the municipality to full voting privileges. The member Borough or Township sends a representative from their municipality (either a Council member or a Supervisor) to the WBCOG meetings. Meetings are held every six weeks at the West Lawn Borough Hall. Annual elections are held at the March meeting to select a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary from among the representatives.

There are approximately seventy-two Council of Governments (COGs) throughout the state of Pennsylvania. A COG is comprised primarily of boroughs and townships; however, school districts and the county may also become members. There is no limit to the number of municipalities that can join a COG, and membership in the Western Berks COG is open to every municipality in Berks County. If your municipality is interested in joining the Western Berks COG, you may attend an upcoming meeting (see our home page of this website for the dates & meeting time) or contact our office: phone (610) 685-4929 or wbcog@countyofberks.com.

To become a member, the municipality should notify the Western Berks Council of Governments and then:

• adopt an ordinance of membership and place a public notice of the proposed ordinance in the newspaper.
• pay annual dues of $200.00 (or $100.00 for July-December membership).
• send a municipal official as a representative to the COG meetings.

Membership in WBCOG provides a forum for the members to discuss issues of mutual concern. With full voting privileges, member municipalities chart the direction of the COG based on local or regional needs; this determines which projects to pursue and grants to seek.

Contact our office to learn more about how WBCOG works for your municipality!

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