"Form Follows Function": 2005 Road to Excellence Conference Podcasts

The structure and functions of local government were the topics at the Local Government Academy’s 2005 Road to Excellence Conference entitled “Form Follows Function.” The Road to Excellence Conference is an annual conference focusing on intergovernmental cooperation in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The 2005 RTE Conference was held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on November 10, 2005, and featured Keynote Speaker Dr. H. George Fredrickson, professor of Public Administration at the University of Kansas and is co-editor of The Future of Local Government Administration. Dr. Fredrickson explained why structure is important for achieving efficient and equitable local government, and what the impact of structure is on the business climate and quality of life for citizens in a municipality.

The 2005 RTE Conference also included three panel discussions. The first panel, entitled “The Legal/Legislative Environment of Local Government and Mergers and Consolidation in PA” discussed home rule, existing boundary change and procedures, and recent municipal merger initiatives. It also reviewed the relationship between state and local governments in Pennsylvania, and broke down municipalities by type to discuss their differences relating to structure and power.

“Various Points of View and Political Perspectives on the Essential Functions of Local Government” was the topic of the second panel discussion held after lunch. This panel included an overview of public opinion and national research on citizen expectations of local government by Dr. Beverly Cigler, professor of public policy and administration at Penn State Harrisburg. Other panelists discussed the business sector’s relationship with local government, the importance of public involvement and communication between communities, and training for local governments on making informed decisions for cooperation.

The final panel, “Deliberating the future of local government” presented an overview of new models of public discourse and participation. Panelists discussed the importance of resident involvement in identifying the wants and needs of the community.

Podcasts of the 2005 Road to Excellence Conference, “Form Follows Function”, are now available! Visit www.lgapodcasts.org to listen to the 2005 RTE Conference Podcasts, the 2007 RTE Conference Podcasts, or to listen to more LGA Podcasts.