Elected and Appointed Officials from the Pennsylvania Municipal League, Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association Convene in Scranton for the 2024 Municipal Leadership Summit

This Year’s Theme is: Building Safe, Resilient Communities

Scranton, PA (October 10, 2024) – League President Franklin Mayor Douglas Baker is presiding over the Municipal Leadership Summit, a conference of the Pennsylvania Municipal League (The League), the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners (PSATC) and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association, which started today and runs through Sunday at the Hilton Scranton and the Radisson Lackawanna Station in Scranton.

“Local government leaders from cities, boroughs and townships have come together for the 125th Municipal Leadership Summit in Scranton. The Summit theme is ‘Building Safe, Resilient Communities.’ Mayor Cognetti and her team offer a firsthand look at economic revitalization in the Electric City. Timely topics on public safety, municipal finance and community development/infrastructure will be offered during the conference. Business Leaders Network members will present cost-savings solutions for local government operations,” said League Executive Director John Brenner. “Various state officials have been invited. This year’s Keynote Address is presented by former U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent entitled ‘Navigating Washington In a Polarized, Unsettled Political Environment: Looking At 2025 and Beyond.’”

“It is exciting to welcome the 2024 Municipal Leadership Summit to Scranton. Our city’s story is one of recovery and resilience, and we look forward to sharing our history, our progress, and our vision with fellow municipal leaders,” Scranton Mayor Paige G. Cognetti said. “Scranton continues to make strong financial decisions, invest in improvements both above and below ground, and support public safety as well as public services. We look forward to showcasing The Electric City.”

Officials taking part in the Municipal Leadership Summit will share resources and innovative ideas, discuss issues of mutual concern, and participate in a wide array of educational and professional development sessions designed to address the ways and means of meeting the pressing challenges of municipal management and good governance. 

“The annual Municipal Leadership Summit provides an opportunity for League, PSATC and Career Fire Chief Association members and guests to connect, exchange ideas and participate in educational sessions,” said League President Franklin Mayor Douglas Baker. “Serving as The League’s president this past year has been a tremendous honor, and I am committing to continued engagement as we welcome Williamsport Mayor Slaughter as incoming President. Thank you all for your support and engagement in The League.”

“I welcome all of our delegates to our annual Municipal Leadership Summit in Scranton,” said PSATC President John J. Jablowski, Jr., a member of Wilkes-Barre Township Council. “The summit provides an excellent opportunity for our First Class Township officials to learn, engage and collaborate together as we continue to build stronger more vibrant communities across Pennsylvania. Along with the City of Scranton, we are delighted to host our welcome reception and appreciate the support of our many corporate partners to drive effective local government.”  

“It’s an honor for the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association to be able to partner with The Pennsylvania Municipal League and Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners at this year’s Municipal Leadership Summit,” said Association President Norristown Fire Department Chief Thomas O’Donnell. “With over 120 active fire chiefs from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the shared learning that our members and conference attendees receive is second to none and better equips everyone upon returning to their respective communities. It is essential to those in attendance that everyone is apprised of issues facing the fire and emergency services, public safety field. With each of our represented municipality’s safety and growth at the forefront of every vision that we have, it is events as such where this collaboration brings those visions to reality.”  

This morning started with a Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association session and The League’s Board meeting as well as a special session on Transforming Conflict into Collaboration and the PSATC Executive Committee Meeting, followed by the Opening Ceremony where League President Frankin Mayor Douglas Baker, PSATC President Wilkes-Barre Commissioner John Jablowski, Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association President Norristown FD Chief Tom O’Donnell, and Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti welcomed and addressed Summit delegates. We were also pleased to hear from Marimba Milliones, President & CEO, Hill Community Development Corporation, who presented an informative Leadership Session – Equity in Urban-Core Redevelopment.

In addition to networking opportunities, sessions today include Transportation Infrastructure – Keeping Goods and People Moving in PA; Lessons Learned from Collective Bargaining; and Implementing Social Work in Law Enforcement.

At tomorrow morning’s Awards Ceremony, we will present the 2024 Community Partnership Award to one of The League’s Business Leaders Network members, announce the 2024 Sustainable PA Certified Communities and present the Easton Voting Award to the City of Aliquippa, who won with a 43.39% voting percentage.

Also on tomorrow’s agenda, we have the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association Business Meeting, The League’s Resolutions Committee Meeting, the PSATC Annual Business Meeting, and an exhibit hall where Summit attendees can talk to business professionals about products, services, and solutions for municipal needs. Additional sessions will also be presented including Telling Your Municipality’s Story: Strategies for Garnering and Managing Media Interviews; City of Scranton – Financial Recovery and the Revitalization of the Electric City; and Today’s Challenges for Fire and EMS Services – Is Regionalization the Answer?

Saturday will kick off with breakfast, followed by the Business Leaders Network Presentations and The League’s Annual Business Meeting, where Legislative priorities will be established for the coming year and officers will be elected to serve on the League Board of Directors. League Deputy Executive Director – Operations Abe Amorós will address delegates during a general session on How DEIB Makes Your Community Stronger and additional educational sessions will include the National League of Cities, Legislative, and Association Updates.

The Summit will wrap up on Sunday with a farewell breakfast.

# # #

About The Pennsylvania Municipal League

The Pennsylvania Municipal League strengthens and empowers effective local government through advocacy, education, and support for our members. The League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization established in 1900 as an advocate for Pennsylvania’s 3rd class cities. Today, The League represents Pennsylvania cities, boroughs, townships, and home rule communities that all share The League’s municipal policy interests. The Board of Directors oversees the administration of a wide array of municipal services including legislative advocacy, publications, education/training, consulting-based programs, and group insurance trusts. For more about the Pennsylvania Municipal League, please visit PML.org. Join the conversation on X, facebook.com/PaMunicipalLeague and LinkedIn. #StrengthThroughEngagement

About The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners

The Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners (PSATC) represents Pennsylvania’s first class townships and their elected governing officials before the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the commonwealth’s various agencies. PSATC was founded in 1925 to distinguish itself from the second class townships which are much larger in number. First class townships are generally regarded as the “urban ring” around Pennsylvania’s cities. Many of our first class townships face issues similar to those of our commonwealth’s cities and urban boroughs, thereby making the association’s affiliation with the Pennsylvania Municipal League a natural fit. The League has been providing advocacy services to the PSATC for 41 years.  For more information, please visit firstclasstownshippa.org.


CONTACT: 
Debbie Bitting, Pennsylvania Municipal League, 717-236-9469, ext. *223, dbitting@pml.org
Britton Kosier, Pennsylvania Municipal League, 717-236-9469, ext. *224, bkosier@pml.org