Wednesday, October 1 – Saturday, October 4, 2025
Bayfront Convention Center
Erie, PA
Join us for the 2025 Municipal Leadership Summit, taking place Wednesday, October 1 through Saturday, October 4 at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania. We bring together elected and appointed officials from the Pennsylvania Municipal League, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners and the Pennsylvania Career Fire Chiefs Association.
Officials taking part in the 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 pressing challenges of municipal management and good governance.
Summit Educational Session Topics
Artificial Intelligence in Public Safety
Examine cutting-edge applications of AI in policing, emergency response, and municipal operations—balancing innovation, ethics, and community trust.
Evaluating and Optimizing Municipal Assets
Discover tools and strategies to assess, manage, and maximize the value and utility of public buildings, land, and infrastructure in your municipality.
City Revitalization: Practical Paths to Progress
Hear a success story and practical approaches from a League member that tackled downtown decline, vacant properties, and economic stagnation through revitalization initiatives.
Tackling Homelessness at the Local Level
Analyze proven strategies for municipalities addressing homelessness, including cross-sector collaboration, housing-first approaches, and crisis response systems.
Women in Municipal Government: Leading with Impact
Explore the growing role of women in local leadership, highlighting challenges, achievements, and the path toward greater representation and influence in municipal government.
Regionalization of EMS Services
Learn how communities are approaching emergency service collaboration through regionalization—improving efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining high-quality public safety responses.
Managing Budget Constraints Without Sacrificing Services
Gain insights into fiscal management techniques that help cities weather budget shortfalls while protecting core services and long-term financial health.
Leveraging Land Banks for Community Development
Unpack how land banks can be used as tools to return vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use—empowering local revitalization and equitable development.
Managing and Protecting Municipalities from Wildfire Risk
Address the growing threat of wildfires by exploring risk mitigation strategies, emergency preparedness, land-use planning, and public education initiatives. This session equips local governments with practical tools to enhance wildfire resilience and safeguard their communities.
Elected vs. Appointed Officials: Roles, Responsibilities, and Collaboration
Delve into the dynamics between elected leaders and appointed professionals—clarifying governance structures, decision-making boundaries, and how collaboration between both groups ensures effective, accountable local government.
Call for Speakers
We are in the process of organizing panels and speakers for each educational session. If you have relevant expertise or experience and are interested in contributing as a speaker or panelist, please contact Candice Heyward at cheyward@pml.org to express your interest.
Summit Registration Rates
Early Registration – $475 (Through 7/15/25)
Early Group Registration
1st Attendee – $475
2nd & 3rd Attendees – $425
4+ Attendees – $400
Regular Registration – $525 (7/15/25 – 8/31/25)
Regular Group Registration
1st Attendee – $525
2nd & 3rd Attendees – $475
4+ Attendees – $450
Late Registration – $600 (After 9/1/25)
Non-Member Registration – $775
Guest (Meals/Receptions only) – $300
Daily Registrations – $325
Fire Chiefs Early – $220
Fire Chiefs Regular – $245
Fire Chiefs Late – $255
Tour – $30
Bus Transportation – $75
Hotel Accommodations
Group room blocks are now open! Reserve your stay at either the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel or the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, both offering a special group rate of $168 per night plus 13% tax. Complimentary parking is included.
To book your room, please CLICK HERE or call (814) 454-2005.
Please note: the group rate is available until September 15, or until the room block is sold out—whichever comes first.
Anniversary Celebration and Silent Auction
Thursday, October 2
8:00 – 11:00 p.m.
Join us for a landmark evening as we celebrate 125 years of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and 100 years of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Commissioners! This festive anniversary party will feature music, delicious food, craft cocktails, and plenty of photo-worthy moments. Guests can also take part in a special silent auction benefiting the Schuettler Center for Municipal Development. Don’t miss this unforgettable night honoring a over a century of service, leadership, and community.
Transportation to Erie Bayfront Convention Center
Sponsored by U•COMP and provided by Bailey Coach.
Bailey Coach will be providing round-trip transportation—including parking—to the Erie Bayfront Landing on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, and returning Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Cost: $75 per person (payment due at the time of registration)
🚌Bus Pick-Up Schedule
Please select your boarding location when registering. All times are approximate and subject to traffic conditions.
Stop #1 – Delaware Valley Trusts Headquarters
📍 719 Dresher Road, Horsham, PA 19044
🕘 Pick-Up Time: 9:15 – 9:30 a.m.
Stop #2 – Swatara Township
📍 4075 Swatara Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17113
🕦 Pick-Up Time: 11:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Stop #3 – Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel
📍 215 Innovation Blvd., State College, PA 16803
🕑 Pick-Up Time: 1:45 – 2:00 p.m.
Estimated Arrival:
🕕 6:00 p.m. at Erie Bayfront Landing (Sheraton Hotel, Courtyard, and Convention Center)
Return Trip Schedule 🚌
🕘 9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Departure: Erie Bayfront Landing
Drop-off Schedule:
🕜 1:30 p.m. – Stop #1: Penn Stater Conference Center
🕞 3:30 p.m. – Stop #2: Swatara Township
🕕 6:15 p.m. – Stop #3: Delaware Valley Trusts Headquarters
Exhibitors and Sponsorship Opportunities
Want to exhibit or sponsor at the 2025 Municipal Leadership Summit?
For things to see and do during your visit to the Flagship City of Erie, please visit the VisitErie website.
If you have any questions regarding the Municipal Leadership Summit, please contact:
Mary Costik, CMP
Meeting Manager
E: mcostik@pml.org
C: 717-579-8139