Sharpsburg Borough

Question:
The municipal comprehensive plan contains an energy conservation element.

Question:
The municipality and local public schools cooperate to share facilities and other resources. (For example, the municipality assists with the cost of evening lifeguards for community use of a school swimming pool or for provision of crossing guards.)

Question:
Municipal planning is coordinated with the school district and the two meet together at least once per year.

Question:
Cooperation is occurring with neighboring municipalities to manage water and sewer supply, treatment and distribution, sewage and stormwater, in the most cost-efficient way.

Question:
Sufficient investments are being made to the water, sewer, and stormwater systems per real costs and keeping pace with maintenance and operations.

Question:
The municipality utilizes an Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach (as described by EPA) to identify the municipality?s priorities for projects and includes a description of how the proposed priorities reflect the relative importance of adverse impacts on human health and water quality and the municipality?s financial capability. See: http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/integratedplans.cfm

Question:
Low impact development and onsite stormwater infiltration is encouraged.

Question:
Water provider(s) prioritize improving service to existing developed areas as opposed to opening up new areas to development.

Question:
Drinking water and sanitary sewer rates are based on the real cost of providing service.

Question:
A natural resource inventory has been developed for the community within the last 7 years as part of the comprehensive plan.

Question:
Tree and woodlands protection and management policies are in place (for example, community forestry plan and canopy goal; tree planting programs; tree maintenance programs; tree hazard and health assessment projects; computerized assessment of municipal trees, Tree/woodland replacement criteria in ordinances, etc.).

Question:
Low impact and green development projects, as well as techniques (pervious pavement, bioswales, cisterns, woodland and steep slope protection) are fostered through incentives, ordinances and design guidelines.

Question:
Policies, plans and ordinances protect wetlands and waterways and their buffers.

Question:
The municipality and its municipal waste hauler service are exploring ways to reduce emissions from vehicles and trucks beyond anti-idling.

Question:
A burn ban has been formally adopted and made part of municipal ordinance, and State or County outdoor wood fired boiler construction and operation is in accordance with state law

Question:
Measures are taken to ensure a wide range of candidates are interviewed for all municipal job openings i.e., the Rooney Rule.

Question:
The municipality has a written municipal policy prohibiting discrimination and valuing diversity and inclusion.

Question:
Up-to-date ordinances for zoning and subdivision/land development are in place to implement the comprehensive plan.

Question:
The municipality has elected to administer and enforce PA's statewide Uniform Construction Code (UCC).

Question:
A program is being implemented to put blighted, abandoned properties back into productive use: smart rehab code, conservatorship, demolition, acquisition, green lot strategies, etc.

Question:
A program exists (perhaps in partnership with an outside agency) to facilitate home ownership: homebuyer incentives, employer-assisted housing, community land trust, etc.

Question:
The zoning ordinance provides for or accommodates a full range of housing opportunities throughout the community.

Question:
The municipality has adopted the International Property Maintenance Code within the last 6 years per good, safe rental housing.

Question:
A current inventory of vacant and blighted/blighting properties is maintained and mapped.

Question:
The municipality has assessed Main Street program options and opportunities for possible applicability and implementation.

Question:
Comprehensive land use/development plan is current, addresses impacts to neighboring communities, and incorporates sustainability principles.

Question:
All municipal buildings have an active recycling program.

Question:
Trails for walking and bicycling are being developed or maintained

Question:
The municipality utilizes a system for collection of delinquent taxes and fees in order to mitigate blight and abandonment.

Question:
Staffing is in place sufficient to enforce building and maintenance codes.

Question:
The comprehensive plan and ordinances promote pedestrian-oriented, dense, walkable, mixed-use development (in existing and proposed development), and redevelopment in the core or town center.

Question:
A multi-municipal comprehensive plan has been adopted as has an official map.

Question:
Police are trained on the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists and state law on passing bicycles.

Question:
Alternate transportation (e.g. transit, inter-modal, multi-modal, bicycle/pedestrian) are accommodated and promoted.

Question:
The comprehensive plan addresses the community benefits of and need for expanding housing choice.

Question:
The Comprehensive Plan identifies environmentally sensitive, ecologically significant, and civic/historic places.

Question:
Municipality routinely evaluates ability to ensure that revenue is sufficient to maintain public infrastructure, i.e., road, water, sewer, stormwater (community has an asset management based budget system).

Question:
Obligations for pensions/other post-employment benefits are funded for the long-term to at least 80%.

Question:
Taxation takes a balanced approach applicable to all sectors of municipal services provided and fees satisfy cost recovery.

Question:
Funds for capital-related borrowing are not used for day to day expenses.

Question:
A revenue-expenditure trend analysis is conducted annually.

Question:
Professional staff are employed or retained, in the areas of budgeting and finance.

Question:
Municipality participates in a regional service program or contracts services to or through other municipalities for fire, police, or EMS.

Question:
Municipality maintains updated public safety mutual aid agreements with neighboring municipalities and shares resources.

Question:
Municipality has or is in the process of retrofitting street lights and traffic signals to LED bulbs.

Question:
Professional development for municipal personnel and officials includes participating (at a minimum, per year) in quarterly Local Government Academy, PA DCED or other professional training association programs.

Question:
The municipality is committed to passing a resolution (within six months of enrolling) to affirm participation in the Sustainable Community Essentials Certification Program.

Question:
The municipality utilizes Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreements (ICA) to engage in multi-municipal endeavors.

Question:
Municipality is an active participant in a Council of Governments.

Question:
Civic engagement, public participation and transparency are regularly assessed and facilitated.

Question:
A Historic Review Commission is active.

Question:
Municipality communicates with the public via a regularly scheduled newsletter or regularly updated web based communications.

Question:
The use of pesticides and herbicides is being monitored and reduced by all municipal departments which use them

Question:
The municipality has reviewed ordinances, resolutions, and other policies to remove impediments to the use of alternative energy (wind, solar, geothermal) installations or green buildings.

Question:
Outdoor recreation opportunities, amenities, and lifestyles are promoted.

Question:
Programs by local government, or in cooperation with the non-profit and private sector, exist to address community health concerns, i.e. exercise programs, feeding programs for children and the elderly, crime watches, accessible health care, exercise away from areas of air pollution, etc.

Question:
A community produce garden(s) is available.

Question:
Education programs are made available for residents on the benefits of organic, locally-purchased food; farmers? markets and farm stands are facilitated.