Ross Township

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The municipality supports a program (or cooperates with neighboring communities) to engage residents in strengthening sustainable food systems to link local foods, farms and people (ex. Buy Fresh Buy Local initiative, Good Food Neighborhood, etc.).

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The municipal comprehensive plan contains an energy conservation element.

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Newly elected officials participate in Local Government Academy or other orientation training for public officials.

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Municipality works with schools and local nonprofits/community organizations to engage students about community issues such as waste reduction and recycling, public safety, wellness, conservation, nature, etc.

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The municipality is engaged in programs to communicate that the community is welcoming to persons who represent diversity (sister city relations, diversity sensitivity training, multilingual signage, etc.)

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The municipality reports annually to the public on progress in creating a more diverse workforce.

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

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

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The municipality annually assesses, and reports to the public, diversity of all boards, employees, volunteers, committees, etc.

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The municipality has provided diversity training for municipal employees.

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

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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.

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

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PA State anti-idling law is enforced and compliance is promoted.

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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

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Municipality supports public education regarding reducing air pollution and emissions.

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

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

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There is a curbside and/or drop-off recycling program.

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Waste and recycling ordinances and regulations are in compliance and enforced per Act 101, or if not a mandatory-Act 101 municipality, a municipal recycling program is conducted.

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

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Owners and tenants in the retail area are engaged with the municipality to provide attractive sidewalks, trees, and street furniture and make the area safe for pedestrians and bicyclists.

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The municipality maintains and supports an initiative to encourage residents to buy local.

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A program is in place to encourage businesses to be aware of innovate sustainable business approaches and to recognize achievement.

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The Comprehensive Plan includes a parks/recreation and open space component with proposed passive or active greenways, parks and trails and the zoning and subdivision ordinances support the vision.

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The Comprehensive Plan and ordinances protect farmland and/or promotes community gardens and infill green space.

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A community-wide recycling program is maintained at 5% above the state stipulated goal of 35 percent.

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Land use and development decisions are assessed to ensure they do not have negative fiscal, stormwater, traffic, infrastructure, or service demands, or quality of life impacts on neighboring municipalities.

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Provide an on-line link to description of a second sustainability innovation that the Municipal Manager/Secretary feels strongly is deserving of additional recognition and is not covered by any of the above criteria options.

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Provide an on-line link to description of a sustainability innovation that the Municipal Manager/Secretary feels strongly is deserving of additional recognition and is not covered by any of the above criteria options.

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An expanded material recycling program is being advanced, i.e., e-waste, composting, pharmaceuticals, and household hazardous waste for community-wide collection.

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Municipality has an active litter prevention/clean-up program.

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Traffic calming techniques, "complete streets" projects, access management and congestion management programs have been evaluated and are being implemented.

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All municipal buildings have an active recycling program.

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For municipal facilities, a recent waste management assessment has been conducted with municipal employees trained in waste reduction and recycling.

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There is an active public informational program to encourage citizens to reduce waste and recycle.

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There is a written waste reduction and recycling ordinance for residential, commercial and institutional facilities.

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The municipality contracts for solid waste collection as opposed to individual home owners contracting for the same.

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The greenspace/open space plan has benchmarks and results are reported annually to the public.

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Green vehicle fleet assessment has been initiated toward: using greener fuels and/or vehicles, vehicle right?sizing for the job/trip, retrofit or replace older diesel trucks or equipment with cleaner technology, or driver education about driving techniques for fuel economy

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

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5-10 percent of operating funds are carried over year to year.

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

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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).

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

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A revenue-expenditure trend analysis is conducted annually.

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

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Municipality maintains an updated Public Safety comprehensive plan to be sure staffing and financial resources keep pace with municipal needs for Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services.

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

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

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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.

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An executive/management level municipal staff person has responsibility for management of the municipal sustainability program expressly included in their job description.

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Procedures are in place to measure and track the impacts of the sustainability program (and yearly reporting to the public on results is conducted).

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There is on-going training for municipal employees and officials and the HR function is closely engaged in advancing objectives of the municipal sustainability program.

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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.)

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

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

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Municipality is an active participant in a Council of Governments.

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

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Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreements include conflict resolution provisions.

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A program exists to actively pursue and match residents and local businesses to volunteer opportunities to better the community and assist the local government.

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All municipal-sponsored events have a sustainability-awareness component

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

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An Environmental Advisory Council is active.

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

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

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A program to promote safe walking to school is in place.

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Outdoor recreation opportunities, amenities, and lifestyles are promoted.

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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.

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A community produce garden(s) is available.

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