Leadership Elk Cameron Program Experiences Local Government

For Immediate Release
January 3, 2017
Contact: Jackie Herbstritt
814.781.3437
jackie@communityedcenter.com
 
Leadership Elk Cameron Program Experiences Local Government
On Wednesday February 14, 2018, the Leadership Elk and Cameron monthly session exploring local government was held at the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority, Johnsonburg, PA.  The Government Day facilitating committee included LeeAnn Covac, Richard R. Brown, Esq., and Jackie Herbstritt. CEC group members assembled at the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority for a morning presentation by City of St. Marys and Elk County Solicitor Thomas Wagner, Esq., introduced by Brittany Fingado.  His presentation drew from his 43 years as a solicitor, which started in 1975, when he began representing   Benzinger Township, which later merged with St. Marys Boro, now the City of St Marys.  Mr. Wagner emphasized that local government is “where the rubber meets the road” and how it influences our daily lives.
Lisa Sorg, Manager/Engineer with the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority, was introduced by Dan Vollmer and explained the responsibilities and challenges faced by local government.  The CEC group then experienced the challenges in governing, by participating in a mock Municipal Authority meeting facilitated by Eric Poage and Lisa Sorg of the Johnsonburg Municipal Authority and a mock school board meeting facilitated by Richard Brown Esq. and Dr. Brian Toth, Superintendent of the St. Marys Area School District. Both mock meetings demonstrated how local government works to address issues important to citizens. 
After a luncheon sponsored by Meyer, Wagner, Brown and Kraus Law and Gunners Restaurant of St. Marys, the group toured the Johnsonburg Sewage Treatment Plant and Water Authority and heard the authorities future improvement plans.  The CEC group traveled to the Elk County Court House in Ridgway, PA for presentations about the Electoral Process by Kimberly Frey, Director of Elections, Elk County, introduced by Morris Coudreit and Jury Duty by LeeAnn Covac, District Court Administrator, Elk and Cameron Counties. The monthly session wrapped up after an open discussion with the Hon. Richard A. Masson, President Judge, of Elk and Cameron Counties.
Almost 150 individuals have completed the Leadership Elk & Cameron program (LEC) since 2008. For more information about LEC, contact the Community Education Center at 781-3437 or cec@communityedcenter.com.
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Photo attached: Students of the Leadership program participate in a mock school board meeting with St. Marys Area Superintendent Dr. Toth.
L to R: Liz Scacchitti, Elk County Council on the Arts; Marsha Meyers, Northwest Bank; Dr. Brian Toth, St. Marys Area SD; Mary Anne Lindgren, Northwest Bank; Pam Fingado, Community Links; and Mamie Mader, Liberty Pressed Metals.