Township of Dickinson, PA Regional Emergency Services

The Act of December 19, 1996, P.L. 1158, No. 177, referred to as the "Intergovernmental Cooperation Law," 53 Pa.C.S. § 2301, et seq., provides that local governments may jointly cooperate in the exercise or in the performance of their respective governmental functions, powers or responsibilities. Cumberland County, Carlisle Borough, Dickinson Township, Mount Holly Springs Borough and South Middleton Township ("municipalities") desire to cooperate in determining the feasibility of providing emergency services on a regional basis.

RESTF is presently an informal affiliation of the municipalities and various volunteer fire companies which provide emergency services in the geographic region encompassing the municipalities, all of whom desire to study, review and possibly implement a framework for the provision of regional emergency services on a fair and equitable basis without regard to municipal boundaries.

The Board of Supervisors determines that it is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens to participate in the agreement.

§ 17-22 Terms of agreement.

The conditions of membership, duration, purpose and objectives of the RESTF Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement ("agreement"), including the powers and scope of authority delegated therein, manner and extent of financing, organizational structure necessary to implement the agreement and manner in which real and personal property will be acquired, managed and disposed of are set forth in the agreement, a copy of which is attached to this chapter as Exhibit A and incorporated herein as if set forth in full.[1] The terms of the agreement are limited to cooperation in applying for state and other funding to commission a study, to be undertaken by a mutually selected professional consultant, to determine the feasibility of providing emergency services on a regional basis. If the study is undertaken and concludes that regional services are feasible and cost-effective, the municipalities may determine to amend the agreement to establish the terms and conditions under which regional services might be provided. It is the intent of the municipalities that any amendment(s) of the agreement which further the goal of regional emergency services shall be authorized by this chapter without the necessity of enactment of a subsequent intergovernmental cooperation ordinance.

[1]

Editor's Note: Said agreement is on file in the Township offices.

Funds to further the purposes of the agreement, and any subsequent amendment(s), may be appropriated by the Board of Supervisors as it shall determine, in its sole discretion, from time to time.

Real and personal property may be acquired, managed or disposed of under this chapter.

Each municipality has the power to enter into contracts for policies of group insurance and employee benefits, including social security, for all of their employees, including those whose duties further the purposes of the agreement.

§ 17-23 Authority to enter agreement.

The Chairman of the Board of Supervisors is hereby authorized to execute all documents and perform all actions necessary to cause the Township to enter the agreement.

§ 17-24 Severability.

If any sentence, clause, phrase or section of this chapter is for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, sections or parts of this chapter.

It is hereby declared as the intention of the Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence, clause, phrase, section or part thereof not been included therein.

§ 17-25 Effective date.

This chapter shall become effective as provided by law. The agreement shall be effective upon the effective date of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Ordinance last enacted by the municipalities.