[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 1]
1. 
Agreement to Cooperate. Pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 2301 et seq., the parties agree to cooperate and provide themselves subject to the address assignment and road naming procedures created under this agreement.
2. 
Purpose of Agreement. The parties agree that this policy has the purpose of standardizing the assignment of street and road addresses and the naming of streets and roads, which enhances the rapid and easy location of properties, residences and businesses for the most efficient delivery of public safety and emergency services, and mail and business deliveries.
3. 
Start Date. The address assignment and road naming procedures contained herein shall be effective as of 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2001 ("start date").
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 2]
1. 
Historical Basis. A resolution was passed by the Adams County Commissioners in 1980 to implement a countywide street naming and house numbering system. This resolution was aimed to provide county citizens with improvements with regard to voter registration, property assessments, emergency response and other services related to street or road address numbering and naming. Prior to this system addresses were based on rural route numbers. The plan was to implement this system through the Adams County Office of Planning and Development. This system has evolved into a standardized street and road address numbering system that is used by the GIS/Mapping Department for many of the municipalities of the county.
2. 
Planned Method. This system is based upon "blocks," each approximately 1,000 feet in road length. Theoretically, each block could accommodate up to 100 addresses. The numbering is to be sequential and as evenly spaced as existing parcel layout will allow. The sequential aspect is important, as a sequential numbering system best supports the Emergency 9-1-1 System and the associated computer aided dispatch system. The specific sequential numbering for each address is based upon where the access to the property via a lane or driveway is located on the block. When the system was created in 1980 multi-lot subdivisions were addressed. However, future development planning did not, in many cases, provide for the growth and accompanying need for street addresses for many large vacant parcels.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 3]
1. 
Numbering System. The GIS/Mapping Department will continue to follow a uniform method of sequential numbering based upon the aforementioned block system.
2. 
Exceptional Situations. In situations where an already densely populated area gains additional development, or where back lots need to remain addressed off of the dedicated main road, sequential addressing may become difficult. In order to be consistent with the overall county addressing scheme these situations may require lettered addresses. These lettered addresses will be assigned alphabetically to the greatest extent possible. However, as new development occurs, sequential numbering and lettering may not be able to be maintained. In those situations a standardized alternative system will be utilized to the greatest extent possible.
3. 
Correcting Address Problems. One of the inherent problems with uncoordinated numbering of a rapidly developing area is creation of addresses that prove problematic for delivery of police and emergency services. In situations where nonsequential numbers exist, and where these numbers create problems, there may be need for correction of serious numbering difficulties. The GIS/Mapping Department will follow the procedures noted in § 4-204 of this Agreement to resolve those anomalies.
4. 
Official Address and Road Name Maps. Since the enacting of the address assignment and road naming policy in 1980 the county has maintained official address and road name maps. These maps remain available for public reference and inspection during normal business hours at the Adams County GIS/Mapping Department, Room 206, in the Adams County Courthouse, 111-117 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
5. 
Assignment Responsibilities. Assignment of address numbers to properties, both on existing and proposed streets, shall be the responsibility of the Adams County GIS/Mapping Department. Particular attention will be focused by the GIS/Mapping Department upon the need to keep address numbers sequential to help facilitate emergency response.
6. 
Numbering Procedure. In general, numbering shall begin at the end of the road connecting with the main road and increase with the even numbers on the left side of the road and the odd numbers on the right side of the road. The plan, however, recognizes the existence of a few, limited exceptions to this methodology. These exceptions will be maintained in those municipalities. The manner to be followed in appealing a GIS/Mapping Department decision is contained in § 4-204.
7. 
Street Names. Every public right-of-way in all roads where there are two or more properties, improved or unimproved, shall have a name. The name shall be derived through consultation between local municipal officials, the County GIS/Mapping Department, and the developer, if the parcel is part of a coordinated development. The naming of streets is not a responsibility of the GIS/Mapping Department. However, the GIS/Mapping Department, Department of Emergency Services, and municipalities are aware that street names are a necessary component of an address, and steps must be followed to ensure possible duplicate or similar names are avoided in municipalities, as well as in areas of response for emergency services companies. To that end, street names should be created by the developer or owner and reviewed by the municipality and the Department of Emergency Services to ensure no duplicate or similar street names are created. It is recommended that this coordination occur during the subdivision review process. The Adams County Office of Planning and Development stands ready to assist in this review.
8. 
Changes to Street Names. It is requested that all participating and nonparticipating municipalities provide lists detailing the names and locations of all roads, streets, lanes, alleys, and right-of-ways to both the GIS/Mapping Department and Office of Planning and Development within 60 days of the implementation of this agreement. Further, any addition, change, dedication, abandonment or modification of streets, or any other action affecting the location, existence or name of any of the above, shall be promptly reported to the GIS/Mapping Department and the Office of Planning and Development. The GIS/Mapping Department agrees to continuously maintain this updated list, which will be used in the numbering process.
9. 
Recommended Municipal Procedures. The GIS/Mapping Department is aware of numerous other signage and related policies, procedures and practices that increase the effectiveness of street numbers to identify properties. The County of Adams is mindful that these undertakings are not part of the scope of this agreement. However, these various practices and procedures are highly recommended. Please contact the GIS/Mapping Office if you would like copies of these practices.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 4]
1. 
Correcting Numbering Problems. When a GIS/Mapping Department staff member is made aware of a numbering situation which contradicts or is in violation of this policy, the GIS/Mapping Department will promptly notify the property owner in writing by first class mail of the contradiction or violation of the policy, and the potential problems the current address used or proposed to be used by the property owner creates with standard address policy. This letter shall also contain a recommended corrected address. In addition, a copy of that portion of the address map showing the problem and the reason for the recommended change shall be included with the notification. Personal delivery shall be undertaken whenever doubt as to the efficiency of mail delivery exists due to the numbering problem.
2. 
Review of Recommendation. The property owner has the right and is encouraged to bring any questions or concerns regarding the reason for a numbering change to the attention of GIS/Mapping Department staff and to discuss those changes with a staff member. Upon request, a meeting will be scheduled at which time the address maps will be available for review and a staff member will be available to attempt to clarify the situation. A copy of this agreement will be made available to the property owner upon request. In addition, a copy will be available in the GIS/Mapping Department for public inspection during business hours.
3. 
Municipal Appeal. If a property owner has reviewed the address maps, the aforementioned policy, and discussed the matter with a GIS/Mapping Department staff member and still believes that the policy is in error or in other ways presents such difficulty that the owner desires a change to the decision of the GIS/Mapping Department, the property owner will have the right to address this through the appropriate municipal officials for review. The Commissioners of the County of Adams will make the final determination in regard to this matter in consultation with the GIS/Mapping Department staff and the elected authorities for the municipality in which the property in question is located, as necessary.
4. 
Notice of Address. Once the property owner has either agreed to the necessity of the address change or the matter has been referred through the County Commissioners, the property owner will receive official notification of the address determination via first class mail.
5. 
Notification of Governmental Entities. A duplicate of the notification provided for in Subsection 4 will be forwarded via first class mail to the following entities advising them of the established or corrected address:
A. 
Postmaster for the area servicing the property.
B. 
The Department of Emergency Services.
C. 
The governing body of the municipality in which the property is located.
6. 
Other Methods of Address Conflict Determination. Staff members of the Adams County Tax Assessment Department and the Tax Appraising Department have reason to frequently review maps and addresses in the normal course of their work. In any situation in which the employees of the Tax Assessment Department or the Tax Appraising Department become aware of potential address conflicts, they will notify the GIS/Mapping Department. GIS/Mapping Department staff members will review this situation and determine if a conflict exists. If a conflict is found property owners shall be notified as provided for in § 4-204, Subsection 1.
7. 
Non-Owner Address Problem. Situations may occur in which the building or residence believed to be improperly numbered is occupied by a tenant, leaseholder or other non-owning entity. In that situation the conflict will be researched as indicated above, and the property owner and the resident and/or tenant will be notified via first class mail as provided for in § 4-204, Subsection 1, above. In any such situation the county will consider the record owner to be the entity with whom the county attempts to resolve any street numbering or street naming problems.
8. 
Official Owner Information. For the purposes of this policy the record owner as determined by review of Tax Assessment Department shall be the party through whom the county works with regard to any street numbering or naming issues or difficulties.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 5]
1. 
Different Numbering Schemes. It is possible that the few municipalities within Adams County that have opted to assign address numbers and street names through their own governmental offices will choose to continue this practice and not be involved in a standardized countywide numbering and street name system. Such municipalities shall be known as "nonparticipating municipalities" for the purpose of this policy and agreement. All nonparticipating municipalities will be exempt from policies contained within this agreement.
2. 
Responsibility of Nonparticipating Municipalities with Regard to Countywide Address Assignment and Road Name Policy. Any municipality choosing to not be involved in this Agreement and retaining the street numbering and road naming duties for themselves will naturally continue to have the responsibility to directly and officially respond to any citizen inquiries or complaints with regard to address numbering and road naming policies or practices undertaken by that municipality.
3. 
Emergency Services Coordination. It is required that any nonparticipating municipality coordinate all information necessary to ensure countywide emergency response offices can provide efficient police and emergency response for the inhabitants of the county. In that regard, it is requested that all nonparticipating municipalities provide current maps and other documents to illustrate the address assignment scheme used in that municipality. Further, it is requested that the County Department of Emergency Services and the County GIS/Mapping Department be promptly notified of all new address and street name assignments, as well as information required by § 4-203, Subsection 8. It is likewise suggested that the same information be provided to the local postmaster and emergency entities. While it is acknowledged that the county has no legal authority to direct or require nonparticipating municipalities to provide and coordinate this information, such cooperation is essential for effective emergency management.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 6]
1. 
Term. The initial term of this agreement shall be for a period commencing with the execution of this agreement through December 31, 2003. The agreement shall thereafter renew automatically from year to year subject to determination, or amendment, by vote of two-thirds of the municipalities, and in the event of determination said two-thirds vote occurring at least one year in advance of the effective date of determination.
2. 
Agreement Not to Withdraw. By accepting and signing this agreement, each party expresses its belief that a countywide address assignment and road naming policy is in the best interest of the member municipalities. As a result, because of the great amount of time, dedication and cost expended in the formation of this program, the parties commit not to withdraw or institute dissolution proceedings during the initial term of this agreement.
3. 
Withdrawal. After the initial term of this agreement, a municipality may withdraw from the agreement by giving written notice of the intent to withdraw, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the GIS/Mapping Department and all other parties at least one year prior to December 15 of the year preceding the year in which the withdraw is to be effective. If notice of participant's intent to withdraw is timely sent, such withdraw shall be effective January 1 of the second following year.
4. 
Dissolution. The withdrawal of less than two-thirds of the participants shall not create a dissolution of the address assigning and road naming policy. In the event that two-thirds or greater of the participants choose to withdraw, then a review of the policy will be undertaken to determine its continuing validity.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 7]
1. 
Ordinance. Municipalities shall advertise and adopt an ordinance authorizing acceptance and adoption of this agreement, each providing for all action necessary for participation in this agreement.
2. 
Compliance with Laws. The ordinance shall comply with the revisions of and be adopted in accordance with the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act and respective county, Township and Borough Codes.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 8]
1. 
Agreement Amendment. This agreement shall not be amended or modified except by written document, dated and executed by all of the parties, with the exception of minimal policy changes as provided for in § 4-208, Subsection 2. Any such amendment shall require the assent of at least two-thirds of all parties.
2. 
Changes to Numbering Procedures. The participants agree that numbering procedures must remain flexible to be the best tools to meet the needs throughout the county. To that end, participants agree that minor changes to numbering procedures may be established by the GIS/Mapping Department without requiring approval of those changes, or adoption of a new intermunicipal agreement, provided 60 days' notice is given of the change(s) to each participant, and a majority of participants do not object to those changes. Any proposed change which a majority opposes will require an agreement amendment as provided for in § 4-208, Subsection 1. Such changes adopted under this section, will not affect the relationship or responsibilities of participants.
[Ord. 01-100, 7/10/2001, § 9]
1. 
Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
2. 
Headings. The headings, captions, article numbers and section numbers in this Agreement are for convenience and ease of reference only. They shall not limit or restrict the subject matter that precedes or follows them.
3. 
Legal Construction. In the event any provision of this agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this agreement, and this agreement shall be construed as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included.
4. 
Execution. This agreement shall be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument and agreement. An originally-signed counterpart shall be distributed to each party.
5. 
Definitions.
PARTICIPANT, PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITY, MEMBER, AND PARTY
A municipality now or hereafter a party to this agreement.
NONPARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITY
A municipality which now, or hereafter, is not a party to this agreement. This definition refers to only the period of nonparticipation.