00:04 - Good morning everyone and welcome back.

00:06 - Now I call the order the final session of the two thousand twenty six annual

00:11 - educational conference of the Pennsylvania state association of township supervisors.

00:20 - Sergeant of arms we please close the doors.

00:30 - Okay let's begin this morning by presenting our colors

00:32 - today we have we are pleased to have the blue mountain battalion of the RotC

00:37 - consisting of cadets from six southwestern Pennsylvania Cali

00:41 - colleges and universities

00:42 - to present the colors please stand.

01:28 - Today's national anthem will be performed by crystal

01:31 - crystal baumgardner past president of the f f a

01:34 - and now everyone please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

01:39 - I pledge allegiance

01:41 - to the flag

01:42 - of the united states of america and to the republic for which it stands

01:46 - one nation

01:47 - under god

01:48 - indivisible with Liberty and justice for all.

01:59 - Eu c

02:01 - e nu c.

02:04 - By

02:05 - John Julie.

02:09 - What's so.

02:11 - Daily yeah.

02:14 - That's why nah it's nah

02:17 - leave me.

02:19 - Whose broad stripes

02:20 - and bright stars.

02:23 - Through the pain.

02:26 - Nah skies.

02:28 - Either.

02:30 - Zooey

02:32 - thatched

02:33 - was so good thanks the stream me.

02:39 - That

02:43 - that was bursting in that gear

02:49 - roof

02:50 - through the night

02:53 - matte black was due

02:56 - or.

02:58 - Oh say does that star spangled

03:04 - that away or.

03:10 - On than than that or.

03:15 - And that.

03:20 - That

03:23 - and.

03:32 - Thank you again blue mountain

03:34 - RotC

03:35 - thank you again crystal great job.

03:38 - What a wonderful way to start our general session.

04:20 - And now pizza as first vice president trucks though

04:23 - a supervisor from allegheny township in Butler

04:25 - county will offer this morning supplication Chuck.

04:35 - Thank you Jake

04:36 - good morning everyone.

04:39 - Would you buy your heads with me.

04:42 - Or gracious heavenly father

04:43 - we thank you for your many blessings we thank

04:46 - you everyone who has come to hers hey this week

04:49 - as township officials.

04:51 - We thank you for the speakers we have heard

04:54 - the workshops we have attended

04:57 - the friends we have made.

04:59 - We thank you for the newbies

05:01 - who have stepped up to serve their residents

05:04 - we thank you for the vendors who are so eager

05:07 - to show us their latest products and services

05:11 - they certainly add to our conference.

05:14 - Be with the new officers were elected yesterday

05:17 - as a leader association

05:19 - coming year

05:20 - and we thank you for the ones who have served us in the past

05:24 - yesterday we approved several resolutions

05:28 - that will guide our association.

05:31 - In two thousand twenty six and beyond

05:34 - we pray that our governor

05:37 - the Pennsylvania senate

05:38 - and the pestle a house of representatives

05:41 - will be open to act upon them

05:44 - and if our conference comes to a close today

05:48 - we thank you PR Dave sankoh and a piece at staff who have worked so hard

05:53 - to make this event possible

05:56 - and as we celebrate our two hundred and fiftieth anniversary nursery

06:00 - of our country

06:02 - we thank you for the freedoms that we enjoy

06:05 - and we ask that you would be with our country today

06:09 - guide our leaders in Washington and Harrisburg

06:12 - help us to put aside our differences

06:15 - and look to the things that unite us

06:17 - be with those serving in our armed service was

06:20 - defending the freedoms that we enjoy and we thank you for our first responders

06:26 - who keep us safe

06:28 - and we pray that you'll bring about peace

06:30 - in our troubled world.

06:33 - Enable us to use the information we have learned this week

06:37 - to better serve our communities

06:40 - Grant us safe travel as we returned to our home townships today

06:44 - and help us to remember

06:46 - why we are here as elected officials

06:49 - not to serve ourselves

06:51 - but to serve our residents

06:53 - in Christ's name we pray

06:55 - amen.

06:58 - Chuck.

07:00 - Job.

07:06 - Please be seated.

07:11 - It's our final day of the two thousand and twenty six conference

07:15 - it's been wonderful to share this experience with you so far

07:19 - we've enjoyed three days of informative workshop speakers

07:22 - and the latest technology.

07:24 - Also in our exhibits were incredible this year.

07:27 - Productive networking

07:29 - and we're not quite done yet.

07:42 - Well before we wrap things up we're going to be giving away

07:45 - a few prizes and

07:46 - the last of our punctuality about evaluation prizes

07:49 - remember you must be present to win most of these prizes so be sure to stick around and

07:54 - listen for your name.

07:55 - Before we get started with a general session though

07:58 - as everybody please silence your cell phones and

08:00 - other electro Sonic devices

08:02 - however

08:02 - we encourage you to keep using the peace ads mobile app.

08:06 - Texts questions for our forums and continue your

08:09 - social media posts about the conference just

08:12 - try and do it quietly please.

08:14 - We'd also like to remind you of the second annual public works expo

08:18 - slated for November tenth and eleventh at kalahari resort

08:22 - in pocono manor Monroe county.

08:55 - Before I give out

08:56 - the prizes this morning

08:57 - remember you're going to want to stick around until the

08:59 - end of today's session because as the morning goes on

09:02 - the prices get better.

09:03 - For sale I want to mention that

09:06 - once more we cannot put on a conference like this without the help of our sponsors

09:10 - who once again a very graciously supported our efforts

09:13 - our sponsors have provided many the extras

09:16 - that you have enjoyed during this conference including

09:18 - the water and snacks

09:20 - the website.

09:21 - The watercolors in the exhibit hall

09:23 - secretary manager thank you lunch and

09:26 - other meal functions and receptions held throughout the conference

09:29 - the mobile app the shuttle tracking station

09:32 - my personal favorite donuts with Dave and deserts with Dave.

09:36 - Additionally the video screens in today's session were sponsored by

09:40 - ppl and he qt

09:42 - you'll find a list of the complete or complete

09:44 - list of the sponsors on pages three four and five

09:47 - of the conference program book

09:49 - also on the mobile app and on our screens each morning

09:53 - thank you all once again for

09:54 - all of our spa answers this year

09:56 - in addition various county associations have provided the gift baskets

10:00 - that we've been giving away the past couple of days

10:03 - we appreciate the generosity in providing these baskets as prizes and today we'll be

10:07 - awarding the remaining baskets.

10:24 - I'm back everyone.

10:27 - Before we move on I want to thank each and every one of you here

10:31 - and all those that we've

10:33 - served

10:34 - in peace efforts

10:35 - thank you for a great ten years president and I couldn't have done it without you.

10:41 - Yeah for

10:48 - now I'm going to tell a true story

10:50 - that happened right here at peace as.

10:53 - I hope you all agree that the past few days have been worth the time invested here.

10:57 - I've attended thirty five conferences so far for

11:01 - my mentor frank Wagner

11:02 - a supervisor from Dallas township one of my neighboring towns

11:06 - brought me here my very first one.

11:09 - I showed up very eager

11:10 - I wanted to hit all the workshops

11:12 - and everything that was scheduled.

11:14 - Frank had a different plan for me.

11:17 - He didn't take me to a single workshop

11:19 - instead he walked me from booth to booth

11:22 - table the table

11:23 - and introduced me to supervisors managers

11:26 - and road crews

11:27 - from every corner of the state.

11:30 - Meeting these folks was my workshop.

11:33 - Of course since then

11:34 - I've attended plenty of workshops

11:36 - and taught quite a few myself also

11:39 - but that was my first lesson that stuck with me.

11:42 - Every conference you attend

11:44 - every workshop you sit in

11:46 - every piece at the event or show that you show up or

11:49 - it's your networking.

11:51 - You're building.

11:52 - The relationships that you make

11:55 - a better leader

11:56 - at home

11:57 - and building that network really mad hers.

12:00 - Networking in your county matters

12:03 - networking across the state matters

12:05 - and at peace efforts

12:07 - we make that possible.

12:09 - Think about the diversity of our membership.

12:12 - We represent

12:13 - everything from small rural communities with less than one hundred people

12:18 - with two employees

12:20 - to large suburban communities with up to sixty thousand people

12:24 - with large police departments large public works crews

12:28 - recreational PR programs

12:30 - yet

12:31 - no matter what size we share something fundamental.

12:35 - We are all most efficient

12:37 - respected

12:38 - level of government.

12:41 - That brings me back to cooperation in networking.

12:44 - None of us.

12:46 - Answer the call too often

12:48 - that we get from the state

12:50 - that says one size fits all is a great response.

12:54 - That doesn't fit anymore particularly

12:57 - when we talk to each other.

12:59 - We discover that while both our problems may be similar.

13:02 - Our solutions can be different

13:04 - and they're worth sharing with each other.

13:07 - We saw that yesterday during our data set or from

13:10 - different perspectives

13:12 - similar challenges

13:13 - in a room full of practical ideas.

13:16 - Back home our township learned

13:19 - the lesson by talking with our neighbors

13:21 - we realize

13:22 - that we are all facing the same pressures

13:25 - so we started working to together.

13:27 - That cooperation saves us money

13:30 - it saves us manpower

13:32 - and those are the two things that every township tries to stretch

13:35 - in every budget cycle.

13:38 - Speaking of stretching our township dollars.

13:41 - The power of networking

13:43 - to many of us

13:44 - you've heard about local government bill writes this week

13:47 - you've seen the documents around our conference

13:50 - and I hope you added your name if you haven't please do.

13:56 - These principles didn't come from the top down

13:59 - they came from you

14:00 - the population committees

14:02 - the county conventions

14:03 - our boot camps

14:04 - are summits and just a few of our neighbors.

14:09 - Our national bill of rights grew from the grass roots.

14:13 - So did this one do the same thing in the united

14:16 - states local government is being pushed aside entirely

14:20 - and yet we know the essential local government serves in our daily lives.

14:24 - That local government bill of rights makes it five simple statements

14:28 - that I believe every person in this room

14:31 - all one thousand four hundred and fifty three of our member townships

14:35 - can stand behind.

14:37 - I'm going to read those rights to you.

14:39 - Plan our future

14:40 - because we know our communities best.

14:43 - Protect our backyards because land use decisions belong at the local level.

14:49 - Freedom from unfunded mandates

14:52 - because we can't be told what to do without the resources and the money to do it.

14:58 - Bring the town crier in two thousand and twenty six

15:01 - because communication has changed and we know how to reach out to our residents.

15:06 - A seat at the table

15:08 - so important to all of us.

15:10 - Because the eyes and the ears of state and local

15:14 - state and federal leaders

15:16 - are invaluable partners to us

15:18 - share these principles with them

15:20 - and tell your colleagues back home

15:22 - to encourage them to add their names to local bill

15:25 - of rights that piece adds dot org.

15:28 - It's truly been an honor to serve you as your president.

15:31 - For the last two years and to help lead this great association

15:35 - which I believe is the largest

15:37 - stronger

15:38 - and hardest hardest-working association Pennsylvania

15:41 - thank you for the trust that you have placed in me

15:44 - and the communities that I have served in the commonwealth.

15:47 - Thank you again.

15:49 - Three.

15:59 - Thank you Jay.

16:01 - Let's

16:02 - give away a few prizes for a few more prizes.

16:04 - Let's start with the morning punctuality price remember you must be present to win.

16:09 - Today's punctuality prize has been genuine generously sponsored

16:12 - by university

16:13 - financial corporations

16:15 - the winner will receive have a one hundred dollar Amazon gift card

16:19 - and the winner is.

16:24 - Don hickman a supervisor from long swamp township in berks county where he's done.

16:29 - Over here

16:29 - very good.

16:31 - Three.

16:36 - Before we get to the county gift baskets only correct a

16:40 - misspeak from yesterday about the hotel evaluation forms.

16:43 - As you figured out.

16:45 - They were not on your chair yesterday but they are today.

16:49 - Please complete them and put them in the hotel evaluation box

16:52 - this morning by ten fifteen to have a chance

16:55 - your choice of hotel for next year.

16:57 - Now let's get onto the winner of Tuesday's photo contest.

17:01 - The winner will receive a fifty dollar best buy

17:03 - gift card this prize was generously donated by

17:06 - aqua

17:07 - you must be present.

17:09 - You must pick up this price you do not have to be present.

17:12 - Pick up this prize by noon today

17:14 - at the information desk and the winner is Sherry sea crest.

17:18 - Davis from or shelley I'm sorry shelley secrets

17:21 - Davis from Anthony township lycoming county grace

17:24 - shelley here.

17:26 - She doesn't have to be

17:27 - alright we will get surprise to her.

17:29 - Alright.

17:30 - Let's give away a couple of county or county gift baskets.

17:34 - First to

17:35 - get around I want to thank the county

17:36 - association for having done his first gift basket

17:39 - is from somerset county and it has a gallon of maple syrup

17:43 - and the winner is Susan girton

17:46 - from.

17:51 - West Vernon township in Chester county.

17:53 - So as an air

17:54 - carrier alright very good graduations.

17:59 - The next basket

18:01 - is from.

18:04 - Tioga county includes a cutting board olive oil herbs maple syrup

18:09 - and cedar Springs mineral water

18:11 - and the winner is Charles Martin a supervisor from

18:14 - aleppo township in Greene county Charles here.

18:19 - That is that a yes is there Charles over here.

18:23 - Okay

18:24 - oh there we go very good

18:25 - your isolations.

18:28 - Alright and our third

18:29 - basket is from

18:31 - lycoming

18:32 - Wyoming county.

18:33 - I really did have to bring my glasses with me.

18:36 - Wyoming county has various paper products provided by procter and gamble.

18:40 - The winner is

18:42 - Lance

18:43 - younker from

18:45 - supervisor from bethel township and fulton county

18:48 - landseer.

18:50 - Are there

18:50 - very good project graduations Lance.

18:54 - Alright congratulations to all of our prize winners.

19:04 - Or today's gubernatorial forum both major party candidates were invited

19:09 - but incumbent Josh shapiro declined due to other commitments in pittsburg.

19:14 - State treasurer Stacey garrity is here to join us.

19:18 - Guarantee in the seventy eighth treasurer of the commonwealth.

19:22 - She has a decorate

19:23 - army combat veteran

19:24 - and a retired us army reserve colonel.

19:28 - In the private sector she served as vice president

19:31 - of global tungsten and powders corporation.

19:34 - Serving as facilitator for today's forum

19:36 - is Dave sankoh.

19:42 - Sad good morning everyone it is so great to be here

19:46 - and thanks for the introduction so it has been four years since I had the last stack

19:51 - the last time I had the pleasure of speaking

19:53 - with you guys I don't know if any of you are here

19:55 - and while so much has changed

19:58 - sadly

19:59 - a lot hasn't changed straight

20:01 - but a lot has certainly changed for me and my

20:04 - family so four years ago I was entering my sec

20:07 - your estate treasure

20:08 - a lot of public service was nominated me political office certainly was

20:12 - that over the course of time in office I am so

20:15 - proud of how much that we've been able to accomplish

20:18 - so as your state treasure I am the fiscal watchdog charged with protecting over one

20:22 - hundred and eighty billion dollars in state assets

20:26 - and

20:26 - imo.

20:27 - I have the honor to run consumer programs like Pennsylvania

20:31 - pa five to nine college and career savings plan pa able.

20:35 - Where we've saved

20:36 - account owners over twenty three million dollars

20:39 - we've returned one point two billion dollars in unclaimed property to people that

20:43 - didn't even know most people didn't even know they had it.

20:46 - We've returned over fifty million dollars to

20:49 - Pennsylvania taxpayers through Pennsylvania money match

20:52 - and

20:53 - each year the treasury saves Pennsylvania onions

20:56 - just about fifty million dollars by identifying.

21:00 - Overpayments duplicate payments to the commonwealth and amount I have to mention my

21:06 - favorite one which is we've returned five

21:07 - hundred and forty eight military decorations

21:10 - to veterans or their families.

21:13 - That earn them thank you

21:14 - and that.

21:15 - That includes thirteen purple hearts three bronze stars and a gold star metal

21:24 - so I guess you could say that we've gotten stuff done.

21:28 - But getting stuff done is what you all do on a daily basis so local political office

21:34 - is where the rubber meets the road what a

21:36 - tip O'Neill said all politics is local right

21:38 - so you are not

21:40 - insulated from criticism from your constituents

21:43 - or the concerns of your neighbors right you hear

21:45 - it all the time you hear at the grocery store

21:48 - you hear at the gas station you probably hear it

21:50 - at church and you hear it certainly at your kids

21:53 - and grandkids little league games

21:55 - so you know that if you guys don't deliver

21:59 - if you don't follow through the person

22:02 - affected

22:03 - they're not a statistic

22:04 - it's your neighbor

22:05 - right

22:06 - but far too often in Harrisburg berg politicians do not seem to appreciate

22:12 - or understand

22:13 - the need for that level of accountability

22:17 - so inside the halls of the state capitol which sometimes I call the swamp

22:21 - and certainly in the governor's mansion there is a fundamental disconnect

22:26 - between the actions they take

22:28 - and the end impact they have on the daily lives of their

22:31 - teen million pennsylvanians.

22:34 - Say over the past six years is your treasure I have only grown more frustrated

22:39 - by the way our state government works and the lack of

22:42 - real results delivered to communities like my community

22:45 - and that's why eight months ago I declared my candidacy

22:48 - to serve as the next governor of Pennsylvania.

22:51 - Now thanks.

22:53 - Though

22:57 - now it was absolutely not a decision I took lightly

23:01 - at all I do not come from a political family

23:04 - and unlike my opponent I have not spent my entire career running for political office

23:11 - but while politics is fairly new to me.

23:13 - I really appreciate the gravity and the responsibility of being the chief executive

23:19 - of the fifth largest state in the country

23:21 - and arguably I would say the most politically

23:24 - consequential

23:26 - but it was something that my husband said Dan

23:29 - that kind of made the decision

23:31 - easier

23:32 - now

23:33 - what you first need to know about my husband is he's

23:35 - not from Pennsylvania he's from upstate new York

23:37 - but don't hold that against him he's absolutely the better half

23:40 - and anybody here from

23:42 - for cabbie will attest to that

23:44 - but he moved to Pennsylvania after we got married so I

23:46 - always lived in Pennsylvania for twenty two years now

23:49 - so if you think about it

23:51 - all he and anyone who's moved

23:54 - or has been born here since the

23:56 - turn of the twenty first century has ever known as mediocrity right

24:00 - that's really overtaken our commonwealth

24:03 - and I would express my frustration about what I see

24:05 - every day in Harrisburg and how we should be doing

24:09 - so much better

24:11 - and dance response

24:13 - he simply thought not that this is the way it always had to be in Pennsylvania

24:17 - well you know

24:18 - and I know

24:19 - it always hasn't been

24:21 - like this and it doesn't have to be

24:23 - and Josh shapiro knows that we fallen deeper

24:26 - into mediocrity under his administration too

24:29 - and it's why he was a little sensitive in case you don't know he has a bit of a

24:32 - thin

24:33 - skin

24:34 - when I called his administration mediocre

24:37 - okay

24:37 - but what else do you call a state then ranked thirty eighth economically.

24:41 - What else do you call a state that ranks thirty

24:43 - ninth in education where more than two thirds

24:46 - of our eighth graders can't read or do math at grade level

24:50 - what do you call a state that ranks forty first overall

24:53 - that has three a thousand deficient Bridges.

24:56 - Is rated c minus an infrastructure and and I'll end

25:00 - with this last one because I am the state treasure

25:03 - what do you call a state where you spend over five billion dollars more a year

25:08 - than what you bring in

25:09 - yeah mediocrity

25:11 - right

25:11 - so when I took

25:14 - off as his treasure

25:15 - I committed to visiting all Pennsylvania's sixty seven counties every year

25:19 - and somehow I've done it every single year most counties I go to multiple times

25:24 - and i.

25:25 - I'm going to quote James carville although if you saw him in the news I probably

25:29 - shouldn't because he's saying some very crazy things this morning.

25:33 - But what he famously said one time and you probably remember this I think it was from

25:38 - nineteen it was either sixty four sixty eight

25:40 - but he said the Pennsylvania is Philadelphia

25:42 - and Pittsburgh with Alabama in the middle.

25:45 - While I like to say that we are Philadelphia

25:48 - and Pittsburgh with Pennsylvania in the middle

25:51 - we are such a large state with diverse needs

25:54 - and I was born and raised I still live in Bradford county and we are one of.

25:59 - Pennsylvania's most rural counties

26:02 - and I am very proud to be able to

26:05 - you know I am the first elected statewide officer

26:08 - in a rural county in more than forty four years.

26:11 - So to me that was always a crazy statistic because forty eight

26:16 - out of sixty seven out of our counties are rural

26:19 - but I know most of you probably come from communities like mine

26:23 - and some of the communities you represent they might be as large as sixty thousand

26:27 - people some are as small as one hundred and this means that despite

26:32 - attending the same eating here today

26:35 - and for the same purpose

26:36 - the challenges that you all face

26:38 - are likely different

26:40 - than the person sitting next to you

26:42 - and the fact is that issues that impact a supervisor or lower bucks county

26:47 - and my home town in northern Bradford county are completely unique

26:52 - and of course the one one size fits all approach

26:55 - that's too often provided to you guys it doesn't work

26:59 - so I believe that my rural roots

27:02 - give me a unique perspective

27:04 - but whether it's my personal experience working in manufacturing for over three

27:09 - decades.

27:10 - Or it's my service in the army reserve.

27:14 - For

27:15 - thirty

27:16 - years and not two weeks

27:17 - operation desert storm operation Iraqi freedom operation enduring freedom.

27:22 - I have learned that it is so essential to make sure that everyone's voices

27:28 - are heard

27:29 - and I know that's one of the biggest problems interstate government no one listens

27:33 - and that changes

27:35 - day one

27:36 - on a garrity Richie administration.

27:38 - We need a governor that will work with you

27:42 - not dictate to you

27:43 - and I've said that when I'm governor

27:45 - and I cross our border

27:47 - it's not going to be to promote myself I'll be

27:50 - leaving

27:51 - our communities

27:52 - and our commonwealth to promote

27:54 - our products

27:55 - our goods

27:56 - and our people.

27:58 - So we also need a governor who will cut the bureaucracy

28:01 - that's getting in the way getting in your way

28:04 - and a governor who will remove barriers to growth

28:06 - and opportunities that are stopping your communities.

28:10 - Nowhere is this better seen than in the mandates this administer duration

28:15 - has placed on land use

28:16 - and development in your communities

28:18 - particularly in rural communities where agriculture

28:22 - drives

28:23 - our local economy doesn't it

28:25 - so for instance every day farmers are being forced to deal with the heavy hand of

28:31 - Josh shapiro bloated government bureaucracy

28:33 - five

28:34 - state agencies

28:36 - too many state boards commissions to count it's unwieldy

28:40 - it's a manageable

28:41 - and it stopping your constituents from doing their jobs.

28:45 - May my administration will absolutely cut the red tape standing in our farmers way

28:50 - and with a one stop agricultural office within the department of ag

28:55 - that coordinates permits compliance approvals across agencies

28:59 - and focuses on rolling back regulations in three areas so first

29:04 - we're going to streamline the dip treatment of

29:06 - environmental protections permits for Barnes

29:09 - manure storage

29:10 - water usage

29:12 - and on-farm improvements with clear timelines

29:15 - and uniform standards no longer will de p stand for don't expect a permit.

29:24 - Laughs

29:29 - it will be a functioning agency that will allow

29:32 - you and your constituents to responsibly use the land that they own

29:37 - second we're going to simplify nutrient management and manure paperwork

29:41 - scale the roof rules of firm size

29:44 - and and you know eliminate redundant submissions

29:47 - and so finally the third one we're going to end

29:50 - duplicate reporting requirements across state agencies

29:53 - putting a stop to multiple filings

29:56 - to dp department of ag and conservation districts through out.

30:01 - We'll have one so statewide submission what do you think about that just one

30:05 - and of course one of the issues that I hear all the time as I travel across our

30:13 - commonwealth is the need for access to reliable

30:17 - high speed broadband services right

30:20 - and while this is a challenge that I hear most often

30:23 - in rural communities I know there are brabus and

30:26 - deserts.

30:27 - Even in more

30:28 - urban and suburban areas of our state

30:30 - every Pennsylvania needs and deserves access to high speed broadband services

30:35 - and we really need to ensure this connectivity

30:38 - because it guarantees accessible healthcare right and opens the door for educational

30:43 - and employment growth

30:44 - so under the current mod

30:46 - broadband deployment typically proceeds from the easiest and least costly areas right

30:52 - and so then what happens is it leaves the final

30:54 - five to ten percent

30:56 - of locations at risk of delay

30:58 - cost overruns or permanent exclusion because they run out of money

31:02 - so I think a more effective strategy would be to invert the model through a law last

31:07 - ten percent first

31:08 - right

31:09 - and that means we would identify we would prioritize the most remote

31:13 - and high cost locations at the outset

31:16 - the commonwealth can guarantee true universal coverage

31:20 - and avoid late state budget pressures and ensure that no community is left behind but

31:26 - to take make this a reality we really need smart policy in place to ensure

31:31 - that federal funding

31:32 - for broadband improvements coming into our

31:34 - commonwealth can make the biggest impact possible

31:37 - for instance that means we all know that we must define the different rules

31:42 - for an electric lineman.

31:44 - Who power our lives and hard working men and women who build and service tele data

31:49 - infrastructure so the jobs require different

31:51 - training there's different risks associated said

31:54 - associated with them but if we do not update

31:57 - these designations Pennsylvania federal funding allocation will be in jeopardy.

32:03 - Yet the shapiro administration department of labor

32:05 - and industry hasn't shown any interest in creating

32:09 - a defined classification for our fiber optic linemen

32:12 - my administration will.

32:14 - So we have state representative

32:16 - Tina pickett who happens to be my state representative

32:19 - and senator genia who happens to be my state senator

32:22 - they have introduced is legislation

32:24 - that would create and solidify the

32:26 - classifications

32:28 - and as governor I would sign that legislation into law immediately

32:31 - now I don't know if you saw but

32:34 - the governor announced that they're going to keep a two coal-fired plants.

32:39 - Alive I think in Armstrong in Indiana county

32:42 - so I think that in exchange for that they're going to get a waiver on these

32:45 - classifications for the time being

32:47 - but more to come on that

32:49 - but overshadowing our ability to expand broadband access is prevailing wage

32:55 - requirements and I know you're very interested in this

32:58 - Pennsylvania prevailing wage law was written more than

33:01 - sixty years ago think about that see sixty years ago

33:04 - and the threshold has remained twenty five thousand dollars for most projects

33:09 - and

33:09 - with highway projects I know they were updated to one

33:12 - hundred thousand dollars until two thousand and thirteen

33:15 - but you know what a nineteen sixty three dollar

33:17 - is the inflation equivalent of ten dollars today

33:21 - so it is clear that the law needs to be updated which

33:24 - is why I will call for the threshold to be increased

33:28 - to two

33:28 - hundred and fifty thousand dollars

33:31 - and then tie that to inflation.

33:39 - So broadband expansion and modernization that's just the tip of the iceberg for the

33:44 - technological expansion facing your communities

33:47 - now you don't need me to tell you

33:49 - that data centers have become a real high hot button issue haven't they

33:53 - so all corners of the commonwealth are attracting

33:56 - interest from data centers and AI infrastructure because

34:00 - of the convenient access to energy and water that we have interstate

34:04 - and as you know these operations depend on massive amounts of reliable electricity

34:10 - so the concerns you hear from america statuettes

34:12 - you know I would say they're legitimate

34:14 - so the new development it's really going to require

34:17 - some thoughtful planning at all levels of government

34:20 - that focuses on affordable reliable power

34:24 - and that ensures development goals do infringe on

34:27 - the needs of your local communities and a vibrant

34:31 - Pennsylvania natural gas industry is the key

34:34 - to maintaining services

34:36 - today

34:37 - I want you to think about this nearly sixty percent

34:40 - of all electricity generated in Pennsylvania

34:43 - uses natural gas.

34:45 - Now to put natural gas this year of electrical

34:47 - generation in perspective just sixteen years ago

34:51 - natural gas do you notice accounted for.

34:54 - Fifteen percent

34:55 - of Pennsylvania's generated electricity tricity

34:58 - so think about that it's gone from fifteen percent to sixteen percent

35:01 - but with energy demands up and supply down

35:03 - because we've taken power off the grid right

35:06 - Josh shapiro

35:07 - none of the above energy policy

35:09 - what is it done

35:10 - it's pushed your utility bills higher

35:12 - for family see families and businesses that you all represent

35:15 - so my administration will tap the liquid gold that we have right under our feet

35:20 - and establish a stronger network to deliver affordable energy

35:24 - to consumers

35:26 - increase energy supply in our communities

35:29 - so our our commonwealth's infrastructures

35:31 - they do not stop with improving our broadband or data networks

35:35 - it's just a start

35:37 - we need to bring Pennsylvania crumbling roads and Bridges right

35:41 - into the twenty first century

35:42 - right now you know what our infrastructure is rated.

35:45 - I said before it was to c minus but you know

35:47 - it's forty three out of fifty of all states

35:50 - think about that that's terrible

35:51 - so that's all unacceptable and it's throwing up a literal roadblock right for

35:56 - businesses and commerce in our communities saw our current governor

36:01 - brags about fixing one bridge in Philadelphia

36:04 - now my administration will target the more than

36:06 - three thousand deficient Bridges that we have

36:09 - across our commonwealth

36:10 - we're going to make sure that our roads

36:12 - that serve sure communities receive the funding that they need

36:16 - to link your communities so I understand I recognize

36:20 - the interconnection between our rural communities

36:23 - and our urban city centers and the supply chains needed

36:26 - to make all of our communities thrive

36:29 - and if we hope to make Pennsylvania

36:31 - the hub of commerce just

36:33 - that it should be that we know it can be

36:36 - we must

36:37 - have a transportation network that is worthy

36:40 - of that designation.

36:42 - So the hallmark of my administration will be one that is responsive to your needs

36:47 - not dictating

36:49 - from the governor's mansion on high

36:51 - we will work with you

36:52 - not imp post mandates that you can't me or you can't fund right

36:57 - well we'll support you because a rising tide of prosperity

37:01 - will lift

37:02 - the boats of every community across the commonwealth in nearly every speech I give I

37:08 - remind our audience that two hundred and fifty years ago

37:11 - this summer

37:12 - about one hundred miles to far east

37:14 - our nation's founders stood up

37:16 - and did something the world had never seen.

37:19 - They told the largest

37:21 - most mighty empire in the world

37:24 - enough

37:25 - enough

37:25 - is enough

37:27 - and out of that moment

37:29 - our commonwealth birth

37:30 - the enduring dream

37:32 - of life

37:33 - liber pretty and the pursuit of happiness a movement that has freed

37:38 - more people

37:39 - than any

37:39 - in the history of mankind

37:41 - we deserve a governor with a plan worthy of a commonwealth that gave birth

37:46 - to this nation

37:47 - and that dream

37:48 - and we require a governor with a commitment

37:52 - to our people

37:53 - to fight follow through on the promises that they make

37:56 - to maximize the incredible potential of our commonwealth.

38:00 - This is exactly the type of governor or I am seeking to be for you

38:05 - and your communities and your constituents so thanks again for having me

38:08 - looking forward to this forum god bless all of you

38:11 - god bless Pennsylvania

38:12 - and god bless the united ID states.

38:15 - Three.

38:28 - Thank you so much for

38:30 - for joining us we've had

38:31 - we've been collecting questions from members over the course of the last.

38:35 - Couple days and we also have on the side screens you can text

38:39 - text numbers and or tax questions in as well.

38:42 - I will

38:43 - do a full disclosure here that is not the number that you all were

38:46 - get them before.

38:47 - I

38:48 - I was able to break the

38:50 - system this morning.

38:52 - So that is my cell phone that we're using.

38:54 - So we'll be texting directly directly to me

38:57 - so

38:58 - Again thanks

38:59 - for being here what

39:00 - what

39:01 - could you elaborate a little bit more about your role your views on the role

39:05 - of the relationship between

39:06 - and

39:07 - local governments

39:08 - sure absolutely

39:09 - so as state treasure like I mentioned in my speech so

39:12 - I'd travel to all sixty seven counties every single year

39:15 - full disclosure I was going to do that one time because when I won

39:19 - and everybody was a little surprised and they

39:21 - were like who are you so I said okay we'll do

39:23 - all sixty seven

39:24 - county tour

39:25 - and then you're too we got to why cutting fifty five and I was like oh or fifty five

39:29 - we might as well get to sixty seven

39:31 - and now it's a thing

39:32 - and I think I'm the first person that has done

39:34 - this every single year from a statewide office

39:37 - but I go and meet people where they are

39:39 - I don't tell them to come to Harrisburg and I think that's important.

39:43 - Because like we talked about every single one of these

39:46 - counties and even the pockets within the counties

39:48 - they are so incredibly diverse and I want to

39:50 - see what their challenges are I want to hear

39:53 - what we can do to make their lives better

39:55 - and.

39:57 - So

39:57 - I plan to be a partner with local governments.

40:02 - As governor my door will always be open to everybody just like it is as treasure

40:07 - I'm probably the most accessible state treasurer that you've ever had

40:11 - and you know I'm fiscal watchdog of one hundred and eighty billion dollars I have

40:14 - three hundred and fifty employees and what's the one

40:16 - of the very first things that I did was create a rural

40:19 - outreach teams to worry about rich people

40:21 - in all four

40:23 - corners two in central and we don't even have a

40:27 - na rich person for his panic and why did I do that because when I campaigned

40:31 - I understood

40:32 - especially rural Pennsylvania and nobody knows what state government does

40:36 - nobody knows what they offer

40:38 - and I think that's why we basically broken every single

40:41 - record at treasury is because we've gotten the word out

40:44 - and we put people in communities

40:46 - and

40:47 - they go to legislative events and.

40:52 - Gas chambers of commerce's community

40:55 - events fairs you name it so we're everywhere did thirteen hundred events last year

41:00 - so the bare minimum that I think that you can ask for leaders just to show up and you

41:06 - know what you guys are the ice eyes and ears for the state

41:09 - here the first line of defense like I said all politics is local

41:13 - and so I want to work with all of you to make

41:18 - all of our communities thrive.

41:20 - Great.

41:21 - Yesterday we had a discussion

41:24 - about data centers.

41:26 - Topics is obviously on

41:27 - hitting many townships

41:29 - becoming

41:30 - the the targets of of angry residents.

41:33 - Packing meeting spaces taking frustrations to social media.

41:37 - Name calling

41:38 - beyond

41:39 - just outrageous things beyond.

41:41 - Temperatures are pretty high

41:43 - on many topics in today's climate

41:45 - if elected gov as go governor what

41:47 - what would you do or was there a role that you think the governor can play in helping

41:51 - support a return to civility and maybe turning down the temperature a little bit.

41:56 - That is a great question if

41:58 - so I can't speak for other leaders or politicians but.

42:03 - I want to be part of the solution and that means that you have to have a constructive

42:07 - production productive conversation

42:10 - with everyone

42:11 - right and I think a lot of the issue is that communities feel like the data centers

42:15 - are being rammed down their throats

42:17 - and so whether you voted for me or not whether I won your township or not

42:21 - and

42:22 - I'm running for governor to be

42:24 - you know to

42:24 - be the governor of all pennsylvanians and I look

42:26 - forward to working with everyone regardless of party

42:29 - and I'll give you a good example so when I came into office

42:33 - and you know people said who are you bringing

42:34 - with you and I said well that would be just me.

42:38 - Apparently there's usually

42:39 - a whole.

42:40 - Laundry list of

42:41 - folks that

42:42 - are coming

42:42 - and.

42:44 - So I kept just about every single staff member which means that in my office

42:49 - with three hundred and fifty employees I would say probably half are days half or rs

42:53 - so I got called

42:55 - by some republican politics one's in there said Stacey we now you're new to politics

42:59 - but you have to get rid of the other side

43:01 - and I said well

43:02 - you don't know me but I ran into Italian in

43:04 - a war zone I think I can put together my staff

43:07 - and I think that's another reason that we've been able

43:09 - to break every single record at treasury because I kept

43:12 - anybody that was a great public servant

43:15 - and.

43:17 - Thanks.

43:19 - That in regards to data centers

43:24 - I think that

43:26 - data centers will be very

43:27 - willing to have community economic.

43:30 - Agreements

43:31 - and I think they need to have some skin in the

43:33 - game and I think it's up to data centers and these

43:35 - companies to change

43:37 - the the hearts and minds of people and to turn the temperature down

43:40 - I don't think it's up to us and politicians I mean I think absolutely they need to

43:45 - bring their own power or at least pay for it

43:47 - so that we make sure that they're you know

43:49 - our electric

43:50 - bills are not impacted

43:52 - absolutely need to bring their own water.

43:55 - Absolutely need to make sure that there's ordinances

43:58 - for distance from residue essential areas and noise

44:01 - I also think there's a lot of misinformation out there but again.

44:04 - I think that

44:06 - you know if they were willing and and I've talked to some of them and they seem to be

44:09 - very willing to do some kind of community

44:11 - development agreement I think it would be

44:13 - similar to like an impact fee would be a good structure for it

44:16 - but I think it's up to them to to kind of turn the convo station around.

44:21 - Just turned

44:22 - ten o'clock to a public good public advertising local governments are required

44:26 - to advertise a lot of things including their

44:29 - meeting notices and penn state survey says that

44:32 - most romans spent about thirty five million dollars a year

44:35 - advertising and

44:36 - for when their meetings are.

44:38 - Where do you stand on providing misspellings with the additional options including

44:42 - being able to use their websites or

44:44 - to get the word out to media for meeting notices

44:46 - especially since so many newspapers are

44:49 - for closing

44:50 - the the ones that are left are.

44:52 - Online.

44:53 - Or later online and

44:55 - the print version sometimes is just used

44:58 - for hamster beds and

44:59 - the birdcage.

45:03 - I can appreciate this very much because it's treasure

45:06 - by statue I'm required to advertise unclaimed property

45:10 - in the newspaper and it drives me crazy because we spend

45:14 - almost a million dollars a year and that's taxpayer dollars

45:17 - advertising for unclaimed property where.

45:21 - You know we've broken records every year and it's not because of what we print in the

45:25 - newspapers because you can hardly read it the print is so small so I am all for

45:29 - updating knack at

45:30 - getting rid of it I mean I know some of the newspapers kind of count on that money

45:34 - but as you said.

45:36 - Most of these newspapers even the

45:38 - post-gazette although I hear they have a buyer

45:41 - we are going to online publication so yeah I think you guys do such a great job of

45:46 - putting stuff out on your website

45:49 - I just don't think there's any need to cling to old fashioned printing press

45:53 - requirements and I think that absolutely needs to be updated.

45:57 - And save taxpayers a lot of money.

46:02 - So I'm sure you're aware of the challenges that

46:05 - volunteer fire companies and

46:06 - mercy medical services

46:08 - provide including

46:09 - lack of volunteers and

46:11 - increased expenses and sometimes

46:14 - crazy mandates.

46:15 - From the state any do you have any

46:17 - thoughts or

46:18 - plans

46:19 - along those lines yeah I know it's a big challenge and I hear about it all the time

46:23 - first of all I know we have those outdated funding formulas write for local fire dms.

46:29 - They are unfairly kept and I believe they're decades old

46:32 - so they don't reflect today's sky ride rocketing costs and

46:36 - volunteer shortage judges and their the rising call

46:39 - volumes so I think they absolutely have to be updated

46:42 - you know our first responders when I was in the army military place so I.

46:46 - I have a

46:48 - very soft spot in my heart for our first responders

46:51 - but I think they deserve funding levels that match the real

46:55 - challenges they face in protecting our communities look

46:58 - if we can find money for.

47:01 - Hospitality suites for the pocono

47:03 - four hundred

47:05 - right for oakmont for

47:07 - the NFL draft I'm sure we can come up

47:09 - with money for our first responders.

47:12 - What are what are your views on statewide zoning in the

47:22 - states

47:23 - setting standards

47:24 - I am absolutely against statewide zoning

47:27 - because i.

47:28 - Though yeah especially when it comes to the governor's

47:37 - proposed reset board

47:38 - so the reset board and I think it's a misguided power grab

47:43 - and undermines local control

47:45 - and it's time to give our local

47:49 - police forces more tools to keep our community safe so.

47:53 - You know.

47:57 - I really think it has to stay at the local level

47:59 - and especially with the.

48:02 - Especially.

48:03 - You know with with this energy

48:05 - and.

48:05 - I.

48:06 - Think you guys are

48:08 - much better equipped

48:10 - to handle the local zoning

48:11 - then the then state and am also

48:14 - totally against

48:15 - unfunded mandates

48:17 - in case you.

48:18 - Forgot to mention that in the last question.

48:21 - Since you since you said unfunded mandates

48:24 - do you want to

48:24 - extend expand on that a little bit I know

48:26 - a lot of our communities

48:28 - struggle

48:30 - with and there's there's a ton of them I mean you did touch on prevailing wage.

48:34 - Thank you the last time that was changed I was in diapers

48:36 - I was hoping I wasn't going to be in diapers again.

48:41 - As we look at.

48:46 - Some of the some of those challenges

48:48 - of

48:49 - Demo sport

48:50 - and some of the storm water requirements

48:53 - and

48:53 - thoughts on

48:54 - well I think we should roll back all unfunded mandates and that's what I would do

48:58 - when I got there because you know it's putting a huge burden on communities

49:02 - forcing you to comply with things that you don't have the money to comply with

49:07 - the prevailing wage act I mean that kind of blows my

49:09 - mind it's been the same since nineteen sixty three

49:12 - so twenty five thousand dollars and think about how much further we could stretch our

49:16 - taxpayer dollars because when you think about it

49:18 - every single one of these dollars is a taxpayer dollar

49:21 - and and interestingly

49:23 - I mentioned the number two hundred and fifty thousand dollars but I know bar blame

49:27 - has a bill don't you love bb Glen by the way

49:30 - and ak.

49:32 - That's right

49:33 - where

49:33 - her bill adjusts it to I think it's two hundred and

49:35 - forty three thousand dollars and then ties it to sepia

49:39 - so I I

49:40 - think that is

49:41 - very intelligent common sense approach.

49:45 - So many of the other

49:47 - state standards have already been tied to to cpr so that

49:50 - seems to be a welcoming and common sense

49:52 - next up.

49:54 - Absolute

49:54 - talk common sense isn't it

49:56 - should be.

49:57 - So

49:58 - We we talked a little bit about transportation.

50:01 - You know

50:02 - one hundred and one hundred and seventeen thousand miles of roads in Pennsylvania.

50:06 - The state is responsible for about forty thousand but

50:09 - the folks in this room are responsible for

50:11 - seventy seven thousand miles

50:13 - yet they get a very small small portion of funding from the state

50:19 - pen that gets

50:20 - eight billion dollars and

50:22 - local governments through liquid fuels account

50:24 - get a little less than five hundred million.

50:28 - Any thoughts on

50:29 - maybe shifting.

50:30 - That what that formula is or finding out other ways because frankly whatever is not.

50:35 - Providing assistance their only options are raising local property taxes

50:40 - I know and I'm really for.

50:42 - Any

50:43 - thing that avoids raising property taxes because we're all I already have I think

50:48 - it's the fifth highest tax burden overall

50:51 - in the entire nation

50:52 - but

50:53 - that being said infrastructure is absolutely problem so you look at

50:57 - the money that

50:58 - dot has and I would say that.

51:01 - I'm

51:01 - positive cause I've looked at

51:03 - most of these agencies that there's a lot of fish efficiency that can be found

51:07 - in pen.

51:08 - Right just like Oliver state agencies when you're in the private sector what do you

51:12 - have to find three to five percent every single year

51:14 - so we just can't keep throwing money at a problem and expect it to get better

51:18 - so unfortunately the

51:21 - person that's not here

51:23 - in the middle

51:24 - he's for public transit right

51:26 - and so he spent one hundred and fifty three million in

51:29 - two thousand and twenty for another two hundred

51:30 - and twenty million in twenty twenty five

51:32 - he took it directly out of Pennsylvania's highway

51:35 - funds and he redirected it to mass transit and

51:38 - so that is

51:41 - you know that that doesn't work so I think you have to have a task force to relook

51:46 - at the entire

51:47 - transportation in the task where should have some

51:49 - people from the private sector not bureaucrats and it.

51:53 - You know.

51:55 - Then in case you didn't know I'm not a big fan of

51:59 - bureaucrats but I think we have to look at the whole

52:03 - system and yeah we have to adjust it for sure and we we.

52:09 - I mean when I looked at those numbers

52:11 - that disconnect is.

52:13 - It's huge

52:14 - it's absolutely huge

52:16 - and also

52:17 - the roads when

52:19 - the state turns it over

52:20 - to the locals turn back roads

52:22 - yeah the term records what's the dollar amount it's like is it forty four hundred or

52:26 - five hundred and forty.

52:28 - A long time right but if you ingested it for inflation

52:30 - I think the number should be sixty six hundred dollars

52:34 - not

52:34 - forty four or forty five minutes.

52:37 - That will be helpful and it's a step in the right direction but

52:41 - there's nobody

52:42 - if you'll.

52:43 - Find anybody in this room that can

52:44 - maintain a

52:45 - mile of road for sixty six hundred bucks

52:47 - raise your hand because everybody wants to talk to you.

52:51 - We talk

52:52 - a little bit about

52:53 - property taxes and

52:54 - what

52:55 - nobody likes paying

52:56 - paying more than you have to but

52:59 - you know there's discussion in Harrisburg in the legislature about eliminating

53:02 - property taxes and what

53:05 - any thoughts on what what what that replacement revenue might be or what

53:08 - what local governments are supposed to do

53:10 - because

53:11 - that's that's

53:12 - the only

53:13 - only thing they have other than local income tax

53:15 - no I understand that

53:17 - so yeah I know Don keefer has a proposal

53:20 - and I think the offset is mainly sales tax

53:24 - so what we've found is a way to eliminate municipal and local property taxes

53:30 - now not your funding but paid for it

53:33 - okay in the way we pay for it is I don't know if y'all

53:35 - know but there are eleven billion dollars in special funds

53:40 - that are sitting off the books

53:41 - okay so basically there's five teams that have been created

53:45 - so we sweep.

53:47 - Some of that money out of the special funds and then redirect the the interest

53:51 - into a new phone called something maybe like the people's fund.

53:56 - Right.

53:57 - That we could pay at least five years and that gives us enough time to unleash

54:02 - our natural gas that we have on our feet because we have to generate more revenue

54:06 - I mean

54:06 - you heard me mention it before we've spent five billion dollars more than what we

54:11 - bring and

54:11 - when I came into office and twenty twenty one

54:14 - I believe our surplus was something like sixteen billion dollars so every year

54:19 - the governor stands up and says that he balances the budget well that's not the way I

54:22 - balance my budget that's not the way you balance your budget so what they do

54:26 - is they take a piece of the surplus and they use it to plug a budget hole

54:29 - while that game's up because cause at the end of this

54:32 - fiscal year we will be out that sixteen billion dollars

54:35 - zero

54:35 - and the only thing that's left

54:37 - is what the rainy day fund

54:40 - right the rainy day fund has about seven point five

54:42 - billion dollars and I think in the next budget cycle

54:45 - they'll probably have to sweep about five billion dollars of that.

54:49 - So and so I I

54:52 - don't have a proposal

54:54 - until we generate revenue to eliminate property taxes because.

54:58 - You know and and until we really

55:01 - have some revenue coming in and we really can flip

55:03 - the script

55:05 - and

55:06 - you know are are.

55:07 - Are mediocrity or

55:09 - failing

55:10 - policies.

55:11 - Then and I think this is a good plan so it doesn't touch your money so we pay for it

55:15 - so no new taxes

55:17 - and we pay for the municipal and local

55:20 - great.

55:21 - Too.

55:22 - Question from from the audience secretary car roll told us

55:25 - that southeast Pennsylvania drives

55:27 - the commonwealth's economy so that's where the the

55:30 - commonwealth is going to focus infrastructure improvements what are

55:33 - what are your thoughts about that.

55:36 - No

55:37 - Absolutely forty eight of sixty seven of our counties

55:39 - are rural I mean we need infrastructure support.

55:44 - Through

55:44 - the entire commonwealth I mean think about it we have three thousand deficient

55:47 - Bridges our infrastructure is rated see my anus

55:49 - and I know that you know it's popular to push all

55:53 - of our money to

55:54 - to public transit

55:55 - but

55:56 - we've been doing this at the expenses of our

55:59 - our you know our roads our Bridges our highways

56:01 - and so now that that has to stop absolutely

56:04 - mean if we want to be the hub of global commerce that we can be and that we should be

56:10 - we have to have we have to improve our infrastructure.

56:15 - So you're you're from the

56:16 - Bradford county Marcellus shale region middle of Marcellus shale what

56:20 - what are your thoughts or do you have any thoughts

56:23 - on the Delaware river basin commission restricting.

56:27 - Gas

56:28 - production in their parts

56:29 - part of the state

56:30 - yeah I think we have to revisit that

56:32 - I mean.

56:34 - We have twenty five percent of all the natural

56:36 - gas in the united states located right here

56:39 - we have so many blessings we have the hardest

56:41 - best

56:42 - people we have world class industries we have

56:46 - national resources that we all know that are the envy

56:49 - of the entire world

56:51 - and we're squandering those blessings and that's why

56:54 - you no we're rated in the bottom tier of.

56:57 - Basically every single metric and we should be leading the nation

57:01 - and we can

57:02 - now unfortunately these projects we haven't had

57:04 - any new power generation new power generation

57:07 - in over twelve years

57:09 - and so right when we need power we've taken power off the grid

57:13 - and the demand for electric is through the roof

57:16 - and so

57:17 - you know it's it's causing a lot of

57:19 - a lot of issues and in guys it's not the fault of pjm it's it's the fault that

57:23 - when you have

57:24 - a governor that says he's in all

57:27 - of the above

57:28 - energy governor but then quietly subverts natural gas

57:32 - that's why people don't come into our state and invest

57:34 - they you need to know that you're going to unleash pipeline

57:37 - that

57:38 - that we want lng and this would be a game changer

57:41 - and it would create tens of thousands of jobs

57:44 - and billions of dollars

57:45 - in economic opportunity for our communities that we desperately need.

57:51 - Who's who's.

57:56 - One from the audience and you may not

57:58 - be able to to comment on this.

58:01 - Are you willing to or do you have any thoughts or comments

58:03 - or can you comment on your office involvement with the

58:07 - governor spending taxpayers' funds on his private residence.

58:11 - Stay tuned

58:12 - that

58:12 - that comes out

58:14 - tomorrow

58:15 - but.

58:17 - Sneak preview.

58:21 - We cannot use taxpayer dollars for private residences

58:25 - okay it's not.

58:31 - Mean it's just not legal so what they did

58:34 - so for the governor's official residence which was over twenty two million dollars

58:38 - they put a line at item in the budget

58:40 - right and they could have done the same thing

58:42 - had to budget cycles to do it

58:44 - months and months and months

58:45 - but

58:46 - I can only pay I make every payment in the

58:48 - commonwealth fun factory and a half payments a second

58:50 - but I can only pay what is legal and correct

58:53 - and it doesn't matter.

58:55 - Who's.

58:57 - In that office

58:58 - it doesn't matter

58:59 - I don't care if it's a republican or democrat I'm

59:01 - only paying what is legal and correct it's not

59:03 - politics has

59:04 - you know no part of this whatsoever so they need to go back and do it the right way.

59:09 - Though we're running out of time or

59:14 - maybe just a quick one

59:15 - word give any thoughts on rent control for manufactured housing communities and is

59:20 - something the state should be

59:21 - doing

59:22 - no I don't think the state should I don't know what your

59:24 - position is but my my position as a state shouldn't be involved in rent control.

59:29 - It

59:29 - And.

59:30 - In not being able to.

59:32 - You know move bad tenants

59:34 - true

59:34 - I mean and that I know is a huge issue in the southeast that I hear a lot about

59:38 - I don't hear about it so much in

59:40 - in our rural areas.

59:42 - Where we were

59:43 - actually

59:44 - little overtime

59:45 - running out of

59:45 - cars I I

59:46 - my remarks whenever I'm sorry

59:49 - have any any final thoughts you want to share before we.

59:53 - You know just that

59:55 - 564 our state could be leading the nation in every metric I mean you guys

01:00 - 03.774 think about it we have lead before we are the state

01:00 - 04.644 that powered

01:00 - 05.854 the revolution

01:00 - 07.534 we are the state.

01:00 - 12.150 That powered the industrial revolution we are the state that built the American

01:00 - 14.094 working class and there is no reason

01:00 - 14.904 none

01:00 - 16.554 that we can't lead again

01:00 - 18.714 but you know what leadership matters

01:00 - 23.764 accountability matters and putting Pennsylvania families first matters.

01:00 - 32.384 Three.

01:00 - 40.254 Okay

01:00 - 41.124 how about

01:00 - 42.634 some more prisons.

01:00 - 44.224 For that.

01:00 - 44.634 Guy

01:00 - 48.954 first you're going to give away the prize for the two the winner chosen from among

01:00 - 52.914 the Tuesday conference evaluations that were completed and turned in.

01:00 - 56.394 The winner will receive a one hundred dollar lowe's gift card

01:00 - 00.032 this prize was sponsored by eight h equipment a bronze

01:01 - 04.594 sponsor remember for this one you must be present to win

01:01 - 07.174 and the prize goes to.

01:01 - 11.964 Ken Myers from Quincy charge of Franklin county is

01:01 - 13.174 here.

01:01 - 15.265 Very good

01:01 - 17.592 and

01:01 - 20.423 by the way please be sure to complete and turn

01:01 - 23.992 in the Wednesday conference evaluation forms.

01:01 - 25.192 Before you leave for

01:01 - 30.402 today's general session your feedback on an evaluation of the conference are

01:01 - 34.252 very important for the association pair for next year's event.

01:01 - 34.932 Plus

01:01 - 36.462 you have a chance to win

01:01 - 37.972 when surprises.

01:01 - 39.492 The

01:01 - 43.698 winter for the that Wednesday evaluation prize will be drawn after the close of the

01:01 - 46.124 conference and they will receive a preferred

01:01 - 49.372 parking pass for twenty twenty seven conference.

01:01 - 52.182 Anybody have any trouble parking around here last couple of days

01:01 - 52.752 to

01:01 - 54.292 A level.

01:01 - 56.242 That's a big prize.

01:01 - 58.132 Will notify the winner.

01:01 - 59.482 At.

01:01 - 00.402 That was fun

01:02 - 02.742 in the June issue of the township news

01:02 - 04.962 and send the prize by mail

01:02 - 07.822 now for more county association baskets.

01:02 - 10.912 Again you must be present to win these prizes.

01:02 - 13.332 The first one is from.

01:02 - 18.082 New issue of the Jews.

01:02 - 20.602 It's okay.

01:02 - 26.362 Somerset county eight another another gallon of maple syrup.

01:02 - 27.072 Alright

01:02 - 29.482 and the winner is.

01:02 - 31.452 Chad smelt

01:02 - 33.852 supervisor from chatham township tioga

01:02 - 35.182 shatter.

01:02 - 40.162 Jedes down here okay congratulations shed.

01:02 - 44.092 The next basket.

01:02 - 46.432 Is from.

01:02 - 49.462 Butler county and includes.

01:02 - 51.112 Wine.

01:02 - 52.302 Syrup

01:02 - 53.452 pancake mix

01:02 - 54.922 and spaghetti sauce

01:02 - 57.172 as a full day of food.

01:03 - 02.182 And the winner is.

01:03 - 04.541 Leanne Adams secretary treasurer from pleasant

01:03 - 08.062 township in Warren county where's leanne over here.

01:03 - 11.632 Clients having pancakes and spaghetti.

01:03 - 16.362 Congratulations to all the prize winners

01:03 - 17.902 thanks.

01:03 - 27.672 That began presenting the four Hugo wars

01:03 - 30.432 at the spring conference three years ago

01:03 - 32.202 to elevate our attention

01:03 - 36.142 to the next generation of leaders today's youth.

01:03 - 39.852 Peace ads establish the awards in nineteen seventy eight

01:03 - 42.252 to honor community service projects

01:03 - 44.022 by youth organization the ones

01:03 - 46.872 that improve the quality of life in townships

01:03 - 49.032 and encourage youth involvement

01:03 - 50.782 in local government

01:03 - 52.302 to present the awards

01:03 - 55.182 please welcome piece as executive board member

01:03 - 56.622 Jeffrey shaffer

01:03 - 59.472 a supervisor from Smithfield township

01:03 - 01.432 hunting ton county.

01:04 - 07.842 Laughs.

01:04 - 10.792 Good morning everyone.

01:04 - 15.742 We're pleased this morning to be able to recognize for winning projects

01:04 - 18.012 by young people who saw a need

01:04 - 21.322 in their community and work to meet that need.

01:04 - 25.732 Each project included cooperation with local government

01:04 - 29.362 and benefited a large segment of their respective communities.

01:04 - 32.022 Each winter's recognize here

01:04 - 34.544 at our annual conference and gets a certificate

01:04 - 37.612 and a five hundred dollar prize as well

01:04 - 40.722 to learn about the first winning project please direct your

01:04 - 42.862 attention to the video screens.

01:04 - 49.422 Students from Lincoln intermediate unit

01:04 - 51.192 worked with mount joy township

01:04 - 52.512 Adams county

01:04 - 54.942 on an official records management project

01:04 - 57.912 that included the review and organization

01:04 - 00.532 of township files and documents.

01:05 - 03.412 After reviewing the documents

01:05 - 06.066 students scanned them for digital storage while

01:05 - 09.742 learning proper procedure for handling public records

01:05 - 12.942 the project improve the township record keeping

01:05 - 18.052 while giving students real world training and experience in local government.

01:05 - 21.402 Students continue to work with the townships that

01:05 - 23.772 while building a growing independence

01:05 - 24.732 confidence

01:05 - 28.372 and illustrating the value of an inclusive workforce.

01:05 - 32.842 Let's welcome to the stage

01:05 - 37.482 Melissa Wagner a special education teacher with the Lincoln intermediate it

01:05 - 39.712 as supervisor Sandy.

01:05 - 41.292 Yogurt

01:05 - 43.342 and Christine de moss

01:05 - 45.232 with mount joy township.

01:05 - 53.652 Three.

01:06 - 29.062 Now for our second youth award.

01:06 - 36.372 Girl scout troop four zero or four of upper you Clinton township

01:06 - 37.492 Chester county

01:06 - 40.332 design and planted a pollinator garden

01:06 - 43.002 at pickering valley elementary school

01:06 - 47.962 and built and installed for adirondack chairs and upland farms

01:06 - 49.782 the project was led by

01:06 - 55.561 jonny girthy and more than ten youth and another fifteen adult anti leaders

01:06 - 58.586 she worked at the township and school staff and a

01:06 - 02.272 master gardener to coordinate and complete the projects

01:07 - 06.882 the scouts work improved outdoor spaces in the township and school

01:07 - 10.902 scouts learned environmental practices woodworking a gardening

01:07 - 12.982 and leadership skills.

01:07 - 19.302 Here to accept the award are members of girl scout troop forty forty four

01:07 - 20.262 parents

01:07 - 23.442 and true volunteers as well as Rhys Lloyd

01:07 - 29.152 code enforcement director with upper Yukon township will you please come to the stage.

01:07 - 37.952 Three.

01:07 - 05.732 Yeah for now for our third winning group.

01:08 - 13.398 Members of boy scout troop fifty in Jefferson township Mercer county work with

01:08 - 17.812 hempfield township officials to build a gaga ball pit.

01:08 - 20.562 Cash bar or let a group of five scout

01:08 - 25.722 and several leaders in the project at an field park which serves residents of him feel

01:08 - 27.642 free west Salem

01:08 - 28.542 Perry

01:08 - 30.502 and Delaware townships.

01:08 - 33.312 Scouts work with township officials and

01:08 - 34.092 leaders

01:08 - 35.562 to purchase material

01:08 - 36.822 collect funds

01:08 - 38.652 and construct the ball pit.

01:08 - 44.032 The scouts plan to maintain the ball pit and erect a plaque in the future.

01:08 - 49.272 Here to accept the award is eagle scout cash barber

01:08 - 51.792 and parents Dan and kari barber

01:08 - 53.992 and hempfield township secretary

01:08 - 54.852 Debbie

01:08 - 57.772 bartos and supervisor John Ross.

01:08 - 06.512 Three.

01:09 - 12.382 Yeah.

01:09 - 36.752 Three.

01:09 - 45.862 Now for our final winning group.

01:09 - 51.882 Stems from of bensalem wrightstown and warminster township

01:09 - 55.400 bucks county was founded to target elementary age

01:09 - 59.812 students with a focus on children in underserved areas

01:10 - 02.562 presentations featured stem concepts

01:10 - 05.542 and engaging students in friendly competition

01:10 - 09.012 led by Abi aprile and Dylan led

01:10 - 12.492 half a dozen students and three adult and teen leaders

01:10 - 14.382 met with the younger students

01:10 - 17.106 targeting foster children in after school

01:10 - 20.842 programs were limited staff resources existed

01:10 - 25.012 this ongoing program has reached more than one hundred students

01:10 - 28.722 leaders improve their communication coordination

01:10 - 30.162 and research skills

01:10 - 32.892 and continue to work with young students

01:10 - 35.362 on topics to keep them engaged.

01:10 - 44.294 Okay it says here unfortunately members of status

01:10 - 46.972 draw were unable to attend today's presentation

01:10 - 48.262 however.

01:10 - 50.542 Because supervisors

01:10 - 51.162 just

01:10 - 52.402 Chester.

01:10 - 55.002 Parker nowitzki and Jane

01:10 - 59.242 magni of wrightstown township police stand to be recognized.

01:11 - 06.372 Thesis congratulates all these people are better for your hard work

01:11 - 08.202 and service their communities

01:11 - 10.822 let's give them another round of applause.

01:11 - 16.182 Three.

01:11 - 27.540 We are excited to announce the winners

01:11 - 30.221 of the Pennsylvania state association of township

01:11 - 32.310 supervisors scholarship program this year

01:11 - 33.850 at the conference.

01:11 - 35.550 Now it's the third year

01:11 - 37.390 scholarship programs

01:11 - 40.380 have drew over dozens of applications the piece adds

01:11 - 44.920 and we were able to present these over the recent days weeks at meetings

01:11 - 47.880 providing local recognition of the bright young leaders

01:11 - 50.680 in the townships that they played a role in processing

01:11 - 52.804 high school seniors from across the commonwealth

01:11 - 55.540 applied for fifteen hundred dollars scholarships

01:11 - 57.010 to the scholarships

01:11 - 59.430 the local government community service scholarships

01:11 - 02.230 while two are academic scholarships.

01:12 - 04.710 These awards are career development

01:12 - 07.800 and can be treated traditional two to four year

01:12 - 11.040 schools are also able to be trade or technical schools

01:12 - 12.300 certificate programs

01:12 - 15.670 that lead to careers even fire nms examples.

01:12 - 19.386 The local government community service scholarship chip is an opportunity for

01:12 - 22.000 students to highlight the outstanding citizenship

01:12 - 23.280 through public service

01:12 - 25.150 and community involvement.

01:12 - 27.150 The academic achievement awards

01:12 - 29.340 is awarded to students who exhibit

01:12 - 30.960 enthusiasm towards

01:12 - 34.840 education and maintenance of high academic standards.

01:12 - 37.680 In addition recognition at township meetings

01:12 - 38.670 this con France

01:12 - 41.850 the winners will be also recognize to a local media outlets

01:12 - 45.100 and the Pennsylvania state association of township news.

01:12 - 48.480 I'd like to invite the executive board member Corey Lucas

01:12 - 52.290 a supervisor from dunstable township Clinton county to join me on stage

01:12 - 54.580 for this presentation Cory.

01:12 - 03.330 Laughs.

01:13 - 05.830 Gory are you ready.

01:13 - 10.020 Okay now let's recognize our scholarship winners

01:13 - 13.530 the first winter the local government community scholarship award

01:13 - 14.940 is land and blocker

01:13 - 17.130 of state township Adams county

01:13 - 19.000 land and please come up.

01:13 - 24.720 That.

01:13 - 26.340 Said

01:13 - 26.880 in the

01:13 - 27.570 city

01:13 - 28.990 which one's real.

01:13 - 31.860 Firefighter with the gettysburg fire department

01:13 - 36.640 following graduation he plans to attend elizabethtown college

01:13 - 41.640 Landon has volunteered with the gettysburg fire dept apartment for over four years

01:13 - 45.480 he's volunteered as part of the departments stuff the truck

01:13 - 46.890 national night out

01:13 - 49.500 fire prevention open house

01:13 - 53.290 and Adams county library fun fest events.

01:13 - 56.310 This has allowed Landon to work with state police

01:13 - 57.690 cumberland township

01:13 - 59.130 and gettysburg police

01:13 - 00.930 the nah national park service

01:14 - 02.110 and more

01:14 - 07.870 all addition to the hundreds of hours of service he's logged as a junior firefighter.

01:14 - 18.000 Second winter for local government community service scholarship

01:14 - 18.930 is lucan

01:14 - 19.860 mckinney

01:14 - 22.630 of Heidelberg township lehigh county.

01:14 - 25.750 Lucia.

01:14 - 28.650 Is a senior at Northwestern lehigh school

01:14 - 30.960 where he is active in track and field

01:14 - 31.980 interact

01:14 - 33.000 marching band

01:14 - 35.130 jazz band concert band

01:14 - 36.720 drama and more

01:14 - 39.990 his community involvement includes scouting america

01:14 - 43.440 rural preservation association of northwest lehigh

01:14 - 44.460 teen works

01:14 - 47.560 and Heidelberg game preservation association

01:14 - 50.110 for his eagle scout project

01:14 - 54.816 Lucian replaced several Bridges in the environmental lab an outdoor classroom

01:14 - 58.480 maintained by the Northwestern lehigh school district.

01:14 - 00.720 Lucian worked with township officials

01:15 - 04.735 to ensure any regulations or permit requirements were

01:15 - 08.790 satisfied and coordinated with district leadership on materials

01:15 - 11.280 scope of work safety concerns

01:15 - 13.420 and benefits to the district

01:15 - 16.350 upon completion the project allowed the district

01:15 - 21.220 continued access to the environmental lab upon graduation

01:15 - 25.540 Lucian plans to further his education at purdue university.

01:15 - 36.777 Unfortunately Lucian was unable to attend our conference

01:15 - 40.390 today but was recognized at a presentation at his township.

01:15 - 45.040 I'm going to ask Corey to announce the next two scholarship winners Corey.

01:15 - 52.060 Now for the winners of the academic achievement scholarships

01:15 - 57.220 the first winner is Taylor irwin of south union township fayette county.

01:15 - 58.740 Taylor

01:15 - 02.430 is a senior at Laurel highlands senior high school

01:16 - 03.700 where she is active

01:16 - 05.920 in national honor society

01:16 - 07.950 penn state four-point Okla

01:16 - 09.000 soccer

01:16 - 11.430 basketball track and field

01:16 - 14.650 interact sad and.

01:16 - 18.772 Her community involvement includes her church Ohio

01:16 - 22.050 Ohio volunteer fire department buckwheat festival

01:16 - 24.460 you coachee anvil.

01:16 - 29.520 Taylor's essay focused on the changing landscape as america celebrates

01:16 - 32.200 its two hundred fiftieth anniversary

01:16 - 35.020 with a focus on our local community.

01:16 - 39.240 While paying homage to the industrial past the fayette county

01:16 - 44.790 Taylor looked ahead what technology and the involvement of younger citizens can do

01:16 - 48.670 to boost educational opportunity population

01:16 - 52.120 and increase participation in local government.

01:16 - 56.220 She pointed to examples of new technologies that are boosting morale

01:16 - 57.660 limiting businesses

01:16 - 00.490 and offering employment in her community

01:17 - 02.260 following graduation

01:17 - 05.560 plans to attend shenandoah university.

01:17 - 16.080 Tailor was unable to be with us today

01:17 - 20.160 she was recognized during a recent presentation at the township

01:17 - 24.079 our second winner of an academic achievement scholarship

01:17 - 28.180 is Sadie sarver of Salem township west more land county.

01:17 - 33.180 Sadie's r is a senior at greensburg Salem high school

01:17 - 36.060 where she is active in national honor society

01:17 - 37.140 wrestling

01:17 - 38.280 marching band

01:17 - 39.460 emphasize.

01:17 - 42.870 Her community involvement include scouting america

01:17 - 45.250 for age and church.

01:17 - 49.000 Sadie's as a touted the benefits of local government.

01:17 - 49.380 On the

01:17 - 52.180 history of west more land county

01:17 - 55.710 she expanded on the many services Salem township offers

01:17 - 58.840 from road maintenance and parks and recreation

01:17 - 01.170 to funding for emergency services

01:18 - 03.100 and township improvement.

01:18 - 04.860 Following graduation

01:18 - 08.770 she plans to attend the university of Pittsburgh johns town

01:18 - 12.790 where she plans to pursue a degree in environmental science.

01:18 - 17.280 Sadie was unable to attend today although she was recognized

01:18 - 20.560 during a recent presentation at the township.

01:20 - 34.740 He says is honored

01:20 - 38.670 to present these scholarships in recognition of the future generation of leaders

01:20 - 42.130 join me again in congratulating our winners.

01:20 - 47.430 Three.

01:21 - 14.910 I.