March 2005 Meeting Minutes
PACD Executive Council Meeting
Crowne Plaza Harrisburg
March 16, 2005
Roll Call (Hildenbrandt)
PACD Secretary George Hildenbrandt (Centre) called the roll. There were
27 counties present, which constituted a quorum.
Call to Order and Welcome (Cappucci)
PACD First Vice President Victor Cappucci (Wyoming) explained that PACD
President C. Jarrett Miller (Erie) was not able to be present to chair
the meeting. He noted that as chair he would not be voting except in
the case of a tie vote. He then welcomed everyone to the meeting and
called the meeting to order.
Introduction of Parliamentarian (Cappucci)
Victor Cappucci (Wyoming) introduced Elio Chiarelli, Parliamentarian
for the meeting. He noted that Elio, a former national FFA Officer,
is a senior at Penn State University, and a teacher at the Lancaster
Mennonite High School.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Hildenbrandt)
PACD Secretary George Hildenbrandt (Centre) submitted the minutes from
the PACD Executive Council meeting of October 29, 2004 for additions
or corrections. No additions or corrections were presented.
It was moved by Bob Ritchey (Cambria) and seconded by Malcolm Crooks
(Bucks) to accept the minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Reports of Officers
Victor Cappucci, PACD First Vice President
PACD First Vice President Victor Cappucci (Wyoming) presented the following
report:
- Victor individually thanked all of the PACD Staff and particularly
thanked Susan Marquart for keeping him up to date. He noted that he
has made several trips to Harrisburg, and has kept in regular touch
with Susan and other PACD Executive Board members via phone and e-mail.
- Victor noted that he had the opportunity to serve as chair of the
PACD Bylaws Committee on one occasion. He appreciates the hard work,
discussion, and thought that went into acknowledging all of the information
and suggestions presented to the committee by the various districts
and regions.
- Victor also thanked the Executive Board for their patience and assistance,
and noted that he enjoys working with all of the directors from each
district and that they each do an excellent job.
Patricia Sueck, NACD Director
NACD Director Patricia Sueck (York) presented the following verbal report.
She announced that she was unable to present a written report due to
technical difficulties.
- Pat announced that she has the NACD policy book from the Atlanta
meeting in February of 2005. She made this book available in the back
of the room during the Executive Council meeting, along with programs
and newsletters about what went on during the February meeting. Pat
said that NACD Chief Executive Officer Krysta Harden helped organize
an excellent meeting and urged people to attend next year's meeting
in New Orleans.
- Pat also announced that elections were held during the February
meeting and the current NACD Executive Board members are: President,
Bill Wilson from Oklahoma; First Vice President, Tim Reich from South
Dakota; Second Vice President, Olin Sims from Wyoming; Secretary-Treasurer,
John Redding from Georgia.
- Deb Bogar has been hired to provide administrative support for the
NACD Northeast region and will work on urban and coastal plains problems.
NACD will be looking for someone else to work on Northeast agricultural
issues.
- Pat is also working on a Memo of Understanding (MOU) with the forest
service in the Northeast. This MOU has not been revitalized in a number
of years. A forest service representative from Philadelphia will be
working with Pat on the MOU during the NACD Legislative Conference
April 3-5, 2005.
- Pat will be meeting with the National Conservation Foundation in
Denver in May. NACD is hoping to use endowment fund interest to subsidize
NACD efforts.
- After the PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in Erie July 24-27, Pat
will meet with the NACD Board in Florida.
- Pat urged everyone to read the NACD e-Notes and newsletters, as
well as e-mails forwarded to the listserves. She noted that the NACD
catalog is now online and asked that anyone who encounters any problems
with this to let Pat know. In order to reduce costs, NACD stewardship
materials must be ordered online this year. Pat urged districts to
go online and order these materials.
Question: Do Pat's e-mails go out on the staff listserve? Susan responded
that she receives the weekly NACD newsletter e-Notes, which she
forwards to the directors listserve, the managers listserve and the
PACD Executive Board.
Pat noted that it is very important for each district board to appoint
a contact for each federal legislator. Pat and Susan will be attending
the NACD Legislative Conference, and will meet with as many legislators
as they can, but they cannot meet with everyone. It is important for
districts to make and maintain contact with both their federal and state
legislators.
PACD Award Recipient Announcements
Victor Cappucci (Wyoming) announced the following PACD Award Recipients
for 2005:
- Conservation Organization of the Year
PA CleanWays of Westmoreland County (Westmoreland County)
- Elected Official Recognition Award
John Turack (Westmoreland County)
- Ann Rudd Saxman Conservation Award
Robert E. Wagner (Lancaster County)
- Conservation Farmer of the Year:
Ray & Jean Thrush, Jet Rae Farm (Cumberland County)
- Conservation Educator of the Year
Jeremy L. Deysher (Berks County)
- William Lange Urban Conservation Award
Edwina Coder (Lancaster County)
Treasurer's Report (Duvall)
PACD Treasurer Porter Duvall (Jefferson) presented the budget report
for July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005.
It was moved by Porter Duvall (Jefferson) and seconded by Bob DeVenny
(Allegheny) to accept the report. Motion carried.
It was noted that the Bylaws Committee did not receive any reimbursement
for expenses.
PACD Treasurer Porter Duvall (Jefferson) presented the report for the
PACD Endowment Fund and the PACD Capital Fund. Porter noted that we
need to build up the Endowment Fund, which will be to everyone's benefit.
Question from the floor: Regarding the PACD Endowment Fund report,
is the total interest listed available for spending? Porter replied
that the accumulated interest can either be used or reinvested in the
Endowment Fund.
Executive Director's Report (Marquart)
PACD Executive Director Susan Marquart presented highlights from her
written report, which details the activities of the PACD Executive Director
and all of the PACD staff since the last meeting.
Note from the floor: Page 5 of the Executive Director's Report should
read that the Northeast PACD Region Meeting was held in Montrose, not
Melrose.
Reports of Committees
Reports from Standing Committees
Victor Cappucci called for reports from the standing committees.
- PACD Soil and Water Committee Chairwoman Irvil Kear reported that
Ed Magargee with the Delaware conservation district has offered to
head up a subcommittee to address Chapter 102, 105 and stormwater
management concerns as they relate to the Soil and Water Committee.
The committee is also supporting the ACRE proposal.
Report from District Operations Committee (Cappucci)
District Operations Committee Chairman Victor Cappucci (Wyoming) presented
the report from the District Operations Committee.
It was moved by Jack Tressler (Somerset) and seconded by Harold
Kulp (Chester) to accept the motion.
Comment from the floor: Please reflect on what the PACD staff is doing
for districts. State and federal funds are coming in to support conservation
districts largely due to the efforts of PACD. Why are districts members
of PACD? Why do districts have a statewide organization? The answer
is because it strengthens the districts. Districts are not islands,
but rather a part of a statewide group. Joining together as an association
strengthens the districts. The Association can hire staff to do things
that districts cannot do themselves, staff with unique expertise. It
is ridiculous to think that the PACD can operate using the same mount
of funds that they used last year. Personal expenses go up every year,
and so do Association expenses. A ten percent increase is the minimal
amount districts should be considering to keep the operation vigorous
and working for district directors.
It was moved by Malcolm Crooks (Bucks) and seconded by Irvil Kear
(Schuylkill) to table the motion until after the budget is reviewed.
Motion carried.
With the approval of Porter Duvall, PACD Finance Committee Chair, the
motion was changed to read:
- That the dues workgroup reconvene to develop a plan, projecting
at least five years of dues structure, bringing this projected
plan back to the PACD Finance Committee in January 2006.
It was moved by Phyllis Hoople (Crawford) and seconded by Ron Rohall
(Westmoreland) to accept the motion. Motion carried.
It was moved by Pat Sueck (York) and seconded by Irvil Kear (Schuylkill)
to accept the motion. Motion carried.
Report from PACD Bylaws Committee (Kehl)
PACD Bylaws Committee Chairman Larry Kehl presented and reviewed a written
report from the PACD Bylaws Committee. He then explained that the PACD
Executive Council has the opportunity to make specific changes to the
proposed PACD Bylaws at this Executive Council meeting. An updated version
of the bylaws will then be mailed out to the districts for review prior
to voting in July. If district board members feel that they need more
time to review the document and need an opportunity to make more changes
before they take a final vote on the proposed bylaws, they may propose
that the PACD President call a special meeting to allow for further
review. Another updated version of the proposed Bylaws would then be
mailed out to all the districts for review prior to the July 2005 Council
meeting.
At this point in the meeting, Victor Cappucci called for a five minute
break.
Old and Unfinished Business
PACD First Vice President Victor Cappucci called for old or unfinished
business. None was presented.
New Business
Proposed Changes to PACD Bylaws (Kehl)
Parliamentarian Elio Chiarelli explained that all bylaws changes must
be approved and accepted during two meetings of the assembly. It was
also noted that PACD Bylaws currently require any bylaws changes take
place at the PACD Annual Meeting, which is currently held each July.
PACD Bylaws Committee Chairman Larry Kehl (Berks) reviewed the proposed
bylaws changes for the council.
It was moved by Larry Kehl (Berks) and seconded by Irvil Kear (Schuylkill)
to bring the proposed bylaws to the annual meeting of the PACD Executive
Council in July.
From the PACD Education and Youth Committee (moved forward from the
Report of the District Operations Committee):
- The PACD Education and Youth Committee recommends to the bylaws
committee that item j be added to Article X, Section 4, of the proposed
bylaws to read: "To identify dedicated sources of funding for conservation
education at the district level." Also, in that same section, to
define the term "tools" to provide clarification.
It was moved by Larry Kehl (Berks) and seconded by Bob Ritchey (Cambria)
to forward this recommendation to the Bylaws Committee. Motion carried.
- To add j. to Article IV, Section 2, of the proposed bylaws to read:
"In the event the Executive Board is required to conduct a hearing,
they shall adopt the rules necessary to conduct the hearing in accordance
with Roberts Rules of Order and with advice from counsel."
It was moved by Phyllis Hoople (Crawford) and seconded by Bob Ritchey
(Cambria) to accept the amendment. Motion carried.
- To define the term "sufficient cause" under the Definitions
section of the proposed bylaws.
It was moved by Bob DeVenny (Allegheny) and seconded by Jack Tressler
(Somerset) to accept the amendment. Motion carried.
It was moved by Bill Plank (Bedford) to lay the original motion on
the table. There was no second.
Susan Marquart noted that the words "or seal" under article
one, section two, should be removed from the proposed bylaws. These
words were not deleted when the section relating to the corporate seal
was removed.
- To remove the words "or seal" from article one, section
two.
It was moved by Bob Ritchey (Cambria) and seconded by Malcolm Crooks
(Bucks) to accept the amendment. Motion carried.
- To remove "and staff" from Article II, Section 1, dealing
with membership.
It was moved by Dennis Hawley (Armstrong) and seconded by Jack Tressler
(Somerset) to accept the amendment. Motion failed with one in favor
and twenty opposed.
It was moved by Dennis Hawley (Armstrong) and seconded by Bill Plank
(Bedford) to table the main motion until the July meeting. Motion failed
two in favor to twenty-one opposed.
The motion to accept the proposed bylaws as amended passed with
twenty-two in favor and two opposed.
Draft PACD Budget for FY 2005-2006 (Duvall)
PACD Treasurer Porter Duvall reviewed the written Overview of Programs
and Funding for PACD. He then presented the draft budget, which
included Budget A, Budget B and Budget C for the period of July 1, 2005
to June 30, 2006.
It was moved by Bob Ritchey (Cambria) and seconded by Jack Tressler
(Somerset) to accept Budget A as presented.
Susan Marquart pointed out that PACD has increased overhead costs next
year, due to a reduction in administrative income from two contracts,
and that adopting Budget A (with a zero increase) does not mean that
things will continue as they are now. Products and services under special
projects will be reduced to compensate. In addition, items that the
PACD are reimbursed for under two other grants are also diminishing,
which will leave less staff time left to provide additional services
to districts.
It was moved by Porter Duvall (Jefferson) and seconded by Pat Sueck
(York) to table the motion. Motion passed with twenty-one in favor and
one opposed.
It was moved by Porter Duvall (Jefferson) and seconded by Jack Tressler
(Somerset) to bring the motion from the PACD Finance Committee regarding
dues increase for 2005/2006 forward from the table. Motion carried.
- That there be no district dues increase for fiscal year 2005/2006.
Motion failed with nine in favor and twelve opposed.
It was moved by Malcolm Crooks (Bucks) that PACD Executive Board request
feedback, suggestions, and changes to the proposed bylaws, due on a
specified date, when the proposed bylaws are sent out for review prior
to the July Executive Council meeting. The Board can then use this feedback
to decide whether or not to call a special meeting before July. There
was no second.
Partner Reports
PACD Auxiliary (Gross)
PACD Auxiliary President Luetta Gross presented the report for the Auxiliary.
- Luetta thanked the forty-four counties who have responded and contributed
to the quilt project so far and reminded attendees that the drawing
for the quilt will be held at the Host Night Banquet during the 2005
Joint Annual Conference in Erie in July. There is a picture of the
quilt on the PACD website at www.PACD.org
for anyone who wants to take a look.
- Six members of the PACD Auxiliary attended the NACD meeting in Atlanta,
Georgia, where NACD CEO Krysta Harden won the national quilt.
- Luetta reminded districts that NACD is not mailing soil and water
stewardship materials out this year unless you order them online at
the NACD website, and encouraged districts to go online to place an
order.
- The two Pennsylvania posters that won first place in the national
poster contest, in the third-fourth and fifth-sixth grade categories
were the only ones that were matted and the presentation made a great
difference. The posters were beautiful and looked wonderful.
- Luetta reminded everyone to bring their families to Erie for the
Joint Annual Conference family program this year.
- Luetta is assisting in planning the 2006 NACD NE Region Meeting
and PACD/SCC Joint Annual Conference in State College, and it is shaping
up to be an outstanding meeting.
- In closing, Luetta noted that she has served on the PACD Auxiliary
for over twenty years, and has enjoyed her years of service.
State Conservation Commission (Brown)
SCC Executive Secretary Karl Brown presented the report for the State
Conservation Commission.
- Karl reminded everyone to send letters of thanks to the legislators
they met with yesterday during PACD Capitol Days.
- He noted that bylaws are a difficult subject and commended the Council
on the discussion regarding the proposed bylaws amendments. He asked
people to remember, as they wrestle with these issues, that there
are other states that don't have staff to include or exclude in their
bylaws deliberations, and we should be very grateful and glad that
we have these issues to wrestle with.
- Karl provided Employment Management Seminar brochures and noted
that these seminar is an excellent opportunity. He also noted that
there will be an Odor Seminar in Carlisle June 9 and 10.
- A series of ombudsman meetings are planned in early April. This
is another opportunity to encourage interface between municipalities
and districts.
- There are many programs that are moving and changing, including
nutrient management, prevailing wage, legislative budget and finance
and ACRE. Karl asked people to watch their e-mail and other communications
and to keep their eyes out for information. He reminded everyone that
things happen quickly and there may not be much time to react, so
he encouraged everyone to keep their eyes open.
- Regarding prevailing wage, the State Conservation Commission is
working with Labor and Industry, chief counsels for both the Department
of Agriculture and DEP to try to get guidance and answers, but this
will be an issue to wrestle with as part of Growing Greener and grants
to farmers.
Special Presentation
Victor Cappucci presented Stacy Mitchell with flowers and a certificate
of appreciation on behalf of all of the conservation districts in Pennsylvania
in thanks for her years of service to the conservation districts and
wished her well in her move to Oregon, where she will be Regional Public
Affairs Specialist for the NRCS West National Technology Support Center
in Portland, Oregon. This move will bring her closer to her family and
we wish her all the best.
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Mitchell)
Stacy Mitchell presented details from the written report for the USDA
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Regarding the Conservation Security Program (CSP), if your county
is not in the priority watershed for this year, which includes the
Lower Susquehanna and Swatara Creek Watershed, the Schuylkill Watershed
and the Chester Sassafrass, it is still a good time to get records
up to date and do the soil testing and other things that will qualify
your watershed for a higher tier when it comes around sometime in
the next eight years.
- Farm and Grassland Protection program applications continue until
April 5. NRCS has worked with both county and private preservation
boards and they appreciate this.
- Cuts in the 2006 President's budget are major. The 566 Watershed
Protection Program was zeroed out. The RC&D program was zeroed
out, as well.
- Training for the Customer Service Toolkit is going on right now.
People in the CSP areas are receiving training first, so that they
will be able to input information for these programs. There are district
employees taking that training as well. If there are employees in
your district who would like to receive training, please touch base
with Cheryl Johnson.
- The Federal House and Senate Legislative Committees have been reorganized
and Pennsylvania now has representatives on some significant committees.
Senator Rick Santorum is on the Senate Agricultural committee and
Rep. Tim Holden is on the House Agricultural Committee. In addition,
Reps. John Peterson, John Murtha, Chaka Fattah and Don Sherwood are
on the House Appropriations Committee.
- In closing, Stacy thanked everyone for recognizing her service.
Stacy has appreciated the opportunity to work with conservation districts.
She appreciates the acceptance she has received and the work that
she has been able to do with everyone here. Stacy invited everyone
to please look her up if they are in Portland.
Irvil Kear expanded on Stacy's mention of the budget cuts for the RC&D
program. She said that the situation for the RC&D Councils is dire.
Of the nine RC&Ds in Pennsylvania, we are slated to lose five: Penn
Soil, Penn's Corner, Headwaters, Endless Mountains and Pocono-Northeast.
This is a major problem for those folks who are affiliated with the
Councils. Irvil went to Washington DC and met with congressional members.
She has information if anyone is interested in working through the districts
to support the councils.
Adjournment
Victor thanked the delegate body for their patience and input and the
PACD Bylaws Committee for all of their hard work. He thanked the PACD
staff, partner agencies, and District Managers and staff for their hard
work and support, and Elio Chiarelli, Parliamentarian for the meeting,
for his excellent work. In closing, Victor thanked the PACD Executive
Board for all of the time that they put in. The meeting was adjourned.
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