Government Study Commission Presents Final Report
By Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman
LANCASTER -- The Government Study Commission presented its Final Report Wednesday morning at the County Commissioners meeting. The Report proposes a home-rule charter changing the current form of county government. The number of county commissioners would increase from three members to five. A county executive, appointed by the commissioners, would run the county at the board's direction. Three row offices -- register of wills, prothonotary and clerk of courts -- would be eliminated and a clerk of judicial records would be created to perform the functions of those three offices.

The Commission all requires a two-year County residency for all elected officials. The Coroner must be a licensed physician. The Comptroller will be required to have a Bachelors degree or a graduate degree in finance or accounting or be a CPA - certified public accountant.

The rights and powers of the individual municipalities and school districts will be preserved under the proposed home rule charter. A Municipal Conference will be established to address intergovernmental issues.

Dr. Carol Phillips, chairperson for the Commission, presented the 41 page report to the County, as represented by the County Commissioners. The report can be downloaded HERE.

While the report is called Final, the Commission can still make changes up to 60 days before the November election, explained Administrative Assistant Sharon Sherban. The Commission will meet at 2 p.m. June 3, July 8 and August 5 in room 502 of the County Courthouse. The meetings are open to the public. The Commission is also scheduled for the July 5 Wake Up to the Issues, sponsored by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

POSTED 080508_0800 ET