Congratulations and well wishes to all the municipal elected officials who recently took their seats for a very important role in government – representing your friends, neighbors, and all the people in your community at the most common level of government – the local municipality.

            These are the people you will see throughout the community and who will speak to you at the local level about what's good or bad in the neighborhood.

            I've mentioned in the past that some communities in Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery Counties that make up our four-corners-of-the-Commonwealth where we live lack the clout that other communities have in those counties.

            Far from the more metro areas and seats of our county governments, we need to work harder at forming partnerships among our neighboring communities so that we can build the strength to be heard as one voice.  It must be a strong, unified voice in matters that can be heard on behalf of the people you promised to serve. 

            I also wrote that municipal governments can't agree on every issue.  So, search out strengths among the neighboring communities.  Look for ways to bury parochial attitudes among local government officials and search for ways to work together for the good of your community and show the powers that be at the county and state seats that your municipality is joined with others in one voice and will be heard.  Now or at the ballot box.

            Serving the people who elected you is not, and should not, be confined to within the borders of your town.  Converse with your neighboring officials whenever you can.  There are common problems – there are common solutions. 

            And, there is strength in numbers.

            Time and time again federal, state, and county governments have shown their willingness to favor intergovernmental projects when funding them. Don't make the mistake of inventing projects of little use just for the sake of obtaining a grant and giving you a name.

            Investigate like projects that will benefit people and communities.  How can we do this or that better and more cost-effective?  Perhaps a compromise might be needed to achieve that goal.  Don't be afraid to do so if it benefits everyone.

            Compromise is a sign of strength, not weakness.  Compromise shows that you're willing to sacrifice your wants for the overall needs of others.  People will see that.

            Every year when the tax bills go out, you will be remembered.  Every time the snowplow clears the roads in your town, you will be remembered.  Every time a pothole opens up and the amount of time it takes to repair it, you will be remembered.  Every time there is a disturbance in a neighborhood, you will be remembered.  How you conduct yourself at a public meeting, you will be remembered.  How you interact with your neighboring officials, you will be remembered.  The list goes on and on.

            And, work hard to not give the people you serve a reason to complain.  Answer their calls and respond to them.  Don't wait for them to show up at a public meeting.  If it can be handled quickly and legally, do it.  If you don't know the answer to their question, tell them you will get back to them – then do it.

            Right or wrong, whether it's your fault or not, whether it's your responsibility to correct it or not, the elected local officials will be judged.

            Don't forget, work hard for the people and represent them well.