CONNECT Executive Committee Meeting Minutes

August 11th, 2009

12:00 pm

Present:
Lynn Heckman- Allegheny County
Kathy Coder- Bellevue
Thomas Hartswick- Castle Shannon
Douglas Sample- Crafton
Gino Rizza- Dormont
Eric Shultz- Edgewood
D. Raja- Mt. Lebanon
Marcia Taylor- Mt. Lebanon
Michael Lamb- Pittsburgh
Richard Charnovich- Robinson
Dan DeMarco- Ross
Tim Rogers- Shaler
John Thompson- Wilkinsburg

I. Introduction of Members
DeMarco: Welcome to the first CONNECT Executive Committee Meeting. It is an
honor to serve as chair in the absence of Mayor Ravenstahl and Pat Schaefer. Let us
begin with brief introductions.
II. Review of Membership Status
Miller: (See attachment 1 and 2.) The Committee reviewed the list of non-participating
communities and the following outreach assignments were agreed on:
Penn Hills – Luke Ravenstahl
West Mifflin – Marcia Taylor
Ingram and McKees Rocks – Doug Sample
III. Review of Finances
a. CONNECT Funding Plan:
Miller: (See attachment 3.) The Executive Committee reviewed proposals to the local
foundations and the State. Preliminary responses on interest in continued financial
support from the foundations is expected over the next several weeks. The application to
the State DCED is on hold pending resolution of the State budget.
 Taylor: I feel the Executive Committee needs to have a conversation about the
development of by-laws. This document would give the officers power to conduct official
business.
DeMarco: I agree. The formation of by-laws is actually within the resolutions.
IV. Post Congress Activity Summary
a. Resolution 09-16 Meeting
Miller: The idea is to compose a committee to specifically deal with implementing
resolution 09- 16. This Committee would make recommendations on how R9-16 should
be implemented.
Taylor: I think we should add Tim Rogers and Mike Kenney to the 09-16
Implementation Committee.
The Executive Committee agreed to add those names
b. Communication Campaign
Miller: We have developed a series of letters to groups we want CONNECT to have
initial contact with. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Baginski: The Editorial Board idea was discussed at the CONNECT Officer Committee
Meeting on the 29th. We wanted a CONNECT story (not a city story). We will be inviting
both the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and the Pittsburgh Tribune in order to cut across the
different audiences both papers bring. Our press secretary has already contacted them and
they are on notice.
Miller: It was decided that the Editorial Board would be targeted to CONNECT Officers,
as they should be the official spokespeople.
DeMarco: In order to get the attention of the press, the Mayor’s Office had to make the
call. We also wanted to wait until after all of the committees met for the first time.
Miller: As a side note, please go to the website if you have yet to do so. We have been an
impressive amount of hits. There are also great pictures from the Congress and the
Officer’s Meeting.
c. Resolution 09-23 Implementation
Miller: Resolution 09-23 is the expeditor resolution. We are in the process of developing
the official list and each community is encouraged to provide their expeditor.
d. Existing Agreements
Miller: We are proposing that one of the initiatives for the upcoming year be the creation
of standardized language for dispute resolutions for intergovernmental agreements
between CONNECT members. In conjunction with the Local Government Academy
(LGA), language dealing with dispute processes for resolution on issues within the
 agreement will be proposed this year.

V. New Business
a. Request from COGs for Different Role
Taylor: Four ex-officio members on one committee and four on the other makes sense.
Miller: It is important for CONNECT to respond to the COG’s request and not the
GSPIA Innovation Clinic.
Raja: A letter from the Mayor can acknowledge the request, and say all COGs are
invited to participate as ex-officio members in a manner identified by Taylor is a good
idea.
Taylor: Motion to adopt language.
Rogers: 2nd
*Motion passes unanimously
b. Priority Setting for the Upcoming Year; Key Initiatives; Directions to the
Operations and Policy Committees
DeMarco: ALCOSAN is the number one priority. Are there any thoughts on the Port
Authority in the list of priorities?
Raja: Our region is facing economic problems. I would like to see ways of marketing the
region as more attractive, so more people stay here.
Coder: I have brought this up before, but I think it is important for our organization to
develop a strategic plan. It would be useful if we had a few things to hone in on, then
people could see results.
Rogers: We need evidence of progress, which will be hard to do without money.
Taylor: The Policy and Operations Committees are different, and should have different
focuses. The Policy Committee should be fleshing out a list of issues, and the
Operations Committee can take those issues and figure out how to implement them.
The Policy Committee should bring resolutions to the Congress, and once they are
approved they get passed to the Operations Committee.
Coder: I have an idea related to the G-20 Summit. One day can be given to the City
from the municipalities’ public works departments. It is fairly simple, and doesn’t cost a
lot of money. It is a practical way to get CONNECT out of the gate.
Taylor: That is a great idea. CONNECT needs a couple of wins.
DeMarco: This is proposing to contribute the DPW for one day to the City.
 Coder: Yes, we would have to coordinate with the City’s DPW.
DeMarco: Whatever the municipalities are willing to provide from police and/or public
works in conjunction with the City.
Executive Committee agrees to pursue this endeavor.
Thompson: It would be easier to provide exactly what role, and what date and time to
work.
Raja: It should also be based on need.
Lamb: The time frame will probably be two weeks leading up to the Summit.
DeMarco: Should we also include a time frame in the discussion?
DeMarco: Yes, propose governmental bodies and/or police departments for no more than
a certain amount of time.
Baginski: I think this is a great idea. Every Wednesday key communicators meet to
discuss G-20. I will take this idea to them tomorrow. It will be a great story for
CONNECT.
Demarco: Can you give us a defined role?
Baginski: Yes.
Schultz: Make sure that Pittsburgh’s PW Director is informed.
Miller: Art Victor is on the Operation’s Committee, we can include him during next
week’s meeting.
DeMarco: Make sure it is known that it comes from CONNECT. Put it on the website.
The following subcommittees were created:
1.) By-Laws Subcommittee: Richard Charnovich, Dan DeMarco, Tim Rodgers,
Eric Shultz, and Marcia Taylor.
2.) Economic Development Subcommittee: Kathy Coder and D. Raja.
3.) Strategic Planning Subcommittee: Kathy Coder, Tom Hartswick, Doug
Sample and John Thompson.
* Meeting adjourned at 1:30 PM