Striving for excellence
October 27, 2016
Delaware Institute for Local Government Leaders engages officials
Faculty and staff representing several University of Delaware colleges and departments recently came together to recognize community and leadership development accomplishments during an annual statewide event hosted by the School of Public Policy and Administration’s Institute for Public Administration (IPA).
The 2016 Delaware Institute for Local Government Leaders (DILGL), held Oct. 7, brought together approximately 50 participants on important policy issues that impact their economy, environment and residents’ quality of life.
As IPA embarks on 25 years of engaging Delaware’s local governments, the DILGL event also served to celebrate decades of working with the state’s municipal governments.
The event was co-sponsored by UD’s Sustainable Coastal Communities Initiative with support from the Delaware League of Local Governments.
IPA training programs: Striving for excellence
A highlight of the DILGL program was the recognition of local officials and public employees who earned certificates through IPA’s Local Government Training Program.
This program is coordinated by IPA staff members Martin Wollaston and Julia O’Hanlon. Eleven people received the Delaware Planning Education Certificate, which is earned through the completion of 15 credit hours on a range of planning-related topics such as comprehensive planning, land-use administration, and creating flood-ready communities.
Those recognized included officials from Cheswold, Dover, Harrington, Newark, Milton and Wyoming, along with UD graduate student Gemma Tierney.
The Delaware Office of State Planning Coordination and the Delaware Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Delaware) support this certificate program.
Four officials that serve in Bethany Beach, Cheswold, Harrington and New Castle were recognized for completing the Excellence in Local Government Leadership certificate program.
IPA also recognized town clerks who completed the Delaware Municipal Clerks Training Program managed by IPA staff member Fran Fletcher.
Working to make communities more sustainable
Another highpoint of the DILGL was an update on the town of Laurel’s redevelopment projects, which involve collaborative efforts between the Laurel Redevelopment Corporation, the town of Laurel and UD’s Sustainable Coastal Communities Initiative.
Jules Bruck, associate professor of landscape design, and Ed Lewandowski provided project updates, including a presentation on The Ramble Project and plans for next steps in bringing to life a proposed nature-based playground and other amenities that celebrate the town’s cultural heritage and promote business and recreational activities along the area’s natural landscapes.
Emerging technological and online resources
In addition to in-person training programs and events, IPA has kept up with emerging trends by offering alternative and complimentary forms of outreach and education through new technologies and online resources.
Its Complete Communities work, a collaborative project with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), features the Delaware Complete Communities Planning Toolbox.
This toolbox aims to assist local governments in their capacity to develop to develop complete-communities planning approaches, community design tools, and public-engagement strategies to plan for complete communities in Delaware.
Recent updates to the toolbox were unveiled at the Oct. 7 institute. IPA staff members Marcia Scott, BJ DeCoursey and Sarah Pragg led these discussions.
Future work in Delaware’s communities
As municipal officials face increasing challenges, direct, hands-on service to Delaware’s local governments will continue to be an important role for University faculty, staff, and students.
IPA, working with its campus colleagues and community partner organizations, looks forward to serving in this capacity for decades to come.
As indicated by Jerome Lewis, director, IPA continues to work with local communities on “matters that really affect an area’s expansion and ability to attract residents and businesses.”
As a small state, Lewis says the “role of the state’s public university continues to be critically important to Delaware’s municipal governments and their capacity to respond to economic and demographic changes and related policy implications.”
Supporting local leaders and their towns and cities is a core component of the University’s land-grant mission and commitment to community engagement.
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