The second class of Lycoming County's Municipal Training Series has graduated.
Nearly 20 graduates were presented diplomas Thursday during a meeting of the county Planning Commission.
The graduates completed three 10-hour courses covering zoning, community planning, and subdivision and land development, said Rachelle Abbott, of the county Department of Planning and Community Development.
Although participants could take any or all of the classes, diplomas were presented only to those who completed all three courses.
For example, 28 people completed the community planning course, while the zoning and subdivision and land development courses were at near capacity with 39 and 37 people, respectively, completing those courses.
The series was launched last year in an effort to educate newly elected officials, newly appointed planning commission members and zoning officers, or any citizen interested in the nuts and bolts of zoning and planning.
The courses also can be used as continuing education credits for engineers, codes enforcement officers, attorneys and other professionals, Abbott said.
The county launched the series in partnership with the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute, First Community Foundation of Pennsylvania, Sullivan-Lycoming Borough's Association, Penn State Cooperative Extension and the American Planning Association.
The curriculum was developed by the Pennsylvania Municipal Planning Education Institute in collaboration with Penn State University and the American Planning Association.
Some municipalities such as Old Lycoming Township, have seen the benefit of having its officials take the courses and have enacted ordinances requiring them to do so, Abbott said.
According to Abbott, the courses have grown in popularity. This year's class of graduates is almost double last year's class.
The courses were taught at the county's Lysock View Complex in Loyalsock Township. If interest in the courses continues to grow, a new location for them may have to be found, she said.
This year's graduates include:
Bruce Guinter - Plunketts Creek Township
Claire Shannon - attorney
David E. Wallis - Muncy Creek Township
Dennis M. Rager - Piatt Township
James Carpenter - Woodward Township
Judy Carpenter -Woodward Township
James L. Girven - Muncy Creek Township
Jami Nolan - Upper Fairfield Township
Lewis Dunkel - Clinton Township
Luther E. Lunt - Upper Fairfield Township
Michael D. Hnatin - Lycoming County
Todd Arthur - real estate assessor/broker
Troy A. Laferrara - Lycoming County
Gary Knarr - City of Williamsport
Megan Lehman - Lycoming County
William Hague - Old Lycoming Township
Cindy Bower - County Planning Commission
William Scott -Bassett Engineering
Dan Ogden - Woodward Township
