Chamber of Commerce Advocates for Improved Conduct by Leaders
Non-profit boards and elected officials invited to adopt code of conduct.
The Columbia Montour Chamber of Commerce board of directors has adopted a code of conduct to encourage greater collaboration among elected and other officials. The document was developed in response to increasing polarization and unprofessionalism among people in leadership positions, resulting in organizational dysfunction and decreasing engagement in the decision-making process. Elected officials and governing bodies, including non-profit organizations, are invited to adopt the code of conduct.
“Individuals with extreme positions and personalities are dominating meetings and public attention at all levels,” said Fred Gaffney, Chamber president. “This code of conduct is intended to encourage decorum, professionalism, and collaboration among officials, leading to greater productivity and encouraging others to become involved.”
Adopters of the code of conduct pledge to actively participate in the entity they represent, conduct themselves professionally, be open in the decision-making process, and act in the best interests of the entity and its stakeholders.
The Chamber of Commerce invites non-profit organizations, elected officials, and governing bodies to review, adopt, and hold themselves accountable to the code of conduct. The document is available at columbiamontourchamber.com/code. Those that do adopt it are asked to inform the Chamber so they can be added to this webpage.
Read the Code of Conduct for Leaders
RISING GAS TAXES WILL LEAD TO RECORD CAPITAL SPENDING, INCREASED COSTS
Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry
Act 89, the comprehensive transportation funding law the PA Chamber supported, requires the Revenue Department to adjust the liquid fuels taxes based on inflation and average wholesale prices. Because of rising prices, a recent update raises the gasoline tax in 2023 to the equivalent of 78.5 cents per gallon (up from 74.1 cents this year) and raises the diesel tax to 61.1 cents per gallon (up from 57.6 cents).
The overall cost of gasoline has been declining the past several weeks due to slower demand. Diesel prices remain elevated due to limited refinery capacity and less elastic demand by heavy trucking. Year-over-year inflation remains high but appears to be cooling off.
The upshot – gasoline tax collections, paired with federal infrastructure dollars and the legislature reducing diversions to the state police, has PennDOT on track for a record capital spending budget, which was the intent of the program. The downside is that businesses will face an increase in shipping and operational costs, and supply chain and inflationary pressures are reducing the project output even with PennDOT’s $2.7 billion budget.
These higher prices are also spurring legislative interest in making sure electric vehicles are contributing an equivalent amount, possibly through an annual mileage fee paid when drivers update mileage for their registration.
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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
Source: My Benefit Advisor
In the past couple years, many employers have expanded their company’s mental health benefits as a show of support for potential jobseekers, employees and their families. The intention is to help promote employee wellbeing through better access and improved benefit levels for those feeling stressed about personal or work-life matters.
Workers seem to appreciate the efforts and are taking advantage of the services. Some of the changes business owners are making include:
- Increasing access to mental health services through methods like tele-health
- An expansion of access to in-network mental health providers
- Reduced cost sharing for mental healthcare visits
- The addition or expansion of employee assistance programs for mental health services
- Access to yoga, meditation and mindfulness sessions at the workplace or home
- Providing apps that support wellness, focusing on fitness, sleep and relaxation
By addressing issues like stress and anxiety on in a more proactive fashion, employers can reduce or even eliminate costly treatment for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and cardiac problems. The small financial investment the employer makes now can often save substantial costs in the future.
The Columbia-Montour Chamber of Commerce offers its members access to My Benefit Advisor as a solution for employee benefits, including voluntary offerings. For more information about My Benefit Advisor, visit our website at cmcc.mybenefitadvisor.com or contact Stephen Lylo at (800) 377-3539.
Welcome New Member – Sean Black State Farm Insurance Agency – Bloomsburg
After a decade of service in Berwick, Sean is beyond proud to celebrate the opening of a second office in Pennsylvania, located in downtown Bloomsburg across the street from the beautiful David Stroup Fountain.
Committed to the same high level of service and customer care in both the Berwick and Bloomsburg offices, you're invited to come pay the team a visit at whichever location is more convenient for you! Sean Black State Farm Insurance Agency extends their services to residents across the great state of Pennsylvania and regularly works with people in Williamsport, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Allentown.
Sean is a second-generation State Farm Agent and has more than 26 years of experience with the company. After working in an internal capacity for State Farm for nearly fifteen years, he made the decision to start his own business in 2012 and hasn't looked back.
His team, comprised of Daniel, Erin, and Alicia, are standing by to make sure your insurance plans are in order, and they can assist you with your Auto, Life, Business, and Home Insurance needs. If you ride a motorcycle or own a boat, consider their help to get you covered. They are also happy to provide you with FREE quotes for any of their insurance offerings, so just reach out!
Of special note: Sean Black State Farm Insurance Agency supports the Berwick Area United Way and Berwick's Women's Shelter, and they are active participants in several community events throughout the year. In the past, Sean has served as board president for the Berwick Area YMCA. He's a big outdoorsman, and is always looking for an excuse to get outside and particularly enjoy skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and camping.
Connect with Sean and his team through their website, www.insurebloomsburg.com - and don't miss it - they're hiring!
New Law Allows for Faster Receipt of Childcare Background Clearances
Does your organization work with children? There's good news! Pennsylvanians applying for childcare clearances can now receive most results electronically, instead of through the U.S. mail, thanks to a new law passed earlier this session.
Act 12 of 2022 allows certain employers to conditionally hire an individual for up to 45 days before all required childcare clearances are obtained. The goal is to address the delay that employees who required childcare clearances were experiencing in receiving their paperwork via the U.S. mail. Because this process often took weeks, this prevented the timely hiring of employees and caused businesses and nonprofits to limit work and programs due to the inability to staff them.
However, in addition to this legislation, businesses also asked for help in obtaining FBI clearances electronically to reduce another logjam in the hiring process.
Legislators from both sides of the aisle worked for 18 months with state agencies and the Pennsylvania State Police to work this option out with the FBI.
As a result, FBI background checks can now be applied for online and an electronic result received in as quickly as one day. Prior to this fix, it could take anywhere from 3-13 weeks for an applicant to receive FBI results. The shortened time to receive results will further safeguard children, aid applicants in obtaining positions of employment, and will aid employers in filling vacancies of positions that serve children. In addition to any email notification, all applicants will still receive results transmitted by U.S. mail.
Here’s an overview of how to obtain childcare clearances online:
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification – apply online at Pennsylvania Child Welfare Information Solution.
Criminal background check performed by the Pennsylvania State Police – apply online at the ePATCH website.
FBI fingerprint background check – register online for fingerprint submission at identogo.com.
At this time, the National Sex Offender background check is not available to complete online.
Member News – December 14, 2022
Bloomsburg Children's Museum Awarded $27,500 PPL Foundation Grant
Congratulations to the Bloomsburg Children's Museum, who announced that these funds will support fostering a generation of female mentors in STEM. The title of the program is, "Student to volunteer to employee to leader to advocate: Fostering a generation of female mentors in STEM". The program aims to develop emergent female voices in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with the goal of producing young women who will act as STEM ambassadors at the many events and programs the museum produces.
Guest Blog Post: How to Safely Heat Your Home
Check out this post from Zimmer Insurance!
Guest Blog Post: Three Lessons Manufacturers Learn from Nascar
Check out this guest post from IMC - Innovative Manufacturer's Center.
Guest Blog Post: Follow Safe Energy Practices for the Holidays
Check out this guest post from UGI Utilities!
McKonly & Asbury To Host Webinar ON Ethical Skills for Organizational Leaders
This free webinar on December 15th will discuss the unexpected benefits of an ethical work environment. Presenters will focus on ethical behaviors that set the “Tone at the Top” as well as employee’s personal benefits of peace of mind, trust, and good reputation. The webinar will also address the numerous employer benefits including improved employee morale, enhanced employee retention, increased employee productivity, and a greater focus on transparency throughout the organization. Click here to register.
CareerLink to Host "Zoom Your Way to Stress Management" - December 22, 2022
Benton Area, Columbia County - Floodplain Survey Due December 30, 2022
In October 2022, Columbia County released a two-page hard copy floodplain survey to the Benton Area titled, “Moving Towards Resiliency and Mitigation.” The mailing also included a Survey Monkey link to complete online. All hardcopy and online survey submissions are due to be submitted by December 30, 2022. Additional information will be provided, when available, at SEDA-COG and Columbia County Resiliency websites - https://seda-cog.org/departments/flood-resiliency/columbia-county-flood-mitigation-studies/ and http://columbiapa.org/resiliency/index.php.
Congratulations to Frank, at Camp Victory!
After 16 years of service, well-known maintenance man Frank will be retiring from his work at Camp Victory. Congratulations on your retirement, Frank!
Bloomsburg Featured in List of Top 5 Places to Visit
Recently, The Keystone featured Bloomsburg as a Top 5 Place to Visit in PA, and showcased the gallery and work of The Art Exchange's own Oren Helbok. Check it out!
IMC To Host January Webinars
IMC has announced two (free) upcoming webinars, called "Training Within Industry - Foundations of Job Instruction" (January 10) and "Building an Innovative Enterprise - An Introduction to Design Thinking" (January 17)
Bloomsburg Area YMCA To Offer Adaptive Recreation
SEDA-Council of Government Board Officers Elected
Board officers for SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG) were elected at the Dec. 7 public meeting.
The 2023 SEDA-COG Board of Directors’ officers will be Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, President; Lycoming County Commissioner Scott Metzger, First Vice President; Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz, Second Vice President; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, Secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, Treasurer.
The 2022 officers were Mifflin County Commissioner Kevin Kodish, President; Centre County Commissioner Mark Higgins, First Vice President; Montour County Commissioner Ken Holdren, Second Vice President; Larry Reisinger of Perry County, Secretary; and Dennis Van Benthuysen of Snyder County, Treasurer.
Higgins said he is looking forward to serving as board president in the new year. To learn more, visit www.seda-cog.org.
More Holiday Events...
Here's a list of upcoming events in our communities to continue celebrating the holiday season!
Berwick
- 12/30 - Blood Drive at Glen Brook Health & Rehabilitation Center
Joy Through the Grove
- 11/25 - 12/31 - (Except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) 5:30pm - 9:00pm. Learn more.
A comprehensive list of holiday events is also available on the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau's website.
Broadband Access Listening Session Friday
Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (Authority) Executive Director Brandon Carson today announced listening sessions will be held across the commonwealth beginning December 13 to give Pennsylvanians the opportunity to learn about the Authority, federal funding for broadband, and to hear about the important role they have in reviewing the new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband access map. The map’s accuracy is crucial for the commonwealth to receive sufficient federal funding to ensure high-speed internet access for all Pennsylvanians.
“In today’s world, having access to high-speed internet is a necessity,” said Carson. “Pennsylvanians need broadband access for school, work, and to ensure public safety, and it is critical that we close the digital divide across the commonwealth. The more accurate we can make the FCC map, the more we ensure we get a fair allocation of federal funding to expand broadband.”
The FCC’s broadband access map shows all broadband serviceable locations across the United States where fixed broadband internet access service is or can be installed. The commonwealth’s allocation of funding for broadband deployment under the federal infrastructure law is dependent upon the map being accurate. Pennsylvanians should visit the map to search for their home address to determine whether the information listed by the FCC is accurate.
Listening Sessions
The Authority will host the following broadband listening session:
- Friday, December 16 at 10:00 AM – Union County
Hybrid listening session
In-person will be held at SEDA-Council of Governments, 201 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837
Click here to register and attend virtually
Process to Challenge Inaccuracies in the FCC Broadband Map
Challenges to the map can include:
- A location that meets the FCC’s definition of a broadband serviceable location is missing from the map.
- A location’s broadband serviceability is incorrectly identified.
- Information such as the address or unit count for the location is incorrect.
- The location’s placement (its geographic coordinates) is incorrect.
Pennsylvanians should challenge the map to help improve its accuracy by January 13, 2023. There are two ways to submit a challenge: by a single location, or in bulk. The location challenge can be completed by individual consumers utilizing the map itself. Bulk challengers will be required to use the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) platform to submit information to the FCC.
Additional information about the Consumer Challenge Process can be found here, and additional information on the Bulk Challenge Process can be found here. A consumer may also challenge mobile data coverage through the FCC Speed Test App – a free application that can be downloaded from an Apple or Google Play Store.
Governor Tom Wolf announced the creation of the Authority in February 2022 to manage at least $100 million in federal aid to coordinate the rollout of broadband across Pennsylvania. The Authority was charged with creating a statewide broadband plan and distributing federal and state monies for broadband expansion projects in unserved and underserved areas of the commonwealth.
For more information about the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority, or the Department of Community and Economic Development, visit the Authority’s website and be sure to stay up-to-date with all of our agency news on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT: Penny Ickes, dcedpress@pa.gov
PA Chamber: Misguided UC Report Misrepresents Key Facts
Source: PA Chamber of Business & Industry
The Keystone Research Center recently released an Unemployment Compensation report that misrepresents key facts about taxes paid by employers on employee wages, and PA Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Alex Halper issued the following comments to set the record straight:
“Unemployment compensation is a critical safety net to help individuals who were laid off through no fault of their own as they actively seek new employment. We agree with the Keystone Research Center that Pennsylvanians need a financially stable system. Unfortunately, their recently released report calls for potentially massive tax increases on employers and misrepresents key facts to reach a misguided conclusion.
“The report refers to the amount of wages on which employers pay taxes per employee, known as the ‘taxable wage base.’ In Pennsylvania, the taxable wage base is $10,000. The report repeatedly claims that this amount is too low and is “less than 33 states and far below Washington State’s $62,500.
“The Keystone Research Center leaves out the key fact that employer taxes are based on both the ‘taxable wage base’ and the rate paid on those wages. According to the most recent U.S. Department of Labor data, Pennsylvania has the number one highest rate paid on those wages in the country.
“In fact, Pennsylvania employers pay the 14th highest average UC tax rate in the country; higher than 36 other states…including Washington State.
“The fact is that Pennsylvania employers invest considerably into the UC system – far more than most states. Policymakers should reject any proposal that seeks to achieve a more financially stable system by simply raising taxes on employers.
“We look forward to engaging in constructive, honest discussions and working with the legislature, Gov.-Elect Shapiro and his administration, UC stakeholders, and advocates on policies to improve the UC system.”
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Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of BusinessTM.
Department of Labor Receives Chamber Feedback
Last Friday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce successfully submitted the comments from almost 200 associations, chambers of commerce (including the Columbia Montour Chamber) and businesses to the U.S. Department of Labor opposing the recent proposed regulation which would redefine how to classify employees and independent contractors under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The big picture: the proposed regulation is biased towards finding employee status, and therefore will upend millions of successful, legitimate independent contractor relationships.
For more information on this important issue, please visit www.SaveFlexWork.com and feel free to contact Tom Sullivan at TSullivan@uschamber.com by email with any questions.
Promote New Year Events in January ChamberPack!
December can be a sneaky month - you're excited to celebrate the holidays and wrap up 2022, and before you know it, the New Year is upon you!
We don't want you to miss the opportunity to kick off an outstanding 2023, so we're reminding all members that you can increase the awareness of your promotions, offers, or regular business services in the next ChamberPack mailing, slated for January. ChamberPack is a cost-effective way to get your information to the Chamber's 400+ members. Just provide copies, and we'll take care of compiling and sending the mailing. The next ChamberPack will be mailed just after we ring in the New Year. Remember, your fliers are due at the Chamber by January 20th!
Call the Chamber at 570-784-2522 to reserve your space or click here for more information.