The survey results showed that: 1) 193 responses were received from 37 counties, with the highest responses from Chester and Allegheny Counties. 2) The top reported training needs were related to enforcing/refining preservation ordinances, education and promoting preservation, and the design review process. 3) Within technical preservation issues, the highest training priorities were evaluating additions/new construction, interpreting the Secretary of the Interior's standards, and window replacement alternatives.

1. HARB and Historical Commission
Training Priorities
Survey Results
July 2012

2. Survey Response Rate
• 193 responses from 37 counties
• Chester and Allegheny Counties accounted for
the highest percentage of responses
• Responses were received from (in descending
order):
– Eastern Region: Chester, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, Lehigh,
Northampton, Berks, Carbon, Monroe, Philadelphia, Schuylkill
– Central Region: Lancaster, Lycoming, Lackawanna, Centre,
Cumberland, Adams, Columbia, Bedford, Blair, Dauphin, Union, York
– Western Region: Allegheny, Elk, Beaver, Butler, McKean, Crawford,
Venango, Westmoreland, Clearfield, Erie, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson,
Mercer

3. Survey Response Rate
32%
(61)
20%
(40)
48%
(92)

4. What Type of Municipality do you
Represent?
Total Responses by Munitipality Type
N/A (19)
10%
City (51)
27%
Township (68)
35%
Borough or Town (55)
28%

5. What role do you play in administering your
community’s preservation program?
Elected official
2%
Other
18%
Codes enforcement officer
2%
Consultant assisting with the
design review process Board or commission member
3% 42%
Municipal staff responsible for
administering a local ordinance
14%
Board or commission chair
19%

6. How many years have you served in
that capacity?
Less than one year
10+ years 15%
27%
1-2 years
12%
5-10 years
17%
3-5 years
29%

7. How do you learn about training
opportunities?
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Agency or Newsletters or flyers Email notices Information Do not hear about Only attend local Other (please
organization forwarded by training training specify)
websites municipal staff opportunities

8. How would you prefer to be notified of
training opportunities?
100.0%
90.0%
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Email Brochures or flyers Through municipal Through the board PHMC website Preservation Other (please
mailed to my home staff or commission chair Pennsylvania specify)
or office website

9. Education and promoting preservation
79.1%
Enforcing/refining your
ordinance/permit process
64.7%
Technical preservation issues
50.8%
Design review process
44.9%
community is facing
Running effective meetings
17.1%
Other (please specify)
15.5%
Indicate the issues and challenges your

10. Of the issues and challenges listed above, please
rank your 3 highest priorities for training
Enforcing/refining your ordinance/permit process
Other (please specify below)
Education and promoting preservation
Design review process
Technical preservation issues
Running effective meetings
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50

11. What are the top 3 training needs related
to technical preservation issues?
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
Axis Title
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Evaluating the design Interpreting the
Window Vinyl siding and Storefront Evaluating changes repairs Other (please
Masonry and Flood preparedness
of additions or new Secretary of the Roof replacement Installing fences
replacement
alternative materials alterations to postwar buildings
repointing specify) and recovery
construction Interior’s Standards
Series1 53.2% 48.9% 41.1% 39.7% 17.0% 16.3% 14.9% 13.5% 12.1% 9.2% 5.0%

12. What are the top 3 training needs related
to the design review process?
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
City/borough/township overturns the
Streamlining the review process
Incomplete applications Administrative review Preliminary review Other (please specify) Preparing complete minutes
Board’s/Commission’s recommendation
Series1 62.5% 47.9% 38.9% 35.4% 31.3% 16.0% 5.6%

13. What are the top 3 training needs related
to education and community support?
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Integrating preservation with planning Developing/updating your design network with nonprofits
Establishing a
Making the case for preservation Preservation funding and incentives owner complaints
Property Other (please specify) egative media coverage
N
and zoning guidelines and other local governments
Series1 69.9% 58.9% 52.1% 47.2% 36.2% 13.5% 6.1% 5.5%

14. What are the top three training needs
related to running effective meetings?
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Training volunteer board or Understanding the expectations Knowing when is the best time to
Facing uncooperative applicants resolution
Conflict Time management Establishing or following bylaws
Using parliamentary procedure(please specify)
Other
commission members of staff and volunteers take the vote
Series1 51.8% 45.5% 41.1% 33.0% 24.1% 18.8% 17.0% 15.2% 12.5%

15. What are the top three training needs related to
enforcing/refining your ordinance?
80.0%
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Property owners start work/purchase supplies without Changes not covered by your ordinance (satellite fails to enforce Board/Commission
City/borough/township Institutional facility growth
Demolition by neglect Other (please specify)
appearing before the Board/Commission dishes, interior signs, trees, sidewalks, etc.) decisions (colleges/universities, hospitals, churches)
Series1 75.5% 68.0% 45.6% 38.1% 15.6% 12.9%

16. Which of the following workshop presentation
formats do you feel are most effective?
50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
0.0%
Small group discussions –
Breakout sessions – Open-ended Small group discussions –
Reports/presentations by
Standard illustrated lecture Webinar / online format
organized by All of the above
Mock review meeting (please specify) of the above
Other None
organized by topic/issue
Q&A/facilitated discussion mixed participation
different municipalities
municipality/county/region
Series1 46.9% 39.5% 35.8% 34.0% 31.5% 29.6% 28.4% 22.8% 16.7% 3.1% 0.6%

17. What factors influence your decision
to attend a training workshop?
Very Important = 3; Not Important = 1
Subject matter
Location
Professional(s) conducting the training
Cost
Day of the week
Length of training
Time of day
Other (Please specify below)
Required by ordinance or CLG Program
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00

18. What distance would you be wiling to
travel for training?
Any distance
if the
training is
worthwhile.
10%
Up to 100 miles
17%
Up to 50 miles
46%
Less than 20 miles
27%

19. When do you prefer training to be
scheduled?
70.0%
60.0%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
0.0%
Weekdays Weekday evenings Weekend – Saturday only Any of the above Weekend – anytime