Leacock Township residents who are interested in keeping informed about what's happening in the community and with local government are invited to visit the township's newly revamped website at http://www.leacocktwp.com.

Among the features on the website is a new "Notify Me" button. Those who register for this option will receive the agenda and minutes from the various township boards, including the Board of Supervisors, the Municipal Authority, the Planning Commission and the Zoning Hearing Board.

"It is a lot more user-friendly than the old website, and there is a new feature on our website that you can sign up for," explained township manager Chris Slaymaker. "When a meeting agenda or minutes are posted, you can get an email or text message about it or both."

He explained that the agendas have to be available at least 24 hours before the meeting. The minutes are approved by each board after the meeting.

"Any voting decision that the board makes has to be on the agenda as a listed item," explained Slaymaker. "The Board of Supervisors or any elected or appointed board cannot make a decision without it being on the agenda. That's why the commonwealth requires that the agenda be posted 24 hours before the meeting."

Those who choose to sign up will also receive calendar events via text or email, including dates of upcoming meetings such as Board of Supervisors meetings and other notifications such as when the township office is closed for a holiday.

"We want to provide information. Our old website served us well at the time, but it (needed updating)," said Slaymaker. "Our job is transparency, and we want to put the information out there and make it readily available. (For example), if someone wants to know what the municipal authority is doing at their next meeting, they can see that."

Another feature on the website can be found under "Files and Forms," where residents can get permits such as zoning permits, permits for a food truck, a building permit or a yard sale permit. "It's all fillable PDF (files). You can fill it in, print it, scan it or email it. Any permit we would ever issue as a township is on the website," Slaymaker noted.

Visitors to the website can also see a list of township staff members and their contact information. "There are staff contacts there if you have any questions, and there are quick links to the two fire departments that serve the township, code enforcement, our municipal engineer, the merchants association, information on park rentals, stormwater requirements, the public water system and taxes," Slaymaker noted.

"If you have questions about how our ordinances work, you can click on 'Code of Leacock Township,'" he continued. "If anyone has a questions on how our township operates, you can go under 'Boards and Staff,' and there is a link to an organizational chart."

Future plans call for additional notices to be sent to residents who sign up about activities such as road closures. "This was the first step in updating how we communicate with the public. The Notify Me (option) was a game changer for us," Slaymaker stated. "The only way to do this is if people sign up."

Leacock Township is located at 3545 W. Newport Road, Intercourse. Those with questions about the new website may stop by the township office, call 717-768-8585 or email cslaymaker@leacocktwp.com.