LIMC PROGRAMS

In 2007, the LIMC adopted Growing Together. This plan was ultimately  adopted by the LIMC member municipalities and serves as a guidance  document for growth within the region. Within the plan is a section  titled "Park and Open Space." The document serves as a replacement of  the 1993 Regional Park and Open Space Plan. The goal of the plan is a  well-maintained, intermunicipal park system will be developed, with due  regard for private property rights, and will include parks in all areas,  clean facilities, and recreation along and in waterways, all connected  by greenways for biking, walking, and non-motorized use. 

In  2004 seven LIMC municipalities approved an agreement establishing a  Central Lancaster County Uniform Construction Code Board of Appeals.  This provided a single Board to hear appeals to decisions made under the  Uniform Construction Code, rather than each municipality needing to  appoint and maintain its own board of appeals made up of qualified  professionals who are willing to serve as volunteers. The current  regional Board of Appeals serves Columbia Borough, East Petersburg  Borough, Manor Township, Millersville Borough, Mountville Borough,  Strasburg Borough (non-LIMC member of the UCC BOA), West Hempfield  Township, and West Lampeter Township.

Each municipality that is a  party to the Board of Appeals agreement appoints a member to an  Appointments Committee that, in turn, appoints the seven members of the  Board of Appeals. The Chairperson of the Board of Appeals selects five  of the seven members of the Board to hear a particular case. While it is  required that each municipality have access to the services of a board  of appeals, as of August 2012, the regional Board of Appeals had not  needed to hear a single appeal. That is one reason that it's practical  to have a regional board rather than each municipality appointing and  maintaining its own.

History: In 1992 the Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee began to encourage municipalities throughout Lancaster County to observe trick-or-treat  Night on the same date. The LIMC recommended a policy that trick-or-treating be between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Halloween (October 31), except when Halloween falls on a Saturday or Sunday, in  which case trick-or-treating should be on the prior Friday. The officials of each municipality decide whether to follow that policy, usually by passing a resolution. Twenty-three municipalities notified the LIMC that they would follow that policy and join in the uniform observance that first year. Participation has increased over the years.  In several recent years, all sixty municipalities in Lancaster County have had trick-or-treating at the same time.   

2022 Update: In 2019 and 2021, numerous LIMC and non-LIMC municipalities changed their date for trick-or-treat due to weather concerns.  Other municipalities kept their original dates and times.  This lead to county-wide confusion.   At LIMC’s December 2021 and February 2022 meetings, this topic was discussed in detail.    

On February 9, 2022, the following motion was made and passed:  LIMC’s new trick-or-treat policy, effective February 9, 2022, shall be to establish the recommended trick-or-treat date and time as October 31, between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm, rain or shine.   As trick-or-treat is not governed by municipal law or ordinance, this is a recommendation only, and does not prohibit or prevent residents, organizations, and/or neighborhoods from conducting trick-or-treat activities on other dates or times. 

Most municipalities in Lancaster County have adopted resolutions adopting the 1992 LIMC policy.  LIMC recommends that these municipalities replace their existing resolutions with new resolutions.