As part of its mission, the Charter Board is presenting an educational program about Home Rule law, the Charter, Administrative Code, and Ethics Code. An earlier memo contained the dates for this program, but did not specify the content of the various sessions.

This educational program is a series of four seminar discussions. Each two-hour session covers a different topic. The series is designed to introduce participants to the framework of government for the City of Reading, starting from the broad provisions for Home Rule in Pennsylvania and narrowing to the Administrative and Ethics Codes.

This educational program is targeted to new members of Council and Administration, but is open to all existing members and the public. While the content is still being finalized, the following outline may help you understand the scope and direction of the four evenings.

Topics and Times:


Session 1: Home Rule in Pennsylvania

· Purposes and possibilities

· Comparison of Home Rule law and Municipal Code

Session 2: The Charter for the City of Reading

· An overview of the Charter

· The branches of City government

· The role of department

· The role of the Charter Board

Session 3: The Charter for the City of Reading

· Case studies of issues under the Charter

Session 4: Administrative and Ethics Codes

· An overview of Administrative Code

· An overview of Ethics Code

· Case studies of issues under Administrative Code

Open to elected officials, employees, and the public