Lake Township is gearing up to become a member of the Back Mountain Community Partnership, as members discussed the township’s inclusion at a meeting Jan. 19.

Amy Salansky, a Lake Township supervisor, attended the partnership meeting to retrieve more information about joining the group. The partnership currently includes Dallas Borough and Dallas, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston and Lehman townships.

“I would like to be able to take back the information I obtain today … back to my other two supervisors to kind of seal the deal and join with you guys,” she said.

Lake Township officials sent the partnership a letter last month about the process of entering into the governmental partnership.

Solicitor Jeff Malak said Lake Township will need to pass an ordinance, affirming its inclusion in the group. The partnership will make a recommendation for or against Lake Township’s participation, and a unanimous vote from each individual municipality will be needed before Lake Township can join. Then the partnership will need to vote to amend the intergovernmental cooperation agreement to include Lake Township.

Vice Chairman John Wilkes Jr., of Jackson Township, said Lake Township is already part of the Back Mountain Regional Emergency Management Agency.

Chairman James Reino Jr., of Kingston Township, said supervisors also sent a letter of support for the partnership’s latest grant application.

In other news, Wilkes discussed the sharing of code enforcement and third-party inspection services among partnership members.

He said many of the municipalities have similar comprehensive plans drawn up by the same organizations and similar zoning ordinances.

Wilkes even pointed out that three municipalities in the partnership - Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Jackson Township - currently have an assistant zoning officer in common.

He thought more research may be able to provide citizens with better services and a cost savings for local governments.

“Sometimes these things save money, and sometimes they don’t,” said Wilkes. “It’s worth looking into.”

Wilkes also said having a full-time, regional zoning office would provide better service to residents. For example, the Jackson Township zoning office is only open until noon most days, which could be a hindrance to the permitting process for residents.

Reino said the partnership will conduct research before next year’s township reorganization meetings to see if the idea is feasible.