What is MCATO?
MCATO, or the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials, a successor organization of the SUPERVISORS AND AUDITORS ASSOCIATION OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY was formed at an Association Convention held in New Hanover Township on February 24, 1977. The first officers of MCATO were: President, Lawrence C. Anderson, Salford Township; 1st Vice President, John W. C. Kohr, Upper Salford Township; 2nd Vice President, Thomas Ainsworth, Whitpain Township; Secretary, Russell H. Place, Worcester Township; and Treasurer, Robert M. Rohland, Salford Township. They succeeded: President, Samuel E. Bucher, Whitpain Township; First Vice President, M. Warren Bolton, Towamencin Township; Second Vice President, John W. C. Kohr, Secretary; Russell H. Place, Worcester Township; and Treasurer, George H. Adams, Lower Gwynedd Township, who were the last officers of the Supervisors and Auditors Association. The balance in the Treasury on February 24, 1977 was reported at $1,652.99.
Here are excerpts taken from the Constitution and by-laws of the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials, adopted at that meeting and since amended. The Act of Assembly of May 8, 1913, authorizing the organization of a County Association of Township Officers, with all re-enactments thereof and amendments thereof; together with the Act of Assembly of May 6, 1921, authorizing the organization of a State Association of Township Supervisors, including all the re-enactments thereof and amendments thereof, shall be the constitution of this organization. The name of this organization shall be the Montgomery County Association of Township Officials, herein referred to as the Association and shall be the official organization of the officials of the Townships of the Second Class and comparable elected representatives of Home Rule or Optional Plans member townships of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. This Association was formed to promote a better knowledge of the rights and duties of township officials, and by comparison of experiences and interchanges of ideas, to arrive at the best way to discharged those duties. Those duties include but are not limited to, improvement of township government, assessment of property, the collection of taxes, the construction, improvement and maintenance of roads, the promotion of mutual cooperation among member townships and other groups with which the Association has common cause. Associations of two or more adjacent counties may arrange to meet in joint sessions. The Association shall work to advance, preserve, and protect the inherent right of municipal self-government in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Association shall advance the economic and governmental best interests of member townships; and aid in all possible ways the conservation and development of those municipalities in Montgomery County. To communicate with representatives of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Montgomery County Government and the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and secure legislation which will enable Township government to function more efficiently. To provide ancillary and informational services to member township ands other local government organizations.