CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The gavel fell for the very first time on Monday night as the Connoquenessing Valley Regional Emergency Management Agency held its inaugural meeting.

The new agency will serve as the emergency management entity for Connoquenessing township and borough as well as for Evans City.

Dan Cox was named the emergency management coordinator for the new entity, which was formed when the three municipalities found themselves struggling to find a volunteer to serve as emergency management coordinator as required by state law.

The three voting members of the agency's executive committee are Dave Hilliard, chairman; Ed Rupert, vice chairman; and Kim Armstrong, secretary.

Each is a supervisor or council person in the three municipalities.

The agency will now work to name five deputy emergency management coordinators who will receive the same training and hold the same certifications as Cox.

The agency's executive committee will determine a logo and set up a website and social media pages in the near future as well.

One benefit of the agency will be the ability to share their collective equipment, shelter space and other assets in the event of an emergency, said Lee Dyer, the Evans City Council chairman and one of three municipal representatives who executed the agreement for the agency.

Cox explained that each municipality will chip in to fund the agency, as municipalities are responsible for public safety.

The Connoquenessing borough municipal building will serve as the agency's command center in the event of a disaster, Cox said.

The executive committee hopes to enlist the help of residents and business owners, who can participate in certain disaster training or offer shelter and other necessities in a disaster.

“Now is the time to let the public know we're here,” Armstrong said. “We need the help of the community, because we can't do it ourselves.”

Cox said surrounding townships and boroughs could join the regional agency in the future as well.

The group has been working on forming the regional agency for three years, with the impetus being a suggestion by the late Evans City councilwoman Linda Bicehouse.

“I commend the municipalities for taking on this effort,” Cox said.