State and federal legislators oftentimes approve legislation without having thoroughly read the bill and without having fully digested its meaning and ramifications.

Unfortunately, that occurred regarding the controversial federal health care reform bill. Some congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, in their voting, said "yes" or "no" based on the wishes of their party's legislative leaders, rather than their own reading and research tied to the bill.

Unlike what occurs on the state and federal levels, it's doubtful there will be any lack of familiarity with recommendations contained in the proposed Zelienople-Harmony long-range plan when that document is considered for passage by the respective borough councils.

The plan is the product of work not only by the planning study's consultant, Pashek Associates, but by members of a steering committee comprising elected and non-elected officials of the two communities as well as other leaders.

Pashek will present the draft of the plan on June 2 at Zelienople's Strand Theater. At some point following that meeting, the respective borough councils will decide whether to accept or reject the plan.

In addition to the official planning work by the communities' representatives, people of the two boroughs had the opportunity at public sessions last year to provide input on various aspects of the planning study, such as business district improvements and opportunities for shared services.

For the people who provided input, the suspense now revolves around which of their ideas were deemed workable and worthy of implementation.

Therefore, for the two communities, there's little uncertainty about the study's findings.

During a recent meeting, Zelienople Councilman Allen Bayer probably provided the best observation: "Hopefully, this will be a beginning, not an end, for both councils."

Meanwhile, the comprehensive plan isn't being viewed as a policy document but, rather, as a handbook focusing on what the towns can do better. Actually, that's something every community should have.

No community should live day to day without a planning outline in place.

For Harmony and Zelienople, the proposed plan is centered on a three-tiered approach: items that can be addressed immediately, those things that can be done over the longer term, and what can be accomplished over the "real long term."

If and when the plan is approved by the borough councils, both communities should strive to keep the spirit of the plan intact and work together cooperatively for the towns' mutual benefit.

June 2 will amount to a new vision for the towns, one based on self-examination and residents' and officials' viewpoints, priorities and hopes for the future.

Unlike how legislative business often is conducted in Harrisburg and Washington, most discussion on June 2 and thereafter won't center on what people think the plan contains and means, but what actually is outlined in it.

A capacity crowd should be on hand June 2 at the Strand to hear the Pashek presentation and to reflect on what lies ahead.