Last year, Warren City Council expressed some reservations about joining a newly-formalized county Council of Governments.

Organizers from the COG met with council Monday night during a work session to discuss the city’s participation.

Alan Kugler, the COG’s consultant from hits formation in 1995 through 2022 said the city “has been a faithful member throughout that entire period of time.”

He walked the council through the history of the group, explaining that it was a city inquiry that actually started the effort when the city asked for a report on intergovernmental cooperation.

“My findings … the way you find it everywhere, intergovernmental cooperation sucked,” he said. “We had to find ways to address that. It’s a high-stakes game about the future of these communities…. It is essentially in Warren, then and now, that the municipalities of the county work together. If that does not happen, there will be no future.”

COG Chair Paul Pascuzzi said there was “some animosity” in the early days of the COG “but that actually melted over the years.”

He highlighted the implementation of a countywide blight process, the county’s EMS response plan, shared sewer and a joint tax collection project as some of the COG’s projects.

County Planner Dan Glotz highlighted joint purchases as well.

“We pride ourselves on being able to work together,” he said “collectively as a group.”

The COG is funded by a dues structure based on population. The city’s share is just shy of $1,500.

Councilman John Wortman asked why representation on the COG — which is ‘one municipality – one vote’ — isn’t based off population as well.

Kugler said that is how “every COG I know if in Pa.” is structured. “It’s about supporting the city.”

Pascuzzi likened the operation of the COG — and how its decisions are made – to that of the United Nations.

“Without the city, this is not going to work to be honest with you,” he added.

Wortman called it a “tale as old as time. The city of Warren is expected to foot the bill (but it) not given the proportional share of representation in a governing structure.” He equated that structure to the Articles of Confederation

“If the City of Warren does not participate in this, it will die,” Kugler said. “The stakes are very high.”

“Those are pretty strong words,” Mayor Dave Wortman said.

Glotz then detailed the few times council members have attended COG meetings.

“We could give you 50 seats,” he said. “I’m not seeing city council members attending the meetings.”

“(I) feel a little bit attacked over here,” Councilwoman Wendy McCain said. “I think I can get past that.” She then asked what the specific goals for the formalized COG are.

Pascuzzi highlighted continued efforts on emergency response, reassessment and legislative lobbying as priorities.

“The COG has an opportunity to be a tool,” Councilwoman Danielle Flasher said, calling it “really underutilized” and acknowledging the city has not taken advantage of the resource.

“(We) will definitely be taking action on this,” Mayor Wortman said. “We appreciate the cooperation since 1995. … We’ll see where it goes.”