The plans and recommendations of the Old Colony Planning Council are advisory only and non-binding upon the fifteen member communities that form the planning district. The effectiveness of the Council is therefore largely dependent upon its ability to engage a qualified professional staff that conducts in-depth research, compiles relevant factual data, and prepares plans for addressing specific problems that have the general acceptance and support of its member municipalities.

The Old Colony Planning Council does not have the authority to regulate or mandate actions on the part of its member communities nor does it have the power to levy taxes. it is not another layer of government by which local governments can work together to address problems. The Council provides a forum for local officials to identify areawide problems, develop alternative solutions and make recommendations to local communities on a regional strategy to deal with regional problems.

The Old Colony Planning Council is the Metropolitan Planning Organization for transportation and transit planning for the area; a designated Economic development District by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration and the Area Agency on Aging which administers and plans for elder service needs and requirements in a twenty-three community area of Southeastern Massachusetts. The Council is also the designated Regional Clearinghouse for the review of federal and state program applications to assure consistency with regional plans, programs and policies and to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort in community development program activity.
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