Lancaster County Government Study Commission is up and running, and its members want you to get involved.

And, in the first of a series of open forums planned by the commission,one current and two former county officials will field questions tonight from commission members and the public on their experiences and views on county government.

The guests will be Ron Ford, a former county commissioner; Dale Denlinger, clerk of courts; and Ron Bailey, a former executive director of the planning commission.

The group will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at Columbia Borough School District's administration building, 200 N. Fifth St.

John Smucker II, a study commission leader, urges residents to participate because the findings could "set policy direction" for the next "50 to 100 years."

At a news conference Thursday, Smucker and other commission members said the study group will research county government to recommend either no change or one of several restructuring options including a "home-rule" charter. A home-rule charter, he said, would give the county government more flexibility to operate independently of the state.

"Our focus is on what makes good sense for the future," Smucker said.

He said any possible county government restructuring would not eliminate autonomy at the township or borough levels.

"The county government can't tell the townships and boroughs what to do," Smucker said.

He said more information will be available through a presentation he is planning for the upcoming public meetings.

Heidi Wheaton, chairwoman of the commission's public outreach committee, talked Thursday about the "town hall" meetings designed to educate both the commission members and the public.

According to the group's planned format, Wheaton said, the public meetings will begin with introductions, followed by the interviews by the commission members and conclude with 15 minutes for follow-up questions from the public.

Meeting places include the county courthouse and locations in Ephrata, Lititz, New Holland and Peach Bottom as the group works toward an Aug. 27 deadline.

Any changes recommended by the commission would be put on the county ballot in 2008.

"We want people to come out," Smucker said.

Commission members talked about what they would like to hear from county residents.

"We're at the beginning of the process," commission member Greg Sahd said.

Sahd said he believes people can ask "respectable and relevant" questions without having had in-depth civic experience.

Commission member Sam Mecum said the process and structure of government — not the integrity of current administrators — is up for debate.

Those who do not attend the meetings can find forum news, audio files and dates of future meetings at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanc....

Commission members said the Web site will be operated to offer "openness and accessibility."

The public also will be encouraged to post comments as part of an online discussion that will have a moderator, Wheaton said.