HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Corbett’s new Advisory Council on Privatization and Innovation will be headed up by a Butler County resident.

John A. “Jack” Barbour of Adams Township is the chairman of the panel, which was formed at the end of September and made up of 24 people from across the state.

“It should be an exciting project,” Barbour said.

Richard Jewell, president of Grove City College, also is a member of the council.

Barbour said the point of the council is to look for areas in the state government that might benefit from privatization or a change in operational procedures, and then to determine if such changes would be effective for those departments. Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are top priorities, he said.

Barbour said he does not believe fundamental government functions will be discussed. He said much of the discussion will relate to functions such as information technology and cleaning services.

Although many people in the state might think of discussions related to the Liquor Control Board when they hear the word privatization, Barbour said the LCB will not be in the council’s jurisdiction.

“This is more to look at other opportunities beyond ... the LCB,” Barbour said.

He said he is not going into the council looking to privatize. He said he wants to examine whether it would benefit some government functions.

“I’m not hell-bent on privatizing anything,” Barbour said.

He said privatization will not be the only focus of the council. It also will discuss the use of innovation in state functions, such as exploring different methods of road construction, if the bidding process for state projects could be changed, or whether it is better to own or rent government buildings.

Barbour is no stranger to Corbett. He served as the co-chairman of his transition team after Corbett was elected governor in 2010.

Currently, Barbour is the CEO, managing director and chairman of the board of directors of the law firm Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney, which has an office in Pittsburgh.

“There is no question that the governor trusts me,” Barbour said, noting that they have been friends for several years.

The council has not met yet. Barbour traveled to Harrisburg Monday to meet with people in Corbett’s office to set up the council’s ground rules, goals and a meeting schedule.

Council members serve in a voluntary, unpaid capacity.

Jewell declined to talk about the council.

Jewell, a former Bethel Park resident, used to be the finance chairman of the Allegheny County Republican Party.

Barbour said he knows Jewell well.

“He wants to do what’s best for the people of the commonwealth,” Barbour said of Jewell.

The council also includes former 4th District U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart of Bradford Woods, Allegheny County. The 4th district includes parts of southern Butler County.