Important
local and county races... health insurance reform...school district
shocker...state still without budget... sewer problems in
borough...no-bid contracts in township.
What's a concerned citizen to do?
Talk
about civic challenges. We want to aid the President in his historic
and determined effort to finally guarantee affordable, accessible,
cost-efficient, high-quality health care
for all Americans. The opposition spent the summer coming up with
bizarre and outrageous lies and scaring people. We had to take up signs
and pens to help combat their assault on American sensibilities.
Then there's the state. Pennsylvania is the last state in the union without a budget.
Just so that he could pay state workers, the Governor signed a
draconian interim measure concocted by the State Senate. Meantime
social service providers are closing up shop, losing staff, losing
clientele to the streets. Real people, particularly those most
vulnerable because of health and/or economic problems, are suffering.
We need to demand that legislators take responsibility and meet the
needs of citizens. (And we need to change the senators.)
Then there are our local issues. In a shocking move the Central Bucks School Board
decided it was too difficult and too controversial to air the
President's speech to school students on September 8. We had to make
more signs, write more messages, and take our case to the school board
meeting.
Meanwhile, we have a mayor's race and six borough council races and a township race that could change the majority party and the entire tone of government there and a district judge race. We have six races at the county level, where the Republicans have a stranglehold, led by a great district attorney candidate.
We
all worked very hard in 2008 for the election of our President and our
congressman. We are going to have to work just as hard in 2009. No rest
for those who care!
There's so much to do, we need EVERYONE to pitch in.
Are you doing what you can to help?
Activists speak out!
We
called, canvassed, rallied, wrote letters to the editor, emailed, and
spoke. Here's a small visual sample from two gatherings, the health
care rally on August 22 in front of Rep. Murphy's office and the CBSD
vigil on Labor Day at State & Main.
Doylestown Township News
Township Rs use elbows not teamwork by Denise Glick
At
the January reorganization meeting of the Board of Supervisors (you can
watch it on cable!), one attendee commented on the consistently
partisan nature of the votes. Nearly every motion presented by Barb
Eisenhardt or Cynthia Philo, our Democratic representatives, is
defeated 3-2. The 2009 reorganization meeting provided us with several
illustrations of this divisive environment.
For several years
Barb and Cynthia have been lobbying for revision of the rules applying
to citizen appointments to Boards (B) and Commissions (C). The system
is currently set up to keep appointees in place beyond their term
expirations by automatically renewing their positions. Barb argued that
the process should not exclude any potential new members who may not
know about the openings. She suggested that advertising the openings
would bring in new people with new ideas and broaden citizen
participation.
Cynthia suggested that the Board advertise
vacancies as they come up for renewal, and notify current members that,
upon the expiration of their membership, they will be asked to re-apply
along with anyone else who might be interested. All three Republican
supervisors strongly objected, saying it would be an insult to the
members who have served and felt they should be allowed to continue to
serve for as long as they desire. Members of B&C's will continue to
serve beyond the expiration of their terms, or until the supervisors
change the rules.
Another issue at the reorganization meeting
was the supervisors' liaison assignments. Again, Barb and Cynthia
argued unsuccessfully for changing the assignment procedure. Barb
suggested a round-robin type system with length of service determining
the order of selection. The R's, however, are very possessive of their
assignments. This idea really seemed to trouble the R's, who saw no
reason to upset their apple cart.
The Water and Sewer Advisory
Board is yet another example of the liaison assignments issue. Barb has
a great deal of expertise in this area. However, she has not been able
to win that liaison position in her many years as supervisor.
Republican Tom Scarborough holds on to that important position.
The
reality for Barb and Cynthia is that as long as they sit in the
minority they will not be able to make any changes to enhance
transparency or to create a system of fair play. As Barb has told us
many times in the last few years - the only way to make change is to
become involved. We have to put up a good candidate and win the
majority!
Borough Council news -- parking garage, energy efficiency by Nancy McHale
If you have driven down Broad Street
lately, you know that work on the parking garage is proceeding smoothly
at last. During the discussion portion of the meeting, Doreen Stratton
and her sister Judy suggested that the large boulders unearthed at the
site would make a lovely addition to the community garden site; maybe
we'll get another mention in the Buckingham Newsletter.
For
those of you who missed it, the Buckingham supervisors designated
Doylestown the local community "leading the way in the countywide
Building Green Initiative." We can thank Don Berk for spearheading the
efforts by the Borough to seek out ways to be more energy efficient.
At
this month's meeting, Don discussed the opportunity to purchase wind
energy. Pennsylvania generates enough wind energy to power more than
70,000 homes. Now this renewable powerful energy source is available to
you through PECO WIND for just $7.62 per month. With only 70 more sign ups-before the end of May, the Borough will receive a FREE 1kWh solar energy system. For details, go to the PECO wind website or sign up at the next First Friday April 3. We'll have applications near the corner of Hamilton and State St.
Mayor Libby White provided this list of important community dates: April 11: Clean and Green Community clean up, 8 AM, Starbucks. April 11: Opening day at the Fish Pond at Fanny Chapman Dam.
The
next scheduled Borough Council meeting is April 20 at 7 pm at Borough
Hall. A calendar of specific committee meetings-times and dates-is
available on the Borough web site: www.doylestownborough.net.
One final note, we all send our condolences to Councilwoman Joan Doyle on the loss of her sister. Our thoughts and prayers are with her.
Doylestown Borough News New courthouse focus of Borough decisions by Nancy McHale
At
their January meeting the zoning and planning committee of Borough
Council had a cordial discussion with County representative Jerry
Anderson regarding the county's request for a waiver of the building
permit fee for the parking garage. The committee recommended that the
entire council discuss some kind of relief, but was not specific about
the amount.
When the project began in 2002, building fees
were assessed at a rate of 1% of cost of construction; fees are now
assessed at a rate of 1.5% of cost of construction. Council unanimously
approved a motion that the County be assessed at the lower 2002 rate of
1%. Jerry Anderson was present and advised council that he was
authorized to officially accept the 1% fee rate on behalf of the County
Commissioners.
During discussion-prior to the vote-Councilwoman
Joan Doyle expressed the opinion that an agreement regarding the use of
the parking structure during off hours should be a contingency to
reducing the permit fee. Det Ansinn, Council President, pointed out
that the County has already agreed to use of the VIP lot without fees.
Since the Dairy site is not conveniently located for many visitors, it
is likely to be used less often than the surface parking at the site of
the current garage. Assurances were given that this issue would be
addressed prior to completion of the parking garage. As worded by the
County representative, "the County intends to be a good neighbor."
FOR
THOSE WHO WANT TO BE KEPT INFORMED AS CONSTRUCTION PROCEEDS: Borough
Engineer Phil Ehlinger is providing an email update service. If you
would like to receive Phil's progress reports, email him at
pehlinger@doylestownborough.net and ask that your name (and email
address) be added to the list.
