Need to Modernize Local Government

Dear Board of Supervisors:

I would like to thank all of you for your time and dedication towards addressing the important issues facing the residents of Schuylkill Township. I know from having previously served on a condominium owners’ board that community service takes a huge investment of personal time and effort. As we continue into the 21st century, I believe that the township should consider updating its form of government and methods of communicating with the public:

1) The supervisors should consider changing the form of government to that of a first class township, with five commissioners elected by ward for four year terms. I believe the township is large enough in population (7,700 estimate for 2007 by the Census Bureau) and budget to warrant looking at a more democratic set up. This would involve redistricting and I believe this will help increase citizen participation and diversity on the board. The township could be redistricted to include five wards of equal population, centered around contiguous neighborhoods, such as the St. Johns area and other developments. Distinct neighborhoods should be kept intact as much as possible.

The current at-large elections for six year terms no longer serve the interests of democracy and citizen participation:

- Elected officials who are responsible for a $10 million budget should face the voters every four years, rather than six.

- The PASD/YMCA trail controversy illustrates that without an area resident serving on the Board of Supervisors, the residents of the Second Precinct have no direct voice in a decision that affects their own properties.

- The rapid turnover of three of the five supervisor seats in the past two years suggests that a six-year term is too long of a commitment for the average resident.

- With a ward system, when vacancies occur on the Board, it should be easier to advertise in the smaller geographic area and solicit talented and qualified residents for service.

- Campaigning for supervisor will be much easier with a smaller geographic area. In the past 12 years, the only candidate for supervisor that has knocked on my door has been Ms. Williams. 9.44 square miles of township, with most homes separated by one or more acres, is too large an area for the average candidate to cover. Dividing the township into smaller, contiguous wards is a “greener” solution to campaigning for those candidates that depend on their cars for meeting voters.

2) Also, the supervisors should consider allowing meetings to be televised on local cable channels so that all residents can be kept up to date on important developments, such as the PASD/YMCA trail. As newspapers diminish in news coverage and readership in today’s economy, it is more important than ever that the township take advantage of newer technology, such as cable, to fill in the void. The township web site is excellent as far as the posting of meeting minutes, but this does not occur in real-time and residents need a source for more current information.

Thank you for your consideration.