In an expected move, much is being said about transparency in government and about how our Commissioner in Ward 1 (candidate for the State House) has single handedly stopped the "Back Room Deals" and has created transparency in our local government.
On another Blog - Elizabeth states (we wont bore you with all of it!):
"I was happy to see back room negotiations gone...
Lisa's bi-partisan efforts helped to attract a dozen new developers to Willow Grove. Leveling the playing field is good business - fair and equitable business. It is obvious that when outside developers don't contribute to the political campaigns of this republican controlled board, they stay on the outside. If you were following the facts you would know there is a BRAND NEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL with benefits for our community being ignored by this town leadership!!!
Thank you "Elizabeth" for reminding us about transparency of our local government. I guess having knowledge as a citizen of who the developers are would be too much for us TAXPAYERS to handle.
What we are enjoying this time around is open and honest conversation amongst all the board members in a public setting for the taxpayers to see.
From May 30, 2007... gotta love the Archives!
Commissioners won't name would-be developer
By JACOB FENTONphillyBurbs.com
The township committee charged with revamping downtown Willow Grove was criticized Tuesday for refusing to name a potential master developer who presented a conceptual plan to township consultants behind closed doors this month.
“I'm sorely disappointed,” said Jonathan de Jonge, a member of the township's advisory planning agency, adding that rumors were flying. “This almost smacks of what the previous committee was accused of — making backdoor deals.”
Lisa Romaniello, the township commissioner who chairs the redevelopment effort, said that the developer didn't want any of its investors to be taken by surprise.
Township Commissioner Richard Booth, who's often at odds with Romaniello, said the developer being considered owned property in the redevelopment area, and questioned whether he might be able to prevent his tenants' competitors from getting leases in the area. “Might that be a conflict of interest?” he asked.
While Booth didn't identify the developer, he said that the township had only been meeting with one candidate in the last six months. In November, township officials visited sites in Maryland where Federal Realty Investment Trust had done work. The group, which has been named as a potential builder in the past, also owns Willow Grove Shopping Center.
Romaniello said that the meeting this month had gone well, but that the plan laid out had been too big for the township to swallow at once. “They came in with a significant size proposal for a conceptual site plan and the township and the developer realized that it was too big for us to handle — we needed to break it down into phases.”
Township commissioners did not attend the meeting, held May 14, in an attempt to keep plans for revamping about 75 acres of the downtown area from turning political.
Planners have long envisioned a mix of housing and stores easily accessible to public transit taking root in the area; that would likely be part of the first phase, Romaniello said.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Thank Goodness for Forward Thinking in UM
Thoughtful planning and committment to redevelopment are given the "proof is in the pudding" nod to our commissioners who approved the bod issue with the buffer funding in place.
Commissioner Romaniello voted for the project to move forward (the one with the granite curbs and glass fountain" but voted against the funding saying it was unnecessary to expand the dollars needed to see this through. Hmm... It would appear that thinking ahead is a strength that needs to be worked on for one.
I am still wondering this morning how you can promote, advocate and fight for a project - yet vote agains the money needed to see it through. Just doesnt make sense to this girl to the right. Strength comes in many forms, not just in a manner of dress and speaking.
Funding increases for park project
By: Jesse Reilly, Staff Writer
08/06/2008
The rising cost of oil is affecting more than people's attitudes toward car fill-ups these days and the Upper Moreland Township Board of Commissioners got a firsthand look at the ripple effects at its meeting Monday night.
The board approved a nearly quarter of a million dollar increase in the construction of Memorial Park Drive, raising the cost from $1.7 million to nearly $2 million. The total project is estimated to cost $3.25 million, the majority of the township's $5.3 million bond. The bulk of the increase is due primarily to the rising price of materials, especially the paving that has oil in it, township engineer Joe Hanna said. Although demolition of the buildings in the area of the drive began last week, paving will occur midway through the project. "I don't see paving in the next few months," Hanna said. First storm-water management and clearing issues need to be tackled.
Although some commissioners were skeptical about the rising prices of materials unrelated to paving, including the fountain, Commissioner Joseph Lavalle said every increase could be attributed to oil."If you have to ship something your prices have gone up because you need to fuel the vehicle to get there," he said. "It's just the prices these days, it impacts everything."
Although the increase occurred in a matter of months, board President Stacey Efkowitz said planning has allowed the township to cover extra costs. When working the numbers, the township added a 20 percent over-run for unexpected expenditures, she said.Although the increase is eating up about 15 percent of that over-run, Efkowitz said the township is not wasting any more time beginning the project. Demolition began last week and according to the township's schedule, construction is set to begin in early September and be completed by the end of the year.
"Thankfully we borrowed enough money," she said. "Hopefully we will be able to complete the project before the asphalt index increases again."Agreeing that the project is a long time coming, Commissioner Kevin Spearing said it needs to be completed quickly. "I guess this reinforces the old adage that time is money," he said.
Commissioner Romaniello voted for the project to move forward (the one with the granite curbs and glass fountain" but voted against the funding saying it was unnecessary to expand the dollars needed to see this through. Hmm... It would appear that thinking ahead is a strength that needs to be worked on for one.
I am still wondering this morning how you can promote, advocate and fight for a project - yet vote agains the money needed to see it through. Just doesnt make sense to this girl to the right. Strength comes in many forms, not just in a manner of dress and speaking.
Funding increases for park project
By: Jesse Reilly, Staff Writer
08/06/2008
The rising cost of oil is affecting more than people's attitudes toward car fill-ups these days and the Upper Moreland Township Board of Commissioners got a firsthand look at the ripple effects at its meeting Monday night.
The board approved a nearly quarter of a million dollar increase in the construction of Memorial Park Drive, raising the cost from $1.7 million to nearly $2 million. The total project is estimated to cost $3.25 million, the majority of the township's $5.3 million bond. The bulk of the increase is due primarily to the rising price of materials, especially the paving that has oil in it, township engineer Joe Hanna said. Although demolition of the buildings in the area of the drive began last week, paving will occur midway through the project. "I don't see paving in the next few months," Hanna said. First storm-water management and clearing issues need to be tackled.
Although some commissioners were skeptical about the rising prices of materials unrelated to paving, including the fountain, Commissioner Joseph Lavalle said every increase could be attributed to oil."If you have to ship something your prices have gone up because you need to fuel the vehicle to get there," he said. "It's just the prices these days, it impacts everything."
Although the increase occurred in a matter of months, board President Stacey Efkowitz said planning has allowed the township to cover extra costs. When working the numbers, the township added a 20 percent over-run for unexpected expenditures, she said.Although the increase is eating up about 15 percent of that over-run, Efkowitz said the township is not wasting any more time beginning the project. Demolition began last week and according to the township's schedule, construction is set to begin in early September and be completed by the end of the year.
"Thankfully we borrowed enough money," she said. "Hopefully we will be able to complete the project before the asphalt index increases again."Agreeing that the project is a long time coming, Commissioner Kevin Spearing said it needs to be completed quickly. "I guess this reinforces the old adage that time is money," he said.
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