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.
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8 comments:
Is this a blog about the political landscape in Upper Moreland, or is it just a vehicle to lift up a certain Republican faction by kicking the other Republicans and the Democrats of the township?
How about you either 1) stop the obvious partisanship, or 2) rename the blog to truly show your intentions?
I really am so sick of the partisan bickering on BOTH sides. It's time we get things done in Willow Grove instea of playing these petty political games.
As a registered Democrat, I'm probably biased on the other end of the spectrum, but all I see here is yet another two years where the board of commissioners of our township are too busy fighting amongst each other to make any real difference. I am sick and tired of these games! I used to attend the commissioner meetings every Monday, but the atmosphere was so frustrating and contentious that I decided I had better things to do. It's a shame too, because I care about UM as much as anyone as I've lived in the township for over 20 years of my life.
I hear you Mike. We don't like the fighting either - but feel that its important to highlight the inequities of the statements being made. It's simply the opinions being stated, as you are welcome to yours.
Everyone needs a way to express their opinions, this is ours. What is your suggestion?
There is only one Republican Party in Upper Moreland. There are no factions, anymore. Just wanted to point that out.
Of course there's nothing wrong with stating your opinion, and I appreciate you giving me the courtesy of allowing me to state mine here.
My issue is really quite simple...this blog isn't about the political landscape in our township. This is clearly a partisan blog, and it's about pinpointing Lisa Romaniello and any of her 'missteps', real or perceived. Is it just a coincidence that she's also running for the 152nd district house seat?
Just for instance, Commissioners McKenna & Romaniello were against borrowing additional money and taken to task for it. Everyone was up in arms because the money would be used for improvements to the police station. Well, there was money allotted for the station before and was used for other things. Lo & behold, the newly borrowed funds are now being used for cost overruns on the War Memorial Park project, and suddenly nobody is asking "what about public safety and our officers?" No, instead it's all laid on the shoulders of Commissioner Romaniello. Sure the money ended up coming in handy, but why is it ok that the target changed? Is she wrong for voting against the money earmarked for police department improvements, or is she wrong for voting against money that ended up being spent on the very project that she thought we needed to focus on?? It just seems hypocritical to me. Now it's twice we've borrowed money for the police department improvements, and twice it's being spent elsewhere.
Don't you think it's time we keep our eye on the prize? Willow Grove has so much potential, yet board after board has been completely ineffectual in getting things going. At least now we'll have a tangible result for all the years of taxpayer's money being spent merely running in place. Completing this project is a much better sign of improvements than, well, a sign.
As long as we work so hard to discredit elected commissioners and battle each other with backroom deals and attempts to stall or fast-track pet projects, nothing will get done. Unfortunately, that's the real "Political Landscape in Upper Moreland."
Mike,
While I can see your point of view, the fact of the matter is that the police station improvements will get done with this money as well as covering most of the overruns. Where I have a problem is that Commissioner Romaniello was part of the board that allowed the previous monies allocated for the improvements to be spent elsewhere. Now when the improvements can be combined with a bond that will finish Memorial drive she votes against it. It looked like she was trying to have her cake and eat it too. Just my opinion.
So when can we honestly discuss the direction of our township instead of just attack Lisa Romaniello? Just curious...
Simply a difference of opinion. She feels that her steps are correct and above reproach, others simply do not agree.
I for one am glad to see someone speaking up, and not talking until we all fall asleep.
I am enjoying the discussion.
I see this argument over the police department improvements as just a little bizzare. When your police department, you know who they are - the people who get to your house within moments of that frantic call, ask for upgraded security and items that will ensure the safety of the public I say give it to them.
We can pay thousands of dollars for granite curbs, glass fountains and even a redundant BORING website, but will question and micromanage the needs of our public safety officers.
I know these requests may seem frivolous to those commissioners who voted against the money, but come on, whats next? Will we question the cost of the bullet proof vests that they need to buy?
Then again, who are we to ask about such things? We are just the tax base that provide the money that runs our local government.
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