Saying “bigger is not better,” Sadsbury Township supervisors July 15 unanimously signed a resolution opposing any state-forced consolidation or merger of municipal government.
Resolution 6-2010 is in response to this year’s House Bill 2431 which would abolish townships and boroughs and establish the county as the lowest level of local government in Pennsylvania. It also takes a swing at Senate Bill 1357 which would establish a statewide boundary commission to recommend municipal mergers, consolidations and annexations.
According to Sadsbury supervisors, the bills would weaken the responsiveness and effectiveness of local government, and not lead to greater economic conditions and better delivery of services.
“No one has ever proven that bigger, centralized government is better or even more cost-effective than township government,” proclaims Sadsbury’s resolution. “Reports of financially distressed municipalities in Pennsylvania are largely contained to the Commonwealth’s large cities and urban areas.”
Sadsbury’s resolution, however, said the township does not oppose the voluntary merger or consolidation of local governments if the process is initiated at the local level.
“What does the county run that works?” asked citizen Jim Ranck of Noble Oak Farm.
Ranck, however, also took supervisors to task over the present appearance of the township building. Ranck recently volunteered time to work on the building’s flower beds. He criticized the appearance of the temporary trailer sitting in front of the building, which will be used if the township proceeds with renovation plans.
“Things are not being caught up,” Ranck said of roads with pot holes. “Things could be better for the manpower you have. I think we could raise the standards substantially.”
During the meeting supervisors approved sending an agreement of sale to attorney Frank Mincarelli for review. Supervisors plan to purchase 2.21 acres adjacent to the township building at White Oak and Noble roads from PP&L for $13,350.
Supervisors say the property is needed for the township’s building plans. These are not yet under way as the municipality seeks grant funding.
Finally, supervisors declined to pay for damage to a fence on Pleasant View Road because the fence was damaged during blizzard plowing, and not intentionally; gave Frank Roda an extension to reduce the number of chickens on his property; and agreed to ask Bart Township to borrow a traffic counter for a traffic study on Jackson Road.