Costly mistakes made in Boyertown

I’ve been fortunate to call Boyertown borough my home since April 1949. My youthful years while attending elementary school in the winter were occupied shoveling snow for private and commercial establishments. My summers were occupied mowing lawns and cleaning springs. These efforts provided a base for payment of college tuition upon graduation from high school. In addition, while in high school, I was able to find employment with several business establishments.

The early days of my youth recognized Boyertown as having a Burgess form of government given the fact that I had several aunts best of friends with the sister of our burgess. Consequently, I learned to attend municipal meetings at an early age accompanying my aunts. It established a civic mindedness and responsibility that remains with me to this day. A result has been my appreciation and respect for that which our present Borough of Boyertown has acquired along with their services rendered. Many frustrations and obstacles had to be overcome in order to get where we are today.

As a result of my history with the Borough of Boyertown, I must now enumerate my most serious concerns relating to present-day decisions by our present mayor, council and Boyertown borough manager.

Moving our Boyertown Borough Hall into an old building on South Reading Avenue is a huge mistake given the cost. Moving the police department into a likewise old building on West Philadelphia Avenue is likewise a huge and costly mistake.

Selling our water and sewer system to a private enterprise is likewise a huge mistake given the advantages and savings of our present operation. Water is the Borough of Boyertown’s most valuable resource. All the gold and silver cannot sustain life given the absence of water.

Boyertown Borough owned a valuable lot to provide additional parking for the apartments built prior to requirements for parking. Instead of developing it, they sold it for little or no public benefit.

Has the present-day leadership in the Borough of Boyertown become a ship of fools seeking only personal gain or benefit?

Residents need be wary of the motives causing drastic changes to a community deserving greater value for its investments. — Clayton M. Leister Boyertown