Borough council candidates explore issues
PHOENIXVILLE » Seven of the eight candidates running for the four open seats on borough council gathered at a recent forum to discuss issues facing Phoenixville.
Moderated by Louis Beccaria and organized by both local political parties, the candidates answered questions they had been provided with before hand on topics ranging from parking, growth, the budget and affordable housing.
Democrat and former councilman Richard Kirkner faces Republican Sarah Peppel for the open North Ward seat.
Incumbent Republican Michael Kuznar faces a challenge from Democrat Beth Burckley for the Middle Ward seat and incumbent Democrat Jeremy Dalton faces a challenge from Republican Dave Davis for the East Ward seat.
Republican Aisha Dawe, who opposes incumbent Dana Dugan for the West Ward seat, was absent at the Oct. 18 forum.
There was a fair amount of agreement among the candidates.
Most agreed there is a parking crunch, particularly downtown, although Kirkner noted “it is a good problem to have” given he remembers when there were so few businesses downtown that parking was not a problem.
And most agreed that downtown Phoenixville needs a parking garage and Dugan suggested that annual parking stickers be sold to take the place of meters and perhaps provide some savings to residents and shoppers.
All praised the borough’s beautification programand most said they support the return of Phoenixville’s iconic mural.
Davis several times noted that the borough’s financial stability may be undermined by too much “highdensity housing,” which tends to demand more in social services like police and education than it provides in property tax revenue.
Dalton and Dugan, however, also noted that there is a dwindling supply of affordable housing and that the increasing cost of housing — the result of the borough’s revitalization making it a hotter real estate marker — are making it harder for Phoenixville’s seniors and low-income residents to afford to stay.
Burckley and Davis both said the borough’s revitalization needs to be better balanced and, if possible, include more businesses that provide multiple jobs, not exclusively retail and restaurants.
Peppel and the incumbents praised the amount of grant funding the borough pursues and obtains, which Kuznar said he would like to find ways to make the staff more efficient and Dalton said he thinks the borough may need more staff.
Most agreed that Phoenixville has been welcoming to Hispanic residents, but none was willing to suggest that the borough become a “sanctuary city,” noting how much the budget depends on grant funding.
A video of the entire debate can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/HcOVXB0sj70 or on the Phoenixville Television Network after the borough council meeting broadcast.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7.