Proposed mission statement ready for public input
UPPER GWYNEDD » Township staff has developed a first draft of a proposed mission statement for Upper Gwynedd, and officials want public feedback.
Township Commissioner Liz McNaney and Parks and Recreation Director Alex Kaker read their first draft of a mission statement during the board’s workshop Tuesday night.
“We like it because it covers everybody and everything, pretty much, in this township. From residents to businesses, elected officials, it covers everything,” McNaney said.
The draft states that “Upper Gwynedd Township’s elected officials and staff shall provide innovative, safe, transparent, fiscally responsible services, and respond to the needs of all residents, visitors, and businesses of the township, in a timely, respectful manner.”
McNaney first raised the question of whether the township needed a formal mission statement last August, when she called on the township to develop and pass a public statement condemning the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and publicly stating that the township projects its residents’ rights and liberties.
She and Kaker read their draft during the board’s workshop Tuesday night, and said it has been in development since she was elected to the board in November.
“It gets a little bit wordy, but it definitely fits everything that we’re looking for,” Kaker said.
Township Solicitor Dave Onorato said he thought the statement was “short and sweet, it kind of gets to the point,” and McNaney said she preferred it to a much shorter one Commissioner Jim Santi jokingly proposed last summer.
“I have to say, it’s better than ‘Stay out of trouble,’” McNaney said.
“You don’t like mine? Mine was short,” Santi replied with a grin. “I don’t think it’s anything different than what we do. It’s following what we do now, and I don’t have a problem with it.”
The rest of the commissioners said they had no problems with the proposed statement, and Onorato said he would develop a formal resolution for the board to adopt during their Feb. 26 meeting, barring any further public feedback.
Other scheduled action items discussed by the board during their workshop Tuesday night included a formal approval to dispose of certain old township records, which Acting Township Manager Mike Lapinski said are part of an ongoing cleanup process.
“We have identified a large number of boxes we can destroy immediately. We’re continuing to take inventory of the things we need to keep, and stuff that has a definite retention schedule,” he said.
Kaker also presented several parks and recreation-related items up for approval, including authorization to advertise for bids to install extra lighting near the newly installed pickleball courts at the township municipal complex. Residents could be seen using the courts well into Tuesday evening to take advantage of spring-like weather, Kaker said, and he is coordinating with the Montgomery County Planning Commission to ensure the lights are covered by county grant funding.
Other action items slated for approval next week include two walk events for local groups: a “Wish Them Well” walk on Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon, and a 5K “Dash Against Domestic Violence” sponsored by county domestic violence agency Laurel House at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 21.
Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners
next meet at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 26 at the township administration building, 1 Parkside Place. For more information visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.