The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Council should reconsider spending money on renovations
Dear Norristown Municipal Council:
I wanted to take a moment and write to you my thoughts as a tax paying resident of the municipally of Norristown. I have lived here my entire life. Watching the current Norristown Council members’ behavior toward certain residents and watching the recent decisions some of you have made concerns me. I am concerned about the current administration’s (approval to) renovate municipal hall and spend a large amount of money when the town has so many other real issues that need to be dealt with.
In my eyes and other residents’ eyes (known as constituents) there are things that the Norristown Counci lmembers should be addressing before they spend money to renovate the Municipal Hall.
“Reducing council chambers”
The reason no one comes to the Norristown Council meetings is because they don’t get time to speak, and no one answers residents’ questions. And the overall feeling is that the solicitor is in charge along with the administrator. Both of them are not welcoming nor do they (seem to) care about the residents of Norristown.
Please understand your job is to serve ALL members of this community, (whether you like them or not is a personal matter) but your obligation is to address these items before you spend tax payer dollars to renovate the Municipal Hall:
Finding someone to fix the air conditioner unit correctly instead of buying window units to the offices and suffocating the people coming to the hall to pay their bills or obtain permits is not equal to ALL.
The trash on the gateways needs to be addressed daily (even Sunday) — Marshall Street, DeKalb Street, Main Street, Airy Street and Markley Street should be welcoming to visitors and not have disgusting visual effects along with the stench on top of it...
Norristown residents need help – some are living in poverty and need program access to support them to take care of their homes.
Norristown council members need to stop with these elaborate trips of traveling out of state while the residents are trying to keep the roof over their heads because the taxes keep going up.
Many Norristown council members work for entities that have relationships with the municipality. It appears unethical.
For many, many years I have been an active member in the civic service to my community, and I’m sadden that our lives are irrelevant to the people making the changes. The people making the decision are forcing hardship to so many people.
I fear (undocumented residents) are being taken advantage of as homeowners .... They too are not wealthy and can’t handle the continued increases to the taxes that homeowners are faced with. I ask council to re-evaluate the laws and rules of Norristown and to get a true grasp as to what your power is as my representatives and to appreciate what Norristown residents really need.
I was taught that taxes were created to keep a community CLEAN AND SAFE for its residents, however, is spending $8 million to redecorate the inside of Municipal Hall really cost effective, when people are losing their livelihood and children aren’t safe on the streets? How can this spending be effective to CLEAN AND SAFE STREETS for ALL residents, when they are not clean and safe in real time.
I can only hope and pray in my faith of God that you re-evaluate your soul to ask the right questions and make the right decisions. Mary Ellen Digregorio,
Norristown