When it comes to salary increases for council, just say no

When you live in a small town for 60 years and you spent most of it engaged in the day-to-day activities — looking out for your neighbors; participating in Town Watch; taking the leadership programs offered; serving on boards to educate the community of change; constantly checking in on seniors; attending local government meetings to hold elected officials accountable for their actions. Which has severed as no purpose since they treat you as a “no-see-ums” flying in the air. With no answers to your question asked at a public meeting.

Norristown streets are still dirty, streets are not safe, taxes are still high, school district still low. So holding our leaders accountable has become null and void because no one cares or are not informed but will complain once their taxes go up come December after election and budgets have been passed.

I have to say the last thing on the mind of the community is - do we pay our municipal council members enough money to do their elected public servant jobs?

They plan to vote on an increase of their salaries this Tuesday and to also change the term limits .... Are we happy with them?

Norristown voting numbers are down, people are just not going out to vote, and NOW, this “council” wants more money? To do what? Where is all this money coming from?

A few weeks ago, Norristown did not have enough money to fix the wifi in the Town Watch office. Back in July the air conditioner system broke — forcing undue purchase of window units, approving an $8 million for renovations to municipal Hall, and now we have enough to pay high salaries to council members? What is going on here? Who is paying for all of these increased spending and added unexpected malfunction that keep happening?

Norristown needs safe streets, paved streets, better schools, clean gateways, a community center, (with consistent programs) tutoring access for the children of Norristown. This is what we want our tax dollars to go to — NOT SALARIES FOR COUNCIL. We have already given them an expense account of $5000.00 for their trip out of state! Can Norristown afford $30,000 a year x 7 a year salaries?

If you feel that Norristown is fine now then don’t attend the council meeting. But if you have one ounce of faith left in our community being your child or grandchild’s hometown then come Tuesday and say No... Mary Ellen DiGregorio,

Norristown