Towamencin supervisors are not listening
I am a Towamencin township resident and I am shocked at what is happening to our local government. I’m referring to the Towamencin Township Supervisors and the raw disregard they are showing to their voters. Yes, I’m talking about the sewer sale. I know, it is hard to even think about reading more about this subject because I’m tired of it too. My disgust outweighs my weariness though so I have to write about it.
We have had many meetings where the Towamencin Township supervisors offered the public a chance to comment on the sale of their sewer before selling it. I went to quite a few of them and most of the comments were against the sale. The supervisors voted to sell the sewer anyway 4-1. The pure outrage of the voters grew to a point where many concerned citizens got organized and found a method to ask the voters if the township charter should be studied to affect changes in how the township is governed. They got enough signatures to get the question on the May 16 ballot.
The next township meeting I attended I hoped that the supervisors would have enough sense and awareness to take a second look because that is what the voters seem to want. Then the news broke that Next Era is backing out of the sale. I thought, perfect! Surely the supervisors will await the outcome of the May 16 election to see how the voters really feel about things. They could delay signing up the next company to buy the sewer without repercussions of any kind…it seemed so logical.
The voters got disappointed again because at the next meeting the supervisors voted through an amended contract with a new buyer. Again, not listening to any of the public opinion asking them to wait.
Fast forward to May 16: The voters spoke and voted through the Home Rule Charter that will take effect on July 1, 2023.
Surely the supervisors will look for a way to cancel the sale now. Surely they will act out of concern for the township incurring more costs in a legal fight with the voters or with the new buyer. I attended the May 24th meeting and my hopes were dashed. With outright impunity and disregard to the voters, the Township Supervisors (except the 1 steadfast dissenting vote) said they will let the sale go through because this new charter doesn’t take effect until July 1, 2023.
My conclusion is either these 4 Supervisors are being paid off, promised jobs after their tenure with the board of Supervisors or any number of other greedy reasons are turning away from their ultimate responsibility as elected officials.
I refuse to let this go unnoticed. I refuse to not be heard. I refuse to let the people elected to work for the good of the township break the rules and make such blatantly irresponsible decisions.
I urgently ask that our local journalists take up the subject and expose the truth. Whatever the truth is, expose it. Maybe there is a point of view that explains this behavior. I’ll be open minded to reasons but not open minded to ignorance to the results of a proper and fair vote.
The Home Rule Charter is written to keep these kinds of bulldozer decisions from happening again. I fear, however that there are few large township assets to protect now. I truly appreciate the opportunity to voice my opinion.