Kenneth D. McCrea
for East Cocalico Township Supervisor
Reasons for Running
[Detailed Version.]
1) The Supervisors aren't representing Township resident's interests with respect to development.
Surveys of residents done by the
Township show that the residents:
- Don't want the population growth rate to increase
- Don't want more shopping centers
- Don't want more residential
housing projects
This are exactly what is being planned now by our Supervisors.
2) Government should be open - keep us informed of activities and plans before they are finalized.
The Township newsletter should inform residents of new projects and ordinances before they are finalized, rather than after they are approved as is done now.
3) We need to protect the rural nature of the Township.
4) Spending and tax increases should be controlled, and actions that will increase school taxes limited.
The residential developments now in review, if approved, will require the building of new schools.
A new police station is being planned. More police will be needed.
5) We need long-range planning that considers the wishes and interests of the current residents.
The surveys done for the comprehensive plans should be considered in future planning.
New surveys should be conducted when a major issue is to be considered that will affect our future.
6) Special meetings should never be used to hide controversial information from the public. Workshop meetings should be for discussion, not to hide votes on controversial issues.
On three separate occasions the supervisors voted on important issues regarding the Cocalico Commons shopping center at workshop meetings, held the day after a regular supervisors meeting.
7) We should periodically review all contracts to ensure that the services are being delivered in an economical and efficient manner.
Contracted services such as the solicitor, land planning engineer, transportation engineer, and building inspector should periodically reviewed (and potentially re-advertised) to assure that they are competitive.
8) Future growth within the Township must be managed to limit ultimate population density.
Our goal should not be to see how much we can increase the population. It should be to have managed, balanced growth providing employment for the occupants of new housing developments.
Keeping "open space" (undeveloped natural areas) within the Township should be a priority.
9) The Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance should be revised to protect the Township rather than to promote development.
Use of the Village Overlay should be greatly limited.
Recreational facilities should be included in new housing projects, rather than just having the developer pay a fee into the "Recreation Fund."
The Recreation Fund should be used for its intended purpose - to create new recreational facilities for the residential developments.
10) We should hold informal "Town Meetings" to seek input from the residents prior to finalizing new ordinances, policy changes, or major expenditures.
The current system of holding "public hearings" on new ordinances and revisions doesn't really provide an opportunity for the public to shape the proposed ordinances. By the time the hearing is held, it is just a formality and the ordinance always ends up being passed in the proposed format. Public comment, although allowed, is never really considered under the current system.
Draft ordinances or revisions should be posted on the Township web site to allow for public comment prior to finalizing the wording and before the required public hearing.