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Meeting Monday November 4 at 7pm

Let's Hold Them Accountable

Meeting Monday November 4 at 7pm Let's Hold Them AccountableMeeting Monday November 4 at 7pm Let's Hold Them AccountableMeeting Monday November 4 at 7pm Let's Hold Them Accountable

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9/16 Supervisors Meeting

Send any comments to NoEasttownEIT@gmail.com
Link to September 16, 2024 Supervisors MeetingLink to September 16, 2024 agenda

Recap from 9/16 Supervisors Meeting

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

How did this happen?  This has been identified as an issue for a few years, and the Board has been increasing the annual cost by 8% to try and “catch up.”  The reason wasn’t fully explained, but seems mostly to do with years of poor financial planning/budgeting /management.


What is the forecasted increase?  Don Curley, the township manager, identified a need for a 24% increase to fully fix, but right now the plan is to increase by another 8%, but that number is still to be determined (TBD). 


Will this increase be covered by, or in addition to, the 34% property tax increase and the new revenue from the EIT? TBD.


Agenda Page 335 (of 381) - Interoffice Memorandum/Subject: Manager

Budget Workshop No. 1 - Supervisors acknowledge the Keystone EIT estimate of $5.8M.

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

Easttown’s Board of Supervisors now acknowledge the Keystone EIT estimate of $5.8mm, not the $4.4mm they used in most or their public presentations on EIT.  

Slides show little evidence of expense control. 


This is concerning because the new EIT revenue, paired with the 34% property tax increase, has almost doubled the amount of OUR money that THEY can spend in just two years.


What are the operating expenses for EACH department? High level was presented.  More granular detail will be available to review during the upcoming budgeting process.


What are the budgets and timelines for EACH capital project?  TBD.  Reviewed during the upcoming budgeting process.


Will these questions be answered during the upcoming budgeting process? TBD.


Agenda Pages 366-375 (of 381) - Budget Workshop No. 1

Potential Path for an Easttown Communications Board/Panel

There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.

Potential Path for an Easttown Communications Board/Panel

Supervisors will discuss membership and scope of duties at this meeting.


When and how should residents apply to be members of this Board/Panel?  TBD.  Erik Unger and Sean Axel believed it was a good idea. Alex Bosco was ‘skeptical’ but willing to try.  Erik Unger is spearheading initial exploration of how to form the committee, duties, etc., along with Easttown Township staff.  He will then present something for the Board to consider. The plan is to review similar concepts in other townships and take best practices. 


How will the members be chosen? See above.


Agenda pages 377-378 (of 381)

Building Space Analysis

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Potential Path for an Easttown Communications Board/Panel

$20mm Township Building estimated in 2022. 


Do you have a current estimate?

  • No, they do not. Original work on this was done in ’21-’22 and considered: renovating the existing building, demolishing and building on existing space, using Hilltop, renovating Hilltop, purchasing a new building, and leasing more space. 
  • At the time, for a variety of reasons, the Board’s opinion was that demolishing and building a new building was the best option, so they contracted with an architect to draft, design, and estimate price.
  • They never did analysis on what is the total amount that could feasibly be budgeted for the project, but instead gave the architect a wish list of "must have" and "nice to have.”  The architect designed a building that cost $20M. Board balked at that cost and tabled.  One Board member expressed disappointment that the estimate came in so high.
  • Alex Bosco requested that the township re-engage with the architect (HSA) to re-analyze the current landscape and potential costs/options given current conditions.  Board has spent almost $300K so far for analysis and architects.
  • Included in the draft budget will be a line item to re-engage with the architect to start some of the analysis over, consider new landscape (post-COVID), and re-mine existing data to determine best path forward. 
  • Board also acknowledged that having police in a residential neighborhood is not ideal.
  • Board will make a decision by May as to whether or not to move forward with building. They cite the need to do this so the Board doesn’t lose time should its membership change after the 2025 General Election.  


Why can't we look at expansion versus a new building? The Board initially reviewed this but no final determination was made.


Rationale for this MASSIVE SPEND is weak; more room for police, room to expand staff, and a larger meeting room (with the exception of the EIT meetings, meetings of the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors have not required room for overflow crowds).


What are the shortcomings of the space we currently have? TBD. Only high level detail given (not enough separate jails for men/women/juveniles). No dedicated interview space.


Why can't we investigate remote working for some employees and use the saved space for the police? TBD. 


Why do we need additional staff?  Not addressed directly; part of the budget process.


Why do we need a larger meeting room?  They are including this in the general scope of building upgrade. Nice to have vs. must have.


Agenda Pages 379-380 (of 381) 

Other Notes About the Meeting

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Don Curley, Township Manager, wants to use the low end of EIT revenue estimate (75% of $4.7M—which was the low end number from consultant adjusted for inflation) to do budgeting so we don’t overspend. Some members of the board are pushing to use the high end Keystone estimate ($5.8M).


Board will see the draft budget in November and the final budget in December.


No breakdown of discretionary v. non-discretionary spending. 


Natural Lands Trust is gifting the township 28 acres (Sharp's Woods) for park. Will cost township approx. $15-20K annually for maintenance. No reason given as to why NLT is giving this to the township now.


YMCA pickleball courts are a general nuisance to neighboring homes. The YMCA was given 90 days to propose remedies. Neighbors are worried that the YMCA won’t do anything to resolve the issues and requested the Board take more meaningful action.  The Board is resistant to that right now and plans to allow YMCA the full 90 days.


Meetings are the 3rd Monday of every month, and the 1st Monday of October-January - 7:00 PM. If the meeting falls on a Township holiday, then the Board will meet the following Tuesday. Doesn’t matter if the Eagles are playing or not.


New conference equipment installed so Zoom quality should be better.  We will make sure to include the Zoom link in the notes for the next meeting.

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Community Comments to NoEasttownEIT

Why are the supervisors rushing the decision to build an expensive new township building based on the outcomes of elections? Mike Wacey is the only one who has a term expiring next year. The rest of them, all Democrats, still have four votes if they want to proceed. Please ask the supervisors to take their time and make a good decision about the new building.  Not the fast one.


We’ve heard this from the Board before.  That they have to increase our rates for something because of bad prior management.  At some point THIS board has to take responsibility.  Three of them have been working together since 2021.  And one party has had the majority since 2019.   


If the supervisors haven’t already, they should do an internal analysis of how many members of the Township staff could work from home to free up additional space in the existing building.  The building is only 20 years old! 


No one talked about needs vs. wants  or “must have” vs. “nice to have.” There was no breakdown of discretionary or mandatory spending.  The community MUST push the supervisors on this.  The newly raised $5.8mm EIT should never be the reason to spend more, especially in the discretionary department.

Supervisors Meet Monday, 9/16 at 7PM at Township Building

Observations and Questions from Concerned Citizens about the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors

  • Please send any observations you have to NoEasttownEIT@gmail.com


  • If you are able to attend the meeting, please help to make sure these questions are asked and answered.  If we work together, we can hold the Board of Supervisors accountable.


  • Agenda Page 335 (of 381) - Interoffice Memorandum/Subject: Manager
    • There is a sewer deficit of $600k annually. There will be a “significant fee increase” in 2025.
      • How did this happen?  
      • What is the forecasted increase?  
      • Will this increase be covered by, or in addition to, the 34% property tax increase and the new revenue from the EIT?


  • Agenda Pages 366-375 (of 381) - Budget Workshop No. 1
    • Easttown’s Board of Supervisors now acknowledge the Keystone EIT estimate of $5.8mm, not the $4.4mm they used in most or their public presentations on EIT.  
    • Slides show little evidence of expense control.  This is concerning because the new EIT revenue paired with the 34% property tax increase has almost doubled the amount of OUR money that THEY can spend in just two years.
      • What are the operating expenses for EACH department? 
      • What are the budgets and timelines for EACH capital project? 
      • Will these questions be answered during the upcoming budgeting process?


  • Agenda pages 377-378 (of 381) - Potential Path for an Easttown Communications Board/Panel
    • Supervisors will discuss membership and scope of duties at this meeting.  
      • When and how should residents apply to be members of this Board/Panel?  
      • How will the members be chosen?


  • Agenda Pages 379-380 (of 381) -  Building Space Analysis
    • $20mm Township Building and that estimate is from ‘22.  
      • $20mm is the estimate from 2022.  Do you have a current estimate?
      • Why can't we look at expansion versus a new building?
    • Rationale for this MASSIVE SPEND is weak. 
      • More room for police. 
        • What are the shortcomings of the space we currently have?
        • Why can't we investigate remote working for some employees and use the saved space for the police?
      • Room to expand staff.  
        • Why do we need additional staff? 
      • A larger meeting room.  
        • With the exception of the EIT meetings, meetings of the Easttown Township Board of Supervisors have not required room for overflow crowds.  Why do we need a larger meeting room? 


 WHAT YOU CAN DO…

  • Reply to this email with any questions or observations you have and we will add them to our website.
  • Mark your calendar and plan to attend the meeting on Monday, September 16, 2024 at 7:00 PM at the Easttown Township Building located at 566 Beaumont Road in Devon.
  • Share this email and the meeting agenda with your neighbors.  
  • Invite a friend to attend the meeting with you.


 REMEMBER….
We now know the EIT will generate at least $5.8mm of new revenue for our supervisors to spend.  Ensuring strong stewardship of this taxpayer-funded windfall is the priority until we have more responsible and reasonable governance.  
People in our community expect our elected officials to act responsibly while spending OUR hard-earned money.

COMMENTS / QUESTIONS FROM COMMUNITY....

  • When can we vote them all out? 
    • (Answer to this questions provided by Concerned Citizens)
    • Michael Wacey - term expires in 2025 
    • Alex Bosco and Erik Unger - terms expire in 2027 
    • Sean Axel and Susan LeBoutillier - terms expire in 2029


  • There are numerous vacancies up and down the Pike. Why not rent/lease some office space for the township personnel so as to accommodate the needs of the police in the existing building (or vice-versa)?


  • Do you have an update on the negotiations with the police department?


  • Who participates in the negotiations with the police department?


  • It is awfully “convenient” for them to schedule it on an Eagles game night to limit attendance. How are the meeting dates decided and when? 


  • The thing I really want the supervisors to know is that we need to distinguish between mandatory spending and discretionary spending. Given the drastic increase in expected mandatory spending and high inflation, we really need the supervisors to demonstrate that they have exhausted the options to cut discretionary spending. For example, a larger meeting room may be good to have but is it really essential?  The newly raised 5.8 mm EIT should never be the reason to spend more, especially on the discretionary department. 


Agenda

Late in the afternoon on  Friday, 9/13, Easttown's Board of Supervisors posted their 381 page agenda for their Monday, 9/16 meeting.  To review the agenda, click on the link below:

Monday 9/16 Agenda

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