Supervisors Adopt 2011 Budget No Copies For Residents
Posted: Sat Dec 18, 2010 12:48 pmThe December 13, 2010 Newton Township Supervisors meeting that was scheduled for 7:30 pm started late because of an executive meeting. I walked in and picked up a copy of the agenda which mentioned the 2011 budget that they were adopting. I looked around for a copy of the budget but there was none to be found so I asked for one. They would not give me a copy because they had one on the wall if I wanted to look at it. At the same time I was told that I could not look at it because there was an executive session going on so I would have to wait outside. I complied and even though it was around 10 degrees outside, I waited without a copy of the budget.
When the meeting started, I was the only person that attended with the exception of Township officials, one or two cronies and a reporter for the Abington Journal. I complained that the budget should have been made available to everyone on the Township’s website. Solicitor Joseph Sileo snapped back that it was advertised and they are not required to put it on the website. Supervisor Doug Pallman tried to justifying it by claiming that it would cost money to put it on the website. I shook my head in disbelief and said it is unacceptable for the Township to have a website and not put something as important as the annual budget on it for people to see. I also offered to provide the Township free consulting to get their website in order because it should not cost money to put information on it.
As many of you know before the Township had a website, I would post the minutes of the meetings on this website along with a lot of other information and other people helped and it was all done at no cost to anyone. On the Township Bills For Payment I have noticed many payments related to the Township’s website over the years. Since it should not cost anything for the Township to put information on the website, maybe someone is getting a payoff to keep information off of it.
If anyone needs a website or needs help with an existing website, feel free to give me a call at 586-0397. Initial consultations are free. Typically, I provide hosting on my web server for $200 per year and for that the client gets a top of the line server with a control plane, all of the latest features and software, free upgrades and a server that is ready to go. There are no ongoing or hidden costs. If the client wants me to do work for them I will provide an estimate or you can get someone else. You have full control. But once your website is set up it should not cost you anything to put information on it just like it doesn’t cost anyone to put information on this website.
Oh regarding the budget, in all the years that I attended Newton Township meetings there was always copies available for people that attended. Since they would not give me a copy of the budget, I left the meeting. I told them I could not comment on something that I did not see and they seemed happy to see me go.
There was more that went on at the meeting but that’s another story.
When the meeting started, I was the only person that attended with the exception of Township officials, one or two cronies and a reporter for the Abington Journal. I complained that the budget should have been made available to everyone on the Township’s website. Solicitor Joseph Sileo snapped back that it was advertised and they are not required to put it on the website. Supervisor Doug Pallman tried to justifying it by claiming that it would cost money to put it on the website. I shook my head in disbelief and said it is unacceptable for the Township to have a website and not put something as important as the annual budget on it for people to see. I also offered to provide the Township free consulting to get their website in order because it should not cost money to put information on it.
As many of you know before the Township had a website, I would post the minutes of the meetings on this website along with a lot of other information and other people helped and it was all done at no cost to anyone. On the Township Bills For Payment I have noticed many payments related to the Township’s website over the years. Since it should not cost anything for the Township to put information on the website, maybe someone is getting a payoff to keep information off of it.
If anyone needs a website or needs help with an existing website, feel free to give me a call at 586-0397. Initial consultations are free. Typically, I provide hosting on my web server for $200 per year and for that the client gets a top of the line server with a control plane, all of the latest features and software, free upgrades and a server that is ready to go. There are no ongoing or hidden costs. If the client wants me to do work for them I will provide an estimate or you can get someone else. You have full control. But once your website is set up it should not cost you anything to put information on it just like it doesn’t cost anyone to put information on this website.
Oh regarding the budget, in all the years that I attended Newton Township meetings there was always copies available for people that attended. Since they would not give me a copy of the budget, I left the meeting. I told them I could not comment on something that I did not see and they seemed happy to see me go.
There was more that went on at the meeting but that’s another story.