election

[burmese1]

test

[Sal]

Hello burmese1 and welcome to the community forum.

I think davidk was expressing his personal opinion of the type of person that he would like to see in a supervisor position.  I had considered being a supervisor and I did not take offence by his statement.  I am not sure how much of an association he has with the media but he is a resident and all residents including Township Officials must have the ability to express their opinion on this website.  I agree with you that there are plenty of qualified people.  There is an election coming up so who is running for supervisor?

I agree with you that we need fresh faces and new ideas.  However, I am concerned that with five supervisors the people have less say.  I have heard many people say that they prefer three supervisors and with good reasons but so far I have not heard any good reasons for having five.  If you or anyone else feels that we are better off with five supervisors, I would like to know the reasons why.  

When the petition was put on the ballot for five supervisors the signatures were gathered in February and the petition states that is was for the “ May 2001 Primary Election” but it was not put on the primary ballot and there is no affidavit which made it invalid.  Therefore, the question should have not been on the ballot.  I have a copy of the petition.  Nevertheless, the question appeared on the November ballot.  This coming election the same question will be on the ballot.  However this time around, people will know about it and I hope that the pros and cons of three/five supervisors are thoroughly discussed.

Thank you for your input.  I encourage and hope that you will continue to express your opinion in this Forum.

[susie]

Hi burmese1 and welcome to the boards!!!   It was very interesting reading your comment and I agree that there are probably a few more than qualified people around that would be great as Newton Township supervisors.  Most of us are just not aware of who they are.  Many of these people probably have time constraints that don't allow them to even think about running for the position - jobs, kids, responsibilities for elderly parents, etc.  Another point is and I kind of liken it to my company in a way -  the people in my company that would make great managers usually choose not to become management because the aggravation and time needed usually outways the satisfaction anymore of getting the job done right, regardless of any possible benefits.  Being a township supervisor in itself can't be an easy job - dealing with the public, other governments, knowing all the the rules and regulations and sticking to them, etc.  To find someone that would be that dedicated with the time, qualities and desire is probably what makes what davidk said    'The pickings were kinda slim, closer to none'   more true than anything else.

[burmese1]

test

[davidk]

Burmese1,
What economic growth are you refering to here in Lackawanna County that Munchak and Cordaro are threatening?
A ski resort that has never had a profitable year and never will, even when the bonds are paid off in 2011?
A baseball team that is in a stadium holding 11,000 and has an average high attendance of 7,000 which actually drops to less than 4,000 when the team makes the playoffs!
The previous majority comms made a complete mess of things. Look at the deal they struck with Luzerne County when buying the baseball team.
Luzerne gives $1,000,000, less than 50% of the price and gets a guarantee of a full 50% should the franchise ever be sold. They now expect at least $7,000,000 despite never having invested a penny since.
In the meantime we here in Lackawanna have pumped millions into the team to keep it solvent, and will have to continue doing so as attendance is in decline.
The county courthouse is full of do nothing employees. I know as I am there on a regular basis. There are people there who do nothing but wander from office to office and building to building.
For years there were positions that had money allocated from the budget, yet there was no one actually holding the position! Where did the money go?
We have row offices held by people who are rarely if ever in the building. I have been to the Recorder of Deeds dozens of times in recent years. Yet I have seen the actual recorder, an elected official, there only twice.  Once each for the previous and the current.
When I asked the previous a question she became upset with me for bothering her. The office she was suppose to use on a daily basis was barren except for a desk and phone. Why? Because she was never there!
The last time I was there one of the longtime title searchers was going on (not to me but anyone who would listen) about how unqualified the current Recorder is. She was elected by virtue of her Democratic Party affilaition and had absolutely no idea how the office is run. I doubt she could find a deed on her own even today.
This as well as several other offices need to be abolished as elected positions as has been done in other counties such as Allegeheny.  
I do not know Munchak, never met the man. Cordaro I do know but I haven't talked to him in well over a year, so please do not think I am somehow tightly connected to them.
I do not agree with everything they are doing but the bottom line is they are trying to clean up a mess that was twenty years in the making and they have been there only a few short months.