Newton "Citizens Group"

[burmese1]

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[JoeP]

I found your post both enlightening and positive and I thank you for taking the time to write it.  I was uninvolved and ignorant of local politics and their history.  What made me stand up was the garbage debacle and the way the supervisors shoved it down everyone's throats then ignored resident's requests for assistance or clarification.  So this is my first step into local affairs and I couldn't agree with you more about a better (but rural) Newton for residents, seniors and businesses and an end to the "same old political backhanding".

I have no axe to grind either way (3 or 5 supervisors) but saw the petition as a way to publicly question, if not challenge, the status quo - as well as send a message to the Newton Supervisors that we are tired of business as usual.  Based on your in-depth response, the petition is hopefully serving its purpose as I saw it - to get residents like yourself involved in this very kind of discourse, to offer suggestions and ideas, to come together.  

Hopefully others will now join in.  Your suggestions are reasonable and they merit consideration and discussion.  It is time for a change.

Joe

[susie]

Hi all!!!  Three or five - I think in the long run it doesn't matter as long as the supervisors do an honest, quality job.  And I think that as long as residents are actively involved in the township that this would act as a deterrent to any political underhandedness or the treatment of the general public as inconsequential to what they are doing.  I do worry about what davidk says about getting enough people to run for office...

[burmese1]

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[davidk]

Burmese1,
I appreciate your comments, and your support if I were to run for supervisor.
However, your plea for a special election to replace all five supervisors is not an option in Pa. It amounts to a recall and they are not allowed in the state. If only they were.
The closest we have is the option to return to a three member board. That is the only way to clean the slate as you propose.
The only way a recall can occur is for an individual and then it must be proved they are guilty of either misfeasance or malfeasance.
In the meantime we neeed the residents to turn out at meetings and to keep the supervisors on the radar.
The situation with the expanded supervisors has not changed and it doesn't look like it will until more people turn out and voice their concerns.
At the last meeting there were a group who came because they were told their road was not going to be paved. While the rumor was essentially false they did turn out and if nothing else bolstered their position that the road would be paved pending the engineers report.
I have a friend who spent years going to meetings to state he wanted his road paved. It took awhile as he was alone, but his road is now paved.
I have participated in the drafting of township budgets, and formation of ordinances. How? I just showed up and started participating. Granted the final decisions were made by the supervisors, as it should be, but the general public had the chance to participate. The meetings were publicized though poorly attended.
This applies not only to the township but all facets of government. I see it happen with the school board. The reason we have so much money spent on the sports program is because the supporters come out and demand new facilities. The band had uniforms that were essentially rags, until they stood up and requested new ones.
The select few get what they want because they make the effort. As Bob Marlet sang: Get up! stand up! Stand up for your rights!

[burmese1]

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[davidk]

Burmese 1,
I don't think there is a seat open this November. If there is I know of no one who has circulated petitions. They should have run in May for the primary but that's not necessary.
I think there are two seats up next year because the supervisors have to run for regular terms in the municipal elections. Odd number years are municipal and even are general.
Because they ran in an a general election for the seats the terms are three and five years to make the balance.
I do not have my township code book handy and will double check.
If the people choose to reduce the board then next November three seats will open and the top vote getter will be in for six years, the second gets four years and the last gets two years. That resets the schedule.

[davidk]

Okay, I checked the code book and there is not an open seat this year.
The additional seats were added in 02 which was a genereal election.
That means they are good for 3 and 5 years each. (If it were a municipal election they would have been four and six each).
Next year, if the board stays the same, Jamison and Pardue will be up.