Feeding from same trough
Twelve Peters Township elected officials sat down at a U-shaped table Jan. 31 and talked. That's all they did - talk. No one yelled. No accusations were hurled across the room. No threats or "what's in it for me" were uttered. They just talked and, more importantly, they listened to each other. How refreshing for politicians to do such a thing.
Each year, usually at the end of January, members of the Peters Township Council and Peters Township School Board hold a joint meeting, alternating locations each year. This year council hosted the event in the municipal building. Cookies and pots of fresh, hot coffee were available. The meeting was extremely civil, yet casual. School board members sat next to council members. There was no assigned seating and the conversation flowed easily. Occasionally, there was a slight hint of laughter.
The meeting is always open to the public, but, unfortunately, few, if anyone, ever attends other than those who are supposed to be there. At the most recent gathering, there was only one township resident in the audience and nowhere on the agenda is there a listing for public comment.
No votes are taken even though all seven council members attended. No reasons were given as to why four of the nine school board members were absent, but the district's superintendent, assistant superintendent and business manager were there, as were the assistant township manager, township planning director and parks and recreation director. Neither group's solicitor attended. No lawyers were there, with the exception of two attorneys who are elected officials - Frank Arcuri on council and David Hvzidos on school board.
Each year, usually at the end of January, members of the Peters Township Council and Peters Township School Board hold a joint meeting, alternating locations each year. This year council hosted the event in the municipal building. Cookies and pots of fresh, hot coffee were available. The meeting was extremely civil, yet casual. School board members sat next to council members. There was no assigned seating and the conversation flowed easily. Occasionally, there was a slight hint of laughter.
The meeting is always open to the public, but, unfortunately, few, if anyone, ever attends other than those who are supposed to be there. At the most recent gathering, there was only one township resident in the audience and nowhere on the agenda is there a listing for public comment.
No votes are taken even though all seven council members attended. No reasons were given as to why four of the nine school board members were absent, but the district's superintendent, assistant superintendent and business manager were there, as were the assistant township manager, township planning director and parks and recreation director. Neither group's solicitor attended. No lawyers were there, with the exception of two attorneys who are elected officials - Frank Arcuri on council and David Hvzidos on school board.
Even though the school district's administration offices and the township offices are almost across from one another along East McMurray Road, communication is not necessarily a constant. The annual meeting is a fantastic chance for everyone to come together to discuss upcoming traffic projects that will affect school bus routes, to learn the number of new building permits for residential houses that may impact future school enrollments, and to learn more about what plans the school district has to help the two entities share athletic facilities.
The only hint of discord came at the end of the 90-minute gathering when the township asked the school district to help in the cost of installing a planned warning track at the township-owned baseball field. The township may own and maintain the facility, but the school district is the main user. The discussion never became heated, just not as amicable as the previous topics. Both groups decided to solicit financial quotes in order to determine how much the total cost may be.
How civil.
Perhaps the purpose of the meeting was summed up by Council Chairman Robert Atkison who said that while both groups had different agendas, diverse needs and varying future projects, "We all (feed) from the same trough."
How true.
And wouldn't it be nice if the rest of the country's politicians could take note of the civility expressed in Peters Township, and understand that they, too, feed from the same taxpayers' "trough."
The only hint of discord came at the end of the 90-minute gathering when the township asked the school district to help in the cost of installing a planned warning track at the township-owned baseball field. The township may own and maintain the facility, but the school district is the main user. The discussion never became heated, just not as amicable as the previous topics. Both groups decided to solicit financial quotes in order to determine how much the total cost may be.
How civil.
Perhaps the purpose of the meeting was summed up by Council Chairman Robert Atkison who said that while both groups had different agendas, diverse needs and varying future projects, "We all (feed) from the same trough."
How true.
And wouldn't it be nice if the rest of the country's politicians could take note of the civility expressed in Peters Township, and understand that they, too, feed from the same taxpayers' "trough."
http://www.thealmanac.net/ALM/Story/02-02-2011-editorial
Updated 10:29 a.m. Oh wait! There is more!!! On the PT blog, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9071530993756028699&postID=5902649752791057377, it seems that sports is ruining that community too. One reader writes, "It is not about the common good for all citizens, children and community anymore. It is nothing but arrogance, greed, entitlement and self satisfaction." Does this sound familiar, Mt. Lebanon? The president of the township council is also the president of the football boosters. I apologize. Things are bad in Peters too, they're just more transparent about it.
Updated 10:29 a.m. Oh wait! There is more!!! On the PT blog, https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9071530993756028699&postID=5902649752791057377, it seems that sports is ruining that community too. One reader writes, "It is not about the common good for all citizens, children and community anymore. It is nothing but arrogance, greed, entitlement and self satisfaction." Does this sound familiar, Mt. Lebanon? The president of the township council is also the president of the football boosters. I apologize. Things are bad in Peters too, they're just more transparent about it.
2 comments:
Peters Township officials should be commended for meeting together to discuss issues that impact both the township and the school district ("Feeding from same trough", 2-2-11). Mt Lebanon commissioners and school board directors also meet, but what they discuss is unknown because the meetings are closed to the public. The past and current school board president both indicated that they would not attend any such meetings if residents were allowed to attend. One can only ask why? What are they hiding?
Joe Wertheim
Here are ideas for Mt. Lebanon from the Commonwealth Foundation:
Transparency makes other budgetary reforms possible, such as performance-based budgeting.
Performance-based budgeting, in contrast to the current process, would increase programs' and departments' funding based on performance, rather than lobbying or politics.
A proposal to use zero-based budgeting; a type of performance-based budgeting that would require justification of a school program's entire budget every five years.
John Ewing
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