Community Matters

Looks like the Paoli Transportation Center just took a step forward! According to Anthony Campisi of PlanPhilly, the SEPTA board has ” . . . approved a nearly $7.5 million contract to Gannett Fleming Inc. for design of a new Paoli regional rail station. Long a priority of Tredyffrin Township, the Chester County municipality where the [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 6 Comments »

Tredyffrin Easttown School District contract negotiation process with the teachers union, Tredyffrin Easttown Education Association (TEEA) is officially underway. The current 4-year collective bargaining agreement expires June 2012.  (Click here for current contract). With a cooperative tone, both sides have issued their preliminary statements – the school board recognizing the quality and standard of the [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 8 Comments »

Rumored for weeks, it is now official – Election Day 2012 will see a rematch between State Rep Warren Kampf (R) and former State Rep Paul Drucker (D) for the PA House of Representatives, District 157. Drucker defeated opponent Guy Ciarrocchi (R) on November 4, 2008 to succeed retiring Republican Carole Rubley.  If you recall, [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 14 Comments »

I attended the Board of Supervisors meeting last night; Ray Clarke attended the school district meeting and has graciously provided his notes for use on Community Matters.  The preliminary 2012-13 school district budget was approved with a $2.5 million budget gap — continuing to cut expenses or dipping into the fund balance?  I know from [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 5 Comments »

It is hard to believe but it looks like the St. Davids sidewalk saga that has plagued the township for years is about to end.  The open land development agreement with St. Davids Golf Club for their new clubhouse goes back at least 6 years.  As part of St. Davids contract with the township, the [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | No Comments »

Question:  In Tredyffrin Township, what do you get if you combine a former Democratic township supervisor candidate with a current Republican school board member and mix in their love of the Phillies, craft beer and American history?  Answer:  Occupy Tredyffrin, populism and a little Tea Party, or . . .  a couple of friends who [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 3 Comments »

Pennsylvania is facing a multi-billion dollar public pension crisis – now is the time for pension reform in Harrisburg.  The Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees Retirement System (SERS), the two systems administering retirement accounts for state and public school employees, are severely underfunded and will become insolvent without an increase [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Easttown School District, Warren Kampf | 13 Comments »

I received an email from John Harding of Econsult, www.econsult.com in regards to a Coatesville economic survey that his company is conducting and asking if I would post links on Community Matters.  According to their website, Econsult Corporation provides economic impact analysis, transportation economics, policy and planning, project and program evaluation and travel and tourism. [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 1 Comment »

We see school districts struggling to make payroll; debate on privatizing liquor stores; 9 percent unemployment and empty storefronts across the state.  However, the topic getting much press lately is the Pennsylvania voter identification bill. If the proposed photo ID bill (HB 934) becomes law before the November election, it will require every Pennsylvania voter [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 20 Comments »

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”                       ~ Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968) Today as we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.,  I am reminded of one aspect of him that is most compelling to me. [...]

Filed under: Tredyffrin Township | 2 Comments »