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Answers to 4 Specific Questions:

1. West Manheim has dedicated a portion of its property tax revenue in recent years to road repairs. In your opinion, how has this program worked? Has it been sufficient to bring township roads up to the condition residents should expect? Why or why not?

While some progress has been made recently, with the increase in residential growth that has been allowed to take place, our road system has taken a back seat. This not only applies to the road surface but proper treatment of the roads during inclement weather. Many times residents are left to navigate snow covered roads making travel hazardous. Residents expect roads that are safe to travel and cleared of snow in a timely manner. As supervisor, I will work to put in place procedures to have the roads cleared of snow and treated quickly. I will work with engineers to prioritize repair or replacement for the roads in the worst conditions and use the most cost efficient methods of resurfacing. Repair or replacement of roads will not be a quick process but we must focus on providing the needed infrastructure for our residents who are already here and paying taxes. (scroll down for more)

2. In recent months, the township dismissed one manager, then hired a sitting supervisor to serve in that capacity. That supervisor has now resigned from his elected position and the company where he works -- Hanover Land Services -- is handling interim management services so that he is no longer directly employed by the township. Do you agree with the township's handling of the manager situation over the past year? Why or why not?

For me, this entire issue has been one of transparency. The Evening Sun reported that the township auditors set the rate of compensation at $46.50 per hour. In a township of our size, does this sound reasonable? How was this rate determined by the auditors? Would this set a precedent rate of pay for the new incoming manager once they were hired? I asked these questions. When asked directly, the supervisors declined to get a written explanation from the auditors about how the compensation was decided. As our elected officials, the supervisors should have wanted to find out on the taxpayer’s behalf how this rate of pay was determined. When asking honest questions of our elected officials we should get honest answers, not stonewalling. If they don’t know the answer, there should be a willingness to get the answer. Moving forward, the supervisors need to lay out an open, defined and competitive process for finding a new township manager.

3. If the board of supervisors could make one change to improve the quality of life for township residents, what change would you recommend supervisors make? Explain your answer.

Reducing the rate of residential development will benefit every township resident. West Manheim's residential growth has outpaced our infrastructure and is bringing more pressure to bear on our road system, schools and emergency services. Developers are continuing to be allowed to develop more of our farmland and woods. In just one case, a single development plan of almost one thousand homes has been submitted and approved. We have been left to bear the substantial burden of hooking up to public sewer at a cost of thousands of dollars and paying water bills that have tripled. We must use common sense and good judgment to limit the amount of residential growth. As supervisor, I will make better decisions so we can keep West Manheim a family-friendly place to live and raise a family. We deserve no less.

4. At 2.1 mills, West Manheim Township's property tax rate is third highest among the 35 townships in York County. Are taxpayers getting their money's worth from township government? Why or why not? Are there avenues the township should explore to save money or control costs? What are they?

This is a question that constantly needs to be asked. The residents need to be the first priority when making any decision. In some cases it does not appear that this question is being asked. I will look at our budget with an eye on reducing discretionary spending and eliminating waste. In the difficult economic times that we find ourselves, West Manheim needs to keep a close watch on the amount of money being spent. Spending should be kept below budget because residents are losing their jobs or are not earning what they have in the past. This will result in revenue that will most likely be less than anticipated. Each and every tax dollar that the township receives is precious and was earned by someone’s hard work. For this reason, each and every dollar spent must be evaluated to get the “most bang for the buck.” I would like to look at ways to save money like getting yearly quotes from insurance carriers, turning off hallway lights that are currently on 24/7 and evaluate any assets that the township owns (and sell or rent accordingly).

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