What We Stand For
~ Fiscal Responsibility ~
One of the few guarantees of life on earth is that we will have taxes – and they will be too high. Let's face it, they are. Nobody in Aldan is paying too little; nobody is failing to uphold their end of the bargain. It isn’t the responsibility of Aldan’s citizens to pour out more and more money every time a new idea comes along. What we need to do is find ways to stretch our tax dollar and take advantage of the opportunities already out there.
There are three main ways we intend to achieve this:
1. More Aggressive Grant Writing – All three of our borough council candidates have professional experience writing grants for public money: Mike Ceci was a full-time grant writer, and both Sarah Robertson and Frank Lane have written successful grants to support their companies' projects. While the borough council has attempted to bring in grant money through their state connections, we feel that more effort must be placed into actively seeking out competitive grants from the federal and state governments and from private organizations. Our tax money is already going to fund these grants. It's only right for us to seek out our share and bring some back home to improve our community.
2. "Going Green" to Save Green – One of the biggest mistakes governments make is to keep doing what they've always done, because they've always done it. Stability has value, but innovation breeds efficiency. The borough should be investigating ways to improve our energy efficiency to save costs in the long term. From replacing the county's light fixtures with more energy efficient models to applying for grants such as the "Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program" to something as basic as a curb-side recycling program, we can do our part to improve both the environment and the borough's bottom line at the same time.
3. Inter-Municipal Cooperation – Aldan has always been self-contained and self-sufficient, and it's admirable that we're able to stand on our own so well. However, one small borough, standing alone, doesn't carry much weight in Media, let alone Harrisburg or Washington. There is no reason why Aldan shouldn't partner with other local governments to push for programs and initiatives that would benefit everyone in the region. Among the many options for inter-municipal cooperation is the Southeast Pennsylvania First Suburbs Project First Suburbs is a joint effort of municipalities and other community organizations in Delaware, Montgomery, Bucks, and Chester Counties aimed at increasing our voice in Harrisburg and efficiently managing programs that can bring money home to Philadelphia's inner-ring suburbs. Aldan can, and should, play a critical role within the project, enhancing our status regionally and ensuring that we get our piece of the pie. Standing alone, we must fend for ourselves. Together, we share in the spoils of victory.
~ Schools ~
Most of Aldan's residents share a direct concern for the William Penn School District. Our children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews have attended, over the generations, and it is vitally important that we see to it they receive the best education possible. We know that the school board is working ceaselessly to improve the district, from the resources in the classroom to the facilities outside and the educational programs afterwards, and we pledge to stand with them, providing whatever support and resources they desire. At the same time, we will push the school board to consider new ideas and opportunities, in an effort to make William Penn the best that it can be. We support Governor Rendell's plan to improve funding sources for PA school districts and will do everything possible at a local level to ensure their success.
~ Supporting Home Values ~
When the economy suffers, everyone feels the pinch. Dollars don't seem to bring in as much as they used to. Bills become more of a concern, and financial decisions take on more weight. Governments know that there is no magic wand. No one, single policy that can overturn a recession and send us springing back into a boom. However, what we can do is slow the slide and pour our effort into boosting the community's pride and, equally importantly, its property values.
There is no reason for Aldan not to have access to a curb-side recycling service which would lessen the impact of local waste disposal and the fees that all of us homeowners must pay each year. Funds also could be directed into improving the local green space which provides the twin benefits of better air quality and greater curb appeal. We also propose the creation of a Broadband Lab where Aldan residents could have easy, free access to high-speed internet enabled computers, CD creation, and other state-of-the-art technological facilities. None of these proposals should require an increase in property values if we are able to create a more aggressive and competitive grant-writing program.
~ Open, Transparent Government ~
Residents of Aldan deserve to know the business of their government in a timely manner. While we have faith that the local officials truly are working towards what they see as our best interests, without full transparency all we can have is faith--not assuredness. For years, the only way to get a copy of the borough budget was to request it directly at the municipal building. It was only this year that the council decided to support a website and post the budget online. Sadly, that website is still lagging in publicity, and the posting of the minutes of council meetings still lag months behind. The borough bill list still is only accessible at the municipal building.
The borough government needs to become more transparent. Its citizens deserve to have the opportunity to review all borough actions in real-time, not months after the fact. Meeting minutes should be available one business day after they are approved by the council. The bill list should be readily available and updated monthly.
Finally, we believe that all borough position openings--whether borough council seats, police department vacancies, or any other elected or appointed position--should be made public 30 days prior to filling the vacancy. This is the standard practice at other local town councils. Private companies must perform due diligence before hiring to ensure they have the best person for the job. Our government should also be held to these same standards.
~ Security ~
One of the cornerstones of any borough, town, or city is security. When a person is sure that they are safe and their families are protected, only then can a community truly be called home. This is a universal value, and we cannot applaud Aldan's first responders and Townwatch enough. Without their effort, Aldan would not be the same vibrant society it is today. We wish to ensure their future success and will commit to supporting their valuable efforts in any way possible.
