"Leaders" They Are Not in Jefferson Hills
I am also amazed at the “changes” which have taken place since this new council began. If you define council working well together as being in agreement to advance their own agendas, then by all means this current council fits the bill. According to President King, in his quote from the South Hills Record dated May 1, 2008, referencing his decision to rehire Mr. Arndt, “ I think he will share a vision that this council wants for the borough for years to come.” I was under the impression that elected officials represent the people and it should be the constituents' vision which Master King seeks. I remain disappointed and skeptical of this council majority who continuously governs in the shadows of deceit and deception. If you truly believe that this council is capable of “running the borough in a "business-minded manner,” how do you account for their first action as a majority block, which was to replace the borough's legal counsel with a duo who charges more per hour and who appears to lack the discipline to question councils chaotic actions. Having attended council meetings with Mr. Arndt during his previous tenure as Borough Manager, his response to direct questions concerning borough business lacked detail as well as adequate follow up. How unfortunate that Mr. Shepherd, whose competent experience and professionalism when representing the borough of Jefferson Hills, posed a threat to this narrow-minded council.
You state that this council is “reaching out to its own citizens like never before.” Perhaps you have not adequately been following current events in the borough. This proposed “reaching out” has resulted in the abrupt removal of long-term members and competent residents who have voluntarily served on numerous Boards and Commissions, being replaced with, politicos, “running mates,” and unsuccessful candidates.
It is quite unnerving for this majority council to dictate their “vision,” which will affect Jefferson Hills Borough for years to come. I can only hope that their deeds and hapless actions do not cause permanent harm to our community.
And to clear the record, I have never benefitted from the “ former council’s favoritism.”
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Mark Twain famously said that "if you don't read the newspapers you are uninformed — if you do read the newspapers you are misinformed". Alive today, he would certainly aplly this to all media forms!!
Councilman Chris King also famously said, "NO COMMENT." Another King-King quote was "(t)oo much undue pressure is put on the solicitor to control (legal)fees"(McKeesport Daily News 1/25/08.
Alive today, I think that Mark Twain would be an avid blogger, and he would be thoroughly enjoying Tobywannabe's narratives.
JH Council would have provided Mr. Twain plenty of material for his political satire, if he were alive today; and we may well have seen this cast of characters depicted in one of his humorous books.
Viva Mark Twain!!
The voters of our community, through the elective process,decided who the current council members should now be. They won the right to lead the community forward and make the decisions that they BELIEVE will BEST create change for the BETTER in Jefferson Hills. Therefore, it is now important for the community to be informed, observant, and hold them accountable for their decisions.
It is appropriate to dissent if you disagree with their policies, but when you descend to a level where you personally begin to attack person, character and family, then all you do is demonstrate what is WRONG with todays politics.
Next election, vote for the individuals you believe BEST represent YOUR beliefs. Don't whine or cry or ask for pity like a child. Nobody wants to hear that. Move on.
I agree with a lot of what you said.
We do need to be observant, informed ,and hold accountable.
I also agree that we need to stick to the facts and not let things become personal, expecially attacking family (without just cause). I do think there is a place and even a responsibility to judge ones character if there is adequate information to do so. With the business manager scenerio, there were two articles written where Chris King, council, and the solicitor were on record as saying that John Shepherd's resignation was not a buyout and they had to pay him $25,000 because of a contract established with the previous council. We later found out those were lies and Chris King and solicitor Mike Adams told John Shepherd he was going to be terminated. Shepherd did everything he was suppose to but because Chris King wanted his own personal, hand picked business manager, Shepherd got the axe and we got the $25,000 bill. How can you say there are not some serious character flaws here that need to be addressed? This is just one example of some serious concerns we all have with the new leadership and their integrity. What you call whining like a child, I call complaining like a concerned citizen. And maybe no one wants to hear it, but we all need to hear it.
People who choose to live in the Jefferson Hills community are best served by leaders who share a common desire to provide first class public services in a clean, safe, friendly, environment with ample,well, maintained recreational facilities for our children. This must be done in an economically sound and thrifty way. What has been somewhat discouraging over the years in Jefferson Hills, in my opinion, has always been the occasional personal sniping, posturing, and obstruction that goes on. Maybe that is a product of the difficult times in which we live, but I feel there are good people in our community who want to cooperatively seek this vision. This has always been a great place to raise a family.
The current majority council of Jefferson Hills may have won the election, but the “CHANGES” they have created certainly does not move the borough “FORWARD.” When they institute “CHANGE” that is both controversial and detrimental to the residents, when they deliberately replace competent, fiscally responsible, professionals with those who practice their professions with less than stellar accountability, how can this be viewed as “CHANGE FOR THE BETTER.” If their actions are an indication of how they intend to “CREATE CHANGE“ then we all must be concerned with their decision making process. Their role on Council is to represent the BEST INTERESTS of the residents of Jefferson Hills, not “what they BELIEVE will best create change for the better.” “CHANGE” within the borough should be based on fact finding information. If this current council is so substandard, that they must rely on their “BELIEFS” rather than educated debate, especially during these troubled financial times, how can they be expected to comprehend the fundamental issues which will require an informed debate and council vote.