Lower Merion Twp Manager 'Pleasantly Surprised' With Survey Results

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Lower Merion Township residents who were surveyed as part of The National Citizen Survey gave the township overall positive responses.

Overall, 51 percent of respondents categorized the quality of life in Lower Merion as excellent. No respondents rated it poor.

So how does Lower Merion Township Manager Ernie McNeely feel about the survey's results?

Patch reached out to McNeely for his take on the responses.

Below are his answers to our questions about the survey:

Were any of the results surprising? If so, what?
Considering the national fractured negative political climate, I was pleasantly surprised that the results were so very positive just as they were in 2015-2016 when the survey was last administered.

Mobility scores were lower than other areas of the survey; what are some ways the township is addressing/planning to address issues residents expressed in the results?
Mobility scores were lower than some other subject areas but almost all categories were similar to the national benchmarks and the differences from the 2015 study to the current were mostly statistically insignificant since only percentage differences of more than 5% are considered significant. Lower Merion rated lower than the national benchmark only in the category of Ease of Travel By Bicycle while it rated much higher than the national benchmark on Used Public Transportation and higher on Walked or Biked Instead of Driving. The two higher ratings were good to see, and the Township is working on a number of projects to further improve ease of travel by biking. Overall the ratings both locally and in the national benchmarks reflect that no one like traffic.

Local engagement trended lower, as well; how can the township get more residents interested in local government and participating in civic activities (meetings, volunteering, etc.)?
Local engagement ratings while lower than other subject areas were also similar to the national benchmarks plus there was little statistically significant change in the ratings from the last 2015 survey. That said the Township does and will continuously strive to provide opportunities for public engagement including social media, website, email lists, LMTV and YouTube video of meetings and open public meetings. The survey itself is a method of community engagement.

Do you feel the resident sample size is adequate in gauging the overall public's opinion on the township and its services?
Yes, the sample size was proportionally larger than most communities choose to contract for and that is why the Lower Merion results show an unusually low 3.6% margin of error.

What are you most proud of with the survey results?
I am most proud that Lower Merion residents have once again rated our Township services such as police protection, fire protection, trash collection, sewer services and other local services so highly which is tribute to our outstanding public sector workforce and our leadership from our elected officials. All of that leads to our residents rating Lower Merion higher than the national benchmarks as a great place to live with a high overall quality of life.