More Questions Than Answers At Monday's Supervisors Meeting

I should not have been surprised that there were items on the Feb. 27^th Newtown Board of Supervisors’ meeting agenda that did not appear on the township website before the meeting. This, despite my previous post, calling attention to this practice and hoping that there would be change.

But, honestly, I was surprised that in addition to last-minute items added to the agenda at the start of the meeting, Supervisors Chairman Joseph Catania decided on additions in the course of the meeting. 

Seriously, is it possible that the Board of Supervisors had no idea that they were going to vote on whether to purchase a new car for the K-9 policeman? Is it possible they did not know that they had a county reimbursement resolution? Is it possible they were unaware prior to the meeting that they would appoint Larry Fischer and Linda Gabell to the Municipal Authority? And, is it possible, having heard at the meeting that Supervisor John Nawn need not resign from the Municipal Authority because he was never appointed, and that Supervisor Nawn has finally realized that appointing himself to the authority and voting at last month’s Municipal Authority meeting was not proper?  

So I am asking again, could we please get an accurate agenda for public meetings posted on the township website at least a few days prior to the meeting? 

When an audience member raised their hand to speak during public comment, Chairman Catania indicated, “I don’t know if you fit this category. Public comment is for township residents, who pay taxes or people who own property here and pay taxes.”  

After this definition, the audience member did not offer comment. It begs the question, how did Chairman Catania know to shut down this person who wanted to speak? Even if she was not from Newtown Township, what harm could come from allowing her to speak? It leaves me wondering what information she wanted to provide to the township residents.    

Having heard from an interested township resident, Larry Fischer, that he had questioned when the latest budget figures would be posted on the website and not hearing it mentioned at the meeting, I checked the township website today. 

No new information has been posted since the revenues and expenses as of Dec. 29, 2011. Where has the monthly posting of revenues and expenses gone? Now in February, information previously provided to taxpayers showing where their tax dollars have been spent, seems to be unavailable.

I keep thinking that attending the Board of Supervisors' meetings will provide answers to decisions made on behalf of the Newtown Township taxpayers. I keep thinking that providing information and answering to taxpayers is a good idea.  I left the Board of Supervisors' meeting, as seems to be too frequently the case, with many more questions than answers.