Conshohocken Home Rule Ballot Question: What It Means

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA — Voters in Conshohocken will decide this election on forming a commission to study the viability of a new form of government.

If passed, the ballot referendum would take steps toward possibly adopting a home rule charter, which is essentially a local constitution that shifts the source of a town's authority from the state to the municipality.

Voters within the borough will see this text on their ballots:

Shall a government study commission of seven members be elected to study the existing form of government of Conshohocken Borough, to consider the advisability of the adoption of a home rule charter, and if advisable, to draft and to recommend a home rule charter?

Most municipalities operate under state codes, which mean they can do what the state permits. A home rule charter, alternatively, means a municipality can structure its rules and policies in any way it desires, so long as it does not violate state and federal law.

It's one of those gray area quirks and distinctions that can oftentimes mean absolutely nothing. In other cases, it provides the necessary wiggle room for a municipality to exercise much desired local authority.

In Conshohocken's case, the current push to explore home rule is largely due to the proposed $52 million sale of the borough's sewer system to a private corporation. With a home rule charter, the borough has the authority to protect its utilities from being overtaken by private entities which could potentially massively increase sewer bills.

The proposal has been sharply criticized by the county's Democratic establishment.

Six other Montgomery County communities already have a home rule charter, including Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Horsham, Norristown, Plymouth, Towamencin, and Whitemarsh .