Meet the Candidates: Mike Snovitch

Mike Snovitch

Running for: Lower Saucon Board of Supervisors, 2-year term

Affiliation: Republican

Residence: Lower Milford

Education: Bachelor's Degree in School of Engineering from Penn State; Master's Degree in School of Engineering from Lehigh University; Graduate of Columbia University Executive Program; Attended Penn State Financial Knowledge for Executives Program; Professional Engineer

Profession/Work Experience: Executive Director of a Washington D.C.-based shipper organization

Elected Positions: Lower Milford Board of Supervisors, 25 years

Committees: Planning Commission, sewage committee

Why are you running? To keep open space and low taxes.

If elected, what would you like to accomplish? Continued fiscal responsibility without the need to raise taxes and maintain the rural character of the township. This will be done by enforcing strict budget controls and using resources efficiently without any duplication.

FORUM QUESTIONS

The 2011 budget anticipates that the township will end with $90,413 in general funds. Based on past spending it looks like the township will run out of general funds by 2012. How do you see the township fixing this?

You’re right. If we’re not successful at keeping our costs down we’ll have less than $90,000. We’re hoping by very aggressive budgeting and cost control we’ll meet that budget. It looks like as of now we may be ahead of budget; that’s with significant litigation and other issues. We have some ability to move money around. Hopefully we’ll be OK.

Given the budget situation can the township afford to hire more police officers?

No. If we would have kept the same amount of police, we would had to have a 50 percent increase in property taxes in a period of two years.

There is a lot of concern about rising health-care costs. I understand that maybe half the township's workers receiving health insurance are in the union, so therefore the township has been unable to have employees share in the cost of health care. When the next union contract is up for negotiation, will this be addressed?

 I agree with Donna. At this point it’s a little premature, however everything will be on the table to try and keep costs down.

I never see any road work being done besides surface fixes. Will the residents wake up one day to find our taxes going through the roof because we’ve neglected our roads and bridges?

I’ve been working with Rich Kinsey [Zoning/Planning/Public Works Officer] on a five-year budget for improving the roads. We’re going to make sure something like that doesn’t happen.

Is there a three- or five-year spending plan for the township?

There’s a very preliminary five-year plan for spending. We’re taking a hard look at it to try and improve it.

What are your priorities while serving as a supervisor?

My number one priority is trying to maintain the rural nature of the township. My second priority is to try to keep taxes down. Overall, I want maximum service for very low tax dollars.

How would you describe the working relationship that the three supervisors have?

I think the supervisors work very well together. We don’t see eye to eye all the time but we have a similar philosophy: keeping the rural character of the township and keeping taxes down.

Please explain the importance of defending the township’s ordinances.

By Pennsylvania code we’re legally bound to defend our ordinances. If we didn’t it could open us up to other legal challenges. It’s your obligation as a supervisor.

How much advance time did all the candidates have to attend this candidate discussion?

It was at one of the supervisor meetings. Elizabeth [Rich, Editor of Patch] gave me some dates and I got back to her and we made a schedule.

How much are court costs and how many cases has the township won?

That’s a fact. I just have to agree with what Donna said.

Are township ordinance changes subject to vote or supervisor decisions?

I’ve gone through this process three times. The planning commission prepares them at an advertised, open meeting. When they’re done they have a meeting to discuss the changes with residents. Then it’s brought before supervisors. They have a meeting to see what the residents of the township have to say about it, then, if they feel comfortable they have a meeting to vote on it. If they’re not comfortable they’ll send it back and work on it.