Op-Ed: Stop the Sewer Sale, Vote Yes on Towamencin Government Study

(The following is an op-ed from Christina Gallagher, member of the Towamencin Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts and candidate for a Towamencin Government Study Commission.)

I am one of seven candidates running together for a government study commission in Towamencin Township. I am joining six other residents who want to study our local government, provide residents with a chance to vote to stop the sewer sale, and possibly make recommendations to give residents more say in township decisions. These recommendations would then be included in a home rule charter. All township residents would have the opportunity to vote for or against the proposed charter. Public input would be part of the process as we conduct our study. The seven candidates have met through a group called NOPE, Neighbors Opposing Privatization Efforts. NOPE opposes the privatization of our sewer system. which could triple our sewer rates.

The candidates I am aligned with don’t share political ideologies; we didn’t even know each other previously. What we do share is a desire for our local government to represent us. Special interest groups should not have a greater voice than other residents. It should not be intimidating to attend meetings as I once experienced. Our group has been meeting regularly, educating ourselves, and listening to others in nearby communities. According to the census, almost 25% of the township is 65 years old or older. These are not easy times for those on fixed incomes as prices rise. Our candidates are committed to improving all resident participation especially in important decisions that impact their budgets.

We don’t have an agenda to radically change our local existing government of five supervisors or to permit development of property as some have suggested. In fact, PA law states that zoning cannot be changed through this process. Our ideas for an improved Towamencin include stopping the shortsighted sewer sale and adding referendum options so that big decisions like the sewer sale would not be able to be done without voter consent. There are still many unanswered questions about the sale. Closed room deals should be something of the past. 

The procedure in November requires two decisions. First, voting yes for a government study commission. Second, electing seven candidates to form the study commission. Our candidates will not be listed together on the ballot so please read carefully when making your choices: Christina Gallagher, Gisela Koch, Martin Cohen, Kofi Osei, Mark Warren, Jennifer Foster, and Don Lepp.

We have worked hard at understanding the sewer issue, educating residents, asking our officials to be more public, and we will continue to study how to improve our local government. We will do this by conducting a study, something that 180 other communities in PA have done. There is nothing extreme about studying an existing organization. Many businesses, schools, and employers do just that. It is often a welcome self-evaluation tool.

It is important to me that residents understand the issues that will directly impact them. NOPE was crucial to having the township communicate its intentions to sell the sewer. Towamencin residents deserve a community that considers their wallets, communicates in a timely manner, and wants to do better.

Signed,

Christina Gallagher
Candidate for Government Study Commission
tnope.com
[email protected]

See also:

Potential Bucks County Sewer Sale Plan Appears Dead, Residents Celebrate

Two Bucks County Commissioners Come Out Against Potential $1.1 Billion Sale of Sewer System

Bucks County Commissioners Ask Questions on Potential Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority Sale

Opinion: President of National Association of Water Companies Disputes PMAA Letter to Bucks Officials

Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority Exploring Plan to Sell Part of System For $1.1 Billion

Local Water Authority Heads Speak Out Against Public Sewer Privatization in Letter to Bucks Co. Municipal Leaders

Editorial: Why We Decided to Sell Our Sewer System

Despite Vocal Opposition, Towamencin Supervisors Sell Sewer System for $115M in Historic 4-1 Vote

Towamencin Supervisors Vote 4-1 to Advertise Sale of Sewer System for $115M, Final Vote May 25

Letter to the Editor: Vote No on Selling Sewer System

Residents Speak Out After Towamencin Supervisors Signal Intent to Sell Sewer System

Towamencin Supervisor Majority Says They’re in Favor of Selling Sewer System Despite Opposition

North Penn Says Proposed Towamencin Sewer Sale Would Have Minimal Impact on District

To Sell or Not to Sell: Towamencin Board to Decide Sanitary Sewer Fate in May

Towamencin Inches Closer To Possible Sewer Privatization With Feb. 11 Bid Deadline

Editorial: Selling the Sewer System Would Be Bad for Towamencin (and Elsewhere)