Commissioner Kauffman's First 100 Days
Hello Manheim Township Neighbors and Friends,
One of the traditional measures of success in American government is what you accomplished during your first 100 days in office. So, I thought I’d provide an accounting of what the Manheim Township Commissioners have accomplished in our first four months of the 2020-1 term.
For the first time in the Township’s history we now have a Democratic majority. This required some significant adjustments in approaches to governing - adjustments that are on-going. Nevertheless, we have developed a very congenial non-partisan operational environment. Perhaps the biggest message we got from voters last year was that Manheim Township needed to transition away from a gung-ho development at all costs agenda, to paying a lot more attention to quality of life and government integrity issues. The biggest immediate change has been a major commitment to running a more transparent process – and one that gives citizens greater opportunities to influence decision-making. We also are exploring more “best practices” that have helped other communities be successful in governance, as well as community and economic development.
And, then there is Covid 19. This health, and related economic emergency threw a multitude of high hurdles into our plans for our first 100-day reform sprint, requiring a total refocusing of our efforts to protect the health and welfare of all Manheim Township residents.
A Quick Review of My First 120 Days
As a new Commissioner I took on a variety of assignments. In addition to the normal road, public safety, and development work, I serve as the oversight Commissioner for Administration, Planning, and Zoning. I’ve also been appointed to serve as liaison to LIMC (the Lancaster Intermunicipal Council), Lancaster Area Council of Governments (COG), and LASA (the Lancaster Area Sewer Authority. We also are engaging more frequently with Manheim Township School District and Lancaster City Officials. As I’ve often said, virtually none of our community problems begin or end at our township borders. Increasingly we need to plan regionally to achieve success, and Manheim Township is moving aggressively toward a more regionalized approach to problem-solving – which should produce economies of scale fiscally, and greater synergy operationally.
Some of the major accomplishments which I helped lead include:
• Refugees - At our first non-ceremonial meeting, we passed a resolution notifying the US Dept. of State that Manheim Township would continue in its historical mission of accepting and hosting refugees;
• Open Government - A major commitment has been made to operating under strict compliance with the state Sunshine law. Therefore, most meetings of township governing bodies now are being web-cast, for citizens to view live, AND have opportunities for public comment. Under my leadership we have approved plans to expand these systems and enhance their capabilities.
• We also authorized improving the sound systems in the township library’s public meeting room and the township building’s meeting room so that citizens can actually see and hear what is being discussed by the Commissioners and witnesses.
• Citizen Engagement – During the 2019 campaign, I called on Commissioners to hold regular office hours. We have begun moving in that direction. In February, we held our first Saturday morning Coffee With A Commissioner session, which at least 3 dozen citizens attend, and featured open discussion on issues of your choice; including breakout discussions focused on individual and neighborhood problems. While these sessions have been put on hiatus due to the social distancing requirements necessitated by Covid 19, they will resume when large meetings are again permitted.
• Citizen Advisory Councils – During the campaign I also called for creation of Citizen Advisory Councils (CACs). I knew we needed to harness the intellect and skills of our citizens to improve our community. With the firm leadership of Commissioner Tom O'Brian, we have currently approved three councils – Sustainability (led by Brenda Kauffman), Senior Citizen Issues (led by Dr. Larry Carroll), and Agricultural Issues (leader TBA). The Sustainability and Agricultural groups already have met informally. If you would like to join one of these councils, please go to the township website to download, complete and submit the volunteer form.
http://www.manheimtownship.org/…/Volunteer-Application-01-2…
• Development – Citizens of Manheim Township have made it clear that they want township government to put the brakes on the over-development that plagues the township. In January and February, the Stoner Farm development came before the new board, but many of the approvals for this project already had been made. I was the sole vote against final approval of this development. I voted No because I believed the developer had failed to meet the burden to demonstrate the development was a good fit for the community, and I had serious concerns about flooding, and hydrological problems involving possible sinkholes
• A controversial massive new Rutters convenience store has been proposed for the Oregon Pike and Roseville Rd. intersection. Hearings have been held, but opportunities for your input remain. To offer your concerns and suggestions, please attend the June 1 Zoning Hearing Board meeting at 6:30 pm – which will be conducted online. Check the Manheim Township website for details. http://www.manheimtownship.org/
• Good news! The Stehli Silk Mill project appears to be a go! The developer is ready to begin redeveloping this decades-long vacated eyesore into market-place priced housing and shops. Manheim Township, the City of Lancaster, and the developer have been meeting to iron out any obstacles. It looks like new housing, new shops, and economic opportunities are on the way. It should be a boon to the local economy. Thanks to Commissioner Sam Mecum for his long-time perseverance in bringing this project to reality.
• The Oregon Village development project remains mired in litigation. The Commissioner’s continue to watch this closely to ensure that, if permitted by the Courts, it strictly follows all mandates under the law and township zoning requirements – which appears dubious at best.
• Guns – At our January meeting, Country Day School returned with their request for a gun shop-free zone within 1000 feet of the edge of school property, and a ban on signage depicting guns within the zone. While I strongly sympathize with the school’s goals, I reluctantly voted against the proposals; first, because I realized it would have been merely a pyrrhic victory since a gun shop could open inches outside the zone; and, secondly, because the signage proposal would have been a violation of First Amendment rights. In my view, approval of the proposal would have led to very expensive litigation against a well-funded special interest; there was a high probability we would lose such litigation; and in the end, even if we won, the banned activities could occur just outside the zone near the school.
• Police Contracts – Collective bargaining continues for a new police contract. It appears that arbitration is increasingly likely.
• Resignation – We recently were informed that newly elected Commissioner, Allison Troy, will be resigning from the Board of Commissioners for personal reasons. We wish Allison well. In the meantime, this will require the Board of Commissioners to engage in the task of recruiting, vetting and approving a replacement Commissioner. This must be achieved within 30 days of the effective date of the resignation.
Barry Kauffman, Manheim Township Commissioner