The whole purpose of today's post is to encourage any reader who may be interested in running for Delmont Council to take action.
I posted on Facebook today a post to encourage citizens of Delmont who are interested in real change in our community to act NOW. One reason that incumbents stay incumbents is because of the process of getting on the ballot. There will be some seats opening up on Council in November. However if you want to be on that ballot you have to go through the primary. I had to navigate the whole process all by myself and it can be intimidating. The first question to ask yourself is why would you want to run for Delmont Council? Here is a list of reasons that I came up with. If any thing here is a true concern of yours please consider running. 1) You don't feel that Delmont Council adequately represented your views in the Speed Way debate. 2) You don't think the Council should sell the School building. 3) You are not happy with the recent property purchases of Council. 4) You do not agree with the way that Council is spending you tax dollars. 5) You want Delmont to keep bus Service. 5) You aren't happy with the secrecy that surrounds Shield's Farm. 6) You expressed your concerns to Council. but you don't feel like you have been heard. 7) Council abandoning the Lion's recycling efforts upsets you.
I could really use your help in changing my 6 to 1 odds. But what do you have to do? Go to the County Election Burough and get a petition. You will need at least 10 signatures, 9 if you include mine from the party you wish to run. You are entitled to a CD that contains all the information of the registered voters in your party. There is a document that needs to be notarized. You can have this document notarized for free a couple doors down from the Election Board. If you can get the proper documents feel free to contact me, I would be glad to get them for you from the Court House or help you complete the proper forms to appear on the primary ballot. You have to win the primary to appear on November's ballot. If you want my help contact me at david4delmont@gmail.com.
Please help Delmont and help me change the 6 to 1 odds. The community will thank you.
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Council Meeting February 9, 2016
Last night's meeting was fairly long due to monies that are due for different projects and the fact that we needed to take out a tax anticipation loan until we start receiving monies again. Including "borrowing" $38.664.88 from the Shield's Farm Account. Leaving $100. I maybe mistaken and there might have been $99.00 more transferred leaving $1.00. It is never good when Peter steals from Paul, but since I have very little idea what is going on at the Farm, I can't determine a clear picture of possible dangers in such action.
I need to call a spade a spade. My mind last night was preoccupied with the draft letter that I wrote to Speedway concerning the high probability that there is waste, possibly radioactive waste on the site they wish to build. This issue has been weighing on me for a very long time. It is the information that I said in a previous blog that may be giving me more gray hair. This preoccupation coupled with the length of the meeting had me distracted from other issues like recycling by the Lion's Club which I will address next.
In my opinion it is despicable that Councilman Boyd tried to use the MS4 issue for an excuse to get the Lion's to move or quit recycling in Delmont. The area where the Lion's recycling materials are located must be relocated (at least temporarily) so that a retaining pond can be built in the stream as part of a grant that Delmont received. The recycling issue is much bigger than just our small community. A major problem right now is the economy is in a slow down and there is no current paper money in the activity. A major problem is very few people are able to think ahead and convert the future costs to quality of life, costs of remediation, loss of usable land (that has been dedicated to disposal facilities) into today's dollar. It is a sad state of affairs when it is cheaper, in some cases, to buy a whole new printer than to replace ink. What happens to all the junk printers? I have many moral and ethical issues when it comes to Environmental considerations. I believe in letting the free market work; yet, there is no such thing in reality. I also believe in smaller less governmental regulation and more responsibilities for the individual. Unfortunately, it seems that are educational system is encouraging youth to find someone or something to blame instead of teaching the virtue of responsibility for one's own actions. The only issue that I can see is physical objects making their way into the stream (ie; cans, storage containers, plastic, etc). The idea of any illicit discharge in any quantity of concern is totally ludicrous. That is my opinion based on 15+ years experience in environmental issues and interactions with Federal,State, and local authorities from all over the United States. The comment made about soap being a concern to DEP showed that an understanding of the issues just doesn't exist. This comment may have had some humor in a different context but was totally inappropriate as most of my counterparts were wanting to be done with recycling. This stance shows the ignorance of elected officials. Personally, I commend the members of the Lion's Club for their foresight and concern with the well being of future residence of Delmont. I told members of the Lion's leadership that I was going to look into a real solution with Waste Management, EPA, and DEP. The Lions giving up on Recycling in Delmont will have a huge negative impact on Delmont. Here is a short list; 1) Different organizations not benefiting from the financial as well as the camaraderie in working together for the good of Delmont. Yes, I know there is no money now, but that will change. 2) The residents of Delmont will be experiencing an increase in cost for trash removal, 3) It saves landfill space for the future. 4) If you think that regulatory agencies will ignore recyclables in regular trash when the prices go up guess again. Either residents, borough, or both will be paying some type of fine for improper disposal. 5) Once a service goes away the increased costs and the difficulty in regenerating interests makes it very hard to bring back if possible at all.
There is a lot more to discuss about the speed way issue and other challenges facing our small borough, but I need to get some of my thoughts out there for your consideration.
I need to call a spade a spade. My mind last night was preoccupied with the draft letter that I wrote to Speedway concerning the high probability that there is waste, possibly radioactive waste on the site they wish to build. This issue has been weighing on me for a very long time. It is the information that I said in a previous blog that may be giving me more gray hair. This preoccupation coupled with the length of the meeting had me distracted from other issues like recycling by the Lion's Club which I will address next.
In my opinion it is despicable that Councilman Boyd tried to use the MS4 issue for an excuse to get the Lion's to move or quit recycling in Delmont. The area where the Lion's recycling materials are located must be relocated (at least temporarily) so that a retaining pond can be built in the stream as part of a grant that Delmont received. The recycling issue is much bigger than just our small community. A major problem right now is the economy is in a slow down and there is no current paper money in the activity. A major problem is very few people are able to think ahead and convert the future costs to quality of life, costs of remediation, loss of usable land (that has been dedicated to disposal facilities) into today's dollar. It is a sad state of affairs when it is cheaper, in some cases, to buy a whole new printer than to replace ink. What happens to all the junk printers? I have many moral and ethical issues when it comes to Environmental considerations. I believe in letting the free market work; yet, there is no such thing in reality. I also believe in smaller less governmental regulation and more responsibilities for the individual. Unfortunately, it seems that are educational system is encouraging youth to find someone or something to blame instead of teaching the virtue of responsibility for one's own actions. The only issue that I can see is physical objects making their way into the stream (ie; cans, storage containers, plastic, etc). The idea of any illicit discharge in any quantity of concern is totally ludicrous. That is my opinion based on 15+ years experience in environmental issues and interactions with Federal,State, and local authorities from all over the United States. The comment made about soap being a concern to DEP showed that an understanding of the issues just doesn't exist. This comment may have had some humor in a different context but was totally inappropriate as most of my counterparts were wanting to be done with recycling. This stance shows the ignorance of elected officials. Personally, I commend the members of the Lion's Club for their foresight and concern with the well being of future residence of Delmont. I told members of the Lion's leadership that I was going to look into a real solution with Waste Management, EPA, and DEP. The Lions giving up on Recycling in Delmont will have a huge negative impact on Delmont. Here is a short list; 1) Different organizations not benefiting from the financial as well as the camaraderie in working together for the good of Delmont. Yes, I know there is no money now, but that will change. 2) The residents of Delmont will be experiencing an increase in cost for trash removal, 3) It saves landfill space for the future. 4) If you think that regulatory agencies will ignore recyclables in regular trash when the prices go up guess again. Either residents, borough, or both will be paying some type of fine for improper disposal. 5) Once a service goes away the increased costs and the difficulty in regenerating interests makes it very hard to bring back if possible at all.
There is a lot more to discuss about the speed way issue and other challenges facing our small borough, but I need to get some of my thoughts out there for your consideration.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
February 2, 2016
Sunday I spent a large portion of my day reading over the MS4 requirements and the Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination Technical manual. I feel like I have a fairly decent understanding of the program and its objectives. I contacted the Westmoreland County District because I want to gain a better idea of the Borough's role in the over-all water quality of the area. From the experience that I have had working with EPA and State Government Regulatory Agencies, I was surprised that regulators would target a 1.1 Sq.mile Borough with a population just north of 2,000 for a MS4 permit. I am getting a better understanding but still have some field work to do before developing a complete understanding. I truly hope that fellow council members use me on the aspects of the MS4 permit that their committee overseas. In any event I may get an opportunity to work with the District and possibly helping with the County Ordinance even if Delmont Council doesn't want to utilize me in this area.
We had our first Sewer committee meeting/ One of the big concerns for Delmont is storm water infiltration and the possibility of overflow at the pump station. Regulatory agencies frown at over-flow and could take action. However, as a community we have been improving and we are continuing to look for more ways to improve. One of the big problems is there has not been enough education about using our sewers more effectively. Sewer education my sound dirty and boring. However, it can save you money personally as well as the Borough money. If you aren't interested in saving the Borough money, please remember that Borough money is actually your money funneled a different way. I will be putting together information on our sewer system and scheduling a public gathering. I will try to use the Library or the Borough meeting room. The meeting is probably 30-60 days out as I asked our Public Works department to gather some photos of the issues that are pressing to our system.
Please remember that next Tuesday, February 9th is the next council meeting. The new meeting room is bigger than our old room. Looking forward to seeing you there.
We had our first Sewer committee meeting/ One of the big concerns for Delmont is storm water infiltration and the possibility of overflow at the pump station. Regulatory agencies frown at over-flow and could take action. However, as a community we have been improving and we are continuing to look for more ways to improve. One of the big problems is there has not been enough education about using our sewers more effectively. Sewer education my sound dirty and boring. However, it can save you money personally as well as the Borough money. If you aren't interested in saving the Borough money, please remember that Borough money is actually your money funneled a different way. I will be putting together information on our sewer system and scheduling a public gathering. I will try to use the Library or the Borough meeting room. The meeting is probably 30-60 days out as I asked our Public Works department to gather some photos of the issues that are pressing to our system.
Please remember that next Tuesday, February 9th is the next council meeting. The new meeting room is bigger than our old room. Looking forward to seeing you there.
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