Members of the Concord Township Government Study Commission were told unequivocally that departments in the township are working well.
That was the word from Concord’s Finance Director/Treasurer JoAnne Demnicki during the group’s March 25 meeting.
Demnicki said the township has been extremely busy with developments during the last decade and that growth has been “amazing.”
“All [township] departments are busy, but everything is being done correctly,” she said toward the end of her presentation.
The commission — charged with exploring a possible change in the township’s government structure — requested that she give a briefing on her duties. Demnicki came prepared with written responses to several questions.
She said that while sewer bills and property tax payments might come directly to the township office, all receipts are recorded before being sent to the appropriate person, be it the Sewer Department administrator or the assistant tax collector.
Demnicki added that no tax money goes to the Sewer Department and that all tax accounts are in the township name, not that of the tax collector or assistant.
She added that the historical non-collection of taxes is 2 percent, something she said is, “pretty good.”
Demnicki said part of her responsibility is to oversee seven different funds, including general obligation, capital reserve, escrow and open space funds.
She also explained the different responsibilities of the professional auditor and the elected auditors.
The paid auditors conduct the actual audit while the elected auditors review reports provided, then summarize those reports and give presentations.
Commission President James Gray said the commission is to come up with an initial recommendation by July.
The group is studying the current township organization and looking at other forms of structure, such as a home rule charter, before making a recommendation. If that recommendation is for Concord to remain a township of the second class, the commission’s work is done.
If, however, the commissioners recommend adopting one of four optional plans listed in the state’s Home Charter and Optional Plan Law, that recommendation is placed on the ballot of the next election for voters to accept or reject.
If the commission recommends that Concord develop its own home rule charter, the group then has another nine months to develop the charter before that goes to the voters.
The GSC has already heard the difference between townships of the first class and second class from the assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, and on home rule options from the program manager of the Governor’s Center of Community and Economic Development.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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