The Republican Committee, under the leadership of Sean Rafferty, has been busy lately opposing my candidacy with some curious spin on the facts. So, as a current township supervisor, a resident, and a candidate, I want to set the record straight.
In the past 15 years, Pocopson has changed from a predominately rural area into one with a more suburban character. That’s why today we face growing traffic challenges, pressures from emerging technologies, infrastructure and storm water issues, and more.
And that is precisely why the status quo won’t work.
Efficiency in government
As a supervisor, I have witnessed firsthand the heavy workload required of the supervisors and staff. I’ve been a small business owner all my life. I know that to control costs, one must carefully examine the efficiency of all current business practices. That’s why, to make an administrative assessment as objective as possible, the supervisors and I authorized spending $2,000 to bring in an outside, independent municipal consultant. We are convinced that this money is well spent because it will surely lead to significant operational savings in the future.
Why even consider a different style of township management?
The Republican committee says that I want to bring in a township manager at $100,000 a year. That’s just a ludicrous assertion in a township of our size.
The real point here is that many townships, even ones smaller than ours operate under a township-manager system. They have found it to be an efficient and affordable way to run even very small municipal governments. Right now, we don’t know what the consultant will recommend concerning our management structure. But I do know that it is a healthy and prudent exercise to raise questions, encourage dialog and get suggestions from an expert.
The Earned Income Tax
Whether Republican or Democrat, we can all agree on at least two important issues for Pocopson: keep taxes low and property values high.
We’ve chosen to have open spaces, public parks and trails, top quality schools and safe roads, all those things that make Pocopson a desirable place to live and help to keep our property values high.
Maintaining this character isn’t easy and doesn’t come free. With growing regulation, rising material costs and limited new development, supervisors often have to choose between raising revenue and cutting services. I believe we must choose the least impactful and fairest ways to accomplish this balance.
The Republican Committee says I’ve raised taxes by 150 percent. Yes, the arithmetic is correct, but consider this:
- No supervisor can make a unilateral decision to increase taxes. The law prevents that. Furthermore, all three supervisors, the other two Republican “endorsed” supervisors and I voted unanimously to raise the EIT from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent after six advertised public meetings in which not one resident objected.
- Of the 73 municipalities in Chester County, Pocopson is among the 7 townships with the lowest EIT. Most other municipalities charge 1 percent or higher.
- Raising property taxes might force some of our seniors and fixed income residents out of their homes.
The Barnard House
In 2008, the Board of Supervisors agreed to take possession of the historic Barnard House and its 64 acres from Chester County.
The site is now eligible for National Register of Historic Places, a recognition of its national historic significance. That means we can continue to access additional government grants for its renovation.
No new construction will begin until we’re sure the house is truly useful and practical as a public space for the community. That analysis is underway now. This important project can be completed without raising taxes.
$42,000 for a historic commission?
No. Seventy-five percent of this is a grant to be awarded by the county for a two-year survey of Pocopson’s many historic resources.
What are the criteria for a Republican endorsement?
Apparently an endorsement is simply a way to inject a party “agenda” into this local election. That’s a shame because the day-to-day needs of the township and its residents are the real issues that should override political affiliation and outweigh any political party’s “agenda”.
Municipal experience matters
Clearly getting the party “endorsement” does not reflect an evaluation of a candidate’s experience and is no guarantee of success.
The last “endorsed” candidate for supervisor had no municipal government experience. That perhaps explains why he quit after serving only four months.
In this election the two “endorsed” candidates have no municipal experience. They’ve never served on any township committee nor participated in any public meeting until after receiving a party “endorsement”.
Politics aside, it will take a lot of hard work to preserve the special character of Pocopson. To keep taxes down and property values up. We must not accept a status quo. It is our job to find smarter and affordable ways to do better.
Look carefully at the un-spun record and don’t be swayed by people who want to twist facts to gain a political advantage. Don’t let partisan politics pollute our election. We’re better than that.
Barney Leonard
Pocopson Township Board of Supervisors Chairman
(10 votes, average: 2.90 out of 5)
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In response to Mr. Leonard’s editorial, it’s necessary to address the issues that have been mentioned to empower the residents of Pocopson to separate the fiction from the facts. Mr. Leonard refers to Pocopson as a suburb, when in fact Pocopson is an exurb. A suburb is an outlying part of a city or a town, while an exurb is a region that lies outside of a city, generally beyond the suburbs and is usually inhabited by well to do families. Most of us who reside here do not want Pocopson to be turned into suburban America. It is the rural character of Pocopson that makes it such a great place to live and raise a family.
Mr. Leonard mentioned the “efficiency study” that had nothing to do with whether or not the township was run efficiently. What he doesn’t tell you is that the study was all about hiring a township manager. Also, Mr. Leonard spent almost $4,000 having the township attorney locate someone to perform this study, and then he paid them another $2,000 to have this man “study” the township. If we “need” a manager, then the same group receives another $6,000 to help recruit the new manager, which is an obvious conflict of interest in the minds of most people. I have a copy of the contract and will gladly share it with anyone who wants to review it. Nowhere in the study does it say anything about being an efficiency study. We have six employees, and some of them are part-timers. The results of the study are not known yet, but I find it doubtful that anyone in their right mind could recommend in good faith that Pocopson needs to a hire township manger. Sue Simone is our township secretary, and her performance in that position is second to none.
Mr. Leonard was interviewed by three members of the Republican Committee, and he was not endorsed. He had stated the he was a life long Republican, but a search of the records at Chester County Voter Services showed that was not the case. He actually switched parties within a month of being appointed to the Pocopson Board of Supervisors at the end of last May. We understand that folks change their opinions over time, and that is fine. It is just hard to support someone who says they are one thing, and then you find out that is not the case. He also pushed for a 150% hike in the EIT during his first few months in office, even though our residents overwhelmingly voted down the idea of an EIT during a vote in 2007.
The Barnard House is probably what concerns me the most here. Mr. Leonard publicly stated that it cannot fail. Well, we have spent over $611,000 of taxpayer’s money on a “free” building that is not even close to being inhabitable. What really upsets me is that he wants to spend a minimum of another $825,000, and we don’t even know if the building could even be a proper township building. Mr. Leonard only approved a space planner study a month or so ago to determine if it was suitable to be used as a township building. That is something that you do in the beginning of a project, not after you have spent well over half a million dollars. Of course he says we will not have to raise taxes either, even though he just raised them during his first six months in office. The Barnard House is a great building for the Underground Railroad. Why don’t we allow them to obtain funds through grants so they can use it as a place to educate our youth on the horrible history of slavery that existed in our country? Unfortunately, it’s just not a proper township building and the flow of money into it just never seems to stop. We need to end this mission of occupying that building at any cost. When I asked Mr. Leonard and Mrs. Brutscher to allow the Barnard House issue to be placed on the ballot for the taxpayers, neither one of them would allow it.
Mr. Leonard talks about experience, but in reality he has been on the board for less than a year. You’ve heard both sides, but do the research for yourself. Any documents that you want are available from the township with a simple right to know request. If you really want to know the truth like I did, it is only a right to know request away. Do not allow Mr. Leonard to bring his big spending ideas here from the Main Line. Those of us who have lived here for decades know what Pocopson really is, the best kept secret in Chester County. Please come out and vote on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Regards,
Sean C. Rafferty
In September of 2012, the best estimate to complete the renovations at the Barnard House were around $1.2 million dollars. I highly doubt that the the “proposed” $825,000 is going to complete the project. Maybe, the EIT will be increased again in order to gain more revenue for this project. It appears as though the “budgeted” amount is a down payment on an even larger project. Even if it the project cost $1.2 million, when you add in the $611,000 that has been spent thus far. The total amount spent on a “free” property comes pretty close to $2 million dollars. As I have said before, please do the research and find the truth for yourself.
Sean C. Rafferty
Pocopson Township
I am writing in response to Mr. Leonard’s untrue allegation that I couldn’t handle the pressure of being a Pocopson Supervisor. First of all, I never spoke to Mr. Leonard nor would I know him if he walked past me on the street. My resigning from office had nothing to do with my performance on the board. Ms. Stumpo and I were working on a number of initiates in the township to save the taxpayers money, when my wife was offered another job from a large corporation and myself finding opportunity down south, we had to make a quick decision on what to do. While we were very sad to leave Pocopson, it was in the best interest of our family. I was born and raised in the area and it will always have a special place in my heart; however my family always has and will always come first. Mr. Leonard can’t understand that because he knows nothing about me and instead welcoming the opportunity that I left for him, then I will not even begin to try to explain it him. Does a true honest man assume things and make false allegations against another with out knowing all the facts first, I think not! Mr . Leonard character is not one I would choose to have represent my friends and old neighbors in Pocopson!
Quit = resigned
Character, sir by your comments you’ve showed yours!
Twisting the facts, please look in the mirror before you point the finger at someone else and remember there are three pointing back at you!