Phoenixville Council re-organization as expected

Voting 5 to 2, Phoenixville Borough Council's Democratic majority took the party line and returned Henry Wagner to the president's seat. Councilman Jeff Senley was absent.

I sincerely hope Wagner, who nearly lost his Council seat to Marc Reber in November's election, understands there would never have been, nor would there still be, a Phoenixville on the maps if it weren't for the people who live and pay taxes in our community.

Now that Wagner will be on Council for the next four years, perhaps his attention can be re-directed. To us and our needs.

It may have happened in the past few years, but I have not personally learned of one single attempt under Wagner's chair to charge Council or the borough administration to work proactively and effectively on examining energy and cost saving measures which would benefit all of us.

I challenge Henry to look into municipal supplied electricity to learn if such a program is feasible in Phoenixville.

Examine all borough contracts. The municipal cable television stations which are OWNED by Phoenixville Borough residents should not be the source of a $60,000 bill because we already own them, and adding insult to injury, we pay again by our school district taxes.

Cell phone towers and any other radio contract items should be reexamined with an intent of increasing our fees.

All borough owned buildings should placed on a eco-friendly program of rehab.

Paint all the roofs white.

Change all the street lights and light bulbs in every municipal building to energy efficient bulbs.

If the piggy-backs with the state aren't bringing in enough savings, examine the possiblity of piggy-backing with other municipalities.

Look into the possibility of regional police departments.

Take the police off the downtown beat and require the downtown district to hire their own security.

Are police cars still left to idle for long periods of time? If so, can they be turned off to conserve fuel?

Are we paying the least amount possible for fuel?

Gradually replace vehicles with energy efficient cars and trucks.

Examine, closely, all the borough's insurance policies and shop them.

Examine the possiblity of purchasing a dryer for the sludge from the sewer department, comply with governing directives, and sell the refuse for land application or at least reduce the amount of refuse.

Work with work release programs for seasonal help.

Stop the addition of the chemical fluoride in our water. It isn't needed anymore.

Personally take a look at the books. Where is the greatest expense? Where might there be waste?

Use incentives or a bonus for those employees who can either identify waste or suggest cost-saving measurements which are implemented.

Consult with other municipalities on shared heavy equipment.

Come up with your own ideas or search online on the success of other municipalities for ways to reduce the tax burden on the residents of Phoenixville.

To the new Council members.

Poke around.

Ask questions.

Know that you are all equal on Council, you should all receive the same information, do your own homework, come to your own decisions, and please remember, maintain your individuality as a public servant. You ran for the seat, you won it, and now do the very best of your ability for the people who elected you!

Good luck everyone! You, too, Henry.