Public Comment Dominates Supervisors Meeting

, Board of Supervisors Chairman Frank Rothermel held a long public comment session at the beginning of the meeting Wednesday evening.

Citizens spoke for almost two hours before the business portion of the meeting started. During its regular agenda, the board passed a motion that authorizes the sale of several pieces of township equipment that are either outdated or too costly to repair.

Residents took advantage of the open public comment to bring up longstanding and new issues. Many discussed the water issues in the west end. They also urged Rothermel to continue his docket of openness and transparency, some making comments on actions they felt were not in line with that platform.

In a back-and-forth dialogue format, Rothermel addressed each concern and answered questions or defended his or the board's previous decisions. He said he did not break the sunshine law because any private meetings of board members that he held did not have a majority.

Julie Muller, of Richboro, spoke specifically about some concerns she had regarding the chairman's truthfulness to the citizens. Muller was part of the video team that worked the equipment during meetings until the position was switched over earlier this month.

"You own an apology to the people who sat here and believed you," Muller said after discussing lies she believed Rothermel had told. "You have an opportunity to actually lead the township, not to divide it. That's responsible government. That's responsible citizenship."

Other residents talked about the way the township spends money – several referring to the  and their questions behind whether the pump that will be replaced in that arrangment is actually in need of repair.

Some spoke about the way that supervisors take in money. In an impassioned speech, Northampton resident Jerry Diviny explained his disgust at an election flier that spoke negatively about his workers union.

"We're good people. We're your neighbors," Diviny said.

Linda Dobbins asked the board to reconsider some of the fees such as the ones for replacing a toilet or windows in a home.

"Homeowners at this time, some of them are having problems paying their mortgages," she said. "It needs to stop."

Township Manager Bob Pellegrino said he believes the township will need to consider a tax increase for 2013 though unless they decide to lay more people off. Approximately three quarters of the budget goes to service personnel, he said.

The next meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 22 in the Adminstration Building.