As this Newsletter is being prepared, another snow storm has arrived, hopefully much more tame than previous ones. Public Works crews are presently applying salt (brine was previously applied), and will begin plowing as the accumulation increases. As of now (Sunday at 6 p.m.), Monday trash collection remains on as scheduled.

 

Peco Status:  As of 4:30 p.m., there are 109 homes in Haverford Township (out of 19,600 served by Peco) without power. Peco estimates that 50,000 homes in the region still do not have electricity.

 

As I have noted before, Peco does not provide specific information to the Township about where its crews are working. Thus, neither the Township nor I can provide block- or house-specific information.

 

Click here for Peco's latest storm information, including links to information about the number of outages, etc. 

 

Township Status:  The Township continues to remove debris from the storm, and expects that our crews will be working into the spring before all storm-related debris is removed. If you have debris, it should be placed outside on Wednesday with your yard waste. Branches must be cut in bundles no longer than 3 feet long, and no thicker than 3 inches in diameter.

 

I would like to thank the Township staff, the Public Works Department, the Police, our EMS staff and volunteers, all of our volunteer firemen, the YMCA, and everyone else (I apologize if I omitted anyone) who has helped the Township and the residents restore power and return to normal operations.

 

A Personal Note: I have returned to the area, and am still in the process of returning calls and responding to email. In addition, we have meetings Monday and Tuesday evenings. Thank you for your patience.  

 

The Board of Commissioners has rescheduled the second additional Special Meeting of the Board to discuss and receive public input about the future location of the Township Library for Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in Commissioners Meeting Room. behind the Township Building at 2325 Darby Road in Havertown.

 

Members of the public are encouraged to speak at the meeting; the Board will not be voting on any proposals at the meeting.  I anticipate that the Board of Commissioners will vote on the future of the Library, as well as the other planned projects, at our March 10, 2014 meeting. My prior email newsletters have outlined the issues involved. You do not need to register before the meeting in order to speak at the session.

 

Public input is important for many reasons. First, every resident has the right to give his or her opinion - whether positive or negative or neutral. Second, this is a major decision for the Board, and it will impact residents in many ways. For example, the decision could impact their ability to use the current or a new facility. That is why I want to hear as many views as possible, and urge everyone who wants to express an opinion to do so. Click here to view additional information about the proposal, including the Property Committee's previous presentations about the proposed Municipal Services Building. 

 

My View on the  Possible Relocation of the Library 

 

I have not publicly stated my view on the proposal. As Chairman of the Property Committee, I have presented the opinions of the Committee members (both pro and con as to the proposal) and while some have ascribed various opinions to me, none is accurate. Once I hear from residents, I intend to make a public statement outlining how I will vote and why. I will of course explain my vote in a future newsletter.

 

The current officers of the Paddock Farms Civic Association ("PFCA") are stepping down, after having served the neighborhood for years. The Civic Association is seeking other members of the Paddock Farms community to volunteer to keep the Association running. Unless volunteers come forward, the Association will become dormant.

 

The group has been a major advocate for the community, and is one of the reasons that many renovations have been made in Paddock Park, including the new bathroom. PFCA sponsors many events, including the July 4th Parade & Celebration, Oktoberfest, Family Movie Night, the Community Yard Sale, among others.

 

Community groups such as the PFCA are among the reasons that Havertown is such a wonderful, family-friendly place to live. While the Township and its staff does a tremendous amount, civic associations make an enormous difference. I therefore encourage everyone to get involved, even if it's only to help with a small part of all that PFCA does.

 

If you are interested in volunteering to help your neighbors in Paddock Farms, please send an email to paddockfarms@gmail.com.