In this issue
Act 537 plan
Thoughts on a township “vision” statement
Act 537 Plan (State Mandate):
Many of you may remember the partially funded state mandate that on lot septic systems be pumped every three years. Previous boards (going back to Gloria, Bob and myself , & continuing to Claude Beaver, Bob Kopfer and myself) wanted to find out exactly what the state would do if we did not comply. Rather than pay the engineer or attorney to find out what hammer the state had to force compliance, we decided to amend our plan without the required 3 year pump out, and see what the sate would do. We felt compliance seemed silly because:
This plan was a one size fits all (3 year pump out schedule does not take into consideration the size of the system and the number of people using the system)
Our only experience with sewage leaks of on lot systems would not have been helped by a 3 year pump out schedule.
The mandate is partially funded, and in some cases places an unnecessary burden on some Maidencreek residents.
Maidencreek has no known failed systems, and will vigorously punish owners who fail to maintain their systems and allow them to leak (including fines, pumping their system for them and billing them, and placing a lien on their property)
At both the March and April Meeting Joe Rudderow expressed a desire to bring the township into compliance with this mandate. I seconded his motion (at the April meeting) and asked that three things be added:
We implement the details of enforcement of the ordinance by resolution. This allows us to rapidly respond to unintended consequences (Like requiring someone with a brand new system to immediately pump and provide us with a receipt)
We see if DEP will allow a 4 year schedule rather than their model 3 year schedule.
Ask the engineer to get a letter from DEP explaining what the consequences would be if Maidencreek did not comply. (This would be the information we hoped to get by our delay.)
Joe Rudderow agreed to 1, and reluctantly agreed to item 2.
Item 3 passed in a separate motion (2 to 1 vote ) with Joe Rudderow voting against it, chairman Claude Beaver & I voting for it.
Township Vision Statement:
My Introduction to Vision Statements:
My first exposure to vision statements was in the 1980s. AT&T upper management went on some New Age retreat in the woods, and emerged with a vision for the company. This was not only a statement, but an actual vision (they had an artist render it as a picture and gave a copy to all employees) Their vision had nothing to do with producing value for the shareholder or anything so mundane as that. The vision was some messianic image of people joining hands around the earth in unity and brotherhood fostered by AT&T. This vision (produced on a glossy card stock the size of a place mat for every employee) was done shortly after the divestiture. Then AT&T was a formidable supplier of telecommunication equipment and services. Now the plants are closed, the manufacturing equipment has been auctioned and moved to China, and the name and logo are bought and sold for their brand value.
Vision Statements:
Some months ago Joe Rudderow wanted a vision statement for the township government. I must confess at first I was skeptical, however, upon more reflection here are my thoughts.
Vision Statements with respect to Families:
A vision statement could be interpreted as an articulation of goals for an association or group. With this in mind, we could consider the most basic group in our society: the family. Families are organized around the couple's marriage vows. These vows state goals (like the exclusivity of the relationship, richer & poorer, and the relationships lasts until death etc.) These vows express a vision for the relationship, but do not specify how to achieve the goals. Practical matters like who does the dishes, who balances the check book are not in the vows. Perhaps marriage vows could be considered a vision statement for the family.
Vision Statement for the Federal Government:
If the marriage vows are like a vision statement for the family, the rights theory portion of the Declaration of Independence is the vision statement for the federal government. It states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” Notice, it talks about the over arching goal of a government that secures individual rights, but it does not say anything about three branches of government, who does the dishes or balances the check book or any other details about how the goal will be accomplished. Details like that are left to the U.S. Constitution. I know the President and Congress seem to be ignoring the constitution right now, and nobody is balancing the check book, but never the less that portion of the Declaration is the vision statement for our federal government.
Vision Statement for the State Government:
Likewise the Pennsylvania Constitution provides a goal or vision for the State government in its preamble. The Preamble of the 1776 version of the Pennsylvania Constitution echoes the rights theory of the declaration and states:
WHEREAS all government ought to be instituted and supported for the security and protection of the community as such, and to enable the individuals who compose it to enjoy their natural rights and the other blessings which the Author of existence has bestowed upon man; and whenever these great ends of government are not obtained, the people have a right, by common consent to change it and take such measures as to them may appear necessary to promote their safety and happiness. And whereas the inhabitants of this commonwealth have, in consideration of protection only, heretofore acknowledged allegiance to the king of Great Britain; and the said king has not only withdrawn that protection, but commenced, and still continues to carry on, with unabated vengeance, a most cruel and unjust war against them employing therein, not only the troops of Great Britain, but foreign mercenaries, savages and slaves, for the avowed purpose of reducing them to a total and abject submission to the despotic domination of the British parliament, with many other acts of tyranny, (more fully set forth in the declaration of Congress) whereby all allegiance and fealty to the said king and his successors, are dissolved and at an end, and all power and authority derived from him ceased in these colonies. And whereas it is absolutely necessary for the welfare and safety of the inhabitants of said colonies, that they be henceforth free and independent States, and that just, permanent, and proper forms of government exist in every part of them derived from and founded on the authority of the people only, agreeable to the direction of the honourable American congress. We, the representatives of the freemen of Pennsylvania, in general convention met, for the express purpose of framing such a government, confessing the goodness of the great Governor of the universe (who alone knows to what degree of earthly happiness mankind may attain, by perfecting the arts of government) in permitting the people of this state, by common consent, and without violence, deliberately to form for themselves such just rules as they shall think best, for governing their future society; and being fully convinced, that it is our indispensable duty to establish such original principles of government, as will best promote the general happiness of the people of this state, and their posterity, and provide for future improvements, without partiality, for, or prejudice against any particular class, sect, or denomination of men whatever, do, by virtue of the authority vested in us by our constituents, ordain, declare, and establish, the following Declaration of Rights and Frame of Government, to be the Constitution of this commonwealth, and to remain in force therein for ever, unaltered, except in such articles as shall hereafter on experience be found to require improvement and which shall be the same authority of the people, fairly delegated as this frame of government directs, be amended or improved for the more effectual obtaining and securing the great end and design of all government, herein before mentioned.
Notice that the 1776 version references current events such that it has been rewritten in the intervening years. The current preamble merely states:
WE, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grateful to Almighty God for the blessings of civil and religious liberty, and humbly invoking His guidance, do ordain and establish this Constitution.
The declaration of rights contains many sections identical to the 1776 version. For example:
All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.
and
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
These preambles and declaration of rights form the overarching goals for our state government.
Vision Statement for the Local Government:
Our township is a creation of the state government. We are governed by the second class township code. The code is adopted and maintained by the state legislature. In theory, they maintain the code with an eye toward achieving the goals set forth in the preamble and declaration of rights section of the Pennsylvania Constitution.
When the draft of the vision statement was circulated among the supervisors, I modified it by cutting and pasting from the Pennsylvania Constitution. Joe said he liked the changes. The more I think about it, we supervisors have already taken an oath to the Constitution. Our local government is completely a creature of the state legislature. If we did adopt an explicit vision statement, it should just reference the applicable sections in the state and federal documents.
In reality we have a vision statement. It the same our leaders in higher government have. It's just that we actually balance the check book at the local level.
Free Book Offer:
Demand has caused me to order another case of books. I have copies of the Fredrick Bastiat book “The Law” available to Maidencreek residents. Email me if you want one.
Paid for by Roy Timpe