The Mayor's Message

Mayor John Hagan's message is usually everyone's favorite portion of Borough Council meetings in Parkesburg.

With the press of the night's business mostly out of the way, council and audience members alike sit back and just listen to whatever words of wisdom and observations the Mayor wishes to share.

Last night's meeting was no different.  Even on a night jammed packed with new developments and announcements, Mayor Hagan's message delivered on expectations.

Thought provoking and timely, love or hate the message, Mayor Hagan can be counted on to ask the right questions and keep everyone focused on what's right for Parkesburg.

Here's the money quote from the Mayor's message followed by the entire text:

"Tax increases are inevitable.  To further underline this I believe we are morally compelled to make certain funding is available to support a vibrant library, a well equipped public safety team of firefighters and police officers, a road crew who are not stretched to the limit trying to pick up curbside refuse and recycles 4 out of 5 workdays limiting the other projects that need attention by expanding the staff. A parks and recreation fund that really promotes parks and recreation."

_____________________________

Office of the Mayor

Borough of Parkesburg

315 West First Avenue

Parkesburg, Pennsylvania

April 18, 2011

My oh my, what a winter. No reluctance to bid it adieu. 

Three snow emergencies declared, I believe.

At 7:21pm EDT Sunday 3-20-11 the Spring equinox arrived.

Now we start with the chores. At first, we welcome the greening. Then there is the lawn care. The enforcement of the weeds ordinance. The management of yard compostible waste.

See in the winter we want the snow plowed, the streets safe for motor transport, the sidewalks shoveled though few walk them in the cold. In the spring we want the weeds cut the clippings picked up, curbside thank you very much, the potholes fixed. All the while controlling overtime costs and fees paid. We want fines issued to everyone else who violates the ordinances and patient forgiveness if it is us.

From the public view, some at least the most audible- express an opinion-- the police do not do enough—However more often then not they are first on the scene of trouble –ranging from domestic disturbance or medical emergency-They make their presence known through aggressive visible patrol---They confront disrespect exhibited between parties in disagreement-They mind the rods for those whose alcohol or controlled substance abuse raise the specter of threat to everyone else—They provide and are trained at assist life saving measures with portable AED devices when the call is made--- but if you for instance tow a car during a snow emergency you must grant a waiver for the owner was out of town, on his way home, or called the police and was treated rudely. Truly in the words of Itzhak Perlman, you are only as good as your last performance—and that not for long.

On the other hand, in the Spring and Summer, an owner hasn’t cut the grass the weeds are 3 feet tall. The bank owns the property now and we all know banks don’t pay nearly as well as they expect to be paid. 

Or there was a short sale and the new owner has tenants who for one reason or another see no need to cut the grass.

Top all this with a no tax increases allowed philosophy. Taxes - the bane of governing - yet the foundation of civilization.

In all walks of life we expect consumables and services to cost a bit more this year than last. We understand what cost a dollar last year may cost a dollar and $20 now. We expect cable and internet service fees to rise. We know food is subject to the ebb and flow of natural and man-made occurrences. All this not to mention fossil fuels. We deny our selves not increases expected in compensation be it wages or our social security stipend.

So what do we do? 

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Taxes are the price we pay for civilization”. Though I certainly would not agree with every opinion Justice Holmes expressed, on this we all can acknowledge the basic truth of it. We may disagree as to what civilization may mean and to what level the government need be the tender, but at the end of the discourse our need to promote a quality of life inherently equal to all demands we “pay for it”.

Why am I whining? Because we here in the US have internationally among our industrialized peers, the lowest tax burden.  This is reflected in the services provided. Our education system is teetering on ruin, our healthcare system is broken to the point where the mantra is, more like you get what you pay for. In a country recognized as the leader in medical innovation, we bump along worrying about the solvency of for profit insurance companies-instead of answering a very basic moral question.  Are the sick entitled to equal access to medical care? For when we are  sick we truly are equal.

Tonight here at this level we would do well to remember that to promote the growth and health of our town if not its survival-we will need at some point to pony up more money. 

Tax increases are inevitable.

To further underline this I believe we are morally compelled to make certain funding is available to support a vibrant library, a well equipped public safety team of firefighters and police officers, a road crew who are not stretched to the limit trying to pick up curbside refuse and recycles 4 out of 5 workdays limiting the other projects that need attention by expanding the staff. A parks and recreation fund that really promotes parks and recreation.

These few things, along with many others, have suffered along with cuts and restrictions that have or will affect the quality of our shared living experience-.

We pass this way but once—we have an obligation to bequeath to those who follow quality services better than we found them.

I know its ugly-

Nevertheless, quality civilization truly is anchored  to that axiom, you get what pay for—everyone.