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NEWS AND COMMENTARY ON LANCASTER ISSUES THAT MATTER


LGH and the Vagaries of Our Health Care System

Lancaster General Hospital is a non-profit organization chartered to serve the community.

As previously mentioned in these columns, LGH earned a whopping $106 million in 2006!

Since its purpose is to serve the public, it might choose to lower its fee structure in the interest of bringing relief to the general public.

But there is nothing "normal" about the health care system in the USA. Since most payments for hospital services are by third parties - insurance companies, Medicare, HMOs - the insured individual, welfare patient, or person unable to pay has little knowledge of what he or she is being charged and doesn't particularly care. And lowering fees wouldn't likely benefit them either.

So LGH finds itself with an over flowing pot full of money and is mandated as a non-profit organization to spend it. Nice predicament!

By building more and better facilities, LGH does provide a return to the community, even though it might not optimally meet the community's greater needs.

By paying the equivalent of what would be their county, city and school taxes were it not a non-profit, LGH at least in part discharges its social responsibility by putting 5% of its earnings to important public purposes as determined through a democratic process.

The question is larger than whether LGH should pay its fair share of real estate taxes. That seems fairly obvious. The issue is at what point should LGH stop plowing most of its earnings into hospital upgrades and provide funding for other worthy public health endeavors.

1/5/08
Editorial: Both Hawkes and Stedman Sound Good but...

The Intelligencer Journal's Jeff Hawkes has written a couple of encouraging columns about Lancaster County's new district attorney, Craig Stedman.

By and large, Stedman sets forth enlightened values and considerable wisdom. If he follows through, he will be a welcome relief from his predecessor. For example, Stedman says: "Keeping score's not what our job is about."

Furthermore, NewsLanc endorses much of what Stedman said concerning the War on Drugs: "We need to take hard looks at what's working and what's not working in the prosecution of drugs...locking people up no matter what isn't going to work...We lock up one drug dealer; two more pop up." According to the article, Stedman is "encouraged by the drug-court philosophy of getting users off drugs and into a new life."

However, earlier in the column Stedman touches upon a practice that often ends up in the imprisonment of innocent people: "I'm going to look at each case on an individual basis....Did they cooperate with us? Did they give us the guy that's higher up on the drug chain?"

When faced with the likelihood of spending years in prison, drug suspects often point their finger at innocent people in order to obtain leniency from prosecutors.

As Hawkes touches upon, due to Sentencing Guidelines and Mandatory Minimums, the judge has little sentencing discretion. Getting the D. A. to reduce the charges is the only chance other than pleading innocent and risking many more years in prison. Small time dealers are often users and many have few scruples when their freedom is at stake.

It must have been a labor of joy for Hawkes to quote the enlightened Stedman. The column resonates with Hawkes' true voice, a voice much muted over the past couple of years lest he incur his publisher's wrath. Hopefully this is a harbinger of better columns to come.

1/4/08
Amtrak Station Parking Plan Posted

The proposed plan for the parking expansion at the Amtrak Station is now available at http://www.newslanc.com/Amtrak-color.pdf.

According to a spokesperson from Rettew Associates, Engineers, the planning was performed by the New York firm of Cooper Carry, Architects.

1/2/08
County Hires New Director of LETA

By unanimous vote at their final meeting, Wednesday morning, County Commissioners Shellenberger, Henderson, and Nelson voted to approve the hiring of Mark Sprunger as Director of the Lancaster Employment and Training Agency (LETA) effective January 21, 2008.

Mr. Sprunger has a Master's Degree in Economics from Eastern University, has been working with LETA since August of 2001 and has resided in Lancaster city since 1986. In fact, Sprunger utilized the services of LETA himself as a job seeker in the late 80s. Commissioner Nelson highlighted this point, stressing that his story serves to dispel some of the myths about the "type of people" who turn to LETA for help.

Toward the end of the meeting, the mood turned emotive as each of the outgoing Commissioners listed the persons they would like to thank and expressed honor and gratitude for having had the chance to serve.

1/2/08
CONTRIBUTOR: An Assessment of the Public

Activists who have been fighting the hotel and convention center project, among other issues, have seen firsthand how impossible it is to get Lancaster City and County residents to attend meetings and speak out on important issues that will affect them personally.

The people of Lancaster County are in an impossible situation. We have what is basically a monopoly as a news source, which is privately owned. This means that the newspapers answer to their owners, not the public. And their owners are a part of the Lancaster "establishment" which places its own interests above all other considerations.

These newspapers have become experts at writing "doublespeak," where what is bad for the people is sold as being good for all. Many of us who have dared to publicly express our genuine concerns have been slandered by these newspapers at one time or another. Elected officials who dedicated their careers to looking out for the best interests of their constituents are still being portrayed as literal criminals in the local press.

Business "leaders," "civic leaders," and politicians who are centered on their own interests are portrayed as heroes, as long as their agenda fits in with that of the newspaper itself and its partner. And the vast majority of people in Lancaster County buy it hook, line, and sinker, to the extent that they will repeat word-for-word the drivel that is published.

We've also seen this same kind of thing happen with much of the national media.

Most people are primarily interested in their own little worlds. It appears to be far too much effort to think for themselves. And this is the way the "leaders" of Lancaster County want it. In fact, they encourage it.

I can partially understand why, when push comes to shove, so many people fold, perhaps after murmuring objections. That does not make it right. But it does mean that the vast majority of people in Lancaster City and County will get exactly what they deserve. And future generations will still be paying for the consequences.

1/1/08
The Other Side of Lancaster

According to a recent fundraising letter from The Salvation Army:

"In Lancaster County, the number of people coming to us for assistance is increasing - it's heartbreaking, like those Great Depression soup lines. In fact, we continue to see a rise in area unemployment as well as increases in homelessness and requests for aid."

Their mailing address is P. O. Box 868, Lancaster, PA 17608.

1/1/08
EDITORIAL: Modify or Replace Electronic Voting Machines

One of the early tasks of the new Commissioners should be to redress the folly of the purchase by their predecessors (Molly Henderson in opposition) of used electronic voting machines WITHOUT a paper trail. A paper trail is essential for verification and re-count purposes.

The below is from an Associated Press release of Dec. 31:

"With the presidential race in full swing, Colorado and other states have found critical flaws in the accuracy and security of their electronic voting machines, forcing officials to scramble to return to the paper ballots they abandoned after the Florida debacle of 2000.

"In December alone, top election officials in Ohio and Colorado declared that widely used voting equipment is unfit for elections."

NewsLanc will continue to press this cause until the Commissioners act to assure that votes are properly recorded and counted.

1/1/08
10 REASONS WHY THE HARRISBURG PIKE MEDIAN STRIP PLAN NEEDS TO RE-CONSIDERED
by the Race Avenue Neighborhood Group

(The Race Avenue Neighborhood Group is an informal group of city taxpaying property owners who reside in the 500-800 blocks of Race Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The representatives for each block are: Kathy Kunkel, 500 block; Jerry Greiner, 600 block; Gail Patterson, 700 block; Kharran Cattell, 800 block.)

"Construction of the median between College Avenue and the entrance to Franklin & Marshall College's Williamson Athletic Field is expected to begin soon after the new year." -- Lancaster New Era, Dec. 19, 2007, Bernard Harris, "City OKs $44M budget; property taxes rise 4%"

There are many problems associated with the median strip plan, including:
  1. Most motorists who travel on Harrisburg Pike know nothing about the F&M's median strip plan, and the majority of those who do have said they disapprove of any obstruction placed in that part of in the middle lane of Harrisburg Pike.
  2. The drawings were changed, in order to meet PennDot requirements, since the plan was approved by the City Traffic Commission. The Traffic Commission has not been presented with these final plans or approved them at a public meeting since there has been no Traffic Commission meeting since PennDot gave the permit.
  3. This plan, with or without drawings, was never on the City Council agenda for discussion, consequently the public has not had an opportunity to comment.
  4. City Council has never been asked to approve or disapprove of the project – i.e., Council has been completely by-passed. Since Council represents the citizens of Lancaster, these tax-paying citizens have also been by-passed.
  5. A petition with 80 names from motorists who regularly travel on this stretch of highway went to PennDot on Nov. 16, 2007 and also to the Mayor, but PennDot approved the project anyway (even though a petition with the same number of names was instrumental in defeating a similar project proposed by Dickinson College for R. 11 in Carlisle – New Era story, Jack Brubaker "Scribbler" column, Sept. 28.)
  6. An obstruction in the middle lane of two-way, shoulder-less Harrisburg Pike will increase congestion by eliminating part of the stacking turning lane, slow down emergency vehicles, could cause damage to emergency vehicles (which will have to ride over "pavers" to pass a lane of cars), could cause accidents where three lanes converge into two, and could encourage students to jaywalk by providing a "safe haven" in the middle lane.
  7. Does not address the real pedestrian safety problem which is the absence of crosswalk markings and the obsolete and slow button-operated cross-walk signal at College Square.
  8. Because there has been no public hearing on the project, city residents have had no opportunity to present alternative solutions (such as the fence proposed in a letter-to-the-editor, Sunday News, Dec. 30).
  9. The project, being paid for out of state funds (according to Sen. Armstrong), was never put up for bids as F&M hand-picked Derck & Edson Inc., who also did the engineering part of the College Ave. project that motorists have said they don't like. (The traffic table on College Ave. has caused swerving and bottoming out of cars and some cars have even gone air-borne.)
  10. PennDot bypassed its own Study and Approval Process for projects of this kind by granting the permit even though their own preliminary study requirements had not been observed.

1/1/08
REAL ESTATE / PLANNING COLUMN: College Row and 'The Crossings' Harm Downtown

RETAIL is sucking wind!! Just locally a manager of an upscale outlet store said they finished the year 30% off of last. Rockvale is tearing down retail stores and putting up an Olive Garden and a bank. The manager of a department store at the Mall is wondering how many of the new stores put in before the holidays will last.

Target is revisiting their projected store opening for the next 5 years. Harry and David's are doing the same.

Lancaster County may have been recession proof in the past BUT now is overloaded with seniors who do not spend.

Lastly, take a look at the new College Row at F & M College. It is sucking the life out of the city day by day for spendable dollars for retail. Why would any student or their family want to travel into the city for shopping or to eat when time is short and they have College Row close at hand?

Mayor Rick Gray and F & M president John Frey are secluding F & M, not including F & M as part of the city.

12/31/07
Neighbors Oppose Harrisburg Pike Modification

Race Avenue residents are organizing to block the median strip planned for Harrisburg Pike by Franklin & Marshall College and the narrowing of Race Ave. They are right now pushing even harder to block the plan to narrow Harrisburg Pike, even though construction is supposed to begin in a week or so.

This is an issue because both the City of Lancaster and PennDOT have admitted in the Lancaster Newspapers that the normal procedures for approval have been bypassed. It looks like F&M is insisting on getting its own way, and Rick Gray and other government officials are bending over backwards to give them what they want.

Citizens will have an opportunity to speak out at the Jan. 8, 2008 City Council meeting. This may be their last chance to be heard on the subject.

12/31/07
Commentary: A Health Care Proposal

The Intelligencer Journal's editorial of Dec. 31 chides General Motors Corp. for falling behind Toyota Motor Corporation in worldwide sales. Far be it for this column to defend GM which has been consistent only in its foolishness over the past decades. Yet, in its defense, GM is burdened with over $2,000 per car in employee benefits in contrast to its international competition, much of which is attributable to GM employees' and retirees' health care.

In response and in the spirit of the New Year (but before indulging in the bubbly), NewsLanc proposes that all businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and labor unions agree to discontinue health care for employees as of January 1, 2010!

This would set a time limit for government to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Other nations fund Single Payer health care out of taxes. They do not expect employers and / or individuals to pay the high cost, any more than they expect businesses to supply insurance against war or fire.

Health insurance cost amounts to about $3 per hour for full time employees, and it is at least twice as much to cover a family. This may not be that consequential for those making $75,000 on up per year, but it is an incredible burden on the average worker. Given a choice of $13 without health insurance and $10 with health insurance, how many young or even middle aged workers would choose the latter? Put another way, should parents place a higher priority on being insured than putting good food into the mouths of their children?

It used to be that big business opposed a revamping of health care. But now even GM has come to understand that the uniquely American approach that grew out of an attempt to compensate workers to get around wage caps during the Second World War is an obstruction to the ability of American business to compete abroad. Furthermore it has ballooned the cost of American health care as compared to comparable (and often better) health care in Canada and European nations, largely due to the unnecessary cost of insurance companies, HMO's and physician's paper work.

NewsLanc will be researching and writing more on health care in 2008. We invite our readers to also share their views.

12/31/07
Remembering Dick and Molly

By Robert Edwin Field, as published in the Lancaster Sunday News December 30, 2007, page P-1

It is probably inevitable that outgoing Lancaster County Commissioners Dick Shellenberger and Molly Henderson will forever be remembered for their opposing county guaranties of the convention center debt and for selling the county nursing home.

But a look back at the two commissioners tells a fuller picture and reveals a clearer image of the two embattled public servants and the legacies they leave behind.

Dick and Molly formed an unusual alliance, not only because they crossed the traditional party lines, but because of their differences in background and style.

Dick, a self-described "economic conservative," grew up milking cows before breakfast, has a high school degree, became an executive at Kreider Farms, an active Republican party worker, and a church leader.

Molly had been an elected local Democratic committeewoman for more than 25 years and was elected to the Democratic State Committee. She served on the Lancaster Township Zoning Hearing Board. She earned a doctorate in education from Temple University, instructed at Millersville University, headed the city's Environmental Health & Protection Unit, and co-founded the Lancaster Women's Alliance.

In office, however, they found much common ground.

Both supported farmland preservation, and Lancaster County is now ranked number one in the nation in preserving farms and farmland.

The commissioners created the Blue Ribbon Commission for Agriculture to keep farming viable, and preserved 3,500 acres of the Conestoga River gorge by helping PPL's conveyance to the Lancaster County Conservancy.

They found a way to fund the operations of the Lancaster County Public Safety Training Center, and to make the Sunnyside property an opportunity available to the city. The board moved to acquire and renovate the aging 150 N. Queen St. building to keep county employees downtown. The commissioners also located a site for the antiquated forensic center.

In urban areas, they supported the redevelopment of the Armstrong "brownfield" redevelopment, Clipper Magazine Stadium, the Northwest Corridor, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Music.

Furthermore, county government was downsized.

On the most expensive publicly financed project in the county's history, the $180 million-plus convention center project, they sought to protect county taxpayers by going toe-to-toe with powerful supporters of the convention center and hotel project. After years of struggle, the county commissioners succeeded in obtaining an agreement from the convention center authority that county hotel tax revenues would go first to county-guaranteed obligations.

By raising questions about the taxpayer risk of the convention center project, the commissioners found themselves targets of relentless, often unfair criticism.

After the commissioners began questioning the convention center project, a grand jury investigation was convened to look into the hiring of a county official and then expanded to explore the sale of the Conestoga View nursing home. Some believed it was a political witch hunt to discredit Dick and Molly.

In order to remove the year-long grand jury cloud from the forthcoming campaigns, Dick and Molly reluctantly agreed to minor technical violations of the Sunshine Act that they assured friends they had not committed. The subsequent grand jury report found no laws had been broken, but this was unknown to the commissioners at the time of their pleas. Unfortunately, few read the report.

The public will recall how these minor nonviolations were treated for days by the local press as though they were the crimes of the century. In the aftermath, Dick decided not to run again. Molly gave it her best, but the well had been poisoned.

Conestoga View is now on the tax rolls. No staff has been cut and services have improved. No needy person is turned away.

Dick and Molly paid a price for unflinching integrity, and so have we.

Remember that.

Robert Edwin Field of Lancaster Township is founder of The Manor Group, owners, managers and developers of real estate in the United States and Europe. He is a longtime political activist and president of NewsLanc.com.

12/30/07
Editorial Applies Equally To Lancaster

Below are excerpts from a New York Times editorial of Dec. 28:

"Congress and President Bush have done the right thing, lifting a disastrous nine-year ban that prevented Washington from using locally raised tax dollars on needle-exchange programs that help fight the spread of AIDS."

"The country’s most important medical and public health organizations endorsed needle-exchange programs more than a decade ago, and such programs have proved highly successful all over the world. Opponents' charges that needle exchanges would encourage addiction have turned out to be nonsense."

"Meanwhile, the AIDS epidemic continues to spread, driven in part by intravenous drug addicts who become infected when they share dirty needles. They then pass H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, on to wives and lovers and unborn children."

"Eliminating the federal ban would save many thousands of lives every year."

12/28/07
Single Site vs. James Street Development

In a recent NewsLanc interview of representatives of the Lancaster County Planning Commission, veteran county planner Danny Whittle opined: "[Lancaster is probably the most amazing adaptation and re-use city I've been in."

Whittle said that the City is distinctive and commendable for preserving heritage by reutilizing buildings that have outlived their usefulness. "We tried demolishing and rebuilding in the 60s and 70s [and it didn't work]."

County representatives pointed out that developers seek out industrial buildings for conversion at scattered locations.

However, the planners knew of no contemporary plan for the future of downtown and its environs that would provide guidance concerning future neighborhood improvements to those interested in building or acquiring a home.

In contrast, the closest thing to good planning is the James Street Development Project sponsored by Lancaster General Hospital and Franklin & Marshall College. Persons desiring to invest in a home can do so with reasonable assurance that over the next decade the mile long stretch will be upgraded and buildings will increase in value.

A NewsLanc representative who also is a veteran real estate developer commented on the historic high quality of County Planning Board reviews of proposed projects but noted that county comments were not binding on municipalities and therefore were often ignored.

12/27/07
Proposed Parking Plans for Amtrak Station a Fiasco

NewsLanc has obtained a copy of the "Final Land Development Plan Layout Plan for Amtrak Station" which suggests that once again powerful narrow interests and ignorance are prevailing over sensible approaches.

The good news, as would be expected, is that total car parking will be increased by a third to 185 spaces. However, most of the added spaces will be to serve a hundred railroad employees and are located to the west of the Amtrak Britcher Communication and Signal Training Building.

Worse yet, the short term parking spaces have been removed from the front of the station and the convenient daily parking immediately to the east of the station is designated for . . . employees!

New parking lots will be to the west of the station. Commuters and those meeting passengers will have to walk almost a city block through heat, cold, rain, ice and snow, often carrying or dragging behind them heavy luggage.

Trailway Bus Lines, which serves the station perhaps a dozen times a day, gets very special treatment with bus lanes leading to a canopy on the east side of the station. If you are taking a bus from York, this is great news!

The reason behind this convoluted layout is probably the lame brain proposal for trolley car service from downtown. If the current faux bus trolleys were maintained, at least forty short term parking spaces could be retained conveniently across from the station entryway.

This is but another example of Lancaster provincialism. A few leaders elected or part of the power elite get a bad idea and they muscle it through, with the monopoly three Lancaster Newspapers "hearing, seeing and speaking no evil."

NewsLanc urges City officials and engineers Rettew Associates, Inc. to conduct public meetings to obtain comments and seek advice from specialists. And it would also be helpful if the monopoly Lancaster Newspapers fulfilled their obligation to bring the public's attention to what is being proposed and to point out the plan's gross shortcomings.

12/26/07
Letter: Concerning Flawed Voting Machines

[The susceptibility of electronic voting machines without a paper trail to rigging] has been a fact known to all who care for at least several years. It. appears that it is belatedly being discovered by those who have the responsibility to care.

In Maryland they are still fighting over whether to fund new accountable voting machines that have been approved by the Legislature and the Governor after years of interminable battles.

A court in Pennsylvania has held the unaccountable digital machines illegal in one of the upstate counties.

And Ohio, which is now thoroughly controlled by the Democrats thanks to the 2006 elections, is trying to get accountable machines installed at least in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) before the presidential election in November.

I fear that if the Democrats win the 2008 election with those accountable Ohio voting machines only in Cleveland the election may be reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court on the authority of Bush vs. Gore that the situation violates the "equal protection of the laws" provision of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, notwithstanding that counties throughout the United States use different voting machines within various states.

But that was true in 2000 as well as now and it didn't bother the Supreme Court as long as it resulted in the election of a Republican. If it were to result in the election of a Democrat the Supreme Court might decide that it was a significant distinction meriting a contrary result.

Stay tuned.

12/25/07
NewsLanc Sparks City Planning Commission Debate

At the end of the Lancaster City Planning Board December meeting, after the developers and their retinues had left, a reporter from NewsLanc presented to the Board the article from NewsLanc's Newsletter 52 contrasting planning in Budapest, Hungary, with lack of planning in Lancaster City.

Most of the Board members were very forthcoming with their thoughts on the matter.

Members acknowledged that there does not exist a plan of similar specificity for the City. (In fact, no plan for downtown exists as far as NewsLanc has been able to determine.)

"I think there's a real basic question between a free market system, where development is private, versus a public, Soviet-Era system," said Planning Commission member Bruce Evans.

Perhaps Evans was unaware that Hungary has had a vibrant capitalist economy since the early 1990s. And while the planning in Budapest was done by government just as it is done in many cities in the USA, all the renovations and new construction was performed by private, for profit, companies.

Evans went on to say "I think the United States has experimented with this type of planning and you get things like South Duke Street." Board members agreed that was the approach in the '60s on South Duke Street and "look where it got us."

They also expressed concerns about preserving historic infrastructure in the city.

But at least one member acknowledged that the planning commission could probably do more.

"The Planning Commission could go further than it does," agreed John Lyons. "We'll take this opportunity of the maybe ad hoc decision to make a Convention Center out of Watt & Shand as an opportunity to do that by having the developer come before us to show what the Watt & Shand Convention Center will look like and to launch, among ourselves, the Planning Commission, and maybe the City administration, a discussion about what the implications of that Convention Center are for the city and how we, as the Planning Commission, can have in mind objectives and criteria to support and make that Convention Center work and to make economic vitality in the city work on a micro scale as well as a macro scale. I think that those are things the Planning Commission can do in a prospective way, as opposed to simply reacting to plans that are brought before it."

"But don't we have to be a power to do some of those things?" asked Fred Ward, Chair of City Planning Commission.

Lyons replied: "We might, but I think the Commission has a role to play in exactly what [the reporter] is talking about. You can't have a planning ordinance in such detail that it becomes constrictive, but there needs to be a vision going forward, like a five-year idea and a ten-year idea, or something, and someone's got to construct that, and, it seems to me, that this Planning Commission, could do that – that we could be an impetus to see that that starts to happen.

"We tend to have these things happen in spasms. You know, we get a consultant to come in and do a study. The last one was like in '91 or '92 - the LDR plan."

Lyons concluded: "It never bothered me so much that you don't have statutory authority to do something. You know, Lincoln didn't have statutory authority, in a sense, to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Jean and I think that abandoned housing is a big problem in the city. We're not satisfied just to go along with what the ordinance says, but to take action on it. Just in taking the parking garage example from last meeting, we don't have authority to say to somebody, you have to put commercial space in there, but we do have moral authority to say, you know, we deal with this stuff all the time and we'd like to see you, the next time you come up with a parking garage, put in some commercial space. So I think we have a role to play."

Evans responded: "One of the distinguishing aspects of Budapest vs. Lancaster – Budapest is apparently going through its own urban renewal struggles. Lancaster has been there, done that. As a community, we have decided that what we value is our heritage.... Mostly 3-story buildings and not colonial, they are mostly Victorian and later. And we want new development to complement that type of infrastructure. And for someone to come in and say, I have an idea to put a 20-story condo up is out-of-context and sometimes the community will react to that kind of proposal.... In the many years that were spent developing the Growing Together Comprehensive Plan, there was a consensus, through that process, to build higher density and one of the places that's going to happen is in the city. And a lot of that is not new construction in the city but it will be redevelopment of existing infrastructure."

City Planner Paula Jackson added: "Lancaster has a cultural and ethnic ethic of preserving its past and most places are on the National Register of Historic Places. We made the mistake of bulldozing wonderful buildings in our downtown, and on South Duke Street that today would be tourist attractions, gems.... If you would look at old photographs, you would say, what are they thinking in the '60s?"

At least one board member, Lyons, appreciated the importance of setting forth a vision of how downtown should develop and expand. Planning isn't deciding what to build site by site as was done in the case with Watt & Shand. Rather it developing a consensus and setting forth a meaningful vision to guide development.

12/25/07
EDITORIAL: Sunday News "Gift List"

Here are NewsLanc's comments on the Sunday News editorial "Folks on our gift list" which singles out for praise Lancaster Mayor Rick Gray, Convention Board Chair and Interim Executive Director Art Morris, State Senator Gib Armstrong and Commission Appointee Sharron Nelson.

Gray indeed deserves praise for his decisiveness concerning the trash haulers but a tendency to place glibness ahead of listening and to treat constructive criticism as an attack may continue to trip him up.

Morris is a marvel in conducting public convention center meetings and will probably do the best that can be done with the cards he has been dealt. But the problem is that he has received a stacked deck from the predatory Penn Square Partners (a/k/a Penn Square Pigs) and from toady Ted Darcus who as an imperial past Chair rubber-stamped the most atrocious rip offs by the hotel partners of millions of dollars in funding that by rights should belong to the public's Convention Center Authority. Whether Morris uses his power to investigate past murky dealings and uses his considerable moral suasion to reclaim these funds from Penn Square Partners will be even more of a measure of the man.

Armstrong may prove to be a tragic example of a man who used every power he had in his high position of public trust to bring about the Convention Center Project, changing laws and pulling local strings. His tragedy may be that instead of bringing benefits to his beloved Lancaster, he sowed fiscal and planning poison for the City he loved.

Concerning Nelson, just about anyone who replaced the dysfunctional and divisive Pete Shaub would have brought comity to the board. One measure of Nelson will be whether the appointment of Kevin Fry to the Convention Center Board which she championed will prove to have been a good one.

Oh, concerning the incoming Commissioners, we wish them well and will be watching closely. Let's hope they have some of the pluck and courage of Dick and Molly.

12/24/07
Some Lancaster Voting Machines Flawed

Lanco Yokels posted an article dated 12/15/07 titled "Ohio Elections Officials Calls Machines Flawed."

The Ohio officials further establish that any and all electronic voting machines without paper trails to verify voting, including those purchased in 2006 for Lancaster County, can be readily rigged.

"It was worse than I anticipated," the official, Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, said of the report. "I had hoped that perhaps one system would test superior to the others."

At polling stations, teams working on the study were able to pick locks to access memory cards and use hand-held devices to plug false vote counts into machines. At boards of election, they were able to introduce malignant software into servers . . .

NewsLanc's president warned the County Commissioners not to purchase the used machines and submitted persuasive documentation of their ready corruptibility, but only Commissioner Molly Henderson took heed and voted against the purchase.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of Democracy. There already is strong evidence that some state-wide and possibly even a national election have been rigged by preprogramming of voting machines by die hard conservative manufacturers or others. For example, it was the vote from Ohio that reelected President George W. Bush.

Anyone who thinks this report is radical in nature simply has not read the articles in such "liberal publications" as Fortune Magazine. Also note extreme diversity between voter exit polls for the 2004 election and actual voting results in certain key states.

This is not a Republican or a Democrat thing; this is about America.

12/24/07
Commentary: New Era Sucks Up to LGH

A New Era editorial / puff piece of Dec. 21 was headed "City benefits greatly from LGH presence" and went on to lavishly praise the downtown expansion program (justifiably), its expansion onto the former Armstrong plant site (desirable) and its contribution of a million dollars annually to the City since it is exempt from real estate taxes which just isn't that big of a deal.

Lancaster General Hospital is a nonprofit foundation which was created to serve the community. It earns almost a hundred million dollars a year off of the community! Why shouldn't LGH contribute many millions more to serve our community and especially the City which provides it with municipal services?

Lancaster is suffering from the monopoly Lancaster Newspapers praising other powerful institutions (The High Group, Franklin & Marshall College, LGH as examples) while it refuses to investigate mistakes and abuses by the big and powerful. Rather than fulfilling its historic role as the champion of the people, it pays off colleagues in power for not objecting to the Lancaster Newspapers' and its partners' exploitation of the public.

NewsLanc will make health care here in Lancaster a major topic for investigation in 2008, not because we have reason to believe there are wrongdoings but because the public needs to know how well its direct and indirect (through insurance and government) payments are being used.

12/23/07
EDITORIAL: Special Treatment for F & M a Mistake

In reporting on the imminent construction by Franklin & Marshall of a middle strip in a section of the Harrisburg Pike, the Sunday News aptly states: "PennDOT officials acknowledge that the plan didn't go through its normal study and approval process, but that the process isn't always mandatory, and that engineers reviewing the plan can make a judgment call, said spokesman Greg Penny. That's what happened here, he said."

The project was also allowed to avoid the usual City planning reviews.

NewsLanc has praised F & M for the expansion plan but recoils at the notion of normal due process being circumvented by City, County and State authorities simply because the college wants something. The lives of hundreds could be at stake should a disaster occur.

Good intentions are not always wise acts. In a republic, we expect due process to be followed for the powerful as well as others.

Today we compromise safety in case of an emergency by creating a bottleneck in the major "escape" route to the Northwest.

Tomorrow F & M might try to slide through a subdivision plan for its long time athletic fields that separate School Lane Hills from Harrisburg Pike. Through traffic would destroy a model community for pedestrian traffic and safety.

Special treatment for F & M; Lancaster General Hospital; Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.; The High Group and other major institutions inevitably leads to serious mistakes. Vetting their proposals as we do others better serves our community.

12/23/07
Morris Agrees to Investigate Past LCCCA Dealings

In a dramatic moment during Thursday night's Convention Center Authority meeting, Chairman and Interim Executive Director Art Morris promised, "If anybody brings evidence to this authority that indicates a wrongdoing occurred, specifically what it is - something that can be considered inappropriate and illegal - this authority will take action."

Board member R.B. Campbell acknowledged that NewsLanc President Robert Field raised "some serious questions about the negotiations involving sharing of naming rights as well as negotiations in sharing state grants."

Campbell went on to say: "I think he brings up two very excellent, very good examples... of what does raise some serious questions about the negotiations involving sharing of naming rights as well as negotiations involving sharing state grants. These are two very simple concepts we can all appreciate and I think it should be easy to determine, from the Board's records whether the Board historically was actually advised of these negotiations before they were approved. So I don't think it should be difficult to determine whether the board was adequately advised or not ... It seems to me that, unless - and I'll give the solicitor an opportunity an answer - unless the board expressly gives the attorney the full authority to negotiate up front - unless that takes place - the solicitor has the responsibility of informing their client of all critical details before entering into an agreement."

Solicitor Chris Hausner responded in the affirmative and then expanded on the subject.

Board member Thomas LeCrone added: "As a follow-up to Mr. Campbell and Mr. Field, I think certainly there needs to be a way that we can open up the records of the authority for others to look at to see if there is what I'll call any smoking gun. I don't see that, we internally, from a practical standpoint, have the resources to go back and look at all of that internally with the staffing that we have. But I think we have an obligation to the public to open those records for others to look at to determine if there are any irregularities that may warrant further investigation."

Board member Laura Douglas cautioned the Authority regarding privacy concerns, while Joe Morales declared, "I do not see a purpose in going back and digging up some of this information." Morales and Ted Darcus, the former Chair, are Board holdovers from the City majority that was largely responsible for the last minute submittal of contracts with Penn Square Partners and others over the vociferous objections of then minority County appointees.

Ron Harper of 5thEstate.com pointed out the law firm of Stevens & Lee's conflict of interest in having represented, during the same period of time, both High Associates and the Convention Center Authority. Field had earlier asked whether Stevens & Lee had reported to the Board concerning contract demands from Penn Square Partners that were not usual business practices. At the time, Douglas shook her head suggesting that no such discussions had taken place during her tenure. LCCCA Office Manager Shelly Weikert stated that minutes of past minutes and recordings were available.

Due to the magnitude and importance of what transpired at Thursday night's monthly board meeting, NewsLanc will provide further facts and commentary once editors and staff have time to further review notes and its digital recording of the proceedings.

Click here to hear excerpts of the discussions and presentations.

12/21/07
Chicago Tribune Company an Omen

The following excerpt from an Associated Press dispatch concerning the sale of the Chicago Tribune is an indication why giant Lancaster Newspapers Inc. and other press behemoths may in ten years have to share much of their advertising dollars with upstart local e-zines:

"[Departing CEO] FitzSimons, whose five-year tenure coincided with a historic downturn in the newspaper industry that forced the company's sale, expressed optimism for Tribune's future and hope that the shifting of its resources to focus on the Internet will pay off."

By abusing their monopolistic position by heavy handedly favoring its partner The High Companies' business projects and by declining to report on the plundering of the Convention Center Authority, the Lancaster Newspapers gave unintentional birth to NewsLanc.com and may have planted the seeds of its rapid decline and ultimate sale.

12/21/07
More New Era Deception?

The following is the headline and byline from the Dec. 20 New Era: "Small tax hike for E. Hempfield Board; Also OKs agreement with 'Crossings' developer for traffic improvements, if center is built. By DAVID O'CONNOR, Staff, Lancaster New Era"

But according to Ron Harper of 5th Estate.com, no representative of the New Era was at the meeting.

If so, from where is the New Era getting their information? Is it coming from the publicity department of their Convention Center Project partner The High Group which is the sponsor of the proposed "Crossings" shopping center? From what Harper has to say, the article sure reads like that.

NewsLanc's practice is for reporters to attend meeting but to bestow no bylines. The New Era's practice seems to be the opposite.

12/20/07
COMMENTARY: NewsLanc Can Be Wrong

We at NewsLanc recognize that in the task of reporting evolving news, we do not always get the story entirely correct. An advantage of being a web site is that errors can be removed and corrections posted.

We recently criticized the New Era for not understanding that the Nomination Committee for Convention Center Authority consisted of all seven board members. Although we had reason to believe that was so, it turned out that this was not the case.

But NewsLanc reporters were astute enough to recognize that board member Ted Darcus had provided misinformation to Committee Chairman Thomas LeCrone which prevented the nomination of a candidate to oppose Art Morris for re-election as Chair.

And once it became apparent that a committee consisting of only three members was wholly impractical, if not a contrivance, for the selection of more than a single candidate, we reported the matter. As we said, the committee's job was to nominate candidates, not to anoint new officers!

The New Era oddly gave bylines to two reporters who weren't at the meeting and were clueless about the controversies and deficiencies. Nor to this day has the New Era or any of its sister publications reported the story. As is so often the case, the New Era is more interested in ranting and sensationalism than probity.

We can't promise we will always get the story right. But we do promise that we will earnestly try and, when we are wrong, let our readers know.

12/20/07
How Goes It with Wachovia Bank?

According to media reports, Standard & Poor's dropped its credit rating for bond insurer ACA Financial Guaranty Corp. to "CCC", below investment grade, from "A" due to escalating claims from defaults on mortgage-backed bonds. It also put out warnings concerning three other major mortgage backed bond insurers.

If Wachovia has guaranteed bonds for others with the same underwriting standard it used for the Convention Center Project, over time we could be reading a lot more about it in the financial reports.

12/20/07
County Passes $320 Million Budget for 2008: Preservation with a Price

By unanimous vote at their final public meeting, County Commissioners Shellenberger, Nelson, and Henderson approved a $319,913,751 budget for the County in 2008. This includes a 7.1% tax hike, which, County Administrator Mark Esterbrook explained, comes to "33 dollars extra on the median assessed value of a home, which is about $145,000."

The tax rate for 2008 will be 3.416 mills per dollar of assessed valuation.

Commissioner Nelson acknowledged to the members present that "this time of year is difficult with other municipalities and school districts, especially in the city, raising their taxes as well."

The County allocated $8 Million to be used as county matching funds for the purchase of agricultural conservation easements, $2.5 million for the establishment of a 2008 Urban Enhancement Fund, $1 million in matching grants for the 2008 Natural Lands Preservation Fund, and $1 million in matching funds to the Lancaster Farmland Trust through the 2008 Farmland Preservation Fund.

While everyone at Wednesday's Commissioners meeting spoke enthusiastically about land preservation, Karen Martynick, executive director of the Lancaster Farmland Trust, acknowledged that farmland preservation costs the taxpayers "about $406 an acre" and Commissioner Shellenberger admitted that "if you took these two areas [farmland preservation and natural lands preservation] out of [the budget], we probably wouldnt've had to raise taxes at all."

The County has preserved over 73,000 acres, making us #1 in the nation in farmland preservation.

The County also approved a request Wednesday to designate the Lancaster Housing Opporunity Project (LHOP) an "instrumentality of government" so that it can help provide financing for first-time home buyers.

At this final meeting, community voices that are often critical turned conciliatory. Bill Benanno of Rapho Township, April Koppenhaver of Lancaster City, and Bonnie Miller of Manor Township, who have all been critical of various actions of County government each acknowledged that the Commissioners make a lot of tough decisions and often take a lot of heat no matter what they do.

12/19/07
Editorial: Unlimited DA Terms a Threat

A county district attorney has extraordinary power, far greater than any judge or commissioner or a combination of both.

In our age when power has shifted from judges to district attorneys due to Mandatory Minimum Laws and Sentencing Guidelines, the power to not charge a defendant, place him or her on probation, or send the person to prison for 10 to 20 years lies almost solely with what charges the DA chooses to bring.

Most cases are settled by plea bargaining. Even innocent people will accept two years in prison over the chance of ten years if convicted by a jury, which is likely to happen. Think about what you would do, especially if you had children.

Furthermore, judges in Lancaster County have shown a tendency to respond more to the will of the power elite than to act on the basis of their own judgments and consciences. (Witness President Judge Louis Farina's allowing District Attorney Donald Totaro to have a grand jury spend an entire year chasing baseless accusations concerning the three commissioners and, coming up empty, then coercing them into an unjust plea bargain of a minor violation for which, it was learned later, the jury found no evidence of their having committed.)

Because attorneys are dependent upon the DA's good will, the Bar Association is too timid to oppose the DA's re-election. Political party leaders fear not slating the DA. And if the candidate is a Republican, the person is assured of re-election. So once in office, the DA would be able to serve as long as he or she wants.

To avoid a situation similar to the several decade reign of J. Edgar Hoover, the first director of the FBI, who presidents from both parties were afraid to discharge because of information Hoover had collected, Lancaster should continue the wise present policy of limiting the office to two terms.

12/19/07
SDL Likely to Hire Lobbyist, Tax Rise of 6.3%

The 9 members of the School Board of the School District of Lancaster voted unanimously Tuesday Night to include a 6.3% tax increase in its preliminary budget for the 2008-2009 school year.

The new budget actually includes no new programs and is essentially an extension of the current budget, explained SDL Business Administrator Matthew Przywara.

Under this budget, the final version of which will have to be submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval by June, the average district tax bill will increase by $352, according to Przywara's figures.

This reflects an average millage rate increase from 21.42 to 22.77.

Przywara attributes the budget shortfall to increases in fuel costs, healthcare costs, uncertainties about state funding, faculty contracts yet to be negotiated, and debt service.

It was also announced at Tuesday's meeting that the School District is considering employing the services of a lobbying firm, Triad Strategies of Harrisburg-Lancaster-Philadelphia, at a cost of "between $5,000 and $7,000 per month."

School Board members Jacqueline McCain and Michael Rowen expressed concern about this potential expenditure. "I think it's a sad state of affairs that school districts have to hire lobbyists," Rowen remarked.

The School Board approved a motion to allow the Superintendent, Dr. Stephen Iovino, to enter contract negotiations with Triad Strategies for this purpose.

As for the budget, it will be made available for public inspection starting December 27th, placed on the table for adoption at the School Board meeting of January 15th, and submitted in its preliminary form to the Pennsylvania Department of Education on January 28th.

12/19/07
Esterbrook Wants 5 Commissioners, Stedman Wants Unlimited Terms

The Lancaster County Government Study Commission met for three hours Tuesday afternoon to further discuss their drafted Home Rule Charter, and to interview County Administrator Mark Esterbrook, District Attorney Donald Totaro, and District Attorney-elect Craig Stedman.

The Home Rule Charter calls for a five-member Board of Commissioners with staggered four-year terms. The County Commissioners will appoint, by super majority, a County Executive, who will, during his or her two-year term, oversee all "departments of County Government not directly managed by the Commission."

The position would essentially be a modification of the position Esterbrook currently holds. Esterbrook stressed that his position demands a solid understanding of accounting and finance, he agreed that increasing the number of County Commissioners to five would be "absolutely a good thing," and he opined that the job of County Commissioner is very much full-time.

Asked by Commission member Mary Clinton what he thinks a reasonable salary would be for a County Executive, Mr. Esterbrook cautioned, "you get what you pay for" and then said, "Between 90,000 and 130-140,000."

Interviewed by the board, District Attorney Donald Totaro, who is the highest paid official in the County, asked the members of the Commission not to include in the Home Rule Charter language limiting the number of terms a District Attorney may serve.

"We want to minimize transitions" and "minimize the politics in the D.A.'s office," District Attorney-elect Craig Stedman explained.

The board acquiesced. "We're probably not going to get a whole host of D.A.'s who want to serve more than two terms anyway. It's in the news and the spotlight an awful lot," said Commission member Sam Mecum, an experienced attorney and recent judicial candidate himself.

The Commission also decided to include language requiring that the County Coroner be "a licensed physician."

About 14 members of the public attended Tuesday's session. The Government Study Commission's next meeting will be on January 8th, 2008 in Room 502 of the County Courthouse on North Duke Street.

12/19/07
LCCCA Member Acknowledges Error in Nominating Procedure

Upon being questioned regarding the basis of his objection to LCCCA Nominating Committee Chairman Thomas LeCrone's nomination of Laura Douglas to be Chair of the entire Board, Monday, Ted Darcus told a NewsLanc reporter, "I just asked a question. It wasn't any objection: I just asked a question: Is the chair allowed to nominate?"

NewsLanc's recording of the proceedings indicates otherwise. What Darcus actually said was, "Point of order, Mr. Chair, you're not allowed to nominate."

Darcus's assertion carried added weight because of his years of experience as President of City Council and Chair of the Authority. LeCrone pointed out there was no such restriction in the By-Laws but assumed Darcus was referring to Robert's Rules of Order. As previously reported at NewsLanc.com, no such restriction exists.

Laura Douglas, the would-be nominee, wasn't confused. "The way he said it, it was a statement, not a question," she said, going on to explain that, in her opinion, "it's moot, because there was no second."

There was no second because Darcus's "question" was never answered and so the Board was left in a state of confusion as to whether there was a motion on the table for the nomination of Douglas as Chair.

Asked by a NewsLanc reporter whether he would consider reconvening the nominating committee, Authority Chair and interim Executive Director Art Morris was mum. "I would refer you to the Chair of that committee, Tom LeCrone," he said in a dismissive tone.

With the audio of what occurred now posted for all to hear, NewsLanc urges this Authority, its Chair Art Morris, and Nominating Committee Chairman Tom LeCrone, to reconvene the nominating committee prior to the January Board meeting when new officials will be elected and get the nominations right!

Furthermore, NewsLanc urges Morris to expand the nominating committee to include all board members so that it will be likely that more than one candidate will be nominated per position. If appointing only three members was not an attempt to assure Morris is unopposed as Chair, it is likely to produce that result.

12/18/07
Audio From Dec. 14 LCCCA Nominating Committee Meeting

An audio recording excerpt from the Dec. 14 LCCCA Nominating Committee meeting is now available by clicking here.

12/16/07
Chair Art Morris's Open Letter to NewsLanc

Mr. Field,

I think this is a highly unfair characterization of what took place. Your comments about Mr. Darcus are not commensurate with what occurred at this meeting. In addition, it is not unusual to have nominating committees of this size.

Since I am the person that is nominated by the committee to be chair, I ask you to speak/communicate with Mr. LeCrone, who is the chair of the nominating committee. I will not respond to further comments on this matter as I believe I have nothing further to add and, in addition, feel that Mr. LeCrone, in his role as chair, can take up your concerns as he sees appropriate.

Please publish with your letter

Art Morris

Editor's response: NewsLanc has verified the notes of two reporters concerning what took place by checking its recording of the entire proceedings. The recording will be made available on Monday.

12/16/07
AN OPEN LETTER

To: Art Morris, Chair, LCCCA

From: Robert Edwin Field, President, NewsLanc.com

Art:

Thank you for the valuable explanations below. It exposes the absurdity of a three person nominating committee.

With only three persons, any two could determine a single candidate to be nominated for each office. It is precisely to avoid such an absurdity that that caused me and others to believe that the board was sitting as a whole as a nominating committee.

Ted Darcus apparently was wrong when he interrupted Thomas LeCrone's nomination of Laura Douglas. NewsLanc staff found no indication from the LCCCA's By-Laws to substantiate Ted Darcus's claim that a committee chair may not nominate a candidate. Furthermore, Robert's Rules of Procedures states that the chair has all of the same rights as other board members.

Had LeCrone been allowed to nominate Douglas, there was a possibility that Kevin Fry or theoretically even Darcus might have agreed to second the motion, even though they had nominated or seconded the motion for you as chair. After all, the committee was charged with nominating candidates, not selecting the winner!

Lancaster has paid a high price for heavy handed, bullying antics on the part of Darcus when he was the former chair. He should not be allowed to continue to do harm through this latest caper, whatever may be his motivations. Nor should a committee of only three board members be established for selecting future officers.

If we are to move forward and not have your selection as chair (should that be the case) both tainted and vigorously criticized, the wrong to LeCrone and Douglas and, indirectly, to other board members and the public must be set right. And the proper place for the correction to take place is at the level of the nominating committee when its performance of its duties were obstructed and contravened.

I urge that you advertise a meeting de nova of the nominating committee to take place immediately prior to the Board Meeting scheduled for later this week, and that nominations be re-opened at the time.

Kind wishes.

Robert

Robert,

Just a few final comments:

1. The nominating committee is made up of Thomas LeCrone, Chair, Ted Darcus and Kevin Fry. The other board members are not voting members of the committee but rather came to view the proceedings and offer public comment. In accordance with the bylaws, the make-up of the committee was publicly announced at the last board meeting.

2. Please keep in mind that Ted Darcus put forth the initial nomination and Kevin Fry seconded the motion. When Thomas LeCrone nominated, the only two people who could second it were Ted Darcus and Kevin Fry. They had previously placed a candidate in nomination and chose not to second the motion. No other board member could second the motion as only Thomas, Ted and Kevin are on the committee.

3. I do not see how Ted Darcus's comment created any confusion within the committee or the board. However, you could raise your concerns with the committee chair, Thomas LeCrone, and he could advise as to whether he feels the process was flawed.

Regards,

Art

12/16/07
Darcus Thwarts Contest for LCCCA Chair Position

Meeting early Friday morning as a Special Nominating Committee for 2008 officials, the seven members of the Convention Center Authority Board stumbled to the nominations of Art Morris to continue for Chair, Laura Douglas for Vice Chair, Kevin Fry for Secretary and R. B. Campbell for Treasurer.

A sign that things are not as harmonious among board members as they may appear on the surface, former Chair and current Board Member Ted Darcus objected to Committee Chair Thomas LeCrone's nomination of Laura Douglas for Board Chair. Darcus claimed, apparently erroneously, that the bylaws prevented the committee chair from nominating.

What was especially telling was the unwillingness of other board members, including gentlemanly Art Morris, to defuse the issue by seconding Douglas's nomination on LeCrone's behalf. This unwillingness suggests Morris supporters feared the outcome of a contested ballot.

Another sign of maneuvering was the disclosure that a selection for the opening of Executive Director will not take place until February or possibly March, contradicting what Morris told Newslanc earlier in the week. Concern was expressed about Morris continuing for so long in his dual capacities as Chair and Interim Executive Director. In response, Morris indicated he preferred to stay on as Chair and, if necessary, would relinquish his interim position as Executive Director prior to the January Board meeting when the election of officers will take place.

For her part, Douglas promised Morris that, as Vice Chair, she "would try to take as much [work] off of you as possible, so that you're not trying to do two jobs."

Breaking with policy and past practices, the agenda did not allow for public comments. A NewsLanc reporter raised a point of order and, after discussion, LeCrone ruled that comments would be permitted after motions had been made and the board had commented but before a vote on the motion to nominate took place.

NewsLanc's President Robert Field told the Board that the future Chair should advocate audits of millions of dollars of questionable Authority expenditures prior to commencement of construction, and call for re-negotiation of certain one sided, unconscionable contractual arrangements favoring hotel developer Penn Square Partners. Examples given were the hotel receiving half of the millions of dollars of naming rights for the Convention Center and half of any future state grants to the convention center. Field also ridiculed provisions providing private party S. Dale High with special privileges pertaining to the naming rights.

12/14/07
CLICK TO HEAR FIELD'S COMMENTS TO AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS. (Approximately seven minutes.)

What is Wrong With This Picture?

The Lancaster City Council Personnel Committee held a meeting on December 3, 2007 to interview candidates for Lancaster City Controller. This position became vacant when Craig Lehman resigned after his election to the post of Lancaster County Commissioner.

Three candidates had applied for this position and were interviewed. Lawrence Hinnenkamp is both an attorney and a licensed CPA, active in the Democratic Party, and treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Lancaster Osteopathic Health Supporting Organization. Allan Ziegler is a relative newcomer to Lancaster who is willing to use his financial background to benefit the city. And William Andrews is a long-time Democratic Party committee member who works for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and is scheduled to retire in March of 2008.

After the interviews, the members of the City Council Personnel Committee clearly preferred Lawrence Hinnenkamp for the position; the other Council members present agreed. Mr. Hinnenkamp is both a CPA and attorney, which clearly made him the most qualified candidate for the post. The Personnel Committee voted to recommend the appointment of Mr. Hinnenkamp to the full City Council.

At the City Council meeting on December 11, 2007, after the Personnel Committee Chairman gave his report, another member (not on the Personnel Committee) instead nominated William Andrews for City Controller. The appointment was quickly seconded, and approved unanimously.

Why?

The six City Council members who were present at the Personnel Committee meeting all agreed that Lawrence Hinnenkamp was their preferred choice. But something notable had occurred during the Personnel Committee interview of William Andrews: most members of City Council referred to him as "Bill", and several openly thanked him for his help during their campaigns.

Obviously something significant happened in the eight days between the Personnel Committee meeting and the City Council meeting. Why would six members of City Council change their minds? William Andrews doesn't even have a CPA license, as Lawrence Hinnenkamp does ( license number CA031277R). And being an attorney gives Mr. Hinnenkamp an even bigger edge.

Obviously it was political considerations that caused Lancaster City Council to ignore the recommendations of its own Personnel Committee, and vote unanimously to appoint as City Controller a less-qualified but better-connected individual.

What is wrong with this picture?

12/14/07
Hotel & Convention Center Insiders Seek (More) Puff Pieces as Construction Falls Behind Schedule

Developer Tom Smithgall said at Thursday night's Facilities Programming Committee Meeting of the Convention Center Authority that he is "working with the public relations advisory group" for the Hotel & Convention Center project, "looking at formulating a background piece outlining some of the benefits of the project" and writing "human interest stories" for dissemination by the monopoly Lancaster Newspapers.

Construction manager Tom Sullivan reported that $3,819,600 was spent on construction in November. $25,546,560 has been spent to date or 24% of the hard construction budget.

According to Sullivan, construction on the southern end of the project is 14 days behind schedule, while construction on the northern side of the project, including the hotel tower and shared space, is nearly a month behind schedule.

Progress included successful extension of a gas line to the site, as well as the installation of infrastructure that will facilitate the installation of a roof atop one of the exhibit halls.

12/13/07
COMMENTARY: Budapest vs. Lancaster: Good Planning vs. No Planning

A decade ago, McCaskey graduate and later real estate developer Richard Field and his father visited the planning office of District 9 in Budapest, Hungary. They were shown a detailed plan comprising dozens of blocks describing precisely which buildings were to be razed, which renovated, the type of new construction to take place in designated locations, proposed pedestrian pathways, street enhancements, new green areas, and improvements to existing parks.

At the time of the visit, the neighborhood consisted of many run down buildings, dingy streets, trashed littered empty lots, and buildings teeming with squatters.

When Field examined the detailed redevelopment plans, he recognized the direction, vision, and commitment of local officials. Over time, Field and his associates acquired four sites on which they developed condominiums consisting of a couple hundred flats with indoor parking and ground level shops.

Today when Field looks out from his eighth floor balcony, he sees that plan fully realized. Consequently, the district has become one of the most fashionable and sought after sections of Budapest and is experiencing rapidly rising real estate values.

In contrast, a developer interested in building similar residential condominiums in downtown Lancaster would have a very different experience. There is no comparable plan for orderly development. A prospective builder or apartment purchaser can only see what exists now; not know what will occur later.

Furthermore, prospective developers would be hard pressed to detect much civic interest in facilitating a downtown housing trend or appreciation of the resulting gentrification that would spread to currently distressed nearby neighborhoods.

Grim evidence of this apparent disconnect was the choice of the Watt & Shand site for the convention center project with no apparent recognition that such a massive commercial structure would block the logical and orderly spread to the south of housing for empty nesters and young professionals. Instead of asking what can be done to trigger downtown gentrification, concentration was on what could be done with the Watt & Shand site.

Most recent downtown residential activity has concentrated on converting deserted industrial and retail buildings, wherever they might be located, into loft type residential units. This indeed is progress, but hardly sufficient in itself.

Planning requires expertise and consensus, not gimmicks such as trolley cars. And making what is planned actually happen requires education of decision makers and the public, investments in improving streets and parks, federal and state subsidies, and leadership.

To lead effectively, one must know where one is going. Planning provides direction.

12/12/07
Commissioners struck out re Enola Low-Grade nature trail

Despite much effort at negotiation and considerable cost of litigation during their four year term, County Commissioners Dick Shellenberger and Molly Henderson will leave office without having turned the 23-mile-long, 930-acre strip of land formerly occupied by a Norfolk Southern rail line into a pedestrian and biking trail.

When the NewsLanc reporter raised the issue at the Dec. 12th Commissioners Meeting, Henderson responded, "My understanding is that the townships involved are trying to work together to move this wonderful project forward." The implication seemed to be: the County has done about as much as it can, and now it's up to the townships.

The railroad line ran through the southern end of the County. When Norfolk Southern stopped local operations, the tracks were dismantled and the six municipalities acquired control of the 23-mile-long, 930-acre strip of land.

The County wanted to build a nature trail along that land. The municipalities resisted, in part on the grounds that the locals did not want outsiders in their neighborhoods. The County attempted to acquire the land by eminent domain. The issue went to Court and the County lost a ruling in November 2005. The County appealed and lost on that as well in 2006.

Meanwhile the trail has become a collection point for discarded objects. Apparently the local feeling is "Better trash than trashy people"....meaning the rest of us.

12/12/07
Two Young Women Honored for Saving Life of City Cop

Flames engulfed the hood of the police cruiser.

Trapped inside was city police officer Herb Watson.

While responding to a burglary call on the night of November 13th, Watson had careened into the guard rail and struck a tree on Pitney Road. As he struggled inside the car, two young women who were driving by, Tonisha Robinson, and Sonia Berrios of Lancaster City, stopped at the scene of the accident. Seeing Watson inside, they risked their own lives by prying open the smashed door of the smoldering vehicle and pulling the officer to safety, explained Captain Peter Anders of the City Police.

Robinson and Berrios were presented with awards and letters of commendation from the Police Department and Mayor Gray at Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

Watson's eyes welled with tears as he said to the girls, "You were like my guardian angels that night." As he embraced them, the full room gave a standing ovation.


12/11/07
Local Nonprofit Secures Funding for Park Avenue Apartments Project

The Lancaster County Redevelopment Authority approved a grant not to exceed $525,000 to Community Basics, Inc. a local nonprofit, Tuesday, for the purpose of transforming an empty building on Park Avenue, near the hospital, in the City's northeast into 23 1-bedroom apartments for Senior Citizens, 7 of which will be specifically reserved for seniors with special needs.

It's being called the "Park Avenue Apartments Project" and the renovations are estimated to cost around $3 million total, according to Community Basics developer Tom Eisemann.

Community Basics director Ken Smith indicated that the project will also be subsidized by the County Departments of Mental Health and Mental Retardation at a rate of "about $35,000 a year."

"A vast majority of the cost will come from equity," said Smith.

The purpose of the project is "to further a need to move individuals from nursing homes into independent living," explained Eisemann.

The group will also make counseling services available to all residents.

Smith said that construction is expected to begin on the facility next year.

12/11/07
EDITORIAL: Morris May Not be the Right One

From the day of his appointment to the board of the Convention Center Authority, NewsLanc advocated the election of Art Morris as Chair to replace Ted Darcus at the end of Darcus's board term. (Darcus was subsequently re-appointed to the Board.)

However NewsLanc believes it is the duty of the Authority Board and its Chair to investigate the expenditures of $20 million in taxpayer money over the years prior to the commencement of construction and to draw attention to and renegotiate the one sided, unconscionable contract terms with Penn Square Partners that Darcus rammed through the Authority Board with the assistance of its solicitor Stevens & Lee. The law firm itself was the beneficiary of about $8 million of questionable fees from the Authority.

Over past years, we have also seen almost a million dollars paid to a consultant from whom no written work product exists according to the Authority. As Chair, Darcus would not allow a legal audit of the extraordinary fees paid to Stevens & Lee.

It is a bald faced affront to the public's sensibility and purse for Penn Square Partners (subsidiary of the monopoly Lancaster Newspapers and The High Companies) to claim half of the millions for Convention Center naming rights and half of millions more from future state grants for the convention center. (Let alone the special provisions provided for one S. Dale High as an individual!)

Morris has had a distinguished career as a public servant and has done an excellent job in moving the Convention Center forward in a fair and efficient manner. The public owes a big debt to him.

But if Morris is too close to the powerful establishment elite to have the stomach to oversee an investigation of possible past misconduct and is unwilling to publicly insist on renegotiation of unfair contract provisions favoring Penn Square Partners, then someone should be chosen from the Board who is committed to fulfill all of the responsibilities of the position.

12/11/07
LCCCA Board to Nominate 2008 Officers Friday Morning

For early rising Convention Center Project watchers, the early morning meeting of the entire LCCCA Board as a Special Nominating Committee may provide a fascinating drama.

Have the nominees de facto been decided already? Will the continuation of Art Morris as chair be contested? If so, in whose favor does the wind seem to be blowing?

The consequences are enormous, since some Board members may be more inclined to investigate the appropriateness of almost $20 million in expenditures over prior years and recently discovered apparent "sweetheart" clauses giving a million dollars of Authority money to the developer of the Marriott Hotel, Penn Square Partners.

Morris's attitude has been to concentrate on the current and future and he has demonstrated no inclination to dig into the past or publicly contest inappropriate contract provisions.

The meeting will be held on Friday, Dec. 14 at 8:00 a.m. at the Southern Market, corner of South Queen and Vine Streets.

12/11/07
County Partners with F&M and LGH for City's NW Corridor

The Lancaster County Planning Commission gave its nod of approval Monday to a plan by the Economic Development Company (EDC) of Lancaster to convert and restore the 47-acre tract formerly occupied by the Armstrong World Industries floor plant.

Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster General Hospital, and Armstrong World Industries are expected to contribute $6 million each to the estimated $33 million project, according to information released earlier today.

"EDC is happy to be able to pursue this 47 acre site, redeploying it for future uses both for education and medical planning purposes, "said the company's President, David Nikoloff. He also indicated that the group is considering "developing green space and putting in public infrastructure."

Nikoloff said that EDC hopes to complete this project "within the next two years."

"I think you're all to be congratulated in terms of being able to put this together," said County Planning Commission chairwoman Nancy Haliwell. "It's amazing to see what the site looks like now as opposed to two years ago."

Government Study Commission member and Millersville community activist Bill Saylor expressed optimism about the project during the public comment session of Monday afternoon's meeting and went on to add, "I hope somebody is thinking about working with other groups that are working on putting trolley cars in downtown Lancaster."

12/10/07

Competent Planning for City's NW; Downtown Planning "Clueless"

On Dec. 10, the Intelligencer Journal featured an informative front page article about the joint development of a 47 acre site in North West Lancaster City (with a sliver in Manheim Township) spearheaded by Franklin & Marshall College and Lancaster General Hospital. (http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/213580)

John Fry was recruited as president of F&M, in part because of the excellent work he had performed in expanding the campus of the University of Pennsylvania. He is working marvels in fund raising and intelligently expanding the college campus, setting the stage for the college to transition from today being well regarded to someday becoming one of the most desirable in the nation.

And non-profit LGH has effectively expanded over the years while managing to earn around a $100 million annually. (Health Care in general and LGH in particular will be much discussed on NewsLanc in 2008.)

Contrast the wonders these two organizations are achieving with the neglect of successive City administrations to come up with a comprehensive development plan for downtown Lancaster. A knowledgeable recent contributor accurately referred to the City as "clueless."

A monumental error was placing the Convention Center in the worst possible location, creating a virtual barrier to what otherwise would have been a trend of residential development from Penn Square to the south.

NewsLanc will be reporting at length in 2008 on what steps are being taken, if any, for an informed and comprehensive planning for the downtown area. It is urgent that the City focuses its planning beyond one site at a time.

12/10/07

Intell Quote of the Year

Intelligencer Journal columnist Jeff Hawkes on the PKF feasibility study: "I'm confident PKF will provide an eminently reasonable and trustworthy opinion...Why project supporters aren’t cooperating with the consultant is beyond me." Feb. 28, 2006

12/10/07

Authority to Soon Select Executive Director

According to Convention Center Authority Chair and acting Executive Director Art Morris, the selection process for an executive director will be completed "hopefully in time for the new year."

Contrary to the request by board member Thomas LeCrone, no revised advertisements were run to more precisely describe the desired attributes for candidates.

According to Morris, "Phone interviews were scheduled and held" and "in person interviews have been held with the board."

With the executive director position determined in December, it will then be the task of the board at their January meeting to elect interim chair Morris for a full one year term or to choose another from the board.

12/9/07

EDITORIAL: Who's Paranoid?

In his Sunday News column of Dec. 9, Editor Marv Adams mentions his initially twice checking off votes for District Attorney Donald Totaro for county judge since Totaro appeared both as a Democrat and a Republican on the ballot.

Adams goes on to say, "That should stir up people who post on Talk Back (LancasterOnline.com's community forum) who believe we conspired with the DA to use a grand jury to investigate the sale of Conestoga View and to prosecute the County Commissioners for violating the Sunshine Act. Got that? There's more paranoia on TalkBack than on the TV series '24.'"

NewsLanc believes that was the tacit understanding between the powers that be and are happy to report that now almost a thousand people a week visit our web site and most of them likely agree.

Would the Sunday News care to co-sponsor with NewsLanc a county-wide poll and put the question before the citizenry?

We believe Adams would find that either "paranoia" runs amuck or that he is unable or unwilling to recognize the obvious.

12/9/07

A Tragic Waste

In its Nov. 9th announcement of the decision of Gib E. Armstrong not to run for a sixth term as state senator, the Sunday News reports: "Armstrong said he wanted to retire eight years ago, but vowed to stay until the Penn Square convention center project had become reality. With the center under construction now, he said, he's confident it can proceed without him."

How sad that a well meaning man with so much ability and power should squander his career on a tragically ill advised project.

12/9/07

COMMENTARY: Remembering Pearl Harbour

Four years old, I was in the back seat of my parents' car when cars began honking their horns and gesticulating to one another as we drove on Philadelphia's Roosevelt Boulevard. I don't know whether there were car radios in those days. But drivers were yelling out news about an enemy attack and we rushed home to turn on the free-standing RCA combination radio and phonograph player in the living room.

What 9/11 has come to mean to younger generation, Pearl Harbour day meant to us. Young men and women rushed to sign up for the armed forces. Food and gas were rationed. Plants replaced consumer goods with war goods. Taxes were raised, bonds were sold, used tires and metal were collected, and "victory gardens" planted.

Unlike today, we all shared in the sacrifice. Citizens of all backgrounds, professional and economic status became soldiers and put their lives on the line.

I recall my mother giving a cold shoulder to an older gentleman who was an acquaintance. She told me that the man had been convicted of selling food rationing coupons!

They were prepared to experience sacrifice.

Raise taxes to pay for the Iraq War? Re-institute the draft? Enact a carbon tax to reduce oil dependency? Today....no way!

 12/7/07
Intell correct: "Money didn't win race."

The Dec.7th Intelligencer Journal headline blared out "Money didn't win race" and points out that Molly Henderson's campaign for county commissioner raised $69,398 in comparison with a combined $60,727 by the Republican shoo ins Scott Martin and Dennis Stuckey and $37,997 by her Democrat rival and victorious Craig Lehman.

The proverbial "elephant in the living room" that goes unmentioned is that Henderson had been pummeled for over a year by millions of dollars worth of biased and self serving news coverage by the monopoly newspapers.

Also, she was the victim of the unbridled witch hunt by District Attorney (and soon to be county judge) Donald Totaro and the disgraceful failure to oversee and constrain Totaro by President Judge Louis Farina.

It is the opinion of this publication that Totaro should have been disbarred for (1) his villainous escapades over a year to find something amiss in County government, (2) for prosecutorial abuse by coercing the commissioners to accept a phony plea of a violation of the Sunshine Act, acts that the subsequently released grand jury report do not indicate ever occurred, and (3) other acts of woeful neglect and misrepresentations that NewsLanc has reported in the past!

Henderson is a paragon of ethical behavior, not even willing to wield legitimate influence for the public good on behalf of a potential major donor. Rather than raise funds from the wealthy and those who might benefit, Henderson and her family chose to reach into their savings to fund her campaign.

When a scrupulously honest public servant is willing to contribute a year's pay to resist self serving forces in our community, the candidate deserves the respect of all of us.

Would to God that other honorable members of our community would show some of the pluck and courage demonstrated by Dick Shellenberger and Molly Henderson and stand up against forces that seek to exploit our community for their own profits and aggrandizement!

 12/7/07
County Seeks $320 Million for 2008

County Administrator Mark Esterbrook presented highlights of the proposed $320 million 2008 County Budget to a packed courtroom Tuesday night.

Among County achievements in 2007, Esterbrook listed farmland preservation, the urban enhancement fund, Sunnyside's agreement with the City of Lancaster, the Conewago Trail, key department head appointments, the selection of a Forensic Center site, progress on renovations of the Armstrong Building at 150 North Queen Street, near completion of a Prison Population Study, and negotiation of a Prison Services Medical Contract.

The largest expenditures in 2008, Esterbrook predicted, will include completion of the renovations at 150 North Queen, construction and renovations associated with the new courthouse at 40 East King, construction of the Forensic Center and Morgue in East Hempfield township, upgrading the Amtrak station, and paying debt service.

"Debt service is and will remain the primary driver of our general fund budget," he said. Many expenses are rising, including debt service, healthcare costs, and county matching funds.

Esterbrook recommends setting aside a contingency fund in the amount of "$1 million in 2008, $2 million in 2009, and $3 million in 2010."

"I think all of us as families, and managing our own households, are looking at times we've never experienced before. Never have I paid over $3 a gallon for gasoline. Never have I paid nearly $3 a gallon for heating oil," Commissioner Dick Shellenberger said. But he, along with Commissioners Nelson and Henderson, went on to defend the budget as part of smart and responsible growth.

Participation from the public was vigorous Tuesday night. Ron Harper, Jr. of Stevens, Ben Vonderheide and Michael Cain of daddyjustice.com and Jesse Storm of Fathers4Justice – frequent attendees of County meetings – harangued the Commissioners for allegedly failing to provide accountability for the judicial arm of County government.

Bill Bonanno of Rapho Township complained about government priorities and rising costs, saying to Commissioner Shellenberger, "You make $97,000 a year. I don't see how you're worried about prices."

Referring to the nearly completed "Prison Population Study" Esterbrook mentioned in his presentation, Jane Albright of East Lampeter Township quipped, "I could have saved you $100,000 - yes, the prison is overcrowded."

A number of department heads and employees of government agencies such as the Farmland Preservation Trust and the Lancaster County Conservancy thanked the Commissioners for their support.

The budget presentation and public comment lasted for 2 hours at the Lancaster County Courthouse Tuesday night.

The Commissioners are expected to vote on the final 2008 budget at their weekly meeting on December 19th.

12/5/07

"Ain't No Place Like This"

The Interagency Council for the Homeless, in partnership with the Water Street Rescue Mission, and Tabor Community Services, debuted a new Community Homeless Outreach Center (CHOC) on the premises of the Water Street Rescue mission today.

The Center, which opened a week ago, provides "a daytime drop-in facility that serves as a safe haven for chronically homeless individuals to rest, shower, launder clothing, and receive help with accessing human services."

"Our service providers in Lancaster work together but what we were really missing was that first link. This center provides that first link," said Lenny Walton, President of the Interagency Council for the Homeless, who also works with the United Way.

The director of the new center is Adrian Rodriguez, who previously worked as the Assistant Director of the Transition to Community program with Lancaster Prison, and has also volunteered as a prison chaplain for 8 years. Rodriguez spoke optimistically about the Center, saying, "I hope that three years or a year from now, there will not be the same faces around."

Rodriguez accepted a $24,000 check from ALCOA of Lancaster, on behalf of the Center. Roy Dirkmaat, Vice President and General Manager of ALCOA's Lancaster facility said, "As a corporate citizen committed to improving the quality of life in the communities where we do business, we are pleased to support the Community Homeless Outreach Center."

"The ALCOA foundation believes this partnership of groups is an excellent example of community cooperation and an effective use of public and private resources," he continued. $22,000 more will be donated by ALCOA next year.

Rodriguez said that the Center has been seeing "about 24 people a day, 16 of whom are regulars." He expects that number to grow.

Mayor Rick Gray also spoke at the event, which drew some 50 attendees, including Lancaster City Councilmembers Nelson Polite and Joe Morales, as well as County Commissioners-elect Dennis Stuckey and Scott Martin.

The mayor and a number of those involved with the project emphasized the point that homelessness is a countywide problem as opposed to just a city one.

"We're more than happy to do our part in the City," said Rick Sauder of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster, "but it really is a County problem. Ten percent of the homeless are chronically homeless and this helps that population, freeing up resources to help everyone else."

Approximately ten homeless were present at the facility both during and after the dedication ceremony. They seemed modestly thankful for a warm place to relax. "They kick you out of everywhere else," one woman complained. Another revealed that he has been sleeping on the bench of a nearby bus stop. "They have breakfast at St. James, or I would hang out at the library, but eventually they kick you out. Ain't no place like this," he said. A third gentleman seemed mentally disturbed, saying, 'I'm George Bush." But others were surprisingly well-dressed and articulate.

The Community Homeless Outreach Center is located on the premises of the Water Street Rescue Mission at 210 South Prince Street.

12/4/07
City May Choose Two New Authority Board Members

According to information received, Joseph Morales will step down from the Lancaster County Convention Center Authority Board at the end of the year when he becomes a member of the Lancaster City Council. Council in turn will choose a replacement for Morales to represent the city on the Authority Board for the balance of Morales's term.

At the time that City Council appointed Ted Darcus to a second term on the board, filling the seat that had been filled been interimly by Willie Borden, there was an understanding that a discussion would be held in January between the City and the new County Commissioners concerning what skill sets were most desirable and whether someone else would be appointed or Darcus would remain on the board.

Despite the changes, the Board will continue to consist of four County appointees and three City appointees.

12/4/07
Under Funding Our Libraries

Kudos to the Sunday News for their Dec. 2nd editorial "Shout this out in our libraries" pointing out that our tragically under funded libraries are producing $5.50 for every dollar in taxes they receive. If you want to break your heart, just walk into the Duke Street library almost any time of the day, and especially after school hours, and watch all the people patiently sitting by awaiting an opportunity to access a computer and the Internet. By starving our libraries, we starve our future!

12/3/07
Convention Center Authority Approves Hiring of Mark Moosic as General Manager

The Lancaster County Convention Center Authority voted unanimously Thursday night to approve Interstate Hotels & Resorts' hiring of Mark Moosic as General Manager of the Convention Center & Marriott Hotel.

Moosic currently manages one of Marriott's hotels in Houston, Texas and has over 27 years of experience with Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a company which manages many of Marriott's hotels and will manage the one in Penn Square.

Moosic is a native of the area, having grown up in Londonderry Township, and attended Lower Dauphin High School. His wife is from Dallastown in York County.

"I actually started washing dishes at the Harrisburg Marriott. I was 19 years old and that got me into the business," Moosic explained.

"I think it's going to be a great project and I'm just excited to be a part of it," he said.

Regarding his experience, Moosic admitted, "Although I have never worked in an actual convention center, I have worked in several very large hotels."

At their monthly meeting Thursday night, the board also approved a number of Project Change Orders in order to save costs where possible. Altogether, said LCCCA chair Art Morris, nearly $2 million has been saved through "value engineering."

"The idea of value engineering is to decrease cost without also decreasing quality or functionality," explained developer Tom Smithgall of High Associates.

The board also heard reports from various subcommittees. Ted Darcus, chair of the Facilities Programming Committee, reported that "23% of the [entire] project is now complete based on hard construction dollars [spent]."

Joe Morales, chair of the Public Relations, Marketing, and Hospitality Committee reported that at his committee's next meeting, they will discuss the booking policy for the Hotel & Convention Center and also indicated that, upon the suggestion of board member Laura Douglas, the Authority is working to assemble a slideshow of project photographs to post on the Authority's web site.

The board also approved an engagement letter with Walz, Deihm, Geisenberger, Bucklen, & Tennis, P.C. of Lancaster to retain that firm as the Authority's accountant.

Approximately 25 persons attended Thursday night's meeting. The next full board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 20th at 7:00 pm in City Council chambers at Southern Market Center.
 

11/29/07

Planning Commission Wins Award for Public Outreach Video

It was announced at Wednesday's County Commissioners meeting that the Lancaster County Planning Commission, in partnership with S.R. Film and Video Productions, won a Planning Excellence Award for Public Outreach from the Pennsylvania Planning Association (PPA).

The award was presented at PPA's annual conference on October 29, 2007.

Scott Standish, Director for Long Range and Heritage Planning thanked the board for its support. He also showed both the Commissioners and the approximately 30 audience members in attendance the six-minute long video for which the Commission won the award.

The video showed attractions and landmarks from around the County, as well as interviews with local residents, while a deep-voiced narrator explained the need to balance farmland preservation with economic planning and growth.

The film is used for informational and marketing purposes by the Lancaster County Planning Commission

Commissioner Molly Henderson described the film clip as "pretty" and "very visually stimulating."

Other actions the Commissioners approved at Wednesday's session included approving an agreement between Lancaster County Children & Youth Social Service Agency and Prospectus Associates of Reading for foster care services at rates ranging between $42 and $131 per day, approving the hiring of a Lancaster County-Wide Communications employee "to assist with the 800 MHz Radio Project," and approving the sale of Agricultural Conservation Easements for three small local farms with acreages between 22 and 75.

11/28/07
Average Household to Pay $40 More Annually in County Taxes Under Proposed 2008 County Budget
 
The County unveiled its proposed 2008 budget at Wednesday's weekly meeting of the County Commissioners.
 
The $320 million budget is $10.5 million higher than the budget for 2006, and that equates to an average $500 annually per County household - $40 higher than last year.
 
One of the most significant anticipated expenses for 2008 will be the renovations to the Lancaster Amtrak station, which is anticipated to cost over $5 million dollars. Other significant expenditures include a $2 million prison services medical contract, a $1 million increase in debt service, and a $2 million payroll benefit increase.
 
Commissioner Molly Henderson spoke approvingly of the upcoming projects. "There are things on here which I think are in the best interests of Lancaster County," she said. "The Amtrak station - that is way overdue; and farmland preservation - the people in this county want that."
 
"I believe we have been frugal," she continued, cautioning, "this is still open for discussion; this is not the final budget."
Commissioners Henderson and Nelson both expressed their gratitude to the County Department heads for their cooperation in assembling the budget.

Commission Chair Dick Shellenberger was not present at Wednesday's session.
 
While a faint murmur went through the crowd upon the announcement that the average County household will pay $40 more in taxes this year as opposed to last year, other County residents were not upset.
 
"The $40 per household is really a pittance to pay run the type of County we have," said Bonnie Miller of Manor Township. "People aren't going to come here for the convention center, they're going to come here to see farmland and our historic heritage," she added.
 
Similarly, April Koppenhaver of Mulberry Street, Lancaster City said, "I don't begrudge one penny that I spend in County taxes, although the one section that seems unapproachable is the judicial budget."