Everyone's Opinion Newsletter

Palmer Brown

is no longer a candidate for Blair Township Supervisor

About Palmer

Vision

Goals

Experience

Accomplishments

Message to Voters

Budget Information

Reason for Running for Blair Township Supervisor:  To finish the job I started.  Blair Twp is a great place to live and work and I would like to keep it that way.  To me, elective office is an opportunity to serve the community and its citizens and not for personal gain.  I don’t do this for my benefit but for my (and your) children and grandchildren.  I will not accept any pay other than the normal pay ($156.25 a month) and actual expenses allowed for an elected supervisor.  If an elected official is hired as a worker (i.e. road crewman) as some are, he/she should be paid an appropriate wage.  However, I am of the opinion that an elected official should not be paid for a management or supervisory position.  The functions of that management or supervisory position are inherent in the duties of an elected official no matter how many hours it takes to perform the function.

A Vision For The Future Of Blair Township 

In March of 2002 I wrote the following as my vision for Blair Township.  As of today, I don’t really see any need to change that vision so it is repeated below:  

Blair Township is growing and will continue to grow.  In my view, the challenge for Blair Township is how to “achieve economic prosperity while retaining the qualities of rural and small-town living.” 

We must have a “vision” for the future of the Township or it will continue to grow without any sense of coherency or direction.  The “vision” for the Township should not be the ideas or desires of an individual or elected official or even that of professional land use planners.  Rather it should be a statement of a consensus of the wishes of the residents of the Township garnered through public meetings and surveys.   

Elements Of our vision for the future may include such things as:

     • Creating economic prosperity by increasing median household income and reducing unemployment;

     • Maintaining and enhancing rural and small-town atmosphere;

     • Protecting farmland, forests and other natural resources;

     • Focusing new development in and around existing communities;

     • Developing greenways along rivers and ridges;

     • Emphasizing excellence in personal and community development;

     • Enhancing the “quality of life” for all township residents 

According to Webster’s “New World Dictionary,” vision is “the ability to perceive something not actually visible as through mental acuteness or keen foresight.”  The Book of Proverbs says, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” 

Throughout history, great men and women have had the ability to articulate an idea that would capture the imagination of millions.  John F. Kennedy had a vision that “before the end of this decade, we will place a man on the moon,” and we did!  Susan B. Anthony had a vision of “women’s suffrage,” the right of women to vote.  In 1920, the 19th amendment established that right.  Earlier, William Penn had the bold vision of a commonwealth where people of many religious backgrounds could peacefully live side-by-side.  William Penn also decreed that for “ever acre cleared of timber, there should be two acres left standing.” 

What vision motivates us today?  Is our vision focused on improving our material position, on becoming a “better” person, or on helping others?  Do we have a shared vision of the future?  Do our communities have a vision of their future?  Is it a vision of strip malls and asphalt or one of neighborhood communities, productive farms and forested ridges! 

Our rural communities must change to survive!  While this concept at first seems contradictory, residents must plan for the kind of community they want their children and grandchildren to live in.  If we are to sustain high environmental quality, create jobs, and avoid the problems of congestion, pollution and sprawl, our communities must plan for the future. 

Blair Township, like other municipalities in Blair County, will feel the impact of economic turndown with plant closings and cut backs at other area businesses and companies.  Despite such setbacks I am still optimistic on our Township.  The Township offers a high quality of life that is available in very few areas of the country.  Despite potential economic problems, Blair Township’s communities, natural beauty and clean environment continue to attract new residents and businesses. 

Most of the Townships and Boroughs in Blair County experienced a population loss between 1990 and 2000.  Only Blair (15%), Woodbury (15%) and Freedom (10%) Townships gained significantly in those 10 years.  Most others, who experienced any growth, did so at a rate of only 3 to 6%.   

Some of the changes that are necessary to realize our vision include more municipal-level planning, enactment and enforcement of reasonable land use regulations and greater intergovernmental cooperation.  We must improve community infrastructure, develop both high-tech and traditional means of transportation and communications, conserve our productive farmland, forest and other natural resources and develop job opportunities in order to create and maintain sustainable communities.  As a Township Supervisor, I am committed to working in partnership with local residents, citizen’s committees and organizations, and other municipalities in order to make our vision a reality.   

As history has shown, a shared vision is a powerful force for change.  Seize the day! 

Palmer Brown

I want to prepare the township for the future.  Township officials can no longer be content with just “PLOWING, PAVING and PAYING” - plow the roads in winter, pave them in summer and pay the bills.  Blair Township is growing and will continue to do so but is incumbent upon us to manage and direct that growth.  Most of the Townships and Boroughs in Blair County experienced a population loss between 1990 and 2000.  Only Blair (15% growth), Woodbury (15%) and Freedom (10%) Townships gained significantly in those 10 years.  Most others, who experienced any growth, did so at a rate of only 3 to 6%.  We must have a vision for the future and plan our destiny and not just let the Township grow willy-nilly.  Unless we take action now, our infrastructure (roads, water, & sewer) will not be able to keep up with the growth taking place in the township.  We need to update our Comprehensive Plan (current version over 30 years old), update our ordinances (make sure they are current and consistent), address stormwater and flooding issues, diversify our development, and take the steps to levy development impact fees to help pay for infrastructure. 

 As a retired Marine with almost thirty-five years of service I bring extensive leadership experience.  I also have experience in running a non-profit organization (Rails-To-Trails of Central PA) and experience in municipal government (serving as a Blair Twp Supervisor from 2002-2007)all of which will help me carry out responsibilities as a Supervisor.  I also have experience in Planning, Programming and Budgeting that can be invaluable in municipal government.  I am knowledgeable of government operations at the federal, state and local levels and can work effectively with elected officials at all levels to secure funding and get things done.  I have knowledge and experience in land use and municipal planning which are essential for our future success.  I have experience in decision making – oft times making those hard decisions that people don’t want to hear. 

I served for almost 35 years as a U.S. Marine in every rank from Private to Lieutenant Colonel.  As a Marine I served and lived at locations all over the United States and the entire World, where I saw the good, the bad and the just plain ugly of many countries and communities.  When it came time to retire I realized what a jewel we have here in Central Pennsylvania and I returned to my hometown.

Still young and active, I needed to do something with a purpose and I served as the Project Manager of Rails-To-Trails of Central Pennsylvania where I was responsible for the Design, Development, Construction and Operation of the Lower Trail between Williamsburg and Alexandria.  Later I served as a Board member and President of Rails-To-Trails and also then again as the Project Manager for the Design and Development of the Canoe Creek extension of the Lower Trail.

I began to see some troubling signs in local government and in 1994 I made an unsuccessful run for Blair County Commissioner and then in 2002 I was successful in being elected as a Blair Township Supervisor.  I think my performance as a Supervisor was very good and we accomplishment much during my time on the board.  However, after I left the board things seem to have gone downhill.

Having previously served as a Blair Township Supervisor for six years from January 2002 through December 2007, I offer experience, leadership, proven abilities and dedicated service to the citizens of Blair Township.  In these challenging times, we cannot afford inexperience in our elected officials. 

Although there are other issues, the major immediate problem facing Blair Township is budgetary.  I believe there will be major budget shortfalls in 2009 and unless something is done, these will carry over into 2010.  In times such as these, the natural tendency of government is to raise taxes to meet the expected shortfalls.  THIS IS EXACTLY THE WRONG THING TO DO!  In an uncertain economy, the last thing our residents need is an additional tax burden. 

These budgetary problems cannot be ignored.  We must cut spending to match falling tax revenue.  I can and will take actions to correct these problems.  I have done it in the past and can do it again! 

During my time as Supervisor, the Township had an average year end balance of over $200,000.00; from a high of $279,000.00 in 2003 to $206,000.00 in 2007.  In 2005, at my urging, the Supervisors started a Capital Reserve Fund to pay for major equipment purchases and infrastructure improvements in the Township.  Starting that year and in each year up through 2007, a significant amount of the year end surplus balance was placed in that fund.  Also in 2005 I instituted a more realistic budgeting process, requiring input from the various Departments and a detailed explanation of expenditures and costs.   

Unfortunately in only one year after I left office, the surplus went down to only $10,000.00 at the end of 2008.  Furthermore, in my estimation the 2009 budget is unrealistic with projected revenues way above that to be expected.  If expenditures are not curtailed, the Township could be in real trouble.  In fact the Supervisors have already taken out a Tax Anticipation Loan and temporarily moved funds from other budget lines to meet current general fund expenses.   

During my tenure as a Supervisor, my total annual compensation was $1,875.00 plus reimbursed actual expenses of approximately $400-450.00 per year.  One only needs to check the latest budgets to see that Supervisors now are being paid upwards of $15-30,000.00 per year in addition to their annual compensation.

We need to meet and solve this current financial crisis and prepare plans for the future.  The planning for the future growth and well-being of the Township was started during my tenure but unfortunately after I left office it was all scrapped. 

I look forward to again serving the citizens of Blair Township.  It’s time to get the Township back on track.  You can help me do that. 

Budget Revenues vs. Expenditures (Since 2002) 
 

Year Revenues  Expenditures Surplus Deficit  

2002 $694,703  $649,362  $212,955

2003 $950,895  $884,673  $279,177

2004 $1,115,426  $1,162,381  $232,222 $46,955

2005 $1,040,029  $1,021,437  $236,572

2006 $1,141,456  $995,430  $242,633

2007 $1,072,067  $1,097,270  $206,633 $25,203

2008 $1,092,170  $1,188,008  $  10,795 $95,838

2009 $1,156,514  $1,223,390  $  - 0 -  $66,896 
 

Note:  In those years highlighted the Expenditures exceeded the Revenues by the amount shown in the last column as “Deficit”.  Had it not been for the surplus carried over each year the Township would have been unable to meet their fiscal obligations. 

Since there is NO surplus at the end of 2009 and because of the economy tax revenues are down, the 2010 budget will be most difficult unless spending is reduced.

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