Taxpayers flee and many who remain look for a way out…
The good citizens of Pottstown teeter on the edge of their “winter of discontent.”
Residents and businesses bear the harsh realities of the historic dysfunction of our local government and, a wealthy county who won’t bother to wipe their muddy boots at our door step when they trash us. But, we can’t continue to sweep the dirt under the rug any longer because it permeates the very fibers of of what we’ve become in Pottstown.
The realities are evidenced in every facet of how we live, work and survive in this community.
A single snap shot of the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods tells a story of neglect, of rote, systemic incompetence and corruption in local government. Meanwhile – throughout all – employees who really care about the work they do and have much to offer are chewed up and spit out.
425 Lincoln Ave. Owner of Record: Williman Heuer of Sassamansville. The neighbors are suffering with the rodents and roaches that are teeming from this property. Nearby good landlords can’t rent their nice places for the unsightly mess this has become.
For many years, employees of the borough have sent out an S.O.S. that has fallen on the ears of the deaf. The dedicated among them are persecuted and defeated while others “act out” in covert duplicity, seemingly taking advantage of the culture of solecism.
Many of the leaders and managers in borough hall, over the years, have contributed to a work environment that is void of the kind of fraternization that builds loyalty among members of a “team.”
A “team” of people who work for us – to help grow and sustain a healthy, productive, safe and desirable community.
GOVERNMENT IS COMPETENT ONLY WHEN THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT WORK AS TRUSTEES OF THE PEOPLE. AS A SERVANT OF THE PEOPLE, GOOD GOVERNMENT MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO THEIR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS.
Should the people who work for us be vetted and chosen, in part, for their experience and commitment to serve the best interests of the people of this borough – not their own best interests or those of their favored subordinates and co-workers?
In fact, there are employees who secret internal documents out of borough hall, sometimes seen as a plea for intervention. We have managers disseminating inappropriate correspondences, (during working hours), that are not conducive to a professional work environment.
There are people in the codes department who think nothing of accepting personal checks from developers, while no bad deed goes punished, they’re given even more responsibility, promoted for doing something that should have cost them their job – at the very least. Can you imagine how that impacts the morale of co-workers?
The benefits of work go far deeper than money, a handsome salary doesn’t guarantee goodwill and loyalty.
Some codes inspectors favor some investors – friends really – who in turn are never held to the same standards as you and I, standards that are determined by ordinance and voted by our council, our representatives. Ordinances and laws apply to everyone regardless of who they may be related to or happen to know in borough hall.
There are councilors, present and past, who have no qualms about secretly discussing topics of Executive Session with members of the community – in violation of the oaths they have taken or, pull strings to assure that the borough will hire a company that has affiliations to their family.
In lieu of sound management skills $33,000 tax dollars were paid for an outside analysis of the codes department. Communication, management and good relationships with employees would have gone a long way toward understanding the issues that hold this department back.
We have a new borough manager, a 33 yr. veteran of public service in Pottstown, a former police chief who was chosen by council, in part, because they believed him when he said he has a passion for Pottstown.
However, upon running into an old high school classmate, sometime back, who inquired about his work, he referred to his job as, “just a job in a shitty, backward little town.” Comments like that are never forgotten.
Those are some of the urban legends that continue to negatively define this community.
Are these really the people that can lead us to higher ground? And how will we get there under these circumstances?
As one example of humor that has been allowed to circulate among employees in our local government the email below exemplifies a work environment that undermines the efforts of those who take their jobs seriously, it insults the taxpayers whose hard earned money pays to entertain our public servants and, it serves as a rank example of why we can’t get to first base in our efforts to move this community forward.
It’s time to GET REAL – REAL honest about everything. Because, although our elected officials and leaders may have buried their heads in the sand, employees and members of this community have not and there are no secrets, really.
