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COUNCIL SHOULD APOLOGIZE, NOT THE RESIDENTS
Wednesday July 30, Council held a Town
Hall Meeting on the General Business Overlay ordinance. At that meeting
it was disclosed that a council member felt certain council members were
owed an apology from individuals opposing the ordinance.
When the residents become annoyed with
government officials and literally have to kick down the doors of
government to be heard, it is the government officials who owe the
residents an apology.
It is true that the Overlay has been in
the works for several years and there have been public hearings. It is
true that the Planning Commission did a thorough job reviewing an
ordinance presented to them. An ordinance, written by staff in
conjunction with the MECDC. It is true that council held the required
public hearings. During the public hearings it became apparent that the
residents were not happy.
It was council that arrogantly dismissed
these concerns. Council told their bosses: “You had your chance, it’s
time to vote; “Submit your questions in writing and they will be
answered;” and “We’ll put that on the website.”
Resident’s requested more discussion and a
Town Hall meeting. They were denied, so on July 15, at their own
expense they held a Town Hall meeting. Council President’s response was
to delay the vote and hold an Official Town Hall meeting, to counteract
the “misinformation” from the Citizen’s meeting. The mayor even set up
special sessions where “genuine” questions would be answered. Make no
mistake if the residents hadn’t taken matters into their own hands
yesterday’s meeting wouldn’t have taken place and a seriously flawed
ordinance would have been enacted.
Vocal opponents are often wrong. The
majority is often wrong. Sometimes the right path for an elected
official is to vote against the majority. But for elected officials to
be dismissive because they think they know better is a far greater
wrong.
Dennis Pavlik
Murrysville Council
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