Jenkintown Borough Council should sell part or all of 433-435 Cedar to recoup expenses and maintain tax revenue

These parcels may have been purchased by the absolute STRICTEST letter of the law, but the fact that Council seemed to go out of its way to keep this deal quiet until after the ink dried gives it the faint odor of malfeasance. There was no good reason to keep this quiet, and all the explanations that they had to conduct "negotiations" under the cover of Executive Session rings completely false. Read more: http://www.walkablejenkintown.com/latest-news/jenkintowns-pick-pocket-park-buy-now-ask-permission-later/

I have a severe lack of confidence in the Borough's Management over the last several years. Whether this is a good move or not, it NEEDS to be public. They are spending our money, not theirs.

I would like more information regarding the process of the purchase before rushing to judgement. Please note that I am commenting here as a resident of Jenkintown, and am not representing any position of the school board. I am all for additional green space, but the majority of homes in the borough have yards of some kind, and the school playground and fields are open space. I support selling the properties to someone perhaps with conditions about how much green space to preserve and what types of homes should be built.

Full sale of properties as soon as possible.

Why was this purchased so stealthily?Government of the people BY the people!Where was our voice?

I think the idea of developing green space in a town where open land is scarce is a good idea. I would certainly appreciate a park that our kids could use rather than condominiums. My guess is that the Borough Council acted upon the well- established community desire for developing green space when it decided to buy the property. I also think the concern over the impact from the loss of $9,000 in tax revenue is overstated. First, the value to the community in having open communal space to use and enjoy exceeds the tax income from these two residential properties that were in decline. Secondly, open green spaces makes a community a more desirable place to live, which in turn, raises the value of all property in the community. I think that in the long term, the economic benefits of having open green space will exceed the loss of tax revenue. At a minimum, the space will enhance the experience of those who live here. I am also perplexed by the idea that this purchase was made nefariously and without community input. I, along with everyone else in Jenkintown, had the right to vote for council representatives who are thus empowered to make decisions like this on our behalf. Decisions, such as this one, are designed to be made by the Borough Council, and not by referendum. That being said, the decision to buy this property was discussed at Borough Council meetings that were open to the public. While it is beyond fine to disagree with the decision and vocalize one’s disappointment with it, there was nothing improper about the process as far as I can see. And since the Borough is still accepting comment on how the land should be used, there remains ample opportunity for the community to discuss its future.

In what way do you imagine the council's interests diverge from the borough at large? We all live here in the borough. We don't have any personal interest in the transaction. Consensus was through a unanimous vote of 12 council members, after public meetings and opportunity for comment. And it is in keeping with goals of the 2035 plan, which was put together by a broad cross section of borough residents and business people. I feel zero shame about this.

Why exactly would we want to hide this? It was done through public votes, in public meetings, over months.

Nothing happened in secret. It was all in public council meetings.

Can't believe they purchased the property in secret and I had to find out by a neighbor's son!! I now know why my neighbor let the property go into dis pare!!

Everything Jenkintown borough does is always by word of mouth! Why don't they send emails as they do when they are collecting leaves?? Because they want to hide these transactions!! I say sell!!!

NEVER should have purchased properties Acquisition represents a disdain for best interests of community Consensus has been violated Your politics are what many Americans resent- what represent your interests do not represent the common good Shame on you

General fund taxes haven't gone up in years. Maybe you are thinking of school taxes. The school is not paying for this. It is the borough.

It was all done in borough council sessions. Votes all in public meetings. By elected Jenkintown residents. I am not sure how much more consent there could be.

A place for kids to play is just what we are hoping for. Should it be a playground? Or a skateboard thing? Some of each? Perhaps a community garden? Please come and contribute your ideas.

Thank you. A process for community input is being readied, and nothing is going to happen without that. And we were able to acquire the property at a substantial discount, and fund the acquisition with no tax increase.

Nope. Votes in public session etc. all above board and according to law.

Nope. No decision has been made, and none will be made without community pary.

Just to clarify, there is planned public comment on the specifics of the property use according to council. While I have heard council discuss a number of potential uses formally and informally, and green space seems to be a clear part of their agenda. They have not indicated any preference for a type of park, dog or otherwise.

Wow. Did I just read this correctly? This property is going to be used for a dog park!