The views in this post are my own. I am not speaking on behalf of Conshohocken Borough Council or the Borough of Conshohocken administration.
I’ve received several questions about the home rule charter question on the ballot this Tuesday, November 3. I’d like to share my perspective with anyone looking for more information.
I’ll focus on three points I think are worth sharing with the wider community:
- Many of the goals put forward by supporters of the commission, “The Conshy 7”, already exist, or can be achieved under our current form of government.
- A “YES” vote will not lead to chaos in borough operations.
- Potential outcomes if the community votes “YES.”
Point 1: Many of the proposed goals can already be achieved. “The Conshy 7” has identified several potential benefits of a commission. The important point to understand is that nearly all their initiatives can be addressed through the system we have in place, below are a few examples.
Improve Representation through at-large or ward changes. If the public wants representation changed or council structure altered anyone can propose this change and we’d be open to hearing it, we recently changed ward boundary lines to make them more evenly distributed.
We don’t need at-large representation to get more candidates, anyone can run in any ward. You don’t need any specialized experience or affiliation with a political party; you just need to care about the community. I know this because that’s what I did as an independent candidate three years ago and I’m happy to speak to anyone who wants to be involved on a council level.
Stronger environmental protection. The borough has a very active Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) with open seats. Residents interested in this issue can apply and share their priorities with council.
Safeguards for public utilities. This concern appears to stem from the borough’s past review of a potential sale of the sewer system. The borough did not sell the system, and council has not revisited the topic since. If there is public support for additional safeguards, they can be proposed to and considered by council without a study commission.
This council does respond to public input, as it did with the recent “party-status” request related to the data center matter.
Point 2: A “YES” vote will not cause chaos.
Our borough council and administration are stable under the current structure. The borough’s administrative staff are experienced professionals, and the current council is committed to keeping the borough operating effectively throughout any study process.
Some messaging in this election season has suggested that a “yes” vote would lead to chaos and you should vote “no” to a commission. Rather than tell you how to vote I believe residents are better served by a clear explanation of what currently exists in our government today and what potential outcomes will come from a “yes” vote. Your vote is your own decision.
Point 3: What a “YES” vote would actually mean.
There will be costs. A government study commission is funded by the borough. Legal fees, consultant fees, and required public notices are paid for with taxpayer dollars.
Taxing authority could change. The seven-member commission would study borough government and could recommend a home rule charter, which would then go to voters for approval. If a charter were adopted, it could give the borough broader tax authority than it has under the Borough Code. That does not mean taxes would go up, but it is a possibility residents should understand.
Some projects may slow down. While a commission does its work, some borough projects and initiatives may be paused until we know whether a charter will be proposed, what the charter would include, and whether voters will ultimately approve the charter.
Final thoughts
Neither side of the home rule commission question is telling the whole story.
Conshohocken’s government does not have to stay the same. We can make changes as a community, and we should look for improvement whenever possible. If we as a community decide that we want “The Conshy 7” or any other group to look at the government and determine what they believe would be best that’s fine but understand that commission doesn’t guarantee a change that reflects us.
Through increased participation and dialogue, we can change our government, its structure, or its services if we choose to. That path forward is more demanding because it requires the best people in our community to take part by attending meetings, serving on boards and commissions, proposing meaningful changes and even running for office.
That’s a bigger ask of the community than creating a 7-person commission or doing nothing at all out of fear of change, but it will reflect the community and government we want.
If you’d like to get involved or have ideas for improving our borough government or community, please reach out. I’d welcome the conversation. Whatever your view on this question, I encourage everyone to review the facts and vote on November 3.
Ralph Frey
Councilmember, Ward 7 (I)
rfrey@conshohocken.gov
Image – Background newsprint by Olga_Z from Getty Images Pro via Canva
Headshot – Borough of Conshohocken