Yesterday’s article on the Borough of Conshohocken’s inability to respond fully to a right to know request and the fact that it has a no-bid contract with the employer of the Democratic Party’s Area Leader generated a huge response. A few readers asked us to seek a response to the article from members of Borough Council, which we had been planning to do.
MoreThanTheCurve.com has asked questions of members of Borough Council and candidates for office since 2009 and we don’t always get a response (actually most of the time we don’t get a response). Thus, we are sharing the questions with you, the public, prior to our emailing them individually to each member of Borough Council and candidates. Please note that we added some questions unrelated to yesterday’s article.
We are going to wait until tomorrow morning to submit the questions, so you can comment on these questions and suggest others. If you do not want to do so publicly, feel free to email us at kevin@morethanthecurve.com.
Current Council Members | Democratic Party
Up for Election – Ike Griffin (Ward 2), Anita Barton (Ward 4) and Jane Flanagan (Ward 5)
Not Up for Election – Karen Tutino (Ward 1), Tina Sokolowski (Ward 3) and Colleen Leonard (Ward 7)
While it is not legally necessary to bid insurance, why do you feel not bidding it provides the best price and customer service for the Borough?
Has Jason Salus ever discussed with you the Borough’s insurance?
If not, did you know Jason Salus is an employee of Cohen Partners when voting to authorize the Borough Manager to act on purchasing insurance?
Do you think entering into a no-bid contract with the employer of your political party’s Area Leader raises ethical concerns?
How would you explain to a Conshohocken voter your support of entering into a no-bid contract with the employer of your political party’s Area Leader?
The Borough was unable to fully respond to a right to know request involving its insurance. What safe guards have been put in place in recent years to secure the Borough’s records?
Robert Stokley | Current Council Member and Candidate – Ward 6 | Republican Party
How do you explain your lack of opposition to the Borough buying insurance through a broker that employs the Area Leader of the local Democrats?
On another topic, you voted to select Keystone Property Group as the developer for the area now known as SORA West. In votes that followed to amend the zoning to allow for the actual redevelopment of the site, you recused yourself. What conflict came into play after the selection of Keystone Property Group as the developer that made you feel you had to recuse yourself?
The Borough was unable to fully respond to a right to know request involving its insurance. What safe guards have been put in place in recent years to secure the Borough’s records?
Kevin Dwyer | Non-Incumbent Candidate – Ward 6 | Democratic Party
What issue or issues prompted you to run?
You are running to defeat the only Republican on Borough Council. While current incumbent Democrats could lose, do you think it is healthy for a community to have one-party rule?
The night of your primary victory you thanked Jason Salus on your Facebook page. Do you believe it raises ethical questions when the Democrat-controlled Borough Council hires his employer as its insurance broker?
You recently posted on Facebook stating that you believe there is a lack of police presence throughout the Borough. In the comments under that post, you stated that the current council member for your ward, Republican Bob Stokley, hasn’t acted on the traffic issues impacting the ward. If Stokley hasn’t acted, why do you feel the six Democrats on Borough Council haven’t acted as well?
Carol Furtak | Non-Incumbent Candidate – Ward 1 | Republican Party
What issue or issues prompted you to run?
On your Facebook page, you question the recent decision by Borough Council to approve a waiver of off street parking for a restaurant on East 1st Avenue. You also pointed out in another post the issue of parking within your ward’s neighborhoods. Do you have any potential solutions for parking in the Borough?
Robert Moore, Jr. | Non-Incumbent Candidate – Ward 4 | Republican Party
What issue or issues prompted you to run?
On the ConshyGOP.org website, you question the inability of Conshohocken’s Borough Council to lease the retail space that is part of the new Borough Hall at West 4th and Fayette. The last we heard on the topic, they were negotiating a lease with an urgent care provider. Do you think that is an appropriate use for that space?
Paul Horning | Non-Incumbent Candidate – Ward 5 | Republican Party
What issue or issues prompted you to run?
You haven’t been active on social media talking about local issues. Why not?