Opinion | Part 2 | Conshohocken’s Borough Council should have honored the agenda as published

As MoreThanTheCurve.com has reported, during the February 2nd meeting, Conshohocken’s Borough Council voted to advertise an ordinance that involved the eminent domain of 2 Harry Street, which is the Outbound Station property owned by Joe and Barbara Collins.

The agenda for the meeting that was published by the Borough of Conshohocken stated that prior to any vote there would be an opportunity for public comment.

The borough did not provide Joe Collins with this opportunity. He was told that he could only speak at the end of the meeting during a public comment period.

While MoreThanTheCurve.com reported on this previously, we thought it was important to show the video. If you think we have edited unfairly, you can watch the entire video here (the entire portion on this issue starts 01:20 mark).

@morethanthecurve.com Treatment of property owner Joe Collins by the Borough of Conshohocken, which is considering to eminent domain his property. #conshy #conshohocken ♬ Small Town – John Mellencamp

In another article, we shared what we learned when we inquired about this situation with the Office of Open Records in Pennsylvania. It is likely the borough did not violate the Sunshine Act, which covers items like when and how public comment is required.

But nothing prevented the borough from honoring its agenda as it was published (page 2).

As you will see in the video, Collins questioned not being allowed to speak prior to the vote and then relented when he was denied. It was only after Borough Manager Stephanie Cecco interrupted the meeting to clarify public comment did Collins further object to not being allowed to speak prior to the vote. Cecco then suggested he go wait in the lobby until the public comment at the end of the meeting.

Not a single member of the borough council or the mayor intervened to ask what the agenda actually stated in regards to public comment. Then they sat silently as a former member of the borough council and a former mayor who owns the property involved was told to wait outside.

The agenda should have been honored.

Is this what you voted for?

Let us know what you think in the comments.