Government & Politics

The threat of cyber-attacks loomed large at Thursday’s meeting of the Adams County Council of Governments (ACCOG). “A municipality is an enticing target,” said ACCOG member Ron Harris, who presented information to educate municipal leaders about the many online scams that threaten cybersecurity and outlined best practices that leaders can use to prevent those threats. Some of the issues municipal websites face are a lack of policies or outdated technology for addressing cybersecurity issues. Other problems are related to the limited budget many municipalities have and their need to be transparent. Best practices highlighted during the presentation include regular security updates, a data recovery plan, extensive cybersecurity training, holding vendor partners to high standards, and cybersecurity insurance. “This is here now,” said Adams County Commissioner Randy Phiel, who encouraged municipal leaders to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). He said that currently Adams County does have cybersecurity insurance, but warned that without MFA government agencies may not have as many options in that area. County manager Steve Nevada said that online scammers are becoming more sophisticated, hacking into local companies to give the appearance of being legitimate and then infiltrating email. “Really train your staff,” advised Nevada, encouraging the use of MFA. “MFA is a pain but it’s part of what we do to operate today.” He offered to help municipal leaders integrate MFA into their systems and urged them to contact him. Before presenting a legislative report, State representative Dan Moul highlighted “real hero” Cathy Wallen who attended the ACCOG meeting. Moul related a recent incident where Wallen, district office manager for State Representative Torren Ecker, saved a man’s life at a recent dinner. He said Wallen was the first to react when an attendee collapsed and immediately began performing life-saving compressions. She received a round of applause for her heroism.   Moul, the chairman of the agricultural committee, reported on a current movement to organize farm workers. “That would kill agriculture in Pennsylvania,” he said.  Moul also warned about a new type of avian flu which can be passed on easily and wipe out entire chicken populations. His third concern is the destruction of the county tax base by the Civil War Trust which buys land in the county for historical preservation. Moul threatened a class action suit against the state of Pennsylvania to bring attention to the matter and said he would pay the filing fees out of his pocket. “I’m looking after taxpayers, not the park service,” he said. The Adams County Planning Department is updating the county’s heritage plan and is looking to include lesser-known historic resources that are important locally. The county office is also urging local leaders to encourage people to fill out the current transportation survey that can be found on the Adam’s County website. Every two years the State Transportation Commission (STC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) update the 12-year program. As part of this update process, a public comment period is held which includes a transportation survey and an online public forum to collect public input. It will be available until April 30. After hearing reports from representatives of Bermudian Springs, Upper Adams, and Conewago Valley School Districts, Board member Bob Gordon said ACCOG has advocated for school districts for years and that a future presentation would highlight Adams County schools. “How can ACCOG work and assist school districts,” he asked. ACCOG president Terry Scholle agreed and encouraged all school districts to be represented at the monthly meetings. Robin Fitzpatrick, president of the Adams Economic Alliance thanked the county commissioners for selecting them as one of the 14 recipients of the ARRF monies for county projects. She said they will be using the $300,000 to assist middle-income home buyers with down payment assistance. Other projects currently underway include the purchase of 50 acres of contaminated land in Cumberland County, and a new small business loan program with a focus on tourism and restaurants that will be unveiled in April.  Carl Peters, Destination Gettysburg Director, Gettysburg has seen an occupancy rate increase of 23 percent over the same period last year. “Domestic leisure travel is very popular right now and that’s good for us,” he added.   Bob Gordon said he “hopes to make 100,” as the ACCOG attendees celebrated his birthday. “I am now ninety-plus,” he replied later when asked his age. Gordon serves on the Hamiltonban Township council and has been an active member of ACCOG for many years. Featured image caption: A cake and an ovation were presented to honor ACCOG member Bob Gordon, at Thursday’s meeting. The ninety-plus-year-old has been active in many areas of Adams County government for many years.

Five million dollars from the Adams Response & Recovery Fund (ARRF) was awarded to 14 projects impacting economic development and public safety priorities at Wednesday’s Adams County Commissioners meeting. Top awards included one million dollars to the East Berlin Area Joint Authority to support regional economic development, $500,000 to Adams County Technical Institute for land and construction of a county-wide career and technical institute, and $465,000 to South Central Community Action Programs, Inc. to provide affordable housing. Other awards included: $368,900 to the Gettysburg Combined Area Resources for Emergency Shelter for homeless housing $323,100 to Adams County Economic Development Corporation to assist middle-income home buyers with down payment assistance. $312,000 to the Adams County Arts Council for essential programming in the community. $281,000 to True North Wellness Services to increase behavioral health services in the county. $250,000 each to: Alpha Fire Company No. 1, Inc. for a new ambulance Anthony’s Way Foundation for transitional housing Adams Regional Emergency Medical Services for a critical care EMS unit Buchanan Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. for firehouse upgrades Heidlersburg Area Civic Association Fire Company to replace SCBA equipment for fire response. Lake Meade Property Owners Association, Inc. for an access road to provide upgrades to Lake Meade Dam.   Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services for a new state-compliant engine tanker. Commissioner Randy Phiel said that the county received $20 million from the American Rescue Plan funds and could have used all of it to offset the deficits caused by Covid as some counties have done. Instead, the county used half of the funds for that purpose, reserved $5 million for the updated broadband project now underway, and provided the community the opportunity to apply for the other $5 million. The funds were announced in September 2022 and 43 project applications were received between Oct. 24 to Nov. 21, with a minimum cost of $250,000. “I wish there had been millions more. All the applications had merit,” said Phiel. Commissioner James Martin called the process to determine the awards “very thorough. It was a well-informed decision and, when done, will make an impact on our community.” “Almost all these funds were used for affordable housing, economic development, or mental health services. Without a doubt, these are some of the most critical issues facing our communities. While all the applications were good, these three issues must be addressed if we are to move forward,” Commissioner Marty Qually commented. Awards and Honors The Optimist Club of Gettysburg honored Eric Beyer by presenting him with the 2023 Respect for Law Award. Detective Beyer is the coordinator of the Adams County Drug Task Force and a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. He also assists all other law enforcement agencies within the county from summary offenses to homicide investigations. Optimist Club Director Doug Miller said it is a positive way to recognize an officer. “He goes above and beyond,” Miller said. Commissioner Phiel agreed. “Eric is unique, adding to his plate over and over again. He never says no. There is no one more deserving or entitled to this recognition.”   A modest Beyer thanked the commissioners, his wife, his co-workers, and the Optimist Club. The commissioners named Adams County resident Timothy H. Smith Official County Historian.  The proclamation noted he has served as a volunteer, research assistant, collections manager, historian, and director of education for the Adams County Historical Society for over 30 years. He replaces Dr. Charles H. Glatfelter, former historian from 2001 until his death in 2013. Smith, who attended the commissioners’ meeting unaware that he was to receive a reward, said, “I am stunned and honored and hope I can fulfill the duties of the official county historian.” “Your distinction comes at a unique time,” said Commissioner Martin, referring to the opening of the new Historical Society facility in April. Martin thanked him for his long hours and accumulation of so much knowledge. “This is about protecting our future—making sure we don’t forget those stories,” added Commissioner Qually. “I can’t think of anyone else in this county who knows more or deserves it more. Smith, originally from Maryland, began visiting the area in the 1970s before making it his permanent home in 1989. “There’s not one who parallels him for his knowledge of Adams County history. He is the go-to guy for everything. The new county historical museum would not have gotten done without his basic knowledge about what should be in there,” said Commissioner Phiel. Smith will be recognized again when the new Adams County Historical Society opens at its new headquarters, 625 Biglerville Rd on April 15 with a weekend of events.    In other board business: The Agricultural Land Preservation Board has picked up more than 70 acres of farmland after approval from the commissioners to purchase the David and Beatrice Waybright Farm for $3,000 per acre. The county has authorized the advertisement to accept sealed bids for the maintenance repairs of 40 county bridges. The sealed bids must be submitted online at PennBID on or before 8 a.m. on May 3. All bids will be announced at the commissioners meeting on the same day. Municipal demolition and building permits will be reduced from $10 to $, but non-compliance fees will rise from $50 to $100 per incidence. The cap for projects requiring permits is now $4,300 and will be assessed annually. Residents must receive permits from the municipality in which they reside and then apply for county permits. Adams County business manager Steve Nevada reminded residents that the new email address went into effect in January and after April 3, the old email address will no longer work. The new email tag is @admascountypa.gov. The old tag was @adamscounty.us. If in doubt, Nevada said the Adams County PA website can provide contact information. The next meeting of the Adams County Commissioners will take place on April 5 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Featured image caption: Eric Beyer was the recipient of the Optimist Club of Gettysburg Respect for Law Award. From left, Optimist member Fred Darling, Commissioner James Martin, club secretary Daryl Aurand, club president Gary Rappoldt, golf committee chair Dan Mattern,  Commissioner Randy Phiel, Respect for Law committee chair Doug Miller, Commissioner Marty Qually, Adams County District Attorney Brian Sinnet.  Second photo caption: Timothy H. Smith was named Official County Historian at Wednesday’s Commissioners meeting. From left, Commissioner James Martin, Commissioner Randy Phiel, Smith, Commissioner Marty Qually. 

After two months of discussion at planning commission meetings, Carroll Valley Borough may be near a resolution to what has become known as the “trailer ordinance.” “I hope to prepare an ordinance draft for the next meeting,” borough manager Dave Hazlett told the Carroll Valley council. At issue is how many non-motored vehicles may be parked on private property. The January meeting heard nine residents speak on the subject, two seeking a limit on the number of stored vehicles and the others questioning why any limits were necessary. At the March planning commission meeting, it was agreed that three would be the appropriate number. “It’s hard to determine what that acceptable limit would be within the community. We’re trying to find the middle ground where we can please the most people,” Hazlett said. “We want to address those yards and homes that have an excess of what we consider reasonable and then create environmental or aesthetic issues,” borough council member John Schubring said. Other business A new 12-megapixel camera system and fencing have been approved to help secure the municipal services facility on Ranch Trail Road. The facility is used to house gas pumps and is also the location of the Carroll Valley impound lot. Hazlett told the council that people dump many trash items within the existing facility fence. The new fencing and camera will help to deter that practice. The borough approved the $8,870 camera system purchase. Bids for the fencing will be advertised and awarded at the April 11 borough council meeting. A resolution was approved for a cooperative tax collection agreement between Fairfield Area School District (FASD) and Carroll Valley Borough. The borough’s tax collector, Phyllis Doyle-Smith, will collect taxes for FASD. Hamiltonban’s tax collector resigned at the end of February, and the position remains vacant. The Adams County Treasurer’s office is currently collecting Hamiltonban Township taxes. A second resolution was approved for a mental health liaison to work with the borough police when responding to calls involving residents with mental health issues. Borough police chief Cliff Weikert said the new partnership had “no drawbacks” and would greatly help the department. Mayor Ron Harris advised residents who don’t wish to have hunters on their properties to take advantage of the purple paint law. A change, during 2020, in Title 18, the state Crimes Code, gives landowners the option of using purple paint rather than signs to post on their properties and alert others that lands are private and trespassing isn’t permitted.  A radar bill is once again being heard at the state legislature, and Mayor Ron Harris said he wants people to understand that such a bill is not a revenue generator for the borough. “It’s really for the safety of the people,” he said. If passed, the law, which currently allows state police to use radar devices to apprehend speeders, would extend that option to local police departments. Pennsylvania is the only state in the union prohibiting local municipalities from using radar to monitor speeding. Assistant borough manager Gayle Marthers thanked the 228 residents who attended the annual father-daughter dance in February. She also extended her appreciation to the council members and many others who volunteered their time and talents. The annual Easter Egg hunt will take place on April 8 at 11 a.m. Volunteers are needed to fill the more than 5,000 plastic eggs, and donations are appreciated. April 22 is medication take-back day in Carroll Valley. Hosted by the borough and neighboring police departments, in cooperation with the US Drug Enforcement Agency and Collaborating for Youth, residents can dispose of expired, unused, or unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Chief Weikert also wanted to remind borough residents that drop-offs can also be made at any time at the medical disposal unit located at the police department, whenever the office is open.

Gettysburg Mayor Frealing recognized the 197th anniversary of its founding and honored local resident Bob Mcilhenny for his work in creating the Gettysburg flag 20 years ago at its meeting yesterday. Read our story about the development of the flag here. Frealing declared March as “The official flag of the borough of Gettysburg month.” Frealing said the borough planned to hold an annual remembrance of the founding of the borough on March 10, 1806, going forward. Oct 13-15 will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the movie “Gettysburg.”  There should be some really cool stuff going on,” said Main Street Gettysburg CEO Jill Sellers. The borough announced that new “big-belly” trash cans have arrived and will be placed on Lincoln Square. The compacting trash cans hold more trash than standard cans. GARA representative Matt Moon said the annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held in the rec park on Saturday April 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.  It’s a free event; all ages are welcome.  The borough approved a bid for $65,913 from JDI Sites Solutions for Racehorse Alley Parking Garage maintenance. Glenny said he had met with 3 or 4 people who are interested in the job as a police officer, including some who live in town. “I’m very positive about how that’s going,” he said. Glenny said the department had purchased some new bicycles and that residents should expect to see more officers on bicycles in the near future. Glenny noted that bicycles have the advantage that they can patrol in some areas where patrol cars cannot. Councilmember Judie Butterfield noted that the idea of having bicycle patrols was seen as important in the initial drafting of the Elm St. overlay project. Glenny said Wellspan Health had agreed to grant $35,000 to the police department which will include new 2-way radios for the new officers, as well as funds to cover personnel training time. “There’s no free training,” said Glenny. Glenny said that although there was not much on it, the Gettysburg Police Department’s new Crimewatch page is now up and active. Moon said about 50 visitors participated in this month’s Black Balloon Day. “It was a somber event. I thank everyone for coming out,” said Moon. Butterfield said 42 people had signed up for the March recycling event to be held on Saturday and that there is still space to sign up. Borough Manager Charles Gable said funds from both parking and hotel and entertainment taxes were up in January. Frealing said she had visited the White House in Washington as part of Black History month, and thanked the many people who had attended the Annual Fire Department Recognition Banquet.

It was twenty years ago when Gettysburg resident Bob Mcilhenny received a phone call from then borough manager Charlie Sterner. “Sterner said he thought it would be a great idea if we had a town flag,” said Micilhenny. “He called me because I ran a business that fabricated banners and flags.” Mcilhenny said he started the design using a letterhead seal from the 1960s that had been created by Eugene Sickles, a Battlefield guide and artist. “The seal contained a lot of Gettysburg-related images. I thought that was a good place to start, but I boiled it down into something that was simpler,” he said. Mcilhenny said the council adopted the flag at its meeting on March 10, 2003. He noted that the original seal says “Ordained on Mar 10, 1806,” which is the day the state legislature officially created Gettysburg as a separate municipality from Cumberland Township. “March 10 is Gettysburg’s Ordination or Independence Day,” he said. “I added color to arrive at the final design which represents the intersections of the roads that led the armies here, a stylized representation of Lincoln Square, and a field of blue with 3 gold stars representing the 3 wards and also the 3 days of the Gettysburg battle.” McIlhenny said he got a lot of support and advice during the project. “I talked to a flag expert named Whitney Smith who ran the flag research center in Massachusetts. Smith coined the term vexillology which refers to the study of flags.” “I asked Smith about the design and he wrote back saying. ‘I hope that you will be in a position to encourage the adoption of this handsome, distinctive, unique, and symbolic flag.’” Mcilhenny said Caroline Smith on the borough council was instrumental in getting the flag approved. “Sterner told the captain of the guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg about the flag, and the ship adopted it as its house flag. It’s displayed on board and flown in battle and while special guests are on board,” said McIlhenny. “Crew members sometimes come to town to help out, and they wear the emblem of the Gettysburg flag on their work shirts.  The ship uses the flag as a symbol.” Featured image caption: USS Gettysburg; Modern flag; Mcilhenny

At their regular monthly meeting yesterday, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $25,000 Medical Marijuana Grant for the Cumberland Township Police Department. The grant had been awarded in December 2022 by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crimes and Delinquency (PCCD) as part of opening funding opportunities to all Pennsylvania municipal police departments to support “emerging issues that law enforcement faces or will face related to the enforcement of the Medical Marijuana Act.” Police Chief Matthew Trostel and Officer Ryan Eiker, the designated certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) for the department, provided an official release with details and outlined the background and plans for use of the grant money which includes: Purchase of 10 Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) Devices: One to be assigned to the department’s DRE, Officer Eiker, and the other devices to replace the department’s current PBTs that had been in service for about 8 years and “are at the end of their service life”.  The devices will be purchased through the Pennsylvania DUI Association, which will also provide the plastic straws and servicing of the devices. Medical Marijuana Workshop: Officers will attend training to learn about the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Law and related issues that law enforcement faces daily. Funding will also pay for overtime to backfill shifts and keep sufficient manpower to cover the department’s schedule. Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) Training:  One officer will be sent to this training which is “designed to give a better understanding of different types of impairment, including marijuana impairment”. Training will include a review of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and “instruction on different drug categories, signs and symptoms that could be seen from the drug categories ingested”, as well as additional roadside tests. Attendance at the Pennsylvania DUI Association Conference:  Funding was further secured to send one DRE officer to the PA DUI Association Conferences in 2023 and 2023 to receive continuing education hours for DRE Recertification. The conference is held in the Fall; locations vary from year to year.  Funds will also cover salary, lodging, and mileage expenses related to the officer’s attendance. The Board congratulated the presenters and unanimously authorized signing on the grant award notification. Other Business: Oak Lawn Cemetery/County of Adams Rezoning Request:  Following a public hearing that had immediately preceded the BOS meeting, the Board approved a proposed zoning map amendment requested by Adams County, to rezone the property located at 1380 Chambersburg Road (approx. 9.6 acres of a 25.4-acre tract) from Institutional (INS) to Mixed Use (MX) zoning. Township Manager, David Blocher, reported that the township had passed its 2022 audit with no issues. He thanked the previous township manager for assisting in the audit process. Board member Chris Biggins also expressed her thanks for the excellent work performed by the management office. A hearing date was set for April 5, at 5:00 pm, to review the BR Smith Properties Conditional Use Request for a campground in the Mixed Use zoning district. Motions proposed by the Finance Committee regarding a donation of ARPA funds to the local SPCA as well as various bank transactions were approved by the Board. The Board reviewed and approved the previously proposed Police Department Promotion Policy for final signature. A Gettysburg citizen addressed the board, voicing concerns regarding the Browns Ranch on Redding Lane. Certain activities on and around the property, including a great deal of nightly movement, made him wonder if there were Black Ops activities or “other shady stuff” going on at the property and if he needed to be worried. Chief Trostel assured him that, from a law enforcement perspective, there was no need for safety concerns. Further details on each of the Engineering Projects, Bills/Budget approvals, and Committee Reports presented at the meeting can be found in the Regular Meeting Agenda:  February 28, 2023 CT Meeting Agenda, and will be available on the Cumberland Township website, once the minutes of this meeting have been posted:  Cumberland Township BOS Meetings 2023.

It’s a sobering thought. According to the Adam’s County Coroner’s Office, 119 people have lost their lives in the county to opioid overdoses since 2015. Lisa Lindsey, data prevention specialist with the Center for Youth and Community Development, told the commissioners on Wednesday morning that the number of deaths in Adams County from overdoses in 2022 was 5, down 12 from the previous year. To honor those working to improve the odds, Adam’s County Commissioners have proclaimed Black Balloon Day on Mar. 6, 2023. On that day the county’s Overdose Awareness Taskforce members will distribute free naloxone and virtual black balloons on Lincoln Square from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The vision of the taskforce is to educate the public on opioid overdose, support those who are addicted, and save lives. Begun in Massachusetts in 2016, Black Balloon Day is a time to remember and honor those lost to opioid overdose deaths and is now an international event. Matthew Moon, a taskforce member for the past five years, said there is a great deal of stigma regarding opioid drug use with the widespread belief that it is only prevalent among addicts and those who purchase street drugs. “But it has to do with prescription drugs: people overdosing in their own homes. It’s as simple as an elder forgetting they have already taken their medication. The prevalence of opioids in the last decade is endemic,” he said. Gettysburg’s Mercy House offered a continuum of care for addicts provided by Recovery Advocacy  Services Empowerment which runs similar programs in other counties. However, the group could no longer offer services due to financial challenges as of Dec. 20. Commissioner Randy Phiel hopes there will be a solution to the problem within the next two or three months. The county is interviewing other agencies that may be able to replace RASE. Tax Collection Assistance Provided The county treasurer’s office has taken on the role of tax collector for Bendersville Borough, Upper Adams School District, and Hamiltonban Township. The county treasurer’s office currently assists Abbottstown and Arendtsville boroughs, bringing the total number to five. County Treasurer Christine Redding said they are unsure whether Fairfield Areas School District (FASD) will also join the growing list since those taxes were collected by the Hamiltonban tax collector, who retires at the end of February. FASD business manager Tim Stanton said the school district would address the tax collection issue at Monday’s board meeting. “We appreciate the work you and your staff are doing as tax collectors,” Phiel commented. He said he appreciated that the treasurer’s office was committing to this challenge without additional personnel but indicated if the trend continues, more help might be necessary. Responding to a question regarding reimbursement from Commissioner Qually, Redding said her office would be receiving the same payment as independent tax collectors would get in those jurisdictions. Other Board Business The commissioners approved a Grant Agreement with the Land Conservancy of Adams County for $260,000 for the 628-acre Hartlaub Grassland Project in Mt. Pleasant Township. The funds, which will come from the county’s Parks and Recreation and Green Space Grant Program, will be augmented with $1.6 million from the federal grassland projects. As part of a 10-year plan, the Department of Emergency Services will receive a one-ton ductless split system rooftop HVAC. The new system will cost nearly $100,000. It will replace the 20-year-old system, which causes humidity problems within the building. An application will seek federal grant funding of $107,503 to support victim advocacy in the County between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024. There is no county match required. The 2020 Community Development Block Grant between Adams County and Keystone Health will allocate $228,423 for a mobile clinic and $40,312 for a telehealth project. Both will address the needs of farm workers in rural areas of the county. The next county commissioners’ meeting will take place Mar. 8 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the county courthouse.

The Gettysburg Planning Commission considered Tuesday evening a proposal from the Borough Council to create an ordinance that would allow event venues in several zoning districts across the borough. The commission acts in an advisory role to the Borough Council and will share its findings with it. Saying event venues with outdoor activities and events have a greater likelihood of impacting neighboring homes and businesses than other traditional business and civic uses, especially in a small-town setting such as Gettysburg, the commission recommended the council allow individual event venue applications to be determined via special exception issued by the zoning hearing board. The commission said this procedure, rather than allowing the use “by right”, would help ensure a future proposed project met all the criteria in the ordinance, plus additional requirements if deemed necessary for public health, safety, and welfare. The procedure would also provide a forum for owners of potentially-affected properties to give input. The commission also made recommendations about the current proposal, including: retaining the 2,000 square foot limitation on non-residential uses in the R-2 portion of the Elm Street Overlay, to protect the neighborhood scale and character. Revising or restoring limits on allowed days of the week, and how late operations/noise could take place for outdoor activities to minimize impacts (these were in earlier drafts of the ordinance.) In public comments to the commissioners, speakers: Noted that the events venue ordinance, as written, would insert a large commercial use into the Elm Street Overlay District, which is a densely-built neighborhood surrounding West High and South Washington Streets, where residents would be affected by noise, traffic, and crowds. Questioned why this ordinance would insert a large commercial use into the Elm Street Overlay while, in another matter, the Council is planning to remove 49 Colt Park properties from Tourist Commercial zoning to protect the residents.

The Gettysburg Borough council has authorized a public hearing to be held on Monday, March 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the borough office at 59 E. High St. to consider its proposal to establish and regulate event venues in the borough. The borough has spent many months discussing the new ordinance which arose from a request for such a venue from a business on High St. The proposal has been criticized by residents as likely to change the character of the borough. The text of the ordinance that the council voted on does not seem to have been made public at this time and the borough has not replied to requests to share it. Council President Wes Heyser voted against the motion. The borough unanimously approved a public hearing to be held on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. to consider a proposed amendment to reclassify 49 properties located along and adjacent to the northwestern side of Johns Avenue and the southeastern side of Highland Avenue from their current Tourist Commercial classification to R-1 Low-Density Residential. “This is our attempt to remedy a situation that we thought was problematic that residential housing inventory was in danger of being removed and turned into commercial use at a time when our residential housing property is scarce. So this is an attempt to remove a threat to that inventory and make sure these properties remain residential,” said council member Matt Moon. Planning Director Carly Marshall said the borough would mail letters to property owners in the affected areas explaining the proposed changes to them. We’ll also be posting numerous signs in that area with information about the hearing and the affected changes,” she said. The text of the ordinance that the council voted on does not seem to have been made public at this time and the borough has not replied to requests to share it. Other Announcements: The borough is considering a new ordinance related to satellite dishes and solar modules. In his report from the rec park, Carr said registration for Little League is open, and that the Black History club group meetings will continue in February. Councilmember Judie Butterfield reported on the recent Adams County Council of Governments meeting. Moon reminded people about the upcoming Black Balloon Day events which be held on March 6. Councilmember Patricia Lawson said last weekend’s festival honoring film director Ken Burns was “wildly successful.” March 18 is the next electronics recycling date. Public Works Director Chad Harbaugh said The Culp’s Run restoration project is “essentially done.” Maintenance on the Racehorse Alley Parking Garage will occur this year. Harbaugh said the repairs were primarily aesthetic. “The main goal this year is to preserve the outside, removing the old, cracked, caulking, doing some power washing, and replacing some concrete that is falling,” he said. Borough Manager Charles Gable said the parking department had a surplus of $184,000 for the year fiscal year 2022 and that there is $1.5 million in the borough’s general fund. “The borough remains in good physical condition from an operating perspective,” he said. Gable and Mayor Frealing visited PA Sen. Rob Casey in his office in Washington D. C. on Jan 31. The visit, Gable said, was to “inform him and educate him and his staff on the RAISE application that the borough will be submitting later this month, and to gain his support for it. “The senator is actually very versed in our project here,” said Gable. The borough will enter into an agreement with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation related to the construction of the Gettysburg Gateway Connectivity Project. Main Street Gettysburg CEO Jill Sellers thanked the borough for their work in helping the film crew for “A Gettysburg Christmas,” and reminded businesses that the application window for façade grants begins on Monday. Sellers said the borough was working with America250 to prepare for the event to be held in 2026. “We’ve got some really cool things that are in the works so stay tuned for more announcements on that,” she said.

Gettysburg and Adams county residents will be receiving their annual tax bills in the next few weeks. Gettysburg Tax Collector Lisa Angstadt explains: The Occupation Tax is charged to every Gettysburg borough resident who is currently employed and the amount is based on the occupation reported to the County Tax Services office. If a resident is unemployed or retired, they are not required to pay the Occupation Tax. If your employment status changes, you must report the change to Tax Services as soon as possible. You will also get a  Per Capita Tax Bill, sometimes called the “Head Tax,” which is $10.00 if you live in Gettysburg. You’ll only get a Real Estate Tax bill if you own property.  The amount of the tax is based on the current assessed value of the property. If you pay these taxes early (by April 30) you will get a 2 percent discount on your tax. But if you pay them late (after July 1), a 10 percent penalty is applied. You can mail in your Gettysburg borough taxes with a check, pay in person, or online at https://www.govpaynow.com/gps/user/cyg/plc/a0051u If you have any questions please call 717-334-9450 or email gburgborotc@gmail.com.

The week of Feb. 4 to 11 was proclaimed Court Reporting and Caption Week 2023 by the Adams County Commissioners at its Wednesday meeting. “Court reporting is essential to the health of the judicial system,” said Commissioner James Martin. “I wish there was some way to see how many miles of text these ladies put down over these years. Thank you for that work,” he added. Corrie Ondrizek, Chief Court Reporter, said the three Adams County Court Reporters – herself, Jennifer Nice, and Karen Brown, continue to improve by keeping up with the new technology, including real-time translation. “It provides simultaneously what is being said and taken by us on a second screen for the Judge and/or hearing impaired participants,” she said. Ondrizek said court reporters are still necessary even with current technology in audio and visual recording because there is always a chance of failure. “Proceedings take attorneys’, parties’, and witnesses’ valuable time and money. To expend that money and effort and not to have a record is devastating,” she said. She added that court reporters also make note of other happenings in the courtroom that an audio recording cannot see, such as when a witness gestures with their hands, nods, or shakes their heads. Ondrizek received an associate’s degree from Hagerstown Business College and later obtained a registered professional certification through the National Court Reports Association. She has been a court reporter for 35 years. Featured image caption: From left, Commissioners James Martin and Randy Phiel, Chief Court Reporter, Corrie Ondrizek, Judge Christina Simpson, Court Reporter Jennifer Nice, and Judge Thomas Campbell. 

The purchase of a new ballot sorting machine, at a cost of more than $200,000, was approved by the Adams County Board of Commissioners at today’s meeting. “We were given a lump sum by the state to help with the purchase and have utilized that,” said commissioner Randy Phiel. The Agilis Falcon ballot sorting machine made by Runbeck Election Services will not be used for walk-in voting. County manager Steve Nevada said the purchase would be covered through a Pennsylvania State Integrity grant offered this year. An extended warranty, as well as maintenance and software, will add an annual cost of $30,000 beginning in the second year. The new purchase, which will include the cost of setup and training, will streamline the task of sorting mail-in ballots. Right now, each mail-in ballot must be opened, scanned, registered, and verified for signatures and other issues by hand. Going forward, the new machine will complete those tasks. “These aren’t things we weren’t already doing. We are just increasing the efficiency and saving the manpower,” said Nevada. Nevada said he wasn’t sure if the new device would be ready for the May primary election. “It has to be built, installed, and the training provided,” he said, adding that it is expected to be up and running by the general election in the fall.   “People should know it was vetted very well,” said Commissioner James Martin, who added that there was a lot of comparison shopping and consults with other counties before making the decision. “We think it will help us with the mail-in process, and the grant covers it – an additional bonus.” In other election news, a poll place scanner/tabulator and Express Vote machine was purchased for use in Conewago Township at the cost of nearly $13,000. Commissioner Phiel said the purchase would help streamline the vote in one of the county’s largest polling places. The township, which now has two precincts, will likely see a third soon. County solicitor Molly Mudd said the state would probably sign off on the split from two to three precincts, but the process has not yet been completed. In other board business, the Adams County Commissioners presented a certificate of recognition to the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania for their 85th Anniversary. The mission of the Fellowship is to promote the legacy and memory of President Abraham Lincoln, the Gettysburg Address, and the dedication and history of the Gettysburg National Cemetery through educational events and programs. Founded in 1938, the Fellowship commissioned and maintains the Return-Visit Statue in front of the David Wills Home. “It’s only fitting and proper we provide this award today,” Commissioner Phiel said, borrowing from Lincoln’s address. He and Commissioner Martin thanked the Fellowship members for their work which garners thousands of visitors annually. February 5 through 11 was proclaimed Future Business Leaders of America week in Adams County. Gettysburg Areas School District (GASD) student Jacob Dickerson addressed the commissioners and thanked them for the proclamation. Eric Wadel, a business teacher for GASD and FBLA advisor for the past eight years, said the program offers students from ninth to twelfth grades the opportunity to participate in community service, leadership training, and competitions at the regional, state, and national levels. Last year, two FBLA students from GASD placed 10th in the nation.  Commissioner Martin said he was proud that students are taking this opportunity to become tomorrow’s new business leaders. “I encourage you to follow the same principles of leadership that Lincoln followed,” he said. Featured image caption: Feb. 5 to 11 was proclaimed Future Business Leaders of America at this morning’s Adams County Commissioner’s meeting. From left, Commissioner James Martin, Commissioner Randy Phiel, Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) student Jacob Dickerson, and Eric Wadel, business educator and FBLA advisor at GASD [Judi Seniura]. 

At their January Board of Supervisors meeting, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors welcomed newly elected Township Manager, David Blocher and appointed the following members to boards and commissions: Planning Commission: Stephen Tallman – Re-appointed Robert J Bunce – New Planning Commission Alternate Kathleen Heidecker – New Planning Commission Alternate  HARB (Historical Architectural Review Board): Marty Miller – Re-appointed  Lynne Wells Graziano – New HARB member  Zoning Hearing Board: Tom Marlowe – New ZHB member CTA (Cumberland Township Authority): Steve Toddes – Re-appointed    With respect to the Oak Lawn Cemetery project, Adams County Commissioner Chairman Randy Phiel, who attended the meeting, thanked the Township for their ongoing support in rehabilitating the neglected campus and for helping “close the final chapter of this tragedy”. Police Report:  Chief Matthew Trostel gave a detailed report on operational matters; ongoing training of various officers; numbers of traffic stops, crime responses, and service calls answered during the preceding reporting period.  He introduced the department’s new cadet hire, Dakota Myers, who comes from Maryland. Trostel also mentioned various communications received from Township residents, including a letter of praise for Officer Josh Goodling regarding his response to an incident involving a hearing-impaired person, as well as an anonymous donation of $2,000 to the department from another Township resident.  John Eisenhower Bridge Graffiti:  Chief Trostel updated the Board on the racist graffiti painted on historic John Eisenhower bridge, which has been classified as a hate crime, carrying with it enhanced penalties for perpetrators. At this point, police have not been able to determine whether the perpetrators are local community members or from out of town. Chief Trostel requested assistance, asking for the public’s help in reporting any information by calling the police dispatch at 717-334-8101. Adams County Crime Stoppers will accept tips anonymously and is offering a cash reward for information leading to the successful conclusion of the case.  The County is currently evaluating funding options to improve security in the surrounding areas, including the installation of lights and safety cameras to monitor activities. County Commissioner Randy Phiel reported that an anonymous donor had offered $5,000 to the county which could be used toward remediating graffiti from all bridges, including the Sachs Covered Bridge.  Trostel emphasized the need to monitor these areas and to raise increased community awareness. Police/Mental Health Co-Responder Program:  Chief Trostel reported on the current status of getting a co-responder program in place with York/Adams Mental Health Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (MH-IDD) (see also York/Adams MH-IDD Program), funded by a grant from WellSpan Health. Trostel reported that “mental health calls to the Township police department have increased substantially and the numbers seem to keep going up”. The program is designed to have a mental health co-responder assist police officers in de-escalating critical calls, including substance abuse, mental health, and medical crisis calls. The ultimate goal is to connect citizens with the right mental health resources, averting the often unnecessary need to arrest a person during a police response. To date, Officer Dan Barbagello has been the main police responder focused on mental health calls. Chief Trostel praised Officer Barbagello for an excellent job and mentioned that the callers in the community (currently 40-60 calls per month) are very comfortable with him as responder.  “Adding a dedicated mental health responder will free Officer Dan up for other police tasks”, said Trostel. The department is currently training three additional officers for the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) dedicated to this program. Once the contract with MH-IDD is put into place, Chief Trostel will introduce local MH-IDD responder McKenzie Johnson to the Township and provide a detailed overview of the program. The program will be shared with other police departments in the county and potentially include collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police and Gettysburg Borough Police. The Board unanimously voted to finalize and sign the contract with MH-IDD. Vice Chair Steve Toddes thanked the Police Department for outstanding service to the community and a well-trained, compliant cadre of officers. Other Business: Other agenda items discussed by the Board included approval of bills; reports by the Maintenance Department; announcement of the Supervisor’s participation in the Cumberland Township health care plan; allocation of ARPA funds; and passing various resolutions regarding financial authorizations presented by the Finance Committee.  More details on the individual business items on the agenda can be found at:  Cumberland Township Agenda January 24, 2023. Engineering Projects:  Township Engineer, Timothy Knoebel of KPI Technology, discussed and requested approval for various ongoing projects, as outlined below.  The Board approved all requests for motions submitted. Bruce VanDyke – Final Minor Subdivision Plan Cambridge Crossing Phases 2 & 3 – Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan Interchange Storage – Final Land Development Plan Benuel & Martha King – Final Land Development Plan Oak Lawn Cemetery – Final Subdivision Plan Adams County Historical Society – Request for Release of Financial Security SARA South Apron Phase IV (Phase 1 Construction) – Request for Release of Financial Security The Crossings – Preliminary Subdivision Plan – Extension request until April 26, 2023 Adams Electric, Lot 3 – Final Subdivision Plan – Extension request until April 30, 2023 CRE Biglerville Associates – Final Subdivision Plan – Extension request until May 9, 2023 Boritt Sewage Planning Module; Component One, 500 Plank Road MS4 – Update & Contractors Request for Payment on Basin Retrofit project Further details on each of the Engineering Projects and Budget approvals will be available on the Cumberland Township website, once the minutes of this meeting have been posted:  Cumberland Township BOS Meetings 2023.

As local townships struggle to find candidates to fill their open tax collection positions, collecting taxes seems to be unappealing as paying them. The problem became more acute last week as the Adams County Board of Commissioners accepted the resignation of tax collectors from Hamiltonban Township and Bendersville Borough . “Small municipalities are having a problem getting people to step up to be tax collectors,” said Commissioner Randy Phiel. When a  municipality loses a tax collector, it must either find someone to serve for the remainder of the elected position, receive tax collection services from the county, or ask a neighboring township or borough to help. The county treasurer’s office currently assists Abbottstown and Arendtsville boroughs in that function. “It is a complex job,” said Chrissy Redding, Adams County Treasurer and former tax collector for Straban Township. “The revenue is not in the pot, so to speak, to compensate for the time spent,” she added, “especially in the smaller jurisdictions.” Redding said each jurisdiction might differ in how it compensates tax collectors, but while she was in Straban, she received 5% of what was collected, in addition to other payments from the county. Tax collectors are elected for four-year terms, but anyone elected this year in the mid-term elections would serve just two years. First-time tax collectors must go through a background check, attend a class, and receive training on the software program. Redding said she appreciates the hard work of a tax collector and enjoyed the job. “The gratitude and opportunity to assist someone was a way to give back to my community. “When I bid farewell to tax collecting, that was a tearful moment,” she said. Tax collectors are not responsible for retrieving delinquent taxes. When the various tax seasons are closed, the reconciled lists are turned over to the counties or school districts for collection. The commissioner’s approved an agreement with JP Harris Associates, LLC of Mechanicsburg, PA, to collect delinquent county per capita taxes. The three-year agreement is at no cost to the county since the delinquent taxpayer pays vendor feeds to the tax collection firm. Commissioner James Martin reminded county residents to try to avoid delinquent tax payments, which can result in a hefty fine. Therapy dogs will comfort children The county will begin offering therapy dogs for Adams County Children and Youth Services clients and their families to help relieve stress during court days. The program will be provided by Keystone Pet Enhanced Therapy Services (KPETS), a non-profit organization from Lancaster whose volunteer teams promote well-being by sharing the power of human-animal interactions. “We are pretty early in the planning stages,” said Sarah Finkey, Administrator for Adams County Children and Youth Services, adding that they hope to have the program in operation by spring. “We’ve heard wonderful things about the program. Waiting to appear in court can be very stressful for families, and the dogs can be very calming.” Finkey said they plan to use the volunteers and their pets two days a month during juvenile court. “We’re excited about the program.” Sarah Graham, a board member, volunteer, trainer, and evaluator with KPETS, explained that the organization works with children and families waiting outside the courtroom before their court appearance. Graham recalled working with a young child who waiting to testify. When the child returned from the courtroom, they dove under the table where Graham and her dog were sitting. So Graham and her dog got under the table with them, and the child sat quietly petting the dog. “We are there to assist the child and the family as they go through a difficult time,” she said. Helping out in courtrooms is only one aspect of what the program does. In addition, they offer services to hospitals, schools, nursing homes, hospice centers, senior centers, rehabilitation and retirement communities, counseling centers, libraries, and cancer centers. Graham said there was scientific research supporting the effectiveness of the program. “Our motto is ‘touching lives, warming hearts; we make use of that human-animal bond,” she said.  Individuals who would like more information can contact info@KPETS.org. Ag Land Preservation Matching Funds Ag Land Preservation manager Ellen Dayhoff announced a $250,000 gift from an anonymous donor, which is part of the county’s 2023 agricultural preservation matching funds of $1,114,000. Dayhoff said it was the first time the program received such a large donation. The county matching funds, in addition to 2022 Clean and Green interest, totals nearly $1,200,000. This amount will be matched and perhaps increased. “We usually get a one-to-one match or sometimes more than one,” said Dayhoff. The county land preservation program has resulted in nearly 24,000 acres of farmland in Adams County preserved for agricultural or farm purposes since it began in 1989. Landowners apply to the program and are paid per acre based on an appraisal. “We receive more applications than we can service,” said Dayhoff, who added the program results in the preservation of between 800 to 1000 acres per year. The next Commissioner’s Meeting will be Feb. 8 at 9:00 a.m. in the county courthouse.

Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PA and Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — In his first moments as Pennsylvania’s 48th governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro touted his election as a rebuke of extremism and an embrace of bipartisanship. Outside the Capitol in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Shapiro returned to ideas he had reiterated throughout his dominant campaign, pledging to deliver on promises of growing the economy, decreasing gun violence, ending the opioid epidemic, and bolstering trust in democracy. “Here in Pennsylvania, we didn’t allow the extremists who peddle lies to drown out the truth,” Shapiro said in his inaugural speech. “We showed that our system works and that our elections are free and fair, safe and secure.” Shapiro succeeds Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat who served two terms. He must now navigate Pennsylvania’s divided legislature — which includes a state House of Representatives teetering on deadlock — and decide which deals he’s willing to cut in order to make headway on his priorities. Republican Tom Corbett, one of three former governors who had breakfast with Shapiro ahead of the inauguration, said he knows one thing for sure: The governor’s first term will only get harder from here. “This is the first day and this will be the best day being governor,” Corbett said. “It’s a celebration.” Also sworn in Tuesday was Shapiro’s running mate, Austin Davis. As lieutenant governor, Davis’ primary role is to preside over the state Senate. He will also chair the Board of Pardons, which hears requests for commutations and pardons. Davis, 33, has served as a state representative for Allegheny County since 2018. He is the state’s first Black lieutenant governor and its highest-ranking Black official in the executive branch. Davis reflected on his family history at his swearing-in ceremony, stating that the American dream is still real. “I don’t think in my grandparents’ wildest dreams they would have ever imagined that their grandson would one day be sworn into the second highest office of this commonwealth,” Davis said. Shapiro, 49, started his elected career as a Montgomery County state representative. He next served as a county commissioner, and later became the state’s attorney general, a role he held for the past five years. During his time as attorney general, he cemented his statewide reputation by signing on to dozens of national lawsuits against former President Donald Trump alongside other Democratic attorneys general, completing an investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, prosecuting energy companies for environmental damages, and defending Pennsylvania’s election laws against the Trump campaign and other Republicans’ efforts to invalidate ballots. Shapiro’s lofty political ambitions have long been well-known in Pennsylvania politics. In recent years, he channeled his decades of political capital into becoming the sole candidate in the Democratic primary for governor — itself an unusual feat in an election without an incumbent. During the primary and general elections, Shapiro dipped into a deep well of monied backers, spending more than $69 million overall. He received major donations from individuals and organizations from inside and out of the state, from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the political action committee of Wawa. In the general election, Shapiro faced state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), a far-right lawmaker whose platform centered on baseless claims of election fraud. Shapiro framed himself in stark contrast to Mastriano, emphasizing the GOP senator’s attempts to ban abortion after six weeks, reduce public school funding, and claim that climate change is “fake science.” Shapiro won handily with more than 56% of the vote, and he outraised Mastriano by tens of millions of dollars. In the months since, he has worked with a transition team led by some of the same wealthy donors who helped fund his campaign. That transition has been notably opaque. The more than 300 members of Shapiro’s transition were required to sign nondisclosure agreements that bar them from publicly sharing information about their activities, at risk of a lawsuit and heavy fine. The team is organized under the federal tax code as a so-called “dark money” group and does not have to publicly disclose the private interests that may be underwriting its work. Shapiro’s inaugural team, which will pay for his swearing-in day events, is similarly organized and is also shielding donor details. Previous governors have privately funded their inaugural committees and celebrations, but both of Shapiro’s immediate predecessors have disclosed the names of donors. Shapiro has had a reputation as a dealmaker throughout his political career. As a state representative, he helped negotiate a novel scheme that allowed Democrats to elect a hand-picked, cooperative Republican as state House speaker in order to maintain power in the chamber during a period of closely divided control. As a commissioner, his fellow county officials recognized his key role in brokering a period of unanimity on a board that had often been publicly acrimonious. During his gubernatorial campaign, he emphasized his pragmatism to attract independent and Republican voters who felt that Mastriano was too extreme. During his inaugural celebrations, members of the state House and Senate said they expect that approach will continue. House Democratic Appropriations Chair Matt Bradford, a fellow Montgomery County Democrat, told Spotlight PA that Shapiro is not an ideologue, and said he possesses executive, legislative, and political talent that made him an ideal fit for the office. “I think he’s prepared on day one to be an impactful governor,” Bradford said. A significant portion of those talents will go toward dealing with the state’s General Assembly. Shapiro inherits a split legislature: Despite three current vacancies, Democrats are expected to soon control the state House, and Republicans will control the state Senate. Passing any legislation will require bipartisan collaboration. Corbett said the parties are much more divided than they were during his tenure, which ended less than a decade ago. “The legislature is completely different, the politics are completely different,” said Corbett, adding that he believes Shapiro is already employing the right strategy of reaching out to both parties. Leaders and rank-and-file members of both parties in the legislature have said that they expect to focus on issues where they can find common ground, such as lowering the cost of insulin and raising the minimum wage. “We are excited to work in a bipartisan fashion to keep up the great work,” said state Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny) in a statement to Spotlight PA. Costa named funding public education and infrastructure as priorities. State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana) struck a similar note of optimism after hearing Shapiro’s inaugural speech, noting he sees several policy areas ripe for compromise. He also hopes Shapiro will have an appetite for cutting deals with the legislature. “I would hope that given Gov. Shapiro’s familiarity with the Capitol, his service in the legislature, that that would give him a better appreciation of the value of co-equal governance than former Gov. Wolf did, in my opinion,” Pittman said. Embed #3 But some members of Shapiro’s party are watching their new governor with trepidation. Progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb (D., Philadelphia) said he wants to see what values Shapiro actually upholds as a leader. “What I like about Shapiro is that he will sit down with anybody, and he will listen in good faith,” Rabb said. “My concern is that you can’t please everyone. And ultimately, we have to decide what our North Star is. That North Star could be political expediency, it could be justice, or anywhere in between.” Since winning the election, Shapiro has followed his promises of bipartisan pragmatism by staffing high-level cabinet positions almost exclusively with experienced public officials and attorneys, including prominent Republicans. Shapiro tapped Al Schmidt, a Republican election official in Philadelphia who gained attention for battling against Trump’s false claims of election fraud, for secretary of state — a role in which he’ll oversee the state’s elections. Shapiro also nominated Pat Browne, a former Republican state senator, as secretary of revenue. From 2014 to 2022, Browne chaired the state Senate Appropriations Committee. He lost his 2022 primary election by 24 votes. Spotlight PA’s Stephen Caruso and Angela Couloumbis contributed reporting. WHILE YOU’RE HERE… If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundationsand readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Featured image caption: Josh Shapiro takes the oath of office to become Pennsylvania’s 48th governor. [Commonwealth Media Services]

The Adams County Commissioners have approved a program that will provide Adams County Adult Correctional Center referred inmates with online Alcohol Highway Safety School classes. Twelve hours in length, the cost to the County for the classes is $175 per student per month. The classes will be funded by Probation’s 2022-2023 Intermediate Punishment Treatment Program Grant, administered by the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency.   The commissioners also approved a temporary professional services agreement with the Law Office of Rosina Stambaugh, Esq. was made by Sarah Finkey, Administrator of Adams County Children and Family and Youth Services. The law office will provide legal services to a juvenile in a pending immigration matter at the rate of $80 per hour effective Sept. 26, 2022, and expiring at the conclusion of the assigned case. Craig Yingling, Dave Wenk, Sidney Kuhn, and Doyle Waybright were all approved by the commissions to serve another three-year term on the Ag Land Preservation Board. Yingling will serve as chairman, Wenk as vice-chairman, Ellen Dayhoff as treasurer, LeighAnn Abraham, as secretary, and Mark Clowney, Assistant Secretary. The Preservation Board was established in 1990 to protect viable agricultural lands by acquiring agricultural conservation easements, which prevent the development or improvement of the land for any purpose other than agricultural production. Money for the program is allocated from both the county and the state and at its current level of funding is capable of preserving about 800 acres of farmland each year. An original service agreement approved in June 2015 has been amended to increase the rate or pay for David K. James, III, Esquire from the original $6,000  to $7,500 a year for legal services required by the tax services department. The amendment is for a term of one year. A second recommendation was approved for the annual maintenance agreement for a high-volume pressure sealer. This machine allows interim tax notices to be sealed at the rate of about 1,000 in five minutes. Human trafficking and domestic violence victims who are residents of the Adams County Adult Correctional Center will continue to be provided with services by YWCA Hanover Safe Home. In addition to victim services, professional training will be provided to ACACC employees and staff. There is no additional cost to the county. As the county reviews candidates for the vacant Chief Public Defender position, Paul Royer, Esquire, and a former county assistant, will receive a rate of $90 per hour as assigned by the county public defender’s office. The agreement is effective through Dec. 31, 2023. The next meeting of the Adams County Board of Commissioners will take place Jan. 25, 9 a.m. at the Adams County Historical Courtroom.

Gettysburg borough will keep its outdoor Christmas displays up, probably until mid-February, at the request of the producers of “The Gettysburg Christmas Story,” which will be shooting in town beginning Wednesday. The borough noted that the Trap, Neuter, and Release program for feral cats has been continued. Residents are encouraged to report cats that need to be neutered. For more information please contact the borough office or Forever Love Cat Rescue. Christmas tree collection continues. Trees should be placed on the curb, not in the street, or can be taken to rec park or 457 E. Middle St. for recycling. The borough said plans for the celebrating the 30th anniversary of the movie “Gettysburg” this year are underway. In other news: The borough will apply for $420,000 and $900,000 grants for stormwater and sewer-related improvements. The Police Dept. has received $126,000 from the PA Crime Commission which includes funds for officer retention. The search for two new police officers is beginning. “We’re trying to get the pieces of the puzzle into place,” said Borough President Wes Heyser.  The borough has hired a new full-time parking department employee. John D. Butterfield was appointed to the Borough Zoning Hearing Board for a 5 year term. John D. Lawver, Jr. was appointed to the Storm Water Authority for a 5 year term. Tammy Murdorf was appointed to the York Adams Tax Bureau and the Adams County Tax Collection Committee and Lisa Angstadt was appointed as an alternative to Murdorf on both committees. Council Memer Matt Moon asked Mayor Frealing to pass on good words to Chief Glenny (who was not at the meeting) on the occasion of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Moon noted “the professionalism and dedication your department shows to keep our community safe.” Main Street Gettysburg President Jill Sellers thanked the many volunteers who helped with town beutification and other projects in 2022.  Sellers said 1,324 volunteer hours were contributed which had a worth to the borough of $39,653. Sellers said last year’s Christmas Festival attracted over 7,500 attendees. “The reach is going exponentially,” she said. Statistics suggested people were frequently staying overnight and spending money. The borough will make available a total of $50,000 for façade improvements, funded by a state grant. GMA representative Chris Berger said GMA bills will increase 5 percent on the water side only this year, to keep up with costs and inflation.

The Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors announced the hiring of David Blocher as the next Township Manager. Blocher follows Ben Thomas, Jr., who retired at the end of 2022 after twelve years of service with the Township. “After an extensive search, the Board of Supervisors are confident that Dave is the right person for the job”, said Shaun Phiel, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Blocher has management experience in both the public and the private sector. He is also involved in many community organizations in Adams County. “Dave’s work ethic and enthusiasm stood out during the selection process,” said Phiel, “and his investment in this community is indicative of his commitment to Cumberland Township.” Phiel said Mr. Blocher’s starting date with the Township will be the week of January 23rd. Blocher said he is “excited to serve the community in a new way” and that he is “looking forward to learning as much as possible from Ben Thomas” as he transitions into the position.” Thomaswas honored at the December 2022 meeting of the Board of Supervisors for his financial vision, his procurement of grants for the Township, and his leadership abilities. Thomas has agreed to assist in acclimating the new manager to the Township duties and responsibilities. Blocher has “big shoes to fill” according to Vice-Chair Steve Toddes, “and Dave was selected because we have faith that he will advance the best interest of the residents and businesses of Cumberland Township.”

“Christian Nationalism is a radical, fanatical departure from the teachings of Jesus and any faithful reading of either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament, and it is also dangerously anti-democratic,” said Orrtanna resident Pamela Cooper-White, speaking on the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington by a mob of supporters attempting to keep Donald Trump in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from formalizing the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. The author of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn in and how to talk across the divide, Cooper-White spoke to a crowd of over 70 people, plus an additional dozen who attended via Zoom, at the Adams County Democratic Committee headquarters. The presentation was the first of what the committee hopes is an ongoing series of presentations and discussions. Cooper-White’s book addresses three topics: what Christian Nationalism is and how it relates to other right-wing religious movements; why people can be attracted to such a group, and how to converse with people who believe some or all of the beliefs of Christian Nationalism. Cooper-White began by reviewing the religious gloss that was superimposed on the January 6 insurrection: groups praying by crosses outside the Capitol building, Christian symbols merged with those used by Trump, insurrectionists praying inside the House and Senate chambers. Cooper-White said she found a group called “Jericho March blowing a shofar (“Joshua Horn”) “to bring down the walls of government especially blasphemous. Cooper-White addressed the political dimensions of the movement, notably the key role of Trump, who she said “tapped into a deep and broad reservoir of resentment and paranoia that has been accumulating for decades.” Cooper-White noted that many Christian Nationalists believe “God has withdrawn ‘His’ blessing from America because ‘she’ has fallen into profligacy.” She also commented on the limited “Christianity” in Christian Nationalism, noting that Christian Nationalist preachers ‘tend to leap across the Bible from the Old Testament to the Book of Revelation, . . . making scant reference (if at all) to the teaching of Jesus about love, healing, and justice.” Cooper-White pointed out the central and extremely dangerous role played by our state senator Doug Mastriano, whose rallies and web page are suffused with Christian Nationalist themes, who organized transportation for participants to the Capitol Building attack, and who made it himself at least as far as the Capitol grounds. She also reminded the audience of how close to home this movement has struck, citing the July 4, 2020 presence around Gettysburg of armed forces similar to those who attended the January 6 attack and the following weekend’s Black Lives Matter rally on the square, when groups of armed militia created an intimidating presence. Following her talk, Cooper-White engaged in a lively question and answer period and ended with an autograph session. Her inventory of books sold out quickly. “The Psychology of Christian Nationalism: Why People Are Drawn in and How to Talk Across the Divide,” Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2022. Copies are available at the Adams County Democratic Committee, 24 Chambersburg St., Gettysburg, PA 17325 and on Amazon.

There were multiple moments of applause and a standing ovation on Wednesday morning as the Adams County Commissioners bid farewell to Chief Public Defender Kristin Rice, who is retiring after serving for the past 19 years. “I want to say the last 19 years have been a joy. I’ve felt so supported by my attorneys and my office staff,” she said. “Everything I have ever needed, this county has supported me to do my job. I am extremely proud to have been a part of this service we provide to our citizens.” Rice joined the Adams County legal system in 2003 and assumed the role of Public Defender in 2011. She plans to continue working at the law firm of Wolfe, Rice & Quinn, LLC., which she opened with her husband in 1986. “It is a privilege to talk about this wonderful woman,” said Adams County Court of Common Pleas Judge Christina M. Simpson.  Simpson said she once worked across the aisle from Rice as the assistant district attorney and that they often argued against each other in court. “But it was always with grace, dignity, and mutual respect. The community owes her a debt of gratitude, not just for her role in the justice system but for the care in her heart for her clients—which is rare and admirable in her position,” she said. “You’ve been an advocate, a contemporary, and always on the other side,” said District Attorney Brian Sinnett. “I have the greatest respect for you personally and professionally, especially with regard to how you always do what is best for your client. There is nobody like Kristin Rice when it comes to being a public defender.” Commissioner James Martin echoed the praise, saying, “What you do provides a link in the justice system, and you do it well. I’ve never seen anyone do it better. You do it with a whole heart and by making sure your clients have the proper representation in the justice system.” Presenting her with a plaque for her years of service, Commissioner Randy Phiel said “we owe Kristin Rice a debt of gratitude we can never repay.” “You’ve had a difficult caseload,” said Commissioner Marty Qually, who added he will miss her in the courthouse. “I’ve never doubted your caring.”   2023 Budget The final 2023 Adams County Budget was approved at Wednesday’s meeting. Not only is there no tax increase for the coming year, but a change in the budget brought its deficit down by nearly one million dollars. County Manager Steve Nevada said this occurred because of an increase in the hotel or “pillow” tax and the utility allocations. “The tentative budget presented on Nov. 16 projected using $3,586,790 of the appropriated fund balance. Since that time, we received finalized open enrollment data and revised utility allocation and are now projecting using only $2,636,774 of the appropriated fund balance,” said Nevada. The final budget can be found on the county website at www.adamscounty.us. Commissioner Randy Phiel reiterated that the county is in good shape, has a strong bond rating, and only uses $2.6 million of reserves. “That’s not bad for us. There are thousands of pieces of minutiae in a budget like this, and the process begins in July,” he said, thanking the many people who had a part in its creation. County taxes account for about 20 percent of a homeowner’s tax bill, with another 20 percent going to township or borough governments and about 60 percent to school funding. National Impaired Driving Prevention and 4D Prevention Month “30 percent of all traffic crash deaths in the U.S. involve drunk drivers,” Nate Sterner, youth director at Collaborating for Youth, told the County Commissioners. The county has proclaimed December as “National Impaired Driving Prevention and 4D Prevention Month.”  The four areas of distraction are drunk, drugged, drowsy, or distracted. “For young teen drivers, drunk driving is very dangerous, regardless of if they’re the ones driving or not. One driving under the influence citation (DUI) can change their life forever,” he added. “It used to be all about alcohol,” said Commissioner Randy Phiel. “Now we need to grasp the fact that more people are driving under the influence of drugs–and cell phone distraction is phenomenal—worse than it’s ever been.” Sterner agreed, stating statistics that indicated drivers aged 15 to 20 years represent the largest group involved in fatal crashes occurring because of distraction. “And 19 percent of drivers of all ages admit to using the web while driving, while 40 percent of teens say they’ve been in a car while the driver has used a cell phone,” he noted. Collaborating for Youth is a community-driven program focused on increasing services and reducing risks facing area youth and families. Other Board Business Nearly $450,000 was approved for a license and service agreement for software that will assist Adam County first responders. The contract with Tyler Technologies, Inc. of Yarmouth, Maine, also includes maintenance and support fees of almost $50,000 per year for as long as the county uses the software. Emergency Services Director Warren Bladen also received approval for a grant award to be used for attendance at two HAZMAT training conferences. The three-year agreement will end in September 2025, costing about $8,000. The cost to the county is $1,591 as a non-Federal match. Commissioners approved a modification request for the STOP Violence Against Women grant for $375,000 in federal funds to the YWCA Hanover Safe Home. The home provides free services for victims of domestic violence and operates on a 24/7 basis. There will be no additional cost to the county to provide employment readiness skills, education, and mentoring services for the inmate population at the Adams County Adult Correctional Center. The one-year agreement is with Equus Workforce Solutions, a Kentucky company with local offices in Gettysburg. Featured image caption: Adams County Chief Public Defender, Kristin Rice, is honored upon her retirement. From left, Commissioners James Martin, Randy Phiel, Rice, and Commissioner Marty Qually. 

The Gettysburg Borough Council will apply for two major grants related to needed stormwater repairs. Borough Engineer Chad Clabaugh said the grants were directed toward repair of failing stormwater system infrastructure including channel walls on “The Tiber” (Stevens Run). Harbaugh said the Gettysburg Borough Storm Water Authority (GBSWA) would be responsible for matching funds, which he expected to be about $500,000 if the grants are approved, and that $4 million in work needs to be done on the Stevens Run project. Harbaugh said GBSWA chair Mike Malewicki is looking through past records in an attempt to determine the ownership history of the various structures and walls around Stevens Run. Borough Council President Wes Heyser thanked Malewicki for the work he is taking on. “He’s steadily pouring through,” said Heyser. “We’re talking about a lot of money here. But we’re also talking about a lot of exposure and liability.” The council also: Adopted the proposed 2023 budget of $6,051,389 or 4.177 mills, which includes no tax increase as well as the hiring of two new police officers, new safety equipment, and funding for ongoing capital improvement plans. “[The budget] remains tax-neutral in a time that is economically very difficult for a lot of people,” said board member Matt Moon. Approved budgets/funds for fire services, the Community Development Block Grant, capital projects, debt services, capital reserves, liquid fuels, and revolving loans. Moved some reserve funds to the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT). Approved tax relief to borough residents who actively volunteer for fire or EMS services. For detailed information about this program, please click here. Borough members agreed this program would encourage volunteers to join local forces and that it would be expensive if the borough needed to move to paid forces. Re-appointed board member Chris Berger to a 5-year term on the Gettysburg Municipal Authority. Re-appointed borough staff member Sarah Kipp to a 4-year term on the Gettysburg Planning Commission. Approved a new employee transparency and accountability policy. Set dates for borough council meetings (generally the second Monday in the month) and work sessions (generally the fourth Monday in the month) for 2023. In other business, Police Chief Robert Glenny commended his officers for their work solving an arson crime in the borough and helping with the deer that was trapped in the Blue and Gray Bar and Grill earlier this week. “Officer Bryan Holden wrestled the deer to ground,” said Glenny.  “The deer was not put down but released to mother nature.” Gable said there was just over $2.2 million in the borough’s general fund checking account.  “That’s fairly high compared to other Nov. 30 dates,” he said. “That’s good news.” Council member Chad-Alan reflected on his first year on council, noting how well the council worked together and how much they had accomplished. The borough said leaf collection was continuing but would end by the end of the year. Main Street Gettysburg President Jill Sellers thanked borough staff and volunteers saying the 2022 Christmas Festival had been a success and that over 1,000 people had visited the planned welcome center on Baltimore St. Borough Manager Charles Gable said parking revenue for the Christmas Festival weekend was over $17,000, which he said was “essentially double” what the revenue was in 2019.

Gettysburg Borough will revise its employee complaint processes to make them more streamlined and more transparent. The goal is a standardized set of “progressive disciplinary actions” for potential infractions. The policy would help ensure all relevant parties, including employees, supervisors, and the borough council would be notified of the processes and outcomes of any complaints and followup proceedings. The new procedures would include a periodic review of complaints about employees and would apply to all borough employees, including members of the police department. “We do have a history of not always having a robust program that is followed,” said Borough Council President Wesley Heyser. “We are trying to correct a history of lackluster policy, that was not being applied fairly or universally,” said council member Matt Moon. Heyser said in his experience the council was often not informed about complaints and procedures. “I have rarely known about complaints filed in many circumstances,” he said. The council discussed who should be the arbitrator in cases of potentially wrongdoing, with council member Matt Moon saying that the council should make the judgments. Moon said that on the basis of his own experiences there would be times when supervisors were too close to employees to make objective decisions. Heyser said he thought the council itself could be biased by “outside pressures” and advocated focusing on staff to make the decisions. “I’m looking at the police chief and the manager.  Part of their salary justification is that that is something they have to do. That’s difficult but it’s part of being the boss,” said Heyser. Police Chief Robert Glenny said he thought the current procedures in police department were satisfactory and expressed concerns about the document. “I’m very comfortable that our personnel complaints policy is one of the best around,” he said. Glenny said he didn’t know what he would do if he were ordered by the mayor to do something he thought was wrong and that the policy could create issues related to criminal investigations and Garrity rights in cases where police officers were being investigated. “You’re going to get pushback from the [police] Union,” said Glenny.  The council will continue its discussion of the policy in November.

The national statistics are sobering. One in 4 women and 1 in 10 men experience sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime. Many victims experience concern for their safety, PTSD symptoms, physical injury, and the need to be counseled by by victim services. Showing support for victims of violence, the Adams County Commissioners proclaimed Oct. 17 to 22 as Week Without Violence and the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In thanking the commissioners for their recognition of Week Without Violence, Nancy Lilley, Advocacy Director, YWCA of Gettysburg, said,  “At the YWCA, we know that not all violence is acknowledged or responded to equally and that some victims go unrecognized altogether. That’s why, for more than 20 years, YWCA has set aside one week in October as a Week Without Violence. Join us from October 17 – 22 as we raise awareness, elevate survivor voices, talk with policymakers, and more, with a common goal: centering survivors so that together, we can end gender-based violence.” “I’m sure these proclamations come pro forma… but I assure you that for those of us who bring them, it’s a wonderful chance to highlight what we feel is important,” Ms. Lilley said, addressing Commissioners James Martin and Randy Phiel. “We’ve been doing this for 11 years now,” commented Commissioner Phiel “and I assure you that proclamations are never routine.” He added that the proclamations are an important way to highlight community concerns and celebrations. Commissioner James Martin concurred, saying that domestic violence crossed all social, economic, and ethnic borders and that it was time to end gender-based violence. Sarah Harvey, Assistant Director of YWCA of Hanover, Safe Home, underscored the importance of helping those affected by domestic violence in the Hanover area and throughout Adam’s County. Harvey said she was proud to provide services to all of Adams County.  Developed by the Hanover YWCA in 1981, Safe Homes offers: A 24 hour hotline and crisis response (717) 632-0007 serving the Hanover Area and Adams County Emergency safe housing and referrals to local shelters Legal advocacy, including assistance with filing protection orders Since 2019 the Hanover YWCA has included Adams County as part of its Safe Home coverage area. Harvey stressed that the hotline is free and confidential. “There are numbers in here that I would say are alarming,” commented Commissioner Martin, thanking both groups for their work in intimate partner violence. “Wish it wasn’t needed, but it is,” he added. On a lighter note, tiara-wearing Jane Rentsel, Special Programs Coordinator for the Tax Service Department, received a standing ovation on the occasion of her retirement after serving the county for 23 years. Daryl Crum, Director of Adams County Tax Services thanked her for her years of service, her flexibility and hard work, especially in the administration of the Clean and Green program. “She is the Queen of Green and Clean,” announced Crum, smiling. The Clean and Green program, enacted by the state legislature in 1974, encourages property tax savings by basing property taxes on use values rather than fair market values.  Commissioner Martin was not without tears as he thanked Rentsel for her work and her ability to “kick off my day with a time of laughter.” In response to a comment that the sun would shine on her first day of retirement, Rentsel joked, “It better. I have places to go and things to do.” In other board business: A $230,000 grant-funded program from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency was approved for the Adams County Adult Correctional Complex. Called “Transition to Success,” it is an alternative method to traditional corrections targeting first-time, low-risk offenders and probation violators. The program aims to provide them with the tools and resources to help them successfully reintegrate into the community. Current data suggests that the three-year recidivism rate for Pennsylvania is 53 percent, increasing to 71 percent after five years. Corrections Center staff hope to significantly reduce those numbers through the grant-funded program that will be used to refurbish two housing units, staff training, and purchase evidence-based treatment materials and other supplies. A public hearing to remove more than $40,000 from New Hope Ministries for rent and utilities assistance and contribute it to the Alpha Fire Company for Covid-19 response staffing and supplies was met without comment and approved. County Solicitor Molly Mudd later explained that the relocation of grant funds was a good move. New Hope no longer needed the original amount after the federal government provided funds for such assistance as part of its covid-relief program. Moving the funds was necessary to prevent the county from losing them. The board approved a two-year professional agreement with Mark Maas, P.I. for investigative work that the County Public Defender’s office may require. Maas, who will work on an as-needed basis, will charge the county an hourly rate of $75, not to exceed $15,000 for any individual investigation. Tax services director Daryl Crum received approval for an annual maintenance contract for billing software with Grandjean & Braverman, a Pennsylvania Company. Cost is $11,330, with any additional service to be billed at $115 per hour. Featured image caption: Domestic Violence Awareness Month was proclaimed at the Oct. 5 meeting of the Adams County Commissioners. From left, Commissioner James Martin, Mandi Howell, Gettysburg Advocate for Safe Homes, Commissioner Randy Phiel and Sarah Harvey, Director of YWCA Hanover Safe Homes project which provides Adams County residents with a number of resources.

Gettysburg Mayor Rita Frealing and nearly 50 other community leaders from across Pennsylvania met with senior White House officials and President Biden yesterday at the Communities in Action: Building a Better Pennsylvania event at the White House. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Senior Advisor to the President Anita Dunn, Senior Advisor and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Julie Rodriguez, Senior Advisor and Director of Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms, Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory, Senior Advisor and White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling, and Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Gabe Amo, were also invited to the event, as were U.S. Congresswoman Madeline Dean (PA-4) and U.S. Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5). Frealing said the half-day meeting was designed to help leaders learn about how the funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) had positively affected people in communities across the state and to provide ideas for how money still in the pipeline should be spent. “It was a chance to network with local officials,” said Frealing. She particularly noted how funding from the ARPA Child Tax Act helped children in Gettysburg. Frealing said that at the daycare center at the YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County alone, increases in the child tax credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child helped 135 families with daycare expenses. “A lot of money was also spent on water and sewer projects,” she said. “I was really amazed to be invited,” said Frealing. “I met a lot of people including the State Director of Arts and representatives from the Latino community. Frealing said many of the state representatives she interacted with were expecting to visit Gettysburg in the future. Featured image: Mayor Frealing with Second Gentleman of the United States Doug Emhoff.

Cumberland Township Supervisors tentatively denied approval of preliminary plans for a large apartment complex at the site of the closed Gettysburg Country Club at Rt. 30 and Country Club Lane last night. Opponents of the proposed Residences at Willoughby Run, an eight-building complex of 112 apartments, overflowed into the hallway of the meeting room. Supervisors voted 3 to 2 to deny approval of the preliminary plan, questioning water issues, the traffic study, and other technicalities. The supervisors said some required approvals were unfinished. This action delays but does not end the controversy, because the developers need only upgrade the plan and resubmit. Opponents spoke against the proposed location, with one saying, “We really don’t want it, but if you must build it build it somewhere else.” Speakers said the apartments would not help with housing shortages in the county because of high rents. Speakers emphasized that the location of the apartments is on ground that was a site of the first day’s Battle of Gettysburg. Two faculty members from the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College came with several students who described the battles. “This is not a technical decision,” said history professor Dr. Peter Carmichael. Civil War Institute Assistant Director Dr. Ashley Luskey emphasized that for the opposition, it is the “intangible things” that are important. Several Gettysburg enthusiasts traveled for hours to speak out against the plan. One man said he had come from Edison, New Jersey, and had visited Gettysburg “over 100 times”. A mother and son drove to the meeting from Pittsburgh, saying there were four confederate hospitals on the site. Presenters submitted several hundred more petitions from Cumberland Township residents, and thousands of petitions had been mailed in from American Battlefield Trust. In addition to the spoken testimony, the supervisors also received many letters about the project.

Over 50 demonstrators met on the Gettysburg Square on Friday evening to continue expressing their support for Democratic candidates Josh Shapiro, John Fetterman, and Marty Qually. The demonstrators brought signs and raised their voices in support of abortion rights, voting integrity, democracy, and freedom. The group meets on Friday afternoons to support their cause. The group has also planned a “My Body My Choice ” rally that will be held On Oct. 15 in Gettysburg.

Gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Josh Shapiro visited Gettysburg Saturday afternoon to rally county Democrats for his campaign to win governorship of Pennsylvania in November. More than 150 supporters filled the new county committee headquarters at 52 Chambersburg Street. Outside the venue, a handful of so-called MAGA supporters mounted a mini demonstration touting State Senator Doug Mastriano, the conservative candidate for the commonwealth’s top administrative post. County Democrat Committee Chair Marcia Wilson said the event had been kept as quiet as possible at the request of the Shapiro campaign to limit possible violence or other interference by Mastriano supporters. “We do not want to call attention to ourselves … not at this moment,” Wilson said while waiting for Shapiro to arrive. “This is our reception for Josh Shapiro.” After brief introductory remarks from Wilson and state representative candidate Marty Qually, Shapiro offered a fiery commentary beginning with, “Our rights and our freedoms are being taken away from us.” Among the changes he hoped to make as governor, he listed better education funding, ending reliance on standardized testing, and increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. Shapiro also promised to make the state’s communities safer with “2,000 more police officers on the streets all across Pennsylvania.” He pointed an accusing finger at drug companies which he said had caused the opioid crisis that “kills 15 Pennsylvanians every single day. Drug addiction is a disease and not a crime, and we’re going to treat it that way,” he said. Shapiro said the state’s “next big fight … comes in 52 days and it comes when we defeat Doug Mastriano,” who he characterized as “the most dangerous and extreme person to ever run for governor in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro acknowledge the current conservative composition of the state legislature, noting it likely would “put a bill on the desk of the next governor to take away a woman’s right to choose.” Mastriano would sign the bill into law, Shapiro said. “Let me tell you what I will do,” he said. “I’ll invite you all to Harrisburg (for) a veto signing ceremony.” He encouraged his supporters, describing U.S. history as a series of chapters marked by threats to the nation’s continuance. But, he said, “Every chapter ends with us making forward progress … more freedom.” Qually, of Gettysburg, is making a run to oust Representative Dan Moul, who for the past 15 years has held the District 91 post in the state House of Representatives. “I only run to win,” Qually said. He has run previously in this heavily conservative district, where voter registration in his home county of Adams is weighted about 2-to-1 in favor of Republicans. Moul “still has no record to stand on” after a decade and-a-half in office, Qually said. Of Moul’s recent support of Mastriano, Qually said the Conewago Township native “has always been an extremist. Qually said Moul lacked the courage to act until Mastriano appeared on the political scene to replace then Sen. Rich Alloway, who, in 2019, had announced his resignation from the District 33 seat. “The tide has turned for me,” Qually told the assembly Saturday. “For me the tide was 10 days before the Primary (election in May).” Wilson said the voter numbers appear to be changing as Republicans unhappy with recent party directions become libertarians and independents, and as more liberal voters move to the area from other states. During her opening remarks, Wilson said efforts are underway toward “expanding our committee in the county.” She called for party members’ assistance in encouraging participation among the county’s voters. After the event, she explained most of the committee’s 32 members are from the county’s southern region, centered on Gettysburg and Littlestown, but that the county’s 50 voter precincts are entitled to two committee members each. “That leaves a lot of people who are not represented,” she said. “It’s not going to happen with just one person,” she said of Democrat efforts to win the upcoming gubernatorial and legislative contests. All the contests are scheduled to be decided in the Nov. 8 election. Featured image caption: Gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Josh Shapiro, center, greets some of more than 150 Adams County Democrats who welcomed him to the party’s county headquarters Saturday afternoon. [John Messeder]

Over 40 concerned citizens attended last night’s Cumberland Township Planning Commission Meeting. The evening’s topic was a consideration of “The Residence at Willoughby Run”, a proposed 112 apartment unit on 14.5 acres at the corner of Chambersburg Road and Country Club Lane. The site is controversial because it is within the Gettysburg National Military Park’s boundaries and the site of action on the 1st day’s Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Many speakers spoke against the plan. The Planning Commission said it had received 2,900 letters of opposition from a campaign organized by the American Battlefield Trust including 223 from local residents. During an emotional dialogue with the commission, several speakers asked if the complex is “a done deal” and if there is anything they could do to change the outcome. Township solicitor Sam Wiser explained that the panel was reviewing a plan that had been submitted in accordance with zoning ordinances and that there is no freedom for the commission to “call a halt” to the project. Wiser said the Planning Commission’ only authority was to determine whether the plan meets technical criteria. Wiser said a chance for the public to impact the process had been during prior meetings where the zoning and the comprehensive plan had been developed but that those meetings had been poorly attended. After the challenging public comment and questions and answers from the builder, the commission unanimously rejected to deny the request for a waiver to the Board of Supervisors. The commission said the project’s preliminary plan “technically” met the zoning requirements, but that it “doesn’t meet the spirit of the comprehensive plan.” The commission’s recommendation is scheduled to be discussed at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, September 27 at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission Chairman Steve Tallman said he is a member of The Cumberland Township Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) which, although it has not met in several years, will consider the issue of the apartment complex in a meeting on Tuesday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m. Both the HARB meeting and the Supervisors meeting are open to the public.

The Adams County Commissioners addressed a serious problem for county residents today as they proclaimed September 2022 as Suicide Prevention Month.   Healthy Adams County Executive Director Kathy Gaskin said that in the past the focus had been on youth, but that there now was a greater need for focus on middle-aged males, who are more likely to be victims of suicide by gunshot. Gaskin said the best way to help someone who may be suicidal is to act. Gaskin said various resources, including emergency chat lines and counselors, are available. Gaskin presented the board with posters offering more information to Adam’s County residents. Commissioner Randy Phiel said suicide was an important topic that many people have experienced firsthand or through others they have known. He pointed out that suicide is traumatic for first responders, family, and friends. The Commissioners also proclaimed September 15 through October 15, 2022 as Hispanic Month and recognized the 31st annual Adams County Heritage Festival which will take place September 18 from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the Gettysburg Rec Park, 545 Long Lane. Amelia Contreras, Executive Director of Manos Unidas, thanked the board for recognizing the Hispanic community, which represents nearly seven percent of the County’s population. Manos Unidas, created in 2006, is a partnership between the county’s Latino Services Task Force and St. Francis Xavier Church. The center is an all-volunteer community organization that promotes the integration of the growing diverse population in Adams County through programs that facilitate cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. The festival is a celebration of ethnic music, food, and crafts that reflects the multicultural atmosphere of Adams County. It is a way of sharing various traditions that demonstrates a commitment to community and the goal of living together in harmony. Bob Collinge, Secretary of Interfaith Center for Faith and Justice, addressed the board and briefly outlined some of the events that will take the stage at this year’s celebration. Heritage Day is co-sponsored by the YWCA Gettysburg and Adams County. In other board business, recommendations approved by the board included one that will increase the tablet computer ratio to 1 tablet for each prisoner at the Adams County Adult Correctional Complex. Each tablet will have a core education suite installed, provided by Edovo Core Education. The software will provide opportunities for inmates to pursue a general education degree, college-level classes, and technical classes. The County also approved a renewal of the Correctional Complex’s LexisNexis Prison Solution, which gives inmates access to legal resources as required by state statute. Featured image caption: 31st Annual Heritage Day Proclamation. From left, Janet Powers, Irene Powell, Commissioner James Martin, Commissioner Randy Phiel, Bill Collinge, Heritage Day Chair and Nancy Lilley [Judith Cameron Seniura]

Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin’s appearance at Gettysburg College drew approximately 100 people, roughly divided between seniors and college students. The event was sponsored by Gettysburg College Jewish Studies. Her topic was “Defending American Democracy: The Midterm Test.”  Rubin started by saying she had enjoyed her battlefield tour earlier in the day, and had just written a column that addressed the battle and its present-day echoes (“The GOP’s Threat to the American idea is nothing new,” Washington Post, September 7, 2022.)  “President Biden spoke of the threat to democracy,” said Rubin, and pointed out that the only thing that makes us Americans is the idea, “not a religion, race, or common nationality.” Rubin said present day MAGA supporters shared with their Confederate predecessors “that they want to redefine America in a way that excludes many Americans. Whether you call them Know nothings, Confederates, believers in the lost cause, or MAGA, there is a feeling that certain people aren’t as American”” She noted part of the movement is a “feeling of dominance, losing out to undeserving others.” And this has effects on who gets to vote, what we teach, and many other issues. “In order to say that some Americans are not as American as you are, you have to assert that your group is without sin. You have to say that the Civil War was about something other than slavery. You have to ignore Jim Crow.’ “To be willing to throw away democracy, you have to believe our way of life is at stake. You have to see it as a ‘Flight 93 moment,’ which is an expression I’ve heard some people use. Because if this is a Flight 93 moment, then extreme tactics are justified. It’s ok to lie, to suppress the vote” Rubin stated that this is increasingly a worldwide movement, setting older, more rural, more religious white, non-college educated people against more urban, more educated, more diverse parts of society. “The solution,” she said, is “practice more democracy.” She cited examples of people who were apathetic about politics and then got involved, most prominently the organization that recently won elections in Kansas. “The notion that politicians are a class apart, that they have some special knowledge” is wrong. Rubin concluded by expressing optimism that the country can come back. She said that the younger generation is more diverse, more tolerant, and less subject to religious prejudices. “It make take 20 years,” she said, “but the millennials are going to save democracy.” In answer to a question about how much she had changed her views, Rubin said, “I’m still a conservative. I still believe in limited government, low taxes, immigration, free trade, and limited regulations. And I’d love to get back to a time we can argue about these issues. But whatever differences I have with the Democratic party, and I think they are still too far to the left, there is only one issue that matters, and that’s survival of democracy. And, right now, there’s only one party that believes in democracy.” The speech was followed by a spirited Q&A session. The two groups of audience members were a study in contrasts, with the seniors asking earnest questions about the political process and the college students asking about careers in journalism and challenging Rubin from the left, right, and various other directions. Rubin particularly seemed to relish the questions that started with, “I think I disagree with everything you said,” invariably answering, “Great!” In answer to a question about press bias, she said the press is extremely fragmented. “The largest network is Fox, and there are many outlets. I don’t think it’s right to describe the media as liberal.” Two problems she perceived, she said, were that there are so many choices that people can choose the news they like and are never exposed to contrary views. The other problem is that reporters are conditioned to treat both parties as “normal,” equally opposing views from the center. After the event, the students lined up for a short conversation with Rubin. The event sponsor, the Jewish Center, had arranged to have an autographed copy of Rubin’s newest book, Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump“ for each student in attendance.

The Gettysburg Borough Council is revisiting and potentially revising several local ordinances and will get public comment during the decision-making process. The borough will consider one or more ordinances that explicitly require each street address and apartment unit to have its own utility hookups. The goal is to prevent people from sharing water, electric, sewer, cable, trash, and other utilities. The ordinance will be drafted with input from Police Chief Robert Glenny and Solicitor Harry Eastman and considered at a future meeting. The proposed ordinances will also regulate inappropriate placing of trash in other people’s trash receptacles and using public trash cans for private waste. The borough is also updating its sign ordinance, considering questions about signage and painting on and around buildings. The borough debated the frequent use of sandwich board signs that are placed on the sidewalks in front of businesses, and which frequently block passage of pedestrians. Current ADA requirements call of for a minimum of 48” of pedestrian space on the sidewalk.  The council considered potential policies ranging from banning all such signs to requiring signs to be within 3 feet of buildings, to revising the ordinance to make rules clearer to business owners. The council also considered rules about off-premises signs and the use of tree wells to display flags, banners, and advertisements. The borough will also review its fire codes and their enforcement. Also discussed was the use of portable toilets in the borough. The borough said there are many portable restrooms in the borough, especially in the back of buildings along Steinwehr Ave. Although the Gettysburg Municipal Authority has encouraged the borough to disallow portable toilets for safety reasons, existing toilets are being heavily used. “I see a great need for porta-potties along Steinwehr Ave.,” said council member Judie Butterfield, “Right now they are a necessity. People routinely thank businesses for them.” The police department has created a new rank of Master Sergeant and will recruit from its current sergeants to fill one slot. Police Department Sergeants receive a 6.5% salary increase over the base salary, and the Master Sergeant will receive 7.5% over base. The Master Sergeant will be authorized to fill in if the chief of police is absent or incapacitated. The borough will also consider how they handle personnel complaints.  Currently, complaints about the operation of the borough are sent to either the borough manager, the mayor, or the chief of police and are not necessarily shared with council. A proposed solution would be to require monthly reporting to the councilmembers about complaints. Main Street Gettyburg President Jill Sellers said her organization was applying for a Dept. of Community and Economic Development grant for another round of funding to support exteriors of local businesses.  If obtained, the $50,000 award would allow up to $100,000 spending for façade-related upgrades. Businesses can apply now for up to $5,000 in support to maintain and improve windows, siding, and other parts of building facades.  The program will not incur any costs to the borough.

For the second time this summer, the proposed apartment complex, “Residence at Willoughby Run”, must wait another month for a recommendation from the Cumberland Township Planning Commission. At the commission’s Thursday meeting, Bob Sharrah of KPI, representing the owner, presented updated plans for the 112 rental units slated for the site of the former Gettysburg Country Club at Rt. 30 and Country Club Lane. The site plans for 8 buildings had been revised after questions and comments were made at the Planning Commission meeting in June. For example, the previously required solid wood fence is now replaced with a vegetative buffer.   Eleven neighbors expressed objections to the project, most citing the increased traffic. One suggested that neighbors could buy back the property that cost owners Trone Rental Company $800,000 in 2020. The complex borders the Gettysburg National Military Park, and several speakers cited the historic significance of the 14.5 acre property, which lies within the Gettysburg Battlefield Historic District. Vice-Chairman Steve Tallman explained that the Planning Commission is a recommending body only and that the Board of Supervisors makes the final decision after a public hearing to be scheduled. The Commissioners listened closely to strongly felt testimony and pleaded for understanding of the constraints on the Planning Commission. As Commissioner Barb Underwood said, “We’re your neighbors too but we must follow regulations.” Mr. Tallman concluded “We’re missing important documentation,” and members agreed to take no action and make no recommendations at this time. The Planning Commission cannot postpone recommendations past their next meeting on Sept. 8, 2022. The Board of Supervisors must take some action by their meeting on Sept 27. Supervisors are legally able to extend that deadline if they think it is necessary.

In addition to meeting with the borough’s trash removal contractor, WM, the following issues were considered at Monday’s Gettysburg Borough Council Meeting: The next electronic device recycling event will be held on Sep. 17. Please register here or call 717.337.0424 before Sep. 16 to preregister. The Robert C. Hoffman Foundation has awarded a $12,000 grant toward the new $1.5 million welcome center on Baltimore St. According to Main St. Gettysburg Executive Director Jill Sellers, initial design drawing have already been made. “They look fantastic; it’s going to be a wonderful place for the community,” said Sellers. Paving on Wolf Alley is completed.  Shealer Alley will be paved later in the year. Routine maintenance on Stevens Run near Gettysburg College has been completed. Traffic and parking lane lines and symbols will be painted in borough streets in the next weeks. Many signs are being replaced in the borough. Police Chief Robert Glenny said there were 17 vehicle crashes in the borough in July, when a normal month would expect about 10. “They seem to be creeping up,” said Glenny. ““There’s no one common denominator. They seem to be across the board at all different times and locations. I’m watching it.” The PA State Association of Boroughs will meet Oct. 14 through 16 at the Wyndam Hotel in Gettysburg. Borough Manager Charles Gable said borough revenues had exceeded expenditures so far this year.  “We’re in a good financial position,” he said.

The Cumberland Township Supervisors unanimously denied tonight a request from the Gettysburg Municipal Authority (GMA) for a zoning change that would have allowed them to build a 170-foot tall water tower at the corner of Herr’s Ridge Road and Red Oak Lane. The hearing room was full of interested parties and after GMA presented their plan to create a “safe, adequate and reliable” system, about 30 speakers opposed the proposal. Gettysburg National Military Park Director Stephen Sims referenced an 18-page letter from the park and pointed out that the height amendment violated the township’s Comprehensive Plan. Representatives of the Gettysburg Foundation, the Civil War Round Table, and the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) all spoke up supporting a no vote. The NPCA representative introduced 4,000 signatures opposing the project that had been gathered online by American Battlefield Trust and NPCA. An informal advocacy group of neighbors presented 87 signatures from residents who did not want the tower and said another 158 had been gathered on Change.org. GMA had requested an amendment to the zoning ordinance to change the current 35- foot maximum height to 175 feet for essential services. The meeting was the last step in the township’s decision-making on the proposal. The supervisors had previously received a document from the Adams County Office of Planning which called the height “arbitrary” and from the Cumberland Township Planning Commission, which had unanimously recommended denial.

The ceramic tile mural on the back wall of the amphitheater at the Gettysburg rec park, which has been in place for about 25 years, has been damaged.  Gettysburg Area Recreational Authority (GARA) staff said tiles on the mural had been loosened by a moisture leak in the structure. A few have fallen off, but the park staff has recovered them. GARA Board President Steve Niebler said the mural, of an apple tree with sprawling branches, was created in 1993 as a project in which senior citizens worked together to create the tiles and affix them to the wall. Niebler said local ceramicist Lyn King led the project. GARA is checking with the Optimist Club, which sponsors the amphitheater, hoping for a quick fix. “It’s held up really well for probably 25 years,” said Niebler. “But there’s no point repairing the mural until the wall behind it is fixed.” Peddigree said the July 4 fireworks event had been a success, drawing an estimated 5,000 attendees. Peddigree said the fields were filled and there were also many people watching from the nearby Colt Park subdivision and on W. Confederate Ave. in the Gettysburg National Military Park. Peddigree said among the raffle, parking fees, and food truck rentals, the event had brought in about $20,000, and that half of that would go to GARA. Responding to comments from the public, GARA is planning next year to have more kid’s activities and potentially more food trucks. “We didn’t have any major issues,” said Peddigree. GARA is looking for maintenance staff to replace several workers who are retiring.  Niebler said having a full time 10-12 months annual position would be best, and that the compensation should include benefits. GARA said it would likely raise the compensation of existing employees as well as the new hires. Peddigree said GARA is coming to an agreement with the Adams County Farmers Market to move into the area around the Sterner building, probably in 2023. The park is receiving a lot of use this summer, including sports, special events, an upcoming show at the skate park, and regular visits of the bloodmobile.

A Police Department Operations Assessment Report, commissioned by Cumberland Township and prepared by Ron Camacho from Camacho Consulting and published in May underscores the many difficulties the Cumberland Township Police Department has faced during the past years. The tide has hopefully turned with the recent appointment of Matthew Trostel as the new police chief, but the report says there are substantial steps that should be taken going forward. The report noted that the recent departure of Don Boehs who had served as Chief of Police for 16 years as well as other senior officers created “a path toward strengthening the organization.” The report described the current officers as “dedicated public servants who desire that the department overcome past deficiencies. The supervisors support the department and want to see it return to its previous levels of proactivity.” The report said the township supervisors had expressed concern about what they saw as “significant lapses in leadership in the department including the use of township resources, time, and authority of office to engage in political activity, a failure to consistently administer policies, and a minimization of complaints from the public.” Going forward, the report recommended the commissioners hold weekly or bi-weekly meetings with the chief, the township manager, and at least one of the members of the department supervisory staff to ensure they are thoroughly briefed on police department operations. “This committee’s complexion will promote an atmosphere of cooperation and accountability, as directives and information are conveyed to more than one supervisory employee.” said the report. The report also recommended the supervisors review the performance of the chief of police through a regular and formal performance evaluation. The report said each of the officers interviewed described former police chief Boehs as a “nice guy” but also blamed him for the department’s morale and leadership issues. According to the report, officers said Boehs would often “blame the board for decisions that did not go his way.” The report suggests the supervisors develop a way by which concerns regarding the chief of police can be brought to their attention, for instance by having union shop stewards can bring concerns to them. In terms of staffing, the report recommended the board, in conjunction with the chief of police, decide on the number of officers the department needs to operate effectively. The report recommended the use of scheduling software to reduce the administrative burden as well as reporting software that would streamline reporting police events to the public. In terms of training, the report recommended the department develop a mandatory list of classes that all new officers should attend and should continuously require leaders to improve their management and supervisory skills through conferences and additional training. The report said the officers were uniformly behind Trostel as the new chief of police. In terms of potentially combining with the Gettysburg Police Department, the report said the officers were against the idea and suggested it should not happen at this time. The report also recommended adding a civilian administrative position to free up time for the chief police to plan, direct, and lead the operations of the department. In terms of infrastructure, the report said the police section of the township building was “cramped, outdated, and problematic in sustaining the eventual growth of the department and township.” The report encouraged the board to develop a long-term plan to improve the infrastructure of the police department through grants and other government funds. Saying existing procedures for storing physical evidence are “grossly inadequate,” including being unsecured and not climate-controlled, the report said an officer should be trained to serve as a backup evidence custodian when the acting detective sergeant is unavailable. The report concluded by saying “the focus must shift from prior leadership failures within the department to improving the personnel and physical infrastructure of the department. With elected officials and employees willing to tackle the challenges, the momentum of department improvements realized over the last few months will serve as a springboard for a reinvigorated organization.”

After the Gettysburg Borough Council spent several hours on Monday evening making progress on a number of important decisions, Main Street Gettysburg President Jill Sellers used the public comment period to express disapproval of each of them, accusing the councilmembers of showing a “lack of vision.” Sellers said Main Street Gettysburg was “the economic development arm of the borough.” The borough announced at the meeting they planned to try a pilot program that allows people to drink alcohol outside on the Lincoln Square and within one block of it.  Sellers said the borough had existing laws which related to this issue and that the pilot project could have been borough-wide. “You’ve left out a lot of businesses that could benefit economic development by limiting that that to the square plus one block,” she said.  You have a whole list of businesses who are going to say ’what about me?” The borough also decided to reduce the number of parklets in the borough, saying they were not used regularly and took away parking spaces. Sellers said the borough was being short-sighted. “We’re trying to create a walkable downtown. That includes public gathering spaces and you’re basically taking part of that program away. Cars are not going to be the answer forever and they shouldn’t be,” she said. Sellers said saving parking spaces was not contributing to a vision of a cleaner city. The council spent over an hour developing appropriate guidelines for potential event venues in the borough, a change that could negatively affect residential areas. The councilmembers considered noise, lot requirements, accessory structures such as tents, dumpsters, frequency of events, outside lighting, fire codes, waste containers, parking, idling buses, setbacks, and enforcement, among others. The borough noted the new ordinance could potentially apply to many properties in the borough and that the decisions could have wide effects.  One approach being considered is to write the ordinance so there are different regulations for neighborhoods that are more residential. Referring to the proposed High St. project that led to the event venue discussions, Sellers said the council’s considerations about the “private property which is being micromanaged down to the foot is unnecessary when there are existing laws to answer almost every issue that has been brought up over the past 7 to 8 months.” Sellers thanked the council for their “diligence” but wondered “in what condition we’re going to pass this borough on to the next generation.” In other news, the borough encouraged residents to document any difficulties they may have had with the conversion from Waste Connections to Waste Management using a form available on the borough’s website. The borough also announced that spring brush pickup will be from Monday May 23 through Thursday May 26. The public works crew will go around the town twice to pick up brush. Residents are asked to place brush along the curb or alley but not in the street. No leaves or grass clippings are allowed.

“We apologize for the rough rollout of the transition,” said Gettysburg Borough Manager Charles Gable, referring to the change in trash haulers from Waste Connections to Waste Management that took place on April 1. “Waste Management did an extremely poor job in communicating with customers. They did not provide clear and consistent direction when customers called WM’s customer service line,” he said. “The public should know the borough staff did meet for an extensive period of time with WM in January,” said Gable.  “We left that feeling confident the transition would be smooth.” “The staff has spent an inordinate amount of time working on this issue,” said council member Matt Moon. “Almost every municipality in the county is having trouble with transitions on this cycle. Nobody is having an easy time with this transition.” Gable said the borough has been communicating with WM in an attempt to solve issues and that some have yet to be solved. The borough encouraged people to contact them with issues they are still facing. “We want to make sure we are documenting things correctly in case we get to a circumstance where we’re attempting to change our hauler,” said Borough President Wesley Heyser. “This is not a time to hesitate. If possible put [your concerns] into writing,” he said. “Be descriptive, because it’s been very bad.” Email addresses for borough council members can be found here.