Save Historic Gettysburg

Save Historic Gettysburg Inc. (“SHG Inc”) is a group of Gettysburg Borough citizens and taxpayers who came together from their audience participation at Borough Council, Board and Commission meetings.  These individuals are bipartisan, working business owners, professionals, and other residents, all with a concern for more transparency and accountability in our local government.  We believe that Gettysburg must keep the charm and authenticity that brings tourism to our community and that begins and ends with the powerful history of Gettysburg. 

 Since May 2024, we have paid Community Media $3,460 to broadcast HARB and Planning Commission meetings. Council refused to fund these meetings.  We felt it was important for residents to witness the Planning Commission discussions of the Draft Rezoning and to have a record of decisions that could affect their properties.  Online views of the meetings have exceeded an average of 600 per meeting. 

Recently, Save Historic Gettysburg Inc. became a 501(c)(3) non-profit to encourage a broader donor base and to make contributions tax-deductible. A Save Historic Gettysburg GoFundMe page was set up.  Broadcasting will continue during the review of the Gettysburg Station Project by the Planning Commission.

The group started because many borough residents were upset that the Re-zoning Draft “Task Force” met behind closed doors, and the subsequent “town hall” meetings did not allow open questions about the document.   Many residents expended time and energy questioning the Planning Commission about aspects of the draft Re-zoning Ordinance, and some met together to go over the draft section by section. They  believe that not allowing public attendance at the Task Force meetings likely violated the Sunshine Act and began to look more closely at other actions of the borough council and its authorities, boards, and commissions.

The review of the Station Project is the current focus of SHG Inc. There will be expenses for legal and technical expertise, in addition to continued broadcasting. The sharing of information by SHG Inc. is the implementation of our mission to promote transparency, accountability, and accuracy in our local government. I am one of the many people supporting this cause and speaking out.  There are other citizens who wish to remain anonymous due to the toxic environment and retribution that is prevalent in our Borough government.  It is a shame that in our small town, citizens have to feel this way. Our bipartisan group has different opinions on many issues, but we are united on the one bringing us together — Save Historic Gettysburg.

Shelley Knouse,

Gettysburg