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Font ResizeCandidates for the three seats include councilwoman Sharon Blouch and council appointees James Kilgore and Alan Rosenberger. The challenger in the race is Benjamin Shea.
Kilgore filed as a Democrat; all the other council candidates are Republicans.
One two-year seat on council is also on the ballot. The only candidate seeking that post is Rodney Stein.
And the race for mayor was settled in the primary, when Dennis Palmer, a former council member, defeated James Adams.
The York Dispatch asked the candidates a series of questions. Their responses appear below.
Candidate bios:
Sharon Blouch (R)
Age / Address: 50 / Baltimore St.
Family: married, 3 children
Occupation: Coordinator of educational services for people 60 and older
James D. Kilgore (D)
Age / Address: 67, of Franklintown
Family: 2 Daughters and 2 grandchildren
Occupation: Retired
Current community involvement: member of borough council
Alan Rosenberger (R)
Age / Address: 57, of Baltimore St.
Family: Married, no children
Occupation: Retired computer specialist
Current Community Service: Franklintown United Brethren Church
Benjamin Shea (R)
Age/Address: 43, of Baltimore Street
Family: Married, two kids
Occupation: teacher and football coach at Mechanicsburg High School
Questions:
1. If the borough could make one change to improve the quality of life for borough residents, what change would you recommend supervisors make? Explain your answer.
Blouch: The thing that we are working on now to enhance the quality of life is the borough park. There wasn't anything for the kids before -- any safe place. We want to add a ball field and continue adding to the park, maybe a basketball court -- too provide a place for the kids to hang out. We hope to add programs -- we just held out first carnival. Also, we are starting to incorporate zoning to control growth to maintain that small town feel to it. Those are two ways we are tying to maintain or enhance the borough.
Kilgore: To have open honest communication with borough residents. It would also be helpful if council would abide by state and federal laws.
Rosenberger: The borough can't change someone's way of life. The only thing a borough can do is keep the taxes low and utilities at a reasonable rate, make sure the streets are passable. But everything can be improved—you can make it better for the people in the borough.
Shea: I'm not looking to make any changes – just that the borough can handle its responsibility — nothing more, nothing less. Just that (council) is handling their basic responsibilities and that we keep it at that.
2. At 1.88 mills, Franklintown's property tax rate is about in the middle of the pack among York County's 37 boroughs. Are taxpayers getting their money's worth from borough government? Why or why not? Are there avenues the borough should explore to save money or control costs? What are they?
Blouch: I think they are. You have to keep in mind we are a very small borough with a very small tax base. There is only so much we can do. I think we have been able to accomplish a lot without having to increase taxes.
Kilgore: No residents are not getting their money's worth. The borough has just completed 2006 audit, it was not a good report. It has been kept from borough council for months. Since this is one of the best gauges of how well the borough is operating.
Rosenberger: I believe so. Everyone tries to cut where we can. Keeping the taxes low gives everyone a little more spending money but we do are best at maintaining the borough.
Shea: For the most part yes. If I get elected, I would look at some more of the details to reduce the costs — anyway that we can reduce costs. Nothing specific yet, I have to look at the details first.
3. Franklintown opted recently to end its relationship with the Carroll Township Police Department and to rely on state police for police protection. Do you agree with that decision? Why or why not?
Blouch: We are pretty satisfied with state police. We're not really a high crime area here, but maybe down the road, we could go with Carroll Township again. But at this time I am pleased with the service we get from state police.
Kilgore: No because of logistics, if a officer is not in northern york co.then they must come from Loganville. When a young boy was struck while riding his bike, I understand it took quite some time before the state police arrived. When someone was attempting a home invasion in Franklin Glenn, although it is no longer Carrol Twp. Police Department's responsibility. They did respond to the call. I would like to thank Carrol Twp. police for doing this. My question is what will happen if House Bill 1500 passes
Rosenberger: When I first got on the council I did not agree. I was told the reason was our borough could not make the payment (and) as of right now we can't. The state police are doing a fantastic job. They drive through the borough and they are here in no time. That's not to say if we got a good deal from Carroll Township, or another township, that we would not considering going back with them.
Shea: That is one of the things I want to look at right away, to see what services they provide. There was incident here where is took an hour for (state) police to respond, so that concerned me. I would consider (Carroll Township) if I looked into and that it was a good thing to do.
4. Why did you decide to run for election this year and why should voters support you in your quest for a seat you are seeking? What unique qualifications do you offer voters?
Blouch: I've been on council for about seven years and I guess the reason that I am choosing to stay on council is that there are some things that I need to finish, like the park. My kids have certainly benefited from it and I want to make sure that in the future families will have that -- that the park continues. I've been on council or 7 years and I've lived in the borough since 1981. I love the borough. What I have to offer is my loyalty to the borough and I want to make sure it remains the nice town that it is - that is remains safe, small place to raise a family.
Kilgore: I have tried with much opposition to obtain honest answers to many question regarding budgets,salaries and taxes. Since many council members will not cooperate, our political committee has obtained help from Brian Linsenbach an attorney with Linsenbach and Schrack, a law firm in Dillsburg to aid in this public matter.
Rosenberger: I was the on the council for 18 years and then I dropped out of council because I got lung disease. I resigned. But now with medication I've controlled it. They asked me to fill in from June to November and then I sort of got into it. I want to run again.
I'm a long-time borough resident and I have a home here. I would like to the town progress and become better and I think I can help do that.
Shea: Quite frankly, a couple people asked me to. I think I'm a common sense person. I want to make sure the borough council is doing what it needs to be doing and to make sure the government, even on this level, is not getting involved in people lives too frequently, it should operate without people knowing.
