Larry Chrzan on the Issues
Larry has 3 Top Action Issues:
Plan - for Now and for the Future
Fiscal Oversight - Use Your Tax Dollars Effectively
End "Business-as-Usual" - Stop Cronyism, Favoritism and
"Pay-to-Play"
1. Better Planning - A Comprehensive
Strategic Plan for the Township
There has not been a strategic plan for
Haverford Township since the late 1980s. This is
the critical catalyst to a better township. Many
of the problems and issues of the past few years
are a direct result of a lack of planning and
haphazard, isolated initiatives, and the lack of
leadership and innovation behind that. The
deterioration
of township assets (buildings, infrastructure and roads) and some business districts,
the Superfund site, and the many
delays with the development of the former Haverford State
Hospital and the old gum factory site are prime examples of effects of acting
without a deliberate plan.
Action: With my background as a business
consultant and industrial engineer, I will lead
the efforts to create and execute the plan that
we want for the present and future of our
township. As a trustee of your Haverford
Township Free Library, I did just that.
And as a
business technology consultant and engineer,
I’ve done similar things for many companies. I look
forward to doing that with your help for
Haverford Township.
2. Fiscal Oversight - Use Your Tax
Dollars Effectively
Every hard-earned dollar that we pay to our
township must be used effectively and
efficiently. Financial oversight along with
improvements in management, investments,
services and technology will bring that
efficiency. Haverford Township must be run like
the $30+ million business that it is, without
having the taxpayers pay the cost of
inefficiency year after year.
3. End
"Business-as-Usual" - Cronyism, Favoritism and "Pay-to-Play"
I'm the ONLY candidate in this
election for 7th Ward Commissioner who does not
take contributions from people who do business
with Haverford Township or want to do business
with the Township...and I NEVER will!
When it comes time to vote on a contract, I am
the ONLY candidate who represents ONLY the
taxpayers of the Township, not contributors or
the machine.
And I will work to implement reforms to
inoculate our Township against future abuses and
corruption.
(Check the Voter Info page of this website for supporting documentation and campaign finance reports.)
More Direct Action Items
Better Services
As a taxpayer, you deserve to receive the best
township services possible. But for too long our
township’s Commissioners have taken credit for
dispensing township services - the services that
you as a taxpayer have paid for and have a right
to expect. It’s time to de-politicize township
services and detach the strings.
Action: I am sure that township services
can be delivered better and at less cost to the
taxpayers. I will lead a change in the way
township services are requested and delivered. I
will make sure that the township has modern systems and
processes in place that efficiently provide
routine services (trash, recycling, leaf
pick-up, etc.) and effectively respond to
requests such as trimming of township trees,
road maintenance, and animal control problems. I will
push for the implementation of the
Haverford 311
system that I proposed to the Board of
Commissioners in 2006. Haverford 311 would provide a single system
using one phone number or via the Haverford Township
website to request township services or issue
complaints.* Further, I will fight to make sure
that your requests for services that you deserve
are fulfilled promptly!
Business Development
A better business environment provides a better
quality of life and a larger tax base. I will
work with the Haverford Partnership for Economic Development (HPED) and the Haverford Civic
Council and further their efforts with more
township action. The continued health of 7th
ward businesses and revitalization for all of
the township’s businesses is critical. With our
community’s lack of an industrial tax base,
strong businesses will be a huge factor in
keeping property taxes in check.
Action: I will continue to work with the Haverford Civic Council and
other community leaders and further their
efforts with more township action to revitalize
our businesses. I will address zoning
issues that deter businesses from starting here
and staying here. I will work to create an
atmosphere and an attitude that businesses are
welcome to our communities.
Continued Development of the recreation facilities at Haverford Reserve
As this great opportunity continues to unfold, I will ensure that the plans are executed well.
Action: I will provide the oversight and
leadership to make sure this plan unfolds well
and fulfills its potential. I will also work to
guide how this development fits into the overall
plan for the township.
Haverford Police and Volunteer Fire Companies
Simply put, the police and volunteer
firefighters/paramedics require our utmost
support. They provide essential services for the
safety and security of all residents. The police
department is single biggest item in the
township budget. The volunteer fire companies
are partially supported by the township, relying
on us to support them.
Action: Fully support the Police,
Firefighters and Paramedics while making sure
your tax dollars are used wisely.
Hold Regular 7th Ward Residents Meetings
I believe in representative and participative
government. I believe that the residents
need know what's going on and to have a voice in how their township is
run and on neighborhood issues.
Action: I will regular meetings for residents of the 7th
ward that will meet 2-4 times per year. These will include updates on Township activities along with feedback and opinions from residents. There have been no such meetings in the 7th ward in recent history.
Township Buildings and Infrastructure
For years our township has responded to
infrastructure problems primarily in the face of
incidents caused by the deterioration or
ignoring of those very problems. Repairs and
upgrades are usually least expensive and done
best when addressed in a planned and systematic
fashion. It also keeps costly and
life-disrupting incidents from affecting our
residents. This includes roads, buildings,
parks, recreation and other township-owned or
supported assets. Specifically, the condition of
the township buildings (the police building and ,
township administration building in particular)
need to be addressed, while the township needs a
new or renovated library, while the volunteer
fire departments must be adequately supported.
Action: The much-needed township plan
will guide the efforts to make sure the
township’s infrastructure can support us at a
reasonable cost. I will work toward turning this
plan into reality in the form of better township
facilities.
Communications and Technology
The Township’s website was revamped a few years ago but has not been well-maintained; this needs to be fixed. There is no township wide email newsletter system - some individual commissioners operate their own email lists. In the 7th ward there is no email communications.
Action: I will push for an informative and useful township website and the
adoption of the Haverford 311 system that I
proposed to the Board of Commissioners in 2006.
The benefits to you will be
better township services and lower total cost of
operation.
Increase Grants to the Township
The township has lagged in proactively seeking
grants, not only from the state but from other
funding sources such as foundations and economic
development organizations.
Action: I will push for the township to
use the services of professional grant writers
or enhance internal grant-writing skills and
efforts. As a Haverford Library trustee, I saw
the influx of many grants. The township can do the
same. I will continue to work with our state
legislators as I have done in the past for the
library to benefit the entire township. And I
will urge the township grant-writers to pursue
many other grant sources. The benefits to you
are obvious!
Township Contracts, Jobs and Appointments
We cannot afford to buy goods and
services we don’t need or pay more for lesser
products. Township contracts should be given to
the best provider in quality and cost. Purchases
should be guided by procurement best practices,
including finding other sources and competitive
bidding. Township jobs should be given to the
most-qualified, not the well-connected. Board
appointments should be made to the brightest and
most enthusiastic volunteers.
Action: I will lead efforts to bring
sound business best practices to all township
contracts and purchases. I will work to
eliminate cronyism and nepotism by challenging
any township activity that benefits the
well-connected instead of the taxpayers. I will
take no contributions from anyone who wants to
use their contribution to gain favored status in
getting townships contracts. I have no friends
seeking employment or contracts with the
township, and I will not use influence to help
my friends in the future. I will accept no
gifts, free goods, free services or anything
else of value from anyone seeking to influence
me in Township matters. I will insist that the
Township and the Board of Commissioners conducts
its business in the public view. My experience
has been that if we create an environment where
talented and enthusiastic people are encouraged
to participate, instead of political favoritism,
the benefits to the community are enormous.
Reclamation of EPA Superfund site
The former wood preservatives factory site on
Eagle Road is an eyesore and a menace to our
community. This site is right in the geographic
center of the township.
Action: Nothing less than an all out effort to
remove the hazard and reclaim that property will
do.
Term Limits
It appears that long tenure tends to result in
increased corruption. While there is
something to be said for maintaining the
"institutional knowledge" that comes with
experience, I think the risks out-weigh the
benefits.
Action: I will push to have the Board of
Commissioners implement the appropriate township
laws to create a three (3) term limit, or a maximum
of 12 years.
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