Why we may have too much parking. Last Thursday evening, Jenkintown Borough Council held a special meeting and open forum to discuss parking management. Given how everyone seems to complain about the parking as much as they do the weather, one might think that more than ten people would show up to discuss what they might actually do about it. Nonetheless, it is admittedly rare when I have something positive […]
Borough Council / Latest News
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Borough Finances — Who’s Responsible?
Mismanagement, opacity, and complacency combine to diminish the community. What’s next? With the Borough’s finances now finally in such a state that it has to actually consider disbanding our police department, it bears reminding of what we wrote here in 2019: Make no mistake, Jenkintonians: We are sailing into some stormy seas. We ended the last fiscal year with a half-million dollar deficit, this despite ten years of national economic […]
Borough Council / Commentary
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Lateral damages
The town that works harder to attract visitors than it does to keep its own residents eventually loses both. We keep sending that memo to Jenkintown, and it stubbornly refuses to read it. This week, realtor Andrew Smith sent out a memo of his own that asks Council to reconsider a 2017 ordinance requiring inspection of sewer laterals before a property sale. Of all the claims made, the assertion that […]
Borough Council
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Jenkintown Borough Council Highlights
At last week’s Borough Council meeting we learned: More apartments for Jenkintown. Jeffrey Lustig came before council seeking approval for his plans to build apartments on the second and third floor of the Wells Fargo bank building at the corner of York and West. He got it, but not before the owner of Buckets voiced his concerns about — what else — parking. Credit goes to Council president Deborra Sines-Pancoe […]
Borough Council / Legal Issues
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Jenkintown’s motion to dismiss, strike one
Jenkintown’s attorney fails with first attempt to dismiss civil rights lawsuit but tries again The Times-Chronicle recently reported that the Borough’s attempt to have the civil rights suit against it dismissed failed — and failed rather quickly. Three days later, the Borough and its co-defendants, Deborra Sines-Pancoe, Rick Bunker, George Locke, and Sean Kilkenny updated the motion and refiled it yesterday. To update yesterday’s post about the court’s rejection of […]
Borough Council / Legal Issues
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Jenkintown Borough leadership considered appeal of Downs ZHB decision
[Update: The Borough had 30 days to appeal, and the window has closed. Nonetheless, it is our opinion that the Borough should have shut down this this matter well before the first hearing.] Apparently a unanimous vote against them failed to convince the Borough to stand down after all. According to documents we’ve received today via a Right-to-Know request, Jenkintown Borough is or was considering an appeal of the ZHB vote […]
Borough Council
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Jenkintown backs away from Taco Hell
Council comes to its senses Last night, Jenkintown Borough Council staged a pop-up meeting to decide whether or not it should continue supporting the idea of a Taco Bell with drive-through in a spot where its own zoning prohibits it. Spoiler alert: They rescinded their support by a vote of 8-2, although this motion only removes their previous support of the idea. It does not mean that they now oppose […]
Borough Council / Policy
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How to do open government — A lesson for Jenkintown
Last night’s the “Conversation with the Commissioners” event at the Abington Township Office not only gave us a good dose of information about county activities, it also revealed the stark contrast between Jenkintown’s government with one committed to transparency above and beyond the strict legal guidelines. First, the concept: Montgomery County is a big place, so having our commissioners set up open forums to meet constituents shows a true commitment to an […]
Borough Council
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Jenkintown and the dangers of happy talk
It always puzzles me when I see and hear people lament controversy and seek a return to nothing but happy talk, whether it’s about their town, their particular interest group, or about some relationship. The Titanic might be sinking, but they just want to gaze at the majestic iceberg in the water. Those of you who just want “everyone to get along” or to stop saying bad things about Jenkintown […]
Borough Council / Old York Road
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Who will steward the Jenkintown2035 plan into reality?
Making the case to hire a Main Street manager for Jenkintown Central to the discussion of Jenkintown’s revival is the Jenkintown2035 plan. Two years ago, through the input of Jenkintown residents, we drafted our vision for the town’s future. You can read all about it on the Borough’s website. As plans go, it is pretty comprehensive, and it does have plenty of fine ideas. Its contents lay out a fairly […]
Borough Council / Jenkintown School District / Latest News / Old York Road
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Council Meeting Roundup: A real debate, smokescreens, and warm turds
A packed house witnessed Jenkintown Borough Council engage in some actual debate and three presentations for developments that promise to have real impact in the community. Here’s a quick roundup of the lengthy but lively meeting. Proposed Taco Bell Development Handed the chance to redeem themselves for gutlessly supporting a project that abrogates their own zoning and degrades our town, Borough Council treats it like a warm turd. Council member […]
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