New Hope faced continuing budget shortfall
By: Cynthia Williamson
NEW HOPE When Richard Hirschfield was asked to reflect on his first year in office, the council president spontaneously replied, "It’s only been that long?"
When he took the reins at the borough’s reorganization meeting last January, the newcomer to politics also took on one of the biggest challenges of his life.
"In terms of effort, it’s been more than I anticipated," he remarked. "It’s taken a lot more time than I thought."
But he quickly added, "I don’t regret any of it."
Faced with a 2000 budget shortfall of more than $700,000, which would have been made up by draining the borough’s open space and "rainy day" funds, the new council’s first order of business was to overhaul the spending plan.
By decreasing operating expenses and making "modest changes in taxes," Mr. Hirschfield and two new faces on the board, Council Vice President Sharyn Keiser and Councilwoman Geri Delevich, reduced the deficit by nearly $600,000.
"We came in to (office) with the borough basically eating up every last ounce of savings," Mr. Hirschfield said. "As it turned out, we managed to conserve most of that money."
And while the borough’s finances are "still not fully stabilized," he is optimistic about the year ahead.
The redevelopment of the former Union Camp manufacturing plant complex on West Bridge Street to offices, retail shops and a restaurant will generate additional tax dollars for the borough.
The project developer George Michael is calling Union Square also has rekindled an interest in New Hope.
The James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown is proposing to open a pair of galleries and a museum shop in 5,000 square feet of space Mr. Michael is donating for 20 years in Union Square.
"It’s not a done deal yet, but if it happens, it will be just tremendous for us," Mr. Hirschfield said. "The Michener Museum wouldn’t have touched us with a 10-foot pole a year ago."
The historic Logan Inn on the corner of South Main and Ferry streets also has been sold and is undergoing a renovation and expansion project.
"I want to thank Sharyn Keiser, particularly, for what she’s done on the revitalization committee," he said.
Aside from the budget, there were other storms to weather in 2000.
In June, Mr. Hirschfield fired the borough manager, Victoria Keller, a decision that did not garner the full support of the board. Councilman Robert Gerenser, who voted against the measure as did council members Bert Johnson and Sandra Trappen, asserted the action was "half political" and half differences in management style.
The former borough manager was replaced in October by John Tegley, who Mr. Hirschfield declared is "very financially capable."
"We’re still skating on thin ice in terms of what we can do," Mr. Hirschfield said, "but I’m very pleased by what we’ve accomplished in one year."
After five months on the job, the borough’s new police chief, Jerry Speziale, abruptly resigned to take a job with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department in North Jersey.
Even though Mr. Speziale’s stint in New Hope was a brief one, Mr. Hirschfield said he "brought real stability back" to the Police Department.
"It was in real disarray before he came," Mr. Hirschfield remarked.
The borough plans to hire a new police chief by the second quarter in 2001, but there is "no rush," he said.
"(Officer in Charge) John Goss is doing a wonderful job," he said. "There are no problems; he just gets the job done."
A "sword hanging over the borough’s head" is a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former police chief, Robert C. Brobson.
The previous council voted in January 1999 to dismiss Mr. Brobson following the release of a controversial study, which was highly critical of his management of the Police Department.
The council was tentatively set to meet Wednesday to discuss a possible settlement with Mr. Brobson.
"The judge in this case says it cries out to be settled, which is what I said the day I took office and even before," Mr. Hirschfield said. "It will involve the borough putting up some money, and the insurance company putting up some money, but, hopefully, we can put the whole thing behind us."
Pledging last year to heal the wounds that had cut a swath of divisiveness among the council and the town for many years, Mr. Hirschfield said the new administration has been able to reverse a "pattern of confrontation and self-serving political ends" and do what is "best for the community."
"First and foremost, I think we’ve changed the tone and tenor of what’s been going on in the borough," he said. "It hasn’t always been pleasant but it’s been very, very rewarding."
He’s looking forward to the year ahead.
"We’re not there yet," he said. "But we’ve done some good things and set the stage to do more good things."