To the editor:
First, I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year this holiday season.
I am very happy to be re-elected to council and look forward to a very productive term. I will do my very best to communicate openly and truthfully with all taxpayers.
After attending Monday night’s council meeting, it is evident that business as usual continues in Manville with no regard for the financial impacts of hiring three new fulltime employees to our borough’s payroll. Not one Democrat on council who supported this hiring had any financial numbers to present as to what it will ultimately cost the taxpayers.
In addition, no good explanation was given as to why hire now and not postpone hiring to 2014 after the working council reviews preliminary budget figures and the impact of yet another tax increase. Is this additional hiring really even required at this time? The decision bypassed the council’s committee structure, which did not recommend the hiring. The mayor simply proposed and (council) passed the hiring resolution because he had the votes to do so.
There’s even talk of more bonding in 2014 pushing Manville further in debt! When will we return to the days of a full council chamber with concerned residents who struggle to pay their higher property tax bills? One thing will be perfectly clear in 2014 and that is who on council is looking out for the taxpayers of this borough and who is not.
The vote in favor of additional hiring was along party lines. No surprise there. Councilman (Ed) Komoroski was conveniently absent, but we all know he would have followed his fellow Democrats and voted for it. It just so happens he is up for re-election next November. Please remember come November 2014 that council Democrats are proven big spenders in Manville.
I would like to once again thank the voters for getting it right in this past election.
Happy holidays to all!
Richard M. Onderko
Councilman-elect
Manville

