Lower Macungie accomplished many of the goals laid out 11 years ago in the 2020 visioning statement. In 2009 Commissioners appointed 24 citizens to serve on a committee charged with preparing a statement to envision what Lower Macungie would be like in the year 2020. They worked in small groups to develop statements on; Quality of Life; Planning and Land Use; Parks and Recreation; Public Safety; and Community Government. So here we are, the year 2020. A logical time to look back at the 2020 document and see how we did. I started last week with part 1. Below is part 2. 

Overview Part 2 – Informed, active & engaged citizens.
The 2020 visioning document stated: “Our government will utilize all reasonable methods available to achieve active, broad, inclusive citizen engagement in government to assure a government of, by and for all residents”

“The citizens will determine the powers and limits of their government which will be receptive to citizen concerns and maintain continuous contact with citizen groups to improve its transparency and its methods of responding to the needs of residents and businesses.”

Lower Macungie is among the leaders in community engagement. It starts with a commitment to transparency. All Commissioner meetings are taped and linked on the township website. All Commissioner meeting agendas are posted online a week before the scheduled date. This includes lengthy detail and all relevant supporting documents. We hold public comment at the beginning and end of each meeting in addition to opportunities for residents to weigh in on every action item.

You would think these practices are standard in local communities, but they aren’t. Many communities do not allow resident comments on agenda items, and some even bury public comment at the end of the meeting. For Lower Mac, public comment is built into the DNA of our meetings. The philosophy is also reflected in our committee system where conversations can happen in less formal settings than the townships formal business meetings. All committee meetings are advertised and open to the public.

We strive to keep residents informed through many avenues. Staff maintains a very active township Facebook and twitter page. We utilize an opt-in automated notification system. Phone, text, and email alerts are used to provide information on weather-related trash collection delays, leaf collection, and municipal closures as well as in the event of an emergency. We send quarterly newsletters via US mail to all households.

We seek resident input on all major initiatives. A recent example was the southwest regional comprehensive plan update. We employed a variety of methods to engage and solicit feedback across different constituencies. This included a special website, public engagement sessions, a survey that 1,333 residents participated in and public meetings. This same format was utilized for multiple projects over the last few years. The Kratzer Farm park planning and Greenway master plan as two examples.

An area we can improve is the township website. I believe it feels dated and could be improved to be more easily navigable and searchable. This is a conversation I hope to have this year.

On an individual note, I personally spearhead numerous initiatives geared to keeping residents informed. I maintain this blog primarily about Lower Macungie news, notes and issues with over 400 posts made last 6 years. I have my Commissioner Facebook page where I seek to engage and inform residents on an almost daily basis. I’ve held over a dozen town hall-style meetings throughout the township in numerous neighborhoods. Beginning last year I started co-hosting “Coffee with a Cop” events with the Pennsylvania State Police in an effort to help connect neighborhoods with the Troopers who serve and protect our community. Most recently, I conducted a broad-based community survey seeking resident input on a variety of topics including, crime and safety, land use, farmland preservation, the park system, taxes, and other areas. If you have not taken the survey yet you can do so here.