A group called Millcreek Township Citizens for Change is asking the current superintendent to put a question on the November ballot calling for an overhaul of the current government structure.
The group requested the creation of a seven-member study committee to study Mill Creek's existing form of government.
Millcreek Township is one of Pennsylvania's most populous Class II townships, with a population of approximately 54,000 and has been governed by three elected supervisors since its founding.
Group representatives say some people want that to change.
“They want to put a question on the ballot for Mill Creek voters to decide whether they want to elect a commission of study to study our form of government in comparison to other forms of government in Pennsylvania. “I think so,” Millcreek Township Supervisor Sue Weber said. controller.
Of the 25 most populous second-class townships in Pennsylvania, 23 have at least a supervisor or mayor, at least five non-employee supervisors or city council members, and Mill Creek is one of the two outliers.
Millcreek's last government inquiry was in 2011, when it asked the same questions and created a seven-member committee.
All seated members can do is study the current government operations.
“They didn't make any recommendations, so there wasn't actually an option on the ballot,” Millcreek Township Supervisor James Bock said. “It didn't end up being a final product, so to speak, for voters to decide. Again, I think that's what local government is all about. Let's let residents have a say in this.”
So why is the government now asking for an investigation?
Bock said the town has grown significantly in population, housing and business since Mill Creek was founded, and is much different from its original rural farmland.
A group called Millcreek Township Citizens for Change conducted a survey in February via mail and social media, claiming many people were in favor of the survey, but ultimately the supervisors will decide whether to ask the question or not. Will it be on the ballot or not?
If the issue is not approved by regulators on the November ballot, civic groups say they will find a way to vote there.
“If our supervisors, who we elect and pay, don’t agree to put that question on the ballot, then citizen groups will have to file a petition and collect thousands of signatures. , they will do it,” Weber said.
“We have a lot of challenges ahead because our tax base is getting a little stagnant, so I think it's a good time to revisit this and see where voters want this to go,” Bock said. Let's take a look.''
To make this happen, regulators would need to write and vote on an ordinance. If that doesn't happen, you'll have to file a petition.
