A simple way to keep things moving along in local government is to move discussion items to action items.

One universal complaint coming from all walks of life about Coatesville’s government is that it moves things along at a snail’s pace.

It’s sometimes called “jumping through hoops”. Projects need approval from separate city commissions, authorities, boards and City Council and then sometimes back to a commission, authority and board for their approval. And then again sometimes back to the City Council for their approval, again.

All the time there are deadlines from grants, state and Federal agencies and investors..

It often takes several months before there is a final approval.

People say that a private industry project does not take as long; but private industry is using their own private money and usually not taxpayer’s money.

People rightly want to see where taxpayer money goes and be assured that taxpayer money is not abused.  So each use of grants and projects needs multiple approvals or “jumps through hoops”.

Several construction projects in Coatesville were killed simply by delays. That’s not unusual in local governments. Sometimes the local government does not want the project and wants the project to die from delays. But I think that in Coatesville’s case some of the projects were wanted but incompetence or bickering delayed them and they withered on the vine.

This is Coatesville Redevelopment Authority Chairman Joe Disciullo at the City of Coatesville Redevelopment Authority Meeting May 16, 2011

“You know it’s just, it’s sad that’s what it is. And we just have to keep trying to moving forward and we’ve got, and we’re discussing right now that we’ve got 4 people that would like to help resolve some of this. This gentleman and this young lady that you’ve got to move some of this stuff forward. 

And yet everybody wants to move very quickly. I love to push projects as fast as I can. But when we start dealing with public money, grant money and so forth. It does not move quickly. It’s a slow process. You know, you’re not building that house you’re building a house with somebody else’s money. Things you’re going to have to get approval for. 

It takes time, it takes time and God knows it took 7 years to get this hotel. OK? Ten? Paul here said it’s going to be near 10 years.”

FROM:

Coatesville demsUNDAY, MAY 29, 2011 

"You know, we’re at the RDA and we’re looking at deals that are millions of dollars for the city. And nobody comes..City Council is arguing over a basketball ring somewhere and the room is full. You know it’s just, it’s sad that’s what it is"

So I think that the Coatesville City Council should continue to move discussion items to action items, regardless of what Councilperson Brazzle thinks.