Letter to Borough Council Jenkintown Matters, May 24, 2024June 9, 2024 The Honorable Mayor Gabriel Lerman Council President Jay ConnersCouncil Vice President Christian Soltysiak Jenkintown Borough Council700 Summit Avenue Jenkintown, PA 19046 Dear Mr. Lerman, Mr. Conners, Ms. Soltysiak, and Honorable Council members: We are writing to you as a citizens’ committee formed in response to the Council’s apparent intention to dissolve and outsource the Jenkintown Police Department. We have attended the community meetings dedicated to the discussion of this issue as well as Council meetings and committee workshops, and we have heard the Council’s case for dissolution. We remain firm in our belief that this is not the right way forward. We would like to be entirely clear: the Jenkintown Police Department is an essential part of our community. It has been in the past, it is in the present, and it must continue to be in the future. The tight-knit relationship between our community and our police force exemplifies what policing should look like in our country. Many of us know our officers by name. We feel safe knowing their familiar faces are available at a moment’s notice in our time of need. There is no possible way this relationship can be replicated, even with the best of contracts, by any external police force. Thus far, the Council’s actions throughout this process have demonstrated a disappointing lack of transparency. We feel betrayed by the Council’s decision to secretly hire a PR consultant. As the PR consultant’s contract makes clear, the Council’s intention was to inform the community of this decision after the fact. We call on the Council to do the following: Abandon their initiative to dissolve the Jenkintown Police Department Negotiate in good faith with the Jenkintown Police Benevolent Association Make a commitment to greater transparency Comply fully with the Pennsylvania Open Meeting Law (the Sunshine Act) Consider alternate sources of funds, including the sale of our sewer system Focus their energies on attracting businesses and increasing revenue Adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP) Apply for any and all local, state and federal police department grants available We look forward to working with you to keep the Jenkintown Police Department in a fiscally responsible manner. Respectfully yours, Jenkintown Matters Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Commentary News
Analysis Jenkintown Council Issue Timeline April 28, 2024April 29, 2024 This timeline is the result of research gathered from Right to Know filings, interviews with Borough officials, and Council deliberations and votes pertaining to the outsourcing of Jenkintown police services…. Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More
Analysis Five Council Meeting Agendas: How Does Jenkintown Compare? June 27, 2024June 28, 2024 By law, an incorporated entity is required to have meetings and provide agenda to stakeholders in a timely fashion. As far as the law is concerned, Jenkintown complies. But that’s it. When Jenkintown residents want to see the details of what Council approves, they must file a Right to Know. Other boroughs provide some of that information at every meeting. Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More
Analysis Emails Confirm Abington Will Not Police Jenkintown May 25, 2024July 22, 2024 At last Wednesday’s Council Workshop meeting, Council Vice President Christian Soltyziak and Police Chief Thomas Scott asserted that the borough is still considering “all options” in their efforts to bring… Share this: Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on X (Opens in new window) X Like this:Like Loading… Read More