2017 Year in Review and 2018 Preview

Friends Neighbors and Fellow Upper Merion Area Residents:

Happy New Year!

At the Monument in Valley Forge

In 2017 Upper Merion bolstered its position as suburban Philadelphia’s economic powerhouse and paragon of fiscally responsible government. Our AAA bond rating was affirmed, the unemployment rate is 2.9%, the township accrued a $1.22 million budget surplus the previous year and for a record 8th consecutive year the Board of Supervisors didn’t raise taxes. Furthermore, dozens of new businesses were established – one in an office that was vacant the previous eight years. Additionally, several properties were sold for huge sums resulting in very large real estate transfer taxes for the township and school district. Upper Merion’s rising revenues helped us establish a $10 internal minimum wage for township employees, revert the administration to a 5 day workweek and eliminate the credit card processing fee for parks and recreation programs. For all of these reasons and more the Board of Supervisors received another award for our economic leadership.

2017 saw many new or expanded activities in our community.  In its first calendar year the Upper Merion Community Center recorded 91,784 visitors and in partnership with the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists established the 431 Art Gallery which highlights the work of local artists. The Upper Merion Swimming Pool’s facilities were upgraded and membership grew to 2,168 people. The Upper Merion Library held numerous cultural and educational gatherings to celebrate and develop the diversity, talents and interests of our residents. The Board of Supervisors revised the alcohol ordinance to permit beer tents at township events and this increased attendance for our annual 4th of July Celebration and other functions.  Parks and Recreation expanded the annual Township Fair and Fall Fest and established its first Holiday Village. Our business community also contributed with Xfinity’s movie nights at the King of Prussia Town Center, a food truck festival at the King of Prussia Mall and Wegmans re-creating Tokyo’s incredible Tsukiji Fish Market.

Our township also solidified its status as a leader on environmental issues. We joined SolSmart which is a national program to encourage local solar energy development, installed signage to identify streams, expanded the use of LED lighting and utilized goats to remediate invasive species at Bob White Park. Furthermore in accordance with state regulations we initiated a study on sediment runoff. For the 41st straight year Upper Merion was named a Tree City, the 2nd longest streak in Pennsylvania. Our public works department held an electronics recycling and paper shredding event and our police department participated in national drug takeback day. These are some of the reasons why Upper Merion again received Greater Valley Forge Transportation Management Association’s diamond level sustainability award.

I expect 2018 to be an equally dynamic year including:

  • The King of Prussia Mall submitting a redevelopment plan for the former JC Penney site;
  • A massive investment in our parks including restoring the township building pond, improving 8 township parks, establishing a community garden and constructing a dog park;
  • A mind-body studio and 2 more general purpose rooms opening in the lower level of the Upper Merion Community Center;
  • Construction of the First Avenue Linear Park and First Avenue Road Diet;
  • The new Caley Elementary and Gulph Elementary will open;
  • A new sidewalk starting near the King Manor NHSL station to US-202 to Saulin Boulevard to Henderson Road;
  • An effort to make the Upper Merion Community Center and the Upper Merion Township Pool available for residents who want to join but lack the financial means;
  • Two types businesses which don’t currently operate in Upper Merion will open: a brewery and a medical marijuana dispensary;
  • Progress on the Crow Creek Trail which starts at high school/middle school area, continuing through Volpi Common and the woods to the Community Center;
  • Upper Merion Area School District School Board progressing towards a much needed new high school; and,
  • Hiring a fire chief and 3 full time firefighters as part of the ongoing reorganization of our township government.

During my campaign for Supervisor in 2009 and my re-election campaign in 2015 the only promise I made was to constantly communicate with my fellow Upper Merion residents. Through my emails, social media accounts (which are linked below), videos and visibility throughout our community I’ve worked to live up to that commitment and I will continue to do so.

I hope you had a great holiday season and best wishes for an excellent 2018!

Sincerely,

Greg

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