Township Asks "How Should We Spend $50,000?"

The Upper Southampton Township Board of Supervisors has set aside $50,000 in this year's budget to begin implementing the township's comprehensive plan.

The only problem is the board is unsure just where to start.

The nearly 200-page plan is filled with suggestions for improving life in Southampton, ranging from those as simple as seeking additional grant money to support the library to tackling much more complex issues such as alleviating the traffic congestion in the center of town.

Earlier this summer, the board decided to turn the task of prioritizing the action list over to those that it would affect the most: the residents of Southampton.

"We want to hear from anyone who has concerns or ideas," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Stephen Wallin. "The offer is open to anyone who is willing to get their two cents in."

With that, the board voted to form an ad hoc committee of citizen volunteers to work alongside the planning commission. This group would be charged with creating a list of action items, based on the recommendations of the plan.

"We've waited two years and nothing has been done," said Planning Commission Member Raymond Grossmiller at the commission's July meeting.

Grossmiller said it was time to get the ball rolling, as most people would like to see a revitalized town center in Southampton.

"Even something as simple as replacing the signs that welcome you to Southampton, that could be a good place to start," he said.

So we ask you, Southampton, what do you think?

How could $50,000 be best spent in the township?

Leave a comment below and tell eveyone what you think should be done first and why. 

You can read a summary of the township's comprehensive plan in the .pdf section of this article, or you can download the entire document here.

The Planning Commission hopes to start weeding through suggestions at its next meeting, scheduled for Monday, August 20.

Interested in joining the citizen committee? Head out to Monday's Planning Commission meeting. It will be held at 7 p.m. in the township building meeting room, next to the tax collector's office.