The Hilltown Board of Supervisors aims to increase transparency and improve communication – with residents and with the entities that serve the township, says Chairman Caleb Torrice.
As part of that, the board is moving forward with several key initiatives in 2024, including creating a YouTube channel where township meetings will be shown.
Initially, meetings will be pre-recorded and posted. Eventually, the meetings will broadcast live on the channel, according to Torrice.
At a public meeting on Feb. 26, supervisors approved spending up to $6,000 to purchase the necessary audio and visual equipment. Torrice noted funds from the COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 could help fund the purchase.
“Our goal is to communicate more openly and make it easier for residents to follow what’s going on in the township,” Torrice shared.
While it’s unclear when the channel will start up, Torrice said it will probably take a couple months to purchase the equipment and get everything in place for the recording and posting of pre-recorded meetings.
In another move, the three-person board of supervisors has set up arrangements whereby each member will serve as a liaison to key township entities.
Torrice, for instance, will be the supervisors’ point person with Hilltown police and public works. Supervisor Jim Groff will be the contact on water and sewer. Supervisor Joseph Metzinger will be the liaison with the fire departments that serve Hilltown.
“This will help us have a better understanding of the needs, issues and concerns of these important partners,” Torrice said. “It will ultimately benefit them, us and residents.”
Supervisors have also decided to re-establish a Parks & Recreation Board. “The township has beautiful parks, but minimal programming for them,” Torrice said. “We’d like to change that.”
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