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Tinicum supervisors and residents clash over remote access

Tense debate leads to compromise

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Broader access for Tinicum residents to participate in elected local government meetings remains a driving township concern as voiced once again in heated debate at the May 3 board of supervisors meeting.
At the outset, Kathy Greaney jumped ahead in the evening’s agenda, stating she had just been to physical therapy following recent knee surgery. She pushed herself to attend, however, to call out ”our elected supervisors who are expected to care for Tinicum residents. Zoom has become a useful way of life for most of us – and we really need it here.” Greany then left the meeting.
Later in the meeting, Cindi Gasparre provided the board with 50 additional petition signatures adding to the 180 previously presented.
Chairman Richard Rosamilia stated, “As I see it, we have three options: Provide virtual meetings with Zoom interactivity, create a non-interactive streaming/broadcast option or maintain the meetings for those who can attend them live.”
Vice Chair Jim Helms added, “I did some research into the level of third party staff involvement required for technical support, with costs approaching $700 per meeting above and beyond the upfront hardware costs.”
Resident Carol Huffman, who had submitted a detailed letter to the board prior to the meeting, strongly disagreed with Helms’ cost estimate and further railed against ongoing board pushback. “I have used the G2 site (basically the government version of Zoom) and I am quite happy to help lead the effort to obtain Zoom technology for Tinicum.”
Huffman prodded the board, “What if you get sick and cannot attend to run these public meetings in person? It is 2022, and if we cannot provide Tinicum with this type of service, I’m just ashamed.”
Anita Nolan queried, “If any of the people who are now speaking up so vehemently for hybrid access have attended board of supervisors meetings in the past?” There was an immediate “yes” from many attendees.
Dr.Richard Balukas added, “Doylestown has had interactive access since 2013, annually receiving between 20 and 100 remote participants logically depending upon the importance of the issues being discussed.”
Resident Joe Cole said, ”We just have to do something to allow people to see our government at work.” A number of residents felt broadcasting/streaming access, even it was not interactive as Zoom technology allows, would be better than having nothing in place.
Stana Lennox commented: “My husband and I are in our 80s. We don’t hear very well and miss things in the live meetings. We do a lot of Zoom these days and it works wonderfully.”
Member Breslin again stated, “The positives here far outweigh the negatives.”
Dan Ullman stood in the open doorway of the standing room-only meeting. “I have experienced many Zoom meetings and we can work through any potential problems.” Chairman Rosamilia invited him to take a vacated seat, but Ullman said he was concerned about Covid. “It just makes me nervous when I could be at home safely participating.”
Chairman Rosamilia said he himself had attended several virtual meetings and he worried about technical problems and the need to have someone there to continuously troubleshoot. “Most disturbing to me is the amount of time that might be given to virtual comments; people will go on and on and not provide supervisors their time.”
Member Breslin responded, “We all understand the need for time limits. We can and will make rules for Tinicum that work for Tinicum.”

The chairman then moved to close down further discussion unless “there was something new to add. When there is a motion, we can talk.”
Member Breslin said she was ready and would be happy to make a motion:
“The motion is to allow for Tinicum Board of Supervisors meetings to be accessible through Zoom, in an interactive fashion.”
After the chairman asked if there was a second to the motion, tensions flared further. There was an awkward silence as the three supervisors sat with clasped hands looking out at the room.
“Nobody is seconding?” asked a puzzled resident rising above growing outcry in the room. “Not yet!” responded a frustrated Breslin. Another attendee asked the board incredulously, “It has to be you guys who second it?”
This fact further elevated exasperation in the room. A resident standing in the back complained “I don’t understand how it works that you won’t let people talk in a public session about this.”
Chairman Rosamilia retorted, “Now hold on. We’ve talked about this issue for months, you were here, so don’t make it sound like we’ve never discussed it. The resident objected – “People are here to talk about it tonight!”
This prompted the annoyed chairman to state if there was no motion forthcoming, “then you can leave. I don’t have to take this language.”
“This is a representative government” another attendee tersely articulated. “You represent your constituency, not your own personal opinions.”
“If there is a second to the motion, we will open it up for more discussion,” Rosamilia stated.” An angered resident countered, “And if there’s not a second, then where are we?”
Under overlapping back-and-forth remarks, Vice Chairman Helms suddenly put forth, “I’ll make a motion for a discussion of broadcasting the town meetings, without interaction.” Chairman Rosamilia immediately seconded this motion, superseding Member Breslin’s motion for the provision of broadcasting with participant interaction.
Following additional audience comments, Helm’s motion was passed by the three member board, with Breslin calling it “a good first step.”
Manager Lewis will reach out to G2 to obtain a firm quote on a streaming service for Tinicum, as well as beefing up municipal building’s internet speed.
Member Breslin made a pointed request to Lewis: “Please ensure whichever streaming hardware we commit to will be able to be upgraded down the line to add an interactive streaming element.”


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