Weaver discusses taxes, noise and sign ordinance, and casino during council’s monthly radio program.
Published: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 2:04 PM EST
FRED SNYDER: “A good Tuesday morning – it is the Breakfast Nook. This morning we are brought to you by, Gettysburg Hospital Wellspan…and Gettysburg Lutheran Retirement Village. Like we do every month, and I like to time this program the morning after they have their monthly (business) meeting, it is the Gettysburg Borough Show. The Gettysburg Borough Council met last night. We have a new council person with us, he took Dick Peterson’s seat in the 3rd Ward after he was elected last year…I want to bring in Graham Weaver, good morning Graham.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Good morning Fred, glad to be here.”
FRED SNYDER: “For those who don’t know you well, a little background. Are you from Gettysburg?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “No I’m not – as a matter of fact, I’m rather new to the area, and it would be appropriate for me to give you a little background. I’ve been here for about five years. I spent most of my life in the Washington D.C. area where I worked in both government and business. I’ve also been a lifelong history buff and Civil War buff, so when it came time to retire, I was looking at various locations, and decided on Gettysburg. One thing that I can say over folks that have lived here all their lives, I didn’t end up here by accident. I chose it over everywhere else in the United States, and I think it was a great choice, because it’s a great community to live, work and play.”
FRED SNYDER: “What is your background, as far as education and work experience?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “What I’ve done in terms of government: naval officer during Vietnam War. After that, I went to work for the Interior Dept…I worked in the area of Congressional affairs. Also, I worked on Capitol Hill as a press secretary, quite some years ago. I worked as a legislative representative for the American Dental Association, and I put in many years working as a Navy support contractor. That’s my background in a nutshell. I’ve been involved in politics in Maryland…I ran four times, won twice, lost twice, so an even-steven split there on wins and losses. When I came up to Gettysburg, I had no intentions of getting involved in politics. Then, what happened that changed that all around: my cat ran away. I knocked on every door in Colt Park. She was gone for five months, and then came back on her own. But in the course of knocking on doors to find my cat, I found John Murphy, who used to be on council. I started having breakfast with him, joined by Dick Peterson, and one thing led to another, so here I am.”
FRED SNYDER: “I know you’ve only been on (council) for a month, but I also know that you attended (council) meetings before being seated. We’re going to ask your opinion on various topics, but first of all, I’ve got to ask you about the snow situation in Gettysburg. Where are you going to put the next dump?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Maybe in your front yard (laughs). We’re very proud of our Highway Department – Dan Hilliard and his crew have done a magnificent job in terms of clearing away the snow. My own street was plowed several times, and I’ve heard the same feedback from others. With this approaching snow storm, given the (department’s) recent track, I believe we can look forward with confidence as far as the snow being taken care of with efficiency.”
FRED SNYDER: “Where are you putting it? Are you putting it over at the Rec Park?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “I’m not sure – I really don’t know.”
FRED SNYDER: “From what you hear, the highway department is ready?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “They are ready, and I think they’ll do a great job once again.”
FRED SNYDER: “We had a Gettysburg Borough meeting last night, and I guess this is your second meeting sitting on the board. What do you think? What’s your view on how the meetings are conducted? Do you think they’re structured OK?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “I think they’re generally well-run, as far as (President) John Butterfield presiding over them. Everyone is given an opportunity to speak. There’s no suppressing of opinion. We certainly, last night, voiced our opinion on various things, so I’m content with that process.”
FRED SNYDER: “I’m going to ask you something that was in the newspaper this morning, in regard to a police four-wheel drive vehicle. You were the only dissenting vote to this – it’s my understanding that you questioned the protocol as the vehicle, with how it was to be procured.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “If I could address that – I got a call from the Mayor at 4 o’clock Monday afternoon, asking to support the purchase of the four-wheel drive vehicle. I didn’t have any objections to it. I just wanted there to be more discussion, to see if the borough did in fact need this, and I wanted to hear more from the chief of police. We have a process in the borough, where if we’re making a major purchase, we run this through the finance committee, so it can be looked over very carefully. It’s a major expenditure, and we shouldn’t just hop into it. Since we had a time crunch with the finance committee looking at this purchase, I called (Councilman) Bob Krummerich (chairman of finance committee) and suggested that we have a special emergency meeting immediately before the full council met, to give us an opportunity to explore this vehicle with the chief of police. When I completed that phone call, I was under the impression that (Krummerich) was agreeable to that, but somewhere along the line, the idea got dropped, and it was put in front of the full council, without being properly vetted with the committee. As long as we have the committee structure, I think we ought to follow the rules. I didn’t have any problems with the purchase of the vehicle – just following the rules.”
FRED SNYDER: “My understanding of it was that the (vehicle) was already in the budget, 2009 budget, and they cut it out of there. The idea was, once the money was available, we’re going to buy it. Of course, that money from the federal government…
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Right, that’s where the money came from.”
FRED SNYDER: “The $200-plus thousand…”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That wasn’t a concern of mine, the money, it’s just that I feel that we need to use the money carefully and prudently. For that reason, I wanted to be completely assured that this was a necessary purchase. I’m kind of surprised that they didn’t want to have an emergency meeting of the finance committee. I feel we should explore every expense of a significant nature with care.”
FRED SNYDER: “What’s on top of your mind with the borough? It’s no secret that the borough has the highest millage rate in the county. What are some of the things that concern you?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “We do have the highest millage rate in the county, and taxes are a big concern of mine. When I ran for Borough Council, I point out that I was running in the only contested election last year. The other people that ran were all uncontested. That meant I had to go around and knock on doors and talk to people. In the Republican primary, I got 67 percent over two opponents, and was unopposed in the general (election). In fact, I got the Democratic nomination was well, through write-ins. Now having said that and talked to all of those people, my campaign was based – - – and each piece of literature I handed out – - – said fight higher taxes. This message resonated well with the people of the 3rd Ward. I got the feeling that they want the line held on taxes. I kind of approach the whole thing on taxes and spending a little differently than probably the majority of elected officials here and other parts of the country. There’s a basic tendency on the part of elected officials to view the business of taxes and spending from the perspective of their own level of government, and that’s very understandable. You’re dealing with these problems day after day, and you look at it from the point of view of your own perspective. But what you need to do is look at it from the perspective of the taxpayer. The taxpayer here in Adams County and in Pennsylvania is faced with the prospect of tax increases, not just in the borough – - – we just had one of those – - – but five – - – count them Fred – - – five different levels of government.”
FRED SNYDER: “Oh sure.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “First of all you have the borough. Secondly, you have the school district, and you’ve seen the articles where they’re talking about a two mill hike at that level. You also have a reassessment being conducted by Adams County. I know it’s supposed to be revenue neutral, but it will go up for people and down for others, so some people will get a hit on that. Then looking at the state of Pennsylvania, what you see is that in 2012, we’re going to have a big pension problem, which is going to be very pricey for all concerned. And finally, we have the federal government, and we still don’t know how that’s going to shake out, except that they spend money in billion and trillion dollar increments and that money has to come from somewhere. The result is, the taxpayers – - – and I try to look at it from their point of view – - – are faced with a lot of increases and for that reason, it behooves all of us at all levels of government to bear that in mind and be extremely prudent before spending new money.”
FRED SNYDER: “Well, you don’t have a lot of money to work with in the borough right now.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s true.”
FRED SNYDER: “You’ve got some real issues there with the (parking) garage, crumbling infrastructure, and fixing the borough building.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “No question about it.”
FRED SNYDER: “I think, the police department is your biggest cost, isn’t it?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s true. Right now, we have two vacancies in the police department, and while we’re working on the future expenses for the coming year, we should probably hold off on filling those vacancies, at least in the short term.”
FRED SNYDER: “We’re going to take a little break here, Graham. When we come back, I’m going to ask you your thoughts on the sign ordinance, the noise ordinance, the gun ordinance – - – that was turned over last night – - – the firing of blanks, and a couple of other things. My guest this morning is Borough Councilman Graham Weaver. He’s the new kid on the block, as far as council is concerned. Don’t go anywhere, we’ll be right back.”
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FRED SNYDER: “My guest this morning is Councilman Graham Weaver, he’s the new face on council. He just took the seat in January. Graham, I’m going to throw some stuff out at you…and get your impressions. The first (topic) is the ADA issue in Gettysburg. That has caused some great concern, what are your feelings on that?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “We’re concerned about that too. There have been a number of suits filed, under that act, we’re required to try and ensure that handicap folks have access to sidewalks through ramps, and we’re in the process of making those changes. It will take time, it will take money, but we’re actively working on it.”
FRED SNYDER: “The sign ordinance. I know you’ve only been here five years, but I think the sign ordinance and updating the thing has been kicked around for about that long too. What is your feeling on that? Do you have something that everyone can live with? I understand that some of the sign makers have been meeting with the borough people, and they’re coming to a successful conclusion.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s correct, I believe they had some more meetings last month, and they’ve kind of narrowed it down to an ordinance that will pass muster. It’s planned to come up at the March meeting, and be acted on by council at that time, so it’s about ready to go.”
FRED SNYDER: “The noise ordinance, I know you’ve been in Gettysburg for five years. It’s been the last two years that this piece of legislation has been kicking around. It still hasn’t been finalized yet. Where are you with regard to noise?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “The ordinance that’s currently being considered was patterned after one over in Lancaster. This particular version has been found to be enforceable, and it’s – - – I believe – - – considered to be something that will past muster in the courts, should that be necessary. I support the idea of having some limitations on noise, where it’s feasible. When I first came here to Gettysburg, and started looking for a house, I looked at a house on Baltimore Street. The noise from the motorcycles was so loud that I said uh-uh, I don’t want to go there. I want to move over into a more quiet neighborhood, so that’s what led me to Colt Park. So yes, I do think we need to take a look at doing controls over noise.”
FRED SNYDER: “You mentioned noise, what about trucks?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s also true. People also complain about idling tour buses. You’re quite correct in mentioning others.”
FRED SNYDER: “You mentioned the fact that you might want to put a hold on getting these two other police officers. You’re going to need people that would enforce this (noise) law, once you put it into effect, have you guys given thought to cost and manpower?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “That’s something that has to be taken a look at. I’m not sure if this is something that can be enforced by the police officers that are currently out there – - – just one more thing for them to look at, but that has to be factored in as well.”
FRED SNYDER: “There is a proposal to put a gaming resort outside of Gettysburg in Cumberland Township. We were talking earlier about expenses and property tax relief, and of course everybody’s looking for a break on their taxes, and this may help a bit. What’s your feeling on a resort outside of Gettysburg?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “First of all, have you gotten any break on your taxes?”
FRED SNYDER: “Actually, I did last year.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Oh, you did?”
FRED SNYDER: “It was 100-some bucks.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Oh OK, well good.”
FRED SNYDER: “Yeah.”
GRAHAM WEAVER: I’m personally against the casino. I was last time, and I am this time. If I wanted to retire to a gambling community, I would have gone to Atlantic City or Las Vegas. I think it could also lead to problems that aren’t discussed much…like additional strains on the infrastructure, a lot more cars on the road, the Emmitsburg Pike coming up from the Eisenhower Center toward town. In addition to that, there’s the potential for social problems. Habitual gamblers have ruined their lives, broken marriages, lost houses – - – these are extreme cases, they have been reported. Basically, I like the environment of the community the way it is. There is a lot of division on the part of residents in the community about whether to have it. A poll was run in the Hanover Sun recently, that showed 43 percent in favor, and I guess about 33 percent or so opposed as far as the casino. That’s the latest poll, however, keep in mind that only 43 percent were for (the casino), and of the people that had a strong opinion on it, those people that were against outnumbered the pros by about a 2-to-1 factor. Others that gave the 43 percent to the pros were people that, in many cases, well, as long as you ask me, I’m for it.”
FRED SNYDER: “Real quick, your ideas to stimulate economic development here in this area. You know, the suggestion was made that bringing in the gaming facility might do that. Do you have some alternate ideas on how to increase economic development?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “I’d like to see more done in terms of increasing tourism type businesses. Now, I expect to be getting involved in the Sesquicentennial Celebration of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 150th anniversary. A lot of work is being done on this, by Main Street, and this is being done from the perspective of not only having a celebration, but also getting an economic bounce for the community. I would sooner spend my efforts encouraging that kind of new business in Gettysburg rather than a gambling casino.”
FRED SNYDER: “So, you think there’s a future in tourism then?”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “It’s our biggest economic base now. Depending on who you talk to, we have anywhere from 1.8 to 2-3 million people, visitors, annually.”
FRED SNYDER: “Graham we’re out of time…”
GRAHAM WEAVER: “Thanks for having me.”
FRED SNYDER: “Councilman Graham Weaver, our guest this morning on the Gettysburg Borough Show. That does it for the Breakfast Nook. We’ll be right back.”
TRANSCRIPT: 02/09/10 – Gettysburg Councilman Graham Weaver appears on 1320 WGET with host Fred Snyder
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