Eliminate Townships, Boroughs?

A plan to create unity in Cameron County is having a polarizing impact so far.

Once the Nov. 7 General Election is out of the way, the spotlight will turn to a farreaching plan that will be up for voter approval next May: eliminate the townships and boroughs in Cameron County and replace them with a single governmental unit.

It's a tough sell, for certain, but there's plenty of time for the supporters of this revolutionary plan to make their case with the voters.

Pat Rodgers, a member of the Cameron County Board of Commissioners, has become the point person for the proposed "home-rule charter." The commissioners are working with a consultant to develop a draft of the plan.

Rodgers said Cameron County residents stand to benefit from the new system of government, since it would eliminate duplication of services and make t h e area more competitive for government grants

He added that the two boroughs and five townships in Cameron County are now at a disadvantage for grants because many of the allotments are based on population.

Under the plan, the county would be divided into districts that would elect representatives to a c o u n t y w i d e g o v e r n i n g

organization.

Township and borough governments would be eliminated.

Officials in some municipalities are already speaking out against the plan. Gibson Township Supervisor Gaylord McIsaac questions where the 200-plus residents of his municipality would take their local complaints and concerns if a centralized board were making all of the decisions.

Loyal township employees who have served for many years could lose their jobs, McIsaac pointed out.

Former Cameron County Commissioner Mary Donovan has also joined the ranks of the vocal opponents.

"Citizens' representation will be weakened," she said. "Concentrated power nullifies the people's power . . . If something is detrimental to an area, such as a dump or nuclear waste site, the people of that area would have no local authorities who could speak for them."

The plan is a long way from a reality. It will begin next year with the circulation of petitions seeking to place on the ballot a question of whether voters favor the election of a government study commission to draft a home rule charter.

That plan would then be put on the ballot for voter approval in a subsequent election.