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Has this experiment proved a success? Here are Steve Barth's claims from his Linked In page as of today:
Director of Economic Development (Consultant)Perkasie Olde Towne AssociationJanuary 2013 – Present (1 year 7 months) Perkasie, PA 18944The mission of the Economic Development Program for Perkasie Borough is
to revitalize Perkasie by creating an environment where businesses can grow
and thrive by providing goods and services to the residents of the Borough
and surrounding communities.
$82 million in new commercial and residential development.
Collaborated with Bucks County Planning Commission to finalize new Comprehensive Plan.
Visioned and cultivated developers to rebuild entire Town Center block.
Phase One approved by Council on 7/21/14.
(Includes three new retail and 10 upscale apartments on site dormant for 26 years.)
Phase Two- Pending 15 retail and 42 upscale apartments.
145 Townhouse development on 15 acre empty factory site bordering two parks.
Adaptive re-use of empty factory building into 6 upscale apartments.
73 New Single Family Homes - Cultivated developers for empty residential sites
Opened 12+ new businesses
Borough Council should be requiring an accounting of these claims and verification including a list of the 12+ businesses claimed by Mr Barth.
Of particular note is the claim about being responsible for "145 Townhouse development on 15 acre empty factory site bordering 2 parks". This is assumed to be the proposed Perkasie Woods development which has not yet received approval from Borough Council for rezoning. At a recent council meeting many neighbors of the proposed development spoke out against the project, including concerns on the density and flooding. Was Mr Barth part of some backroom deal to rubberstamp this and ignore public input?
A proposal for a Dunkin Donuts never materialized. Perkasie Borough Authority relocated outside of the Borough. Secant Medical is leaving town in 2015. Many storefronts still sit vacant. What have we received for $40,000 in public money?
A proposal for a Dunkin Donuts never materialized. Perkasie Borough Authority relocated outside of the Borough. Secant Medical is leaving town in 2015. Many storefronts still sit vacant. What have we received for $40,000 in public money?
Anyone who lives in the Borough or owns a business here knows that the biggest issue - the elephant in the room- is the high electric rates that increased 66% in 2008 as the result of a bungled electric contract that was urged to be entered into and voted for by none other than current council Vice President Jim Purcell, who oddly is still the chair of the public utility committee. It was Mr Purcell who, reminiscent of Chicken Little, warned that the sky was falling and that gasoline would reach $8 per gallon that fall.
Does Steve Barth deserve another $20,000 in public money for 2015?
