Dear Lansdowne Neighbors,
Welcome to fall, I hope you had a great end of the Summer and are well. As we end the summer and move into the budgeting season for the Borough, I want to invite everyone to participate in Council meetings and Committee Meetings to understand the decisions being made by Council members, provide suggestions, and participate in formulating the plans. Although both the COVID and Tropical Storm Isaias have presented challenges to our Borough, Mayor Campuzano, Borough Council and Borough staff are working towards providing the best services in Lansdowne.
Public Safety Update
Public Safety Chair Sinoe Naji-Taylor and the Public Safety Committee in conjunction with the Solicitor and Chief Donegan have been working towards review and updates to policies in the Lansdowne Police Department. Also, the Public Safety Committee is exploring the purchase or lease of Body cams for use by all of the Police Officers in Lansdowne. To incorporate the Bodycams, the Public Safety Committee will also be developing a policy with the Chief of Police and Solicitor for the use of Body cams. All monies for the purchase of Body cams will come out of the Civil Asset Forfeiture fund and not impact the budget.
Lansdowne Borough Council and Mayor Campuzano would like to thank Chief Dan Donegan for his many years of service to the Lansdowne Borough. On Wednesday, Lansdowne Borough Council voted to agree to a retirement package with Chief Donegan, who will be retiring on a medical disability due to health reasons. For nearly twenty-five years, Chief Donegan--as an officer, a detective and then as Chief--worked in Lansdowne for the protection and safety of all Lansdowne residents. Chief Donegan leaves behind a Lansdowne a well-trained, professional force whose members work for the well-being of all residents. Please join us in recognizing Chief Donegan. Chief Donegan’s last day will be September 30, 2020.
We thank Chief Dan Donegan!
Lansdowne Borough Council also voted Sergeant Kenneth Rutherford in as Interim Chief while Lansdowne Borough Council conducts a search for a new full time chief for Lansdowne. We look forward to the service brought forward by Sergeant Rutherford.
Economic Development
As part of the continued investment in public facilities in Lansdowne, Borough Council is pleased to present the initial release of the Lansdowne Bike Facilities Plan to all Lansdowne residents. The Bicycle Plan is part of the long term progressive economic strategy of Borough Council of creating pedestrian and bike pathways linking to the green spaces in Lansdowne and both Lansdowne Train Station and Gladstone Station.
Last June, under the leadership of former President Michael Schleigh, Lansdowne Borough Council unanimously voted to solicit bids from engineering firms to create the bicycle facilities. After a series of interviews, Lansdowne Borough Council voted unanimously to award a contract to Pennoni Engineering to create the Bicycle Facility Plans. In November, former President Schleigh signed the contract with Pennoni Engineering in November. Through the past leadership of President Schleigh and the current leadership of Lansdowne Borough Council, the present plans represent the fruition of continued progressive planning to develop Lansdowne into a multimodal community that maximizes our assets of proximity to the city with TWO regional rail stations.
The plans support the overall Bicycle Plan of Delaware County. With the plans by Penndot to create a dedicated bike lane on Lansdowne Avenue and the recent receipt of the TCDI grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, Lansdowne Borough is poised to be a regional leader in the development of green infrastructure. Through the development of bike lanes, Lansdowne Borough will be connected to the Darby Creek Greenway, develop a new recreational activity in Hoffman Park, create the first stage of a regional network of bike lanes, work towards our commitment of Ready for 100 with the reduction of greenhouse gases, and boosts the economic value of real estate in Lansdowne.
This investment promises to boost the real estate values of Lansdowne. According to the Urban Land Institute, bike lanes support the economic development of communities in four ways: fueling development to boost real estate; helping companies score talented workers; making workers healthier and more productive; and, increasing retail visibility and sales volume.
Please mark your calendars and we look forward to your participation in a public meeting on September 30 at 7:00.
Your Neighbor,
Benjamin Hover
President, Lansdowne Borough Council