While many civic associations have trouble recruiting members and getting them to seek leadership positions, the Holmesburg Civic Association is in the midst of a contested battle for vice president.
Renee Cohen, a lawyer, is squaring off against science teacher Joe Kruvczuk.
The election will take place at the group’s November meeting.
Meanwhile, a local state representative and a candidate for state Senate addressed the crowd at a recent civic meeting.
Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-172nd dist.) faces Republican Al Taubenberger in the Nov. 6 election.
Boyle said his work in Harrisburg has included promoting good charter schools and making others more accountable.
Also, he is working with fellow Reps. Mike McGeehan, Ed Neilson and Brendan Boyle (Kevin’s brother) on ways to prevent what they fear could be a backdoor tax increase as the city next year adopts the Actual Value Initiative.
The property assessment process is under way, and owners will receive written notices of how much their properties are valued no later than February.
Property taxes will be determined once City Council sets the millage rate.
“I think it could be real chaos for Northeast Philadelphia,” Boyle said.
Mike Tomlinson, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, gave a passionate speech about why he should be elected over three-term Sen. Mike Stack.
Tomlinson, long active with Holmesburg Boys Club, has four daughters and three grandchildren. He blasted legislators for having too much time off and spending too much time raising money for their re-election campaigns. He chided his opponent for a six-page, taxpayer-funded, color brochure mailed to homes.
“We’ve got fifteen pictures of Sen. Stack,” he said, waving the brochure.
Tomlinson criticized Stack for writing in the brochure that, “I secured $3 million in state funding” for various expansion projects at Aria Health.
“The taxpayer gave that,” Tomlinson said.
The challenger has knocked on 19,000 doors during the campaign and expects to get to another 4,000 by Nov. 6.
In other news from the Oct. 9 meeting:
• Lawyers Dawn Tancredi and Phil McFillin will appear at next month’s meeting. They represent the community in its opposition to a proposed methadone clinic at Frankford Avenue and Decatur Street.
The clinic operators have appealed a decision by the Zoning Board of Adjustment to revoke permits granted by the city Department of Licenses and Inspections. A hearing in Common Pleas Court scheduled for Nov. 5 has been postponed to Dec. 3. That hearing is also expected to be postponed.
Boyle, the state lawmaker, said the delays are good, citing the end of the clinic’s five-year lease in February 2016. He has donated $500 out of his campaign treasury to a fund to pay Tancredi and McFillin.
Meanwhile, NorthEast Treatment Centers has applied to open a methadone clinic at 7520 State Road. The agency needs a zoning variance. The civic association was scheduled to meet with NET officials this week.
• Fred Moore, the former civic association president who moved earlier this year to Huntingdon Valley, spoke about the newly formed Friends of Pennypack Creek Bridge.
A state historical marker was recently dedicated for the bridge, which was built in 1697 at Frankford and Solly avenues. It is America’s oldest stone arch roadway bridge still in continuous use.
Moore continues to maintain the association’s Web site. He also won the 50–50 drawing at the civic meeting, but donated the money back to the group.
• To fill out a confidential crime incident report to Holmesburg Town Watch, go to holmesburg.com
• Holmesburg Civic Association will meet on Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m., at Holmesburg Recreation Center, at Rhawn and Ditman streets. ••
