Katie Daniels, Mt. Holly Springs Borough Council

I'm very proud to report that on March 25, 2021, Borough Council unanimously supported a resolution urging our Cumberland County Board of Commissioners to exert due diligence in the pending sale of Claremont Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. We passed this resolution with support from the Western Cumberland Council of Governments, Newville Boroughh, and Citizens Saving Claremont Claremont. For more on what this resolution means, feel free to contact me.

I'm very proud to report that on March 29, 2021, Borough Council unanimously supported a resolution urging our Cumberland County Board of Commissioners to exert due diligence in the pending sale of Claremont Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center. We passed this resolution with support from the Western Cumberland Council of Governments, Newville Borough, and Citizens Saving Claremont. For more on what this resolution means, feel free to contact me.

Greetings Reds and Blues of Mount Holly Springs! On the May 18 ballot are three constitutional amendments, two of which I recommend you oppose because it is my opinion that we should not amend our PA constitution based on who is in power, any more than we should adjust voting maps based on who is in power. Vote NO! on Amendment #1 (Article III, Section 9), which allows the legislature to end a governor’s disaster declaration with an action the governor can’t veto, no matter ...how bad the disaster. This sets up a partisan power play at times when partisanship has no business in how the government works for the people. Vote NO! on Amendment #2 (Article IV), which limits the governor’s ability to manage disasters under a disaster declaration to 21 days without the legislature’s approval. Disasters can’t wait for a legislature that routinely can’t even pass a state budget on time. Vote YES! on Amendment #3 (Article I), which guarantees equality of rights for all people under the law by prohibiting state and local governments from discriminating on the basis of race or ethnicity. All registered voters can vote on these constitutional amendments. Find the full wording on these proposed amendments to the PA constitution here: https://www.dos.pa.gov/Votin//Joint-Resolution-2021-1.aspx Learn about the cross-filed candidates running for School Board, the Democrat running for MHS Borough Council, and Democrats running for judicial positions here: https://carlislepadems.org/recommended-candidates

Have you received your notice? Our polling place has changed to the Borough office in the large meeting room. This change was made due to state-wide inspections of our polling places. The firehouse entrance did not meet the access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Bureau of Elections has approved and advertised this new voting location. You’ll enter from the rear parking lot and can park in front or in back, as needed. See you in May for our primary, where you’ll vote for state-wide judicial positions AND many local positions. Find your sample ballot from the Bureau of Elections website and feel free to reach out with any questions. Happy voting!

I hope you can join me and other council members at the 6:30 Committee meeting this evening at 200 Harman. Here's the agenda: https://7053921f-67c1-4065-be38-3da0ffc25e23.filesusr.com/

This will be a HUGE year for opportunity in Mt. Holly Springs and Cumberland County. Be a part of free and fair elections -- learn how you can make a difference at the local level. In our borough alone, you'll be voting in the primary (May 18) for Mayor, Council Members (4), Tax Collector, and Constable. In Cumberland County, you'll have a chance to vote in the primary (May 18) for School Board Members (4), Magisterial District Judge (District 09-3-03 -- Dickinson Township,... Mt. Holly Springs Borough, South Middleton Township), plus all of the following: Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Superior Court, Judge of the Commonwealth Court (2), Judge of the Court of Common Please, Sheriff, Controller, Recorder of Deeds, Prothonotary, Clerk of the Criminal Court, Register of Wills, and Coroner. Several ballot questions may be posed regarding amendments to the PA Constitution -- find those at the end of this document. Questions? Give a yell. https://www.ccpa.net/DocumentCenter/View/37505/UMOVA-NOTICE

To stem community spread, tonight's borough council meeting will be via phone only. We have not crossed the virtual meeting hurdle, but a safe phone-in meeting is better taking unnecessary risks. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html) Please DO dial in and review the agenda (https://7053921f-67c1-4065-be38-3da0ffc25e23.filesusr.com/). The meeting will be conducted as normal in these abnormal times! The details are as follows: Conference Call Dial in: 1-215-383...-1625; Conference Code: 590979. There is no pin. **Please say your first and last name when prompted.** If you have something for the public comment period, you also may submit information in advance. Email Sara at [email protected] with your name, address, and information to present. Thanks!

Last night's Borough Council meeting was a first -- we held an nearly fully remote meeting using a conference call number. Make no mistake -- I am a Zoom convert. and much prefer to match voices with faces and see facial expressions, as well as the chance to share documents online -- but I so appreciated the effort made by Borough staff to improve the remote meeting quality. Here's what we happened: - Approved fees for 2021 (no changes) - Motioned to approve the County Haza...rd Mitigation Plan (tabled for more time to review - link here: https://www.ccpa.net/926/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan) - Accepted of the resignation of Officer Brazeal (he is moving to f/t in another tnsp.; however, we approved the rehiring of Dylan Kuhn as a f/t officer in December) - Re-appointed volunteer committee members to another term: > Michael Gwozdecki -- Water and Sewer Authority > Merle Barclay -- Planning Commission > Chuck Crone -- Zoning Hearing Board - Approved an amended Subdivision and Land Development booklet, which now includes an escrow amount to cover plan review fees. On a community-building note, Parks and Rec commented that the holiday decorating contest was great fun and the improved holiday lights supported by businesses were festive. The Borough secretary/treasurer updated me that the borough handed out approximately 200 boxes of perishable and non-perishable goods to families in need and those looking to donate to support this effort can contact either the MHS United Methodist Church or Church of God, both of which help distribute food each month, as noted on your 2021 MHS Community Calendar. If you live in the Borough, look for your calendar in the mail; outside the borough? Stop at a local business or the library to pick up a copy. Be sure to dial in or stop in for the committee meeting, scheduled for January 28th at 6:30 p.m. Public comment always welcome.

I'm part of a group called Braver Angels. This nonprofit works to find common ground on both sides of the Red and Blue of our nation. They hold debates and discussions and offer hope when it feels like there's none left. Check out this recently shared information titled "Stop calling people out -- start calling them in" Listen to the latest edition of the Braver Angels podcast: https://youtu.be/NYkgTrkGRFw Background: Loretta Ross is an author, academic, and radical Black fe...minist who currently teaches courses on human rights and white supremacy at Smith College. She believes deeply in the value of empathetic conversation calling in versus shaming, humiliating, or publicly calling out those with whom we disagree (or indeed those whose views we may find appalling). But she also believes there’s a limit. Professor Ross joins Ciaran O’Connor for a wide-ranging discussion on racial politics, right wing media, and when to draw a line in the sand. Listen to the latest edition of the Braver Angels podcast: https://youtu.be/NYkgTrkGRFw See more

Thank you to our Civic Association members who muscled through, despite the pandemic, to make this calendar a reality. Thank you to the businesses and organizations that sponsored the calendar, despite the squeeze of COVID-19. Thank you to our photographer and photo archivist who implemented our vision of Mt Holly Springs Then and Now. And thank you to our special benefactor for making it possible to include our unique nonprofit organizations AND have funds for a new project.