Along with the fact that some systems, codes, laws, etcetera need fixing in Lower Merion, so does attitude.

Last evening at Building and Planning during the discussion of 254 Righters Mill Road, once again something irritating ond at this point old, occured again.

A resident from our neighborhood who has lived in Lower Merion Township as a resident for 31 years spoke up about this project.

This Lower Merion resident has the right to speak. If you live in the township no matter who you are, you have the right to speak up and out about what is going on in your immediate neighborhood and about whatever else concerns you township-wide.

The person developing 254 Rghters Mill made a point of saying this person didn't live in Gladwyne. We say this person lives in Lower Merion, and when this neighborhood has been before the township on other issues, we have welcomed with open arms the input of folks who live in the township but might not live across the street!

And point of fact, when the person who spoke last night first came to Lower Merion with their family, they did live in Gladwyne, not too far from this much debated project.

It would behoove the Township of Lower Merion to remind the public at large that if you live in Lower Merion or have other provable and appropriate standing, you can indeed speak up. It is all part and parcel of the public process. If government is open and transparent and encourages public participation, then they need to put an end to this particular thing, isn't that a fair statement?

In the end, it was a nail biter to watch on TV and quite full of twists and turns. The board of commissioners denied the Certificate of Appropriateness on 254 Righters Mill Road, overturning HARB's reccomendation - just like last week they sort of overturned HARB on the Pennywise.

Last week, can it be said in a way that HARB overstepped, and this week they understepped? There needs to be consistency here...and some more balance. HARB is not a bad thing, but it seems they are also confused at times by the codes and laws which govern us, just like the rest of us.....

So there you have it.