The Allentown Borough Council has proposed an ordinance for the purpose of restructuring the existing 3-year old ad hoc Senior Citizens Committee.
The primary intent of the ordinance is to codify the committee, allowing for direction and oversight by the council. Additionally, the proposal would open committee membership to non-seniors and non-residents, including Allentown business and association representatives.
Given the current political environment in Allentown, near “D.C. like” partisanship, the last thing the committee, which was established exclusively to serve the needs and interests of our seniors, would need is political or organizational influence brought to bear for the purpose of serving interests other than that of our seniors.
As secretary of the committee since its inception, I can assure Allentown seniors that all actions, decisions and initiatives taken to date on their behalf have been made independent of, and free from, any political or organizational considerations.
Changing the authority and composition of the committee, as outlined in the proposed ordinance, would fundamentally and permanently change the focus, priority and tenor of the committee, none for the better.
The proposed ordinance should be withdrawn from council consideration and the committee as currently constructed should continue functioning as an ad hoc independent service organization for the sole purpose of benefiting Allentown’s seniors.
Any Allentown senior citizen sharing this concern is invited to voice such at the Borough Council’s Jan. 22 meeting at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall.
Joseph Monticello
Secretary
2018 Allentown Senior Citizens Committee
Allentown
