By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer
While Pennsylvanians flocked to the polls to cast their votes on Tuesday last week, members of the Greater Bustleton Civic League held an election of their own the next day — an election of officers.
Bernice Hill remains as president, John McKeever as vice president, Betty Clogston as treasurer, and Maureen Greene as corresponding secretary. Steve Cusano was elected recording secretary.
The GBCL formed a committee to explore the possibility of the city’s Department of Recreation donating Northeast Philadelphia Airport-controlled property at Conwell Avenue and President Street for a community center.
Civic group members realize that the process could be a long one and would require the support of the area’s political representatives – four state representatives, two state senators, a city councilman and a U.S. congresswoman.
“We’ve been gerrymandered so bad, let’s use it to our advantage,” said zoning committee chairman Carl Jadack.
McKeever, the civic vice president, asked the organization to officially accept a $7,500 grant that would cover insurance and mailing costs, supplies, as well as a projector, scanner and other equipment so that zoning and other presentations could more easily be seen by members.
Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP) representatives Rick Sicinski and Rosanne Elia were also on hand to let civic group members know how they can help address the quality-of-life issues.
“It’s the little things in life that are more important to people,” Kosinski said.
He explained that CLIP will respond within 24 to 48 hours to quality-of-life complaints including high grass, dog waste, stagnant pools, etc. Since its inception five years ago, CLIP has issued 60,000 violations.
Concerned residents should call 215-683-2547 (CLIP) and be very specific about the problem. They should leave their name, address and phone number in case they need to get in touch — for example, to find a way to see a problem in a backyard that might not be visible from the street.
The way it works is that when CLIP inspectors come out to address a complaint, they’ll take photos and leave a notice of a violation and let property owners know that if they don’t comply within 10 days, CLIP will clean up the property and then bill the property owner for the work. If the own doesn’t pay, the property will be liened.
In other business, Matt Taubenberger, the Republican candidate for the seat being vacated by retiring state Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) was on hand at the meeting to ask for support by civic group members.
Taubenberger, who is director of legislative services for Kenney, told the meeting attendees that it’s because of the work of organizations like theirs that Northeast neighborhoods are nicer than other parts of the city. He also told them that if he defeats Democratic candidate Brendan Boyle in November, there will be a smooth transition and services won’t stop for one day.
A former parole officer, Taubenberger would support funding for 10,000 more police officers in the state, including 1,400 for Philadelphia.
“I gotta believe if we get fourteen-hundred for the city , we’ll get some for the Northeast,” said Taubenberger, whose father Al was the Republican candidate for mayor last year.
In addition to fighting crime, he pledged to fight grime and graffiti along major thoroughfares with stiffer penalties. He also promised to fight to reduce taxes and defined what he says the state’s surplus really means.
“What it means is they took too much of our dollars,” he said. ••
The Greater Bustleton Civic League’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m., at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. For more information, visit www.gbcleague.com
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com