Laurels & lances: Stress, permits and cooperation
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Laurel: To valuable advice. Tim Murphy understands something about stress. Not only is he a licensed psychologist who specializes in psychological trauma, but he is also a former congressman who spent 14 years in Washington and resigned in 2017 amid a sex scandal.
On Monday, he spoke at Westmoreland County Community College about stress and trauma and how to deal with them — an important topic as people deal with years of the coronavirus pandemic, economic upheaval and political division.
Murphy talked about identifying individual breaking points and having strategies to address them, including exercise, sleep and relaxation. He emphasized the importance of a positive attitude.
“What’s gonna help people grow from this is … how can I be better — not despite this but because of this?” Murphy said. “How can I turn trauma into a source of strength?”
Lance: To an unnecessary bill. The fees that have to be paid by an individual or a business are frequently not required of nonprofit organizations or government entities. Sales tax, for instance, might be waived for a borough purchase.
That makes the $15,755 bill North Huntingdon is charging Norwin School District for a building permit avoidable.
The permit is for a $1 million roof project at Hillcrest Intermediate School — not something frivolous. A roof project of that magnitude can be the difference between a repair today or a $20 million building replacement a few years down the road. It is in the best interest of the taxpayers and, by extension, the township.
So why would the commissioners deny the fairly routine waiver of the fee? It has been done for other nonprofits in the past. Because of dissatisfaction with a 1 mill tax increase passed by Norwin. But charging thousands of dollars for a permit will just increase the burden on taxpayers. The argument doesn’t make sense.
The fee could be reconsidered at the July meeting.
Laurel: To working together. In the Alle-Kiski Valley, schools and municipalities are finding a way to cooperate.
New Kensington and Arnold will be able to join the Westmoreland County Land Bank now that the New Kensington-Arnold School District has done the same.
The land bank allows municipalities to address blighted properties through repair or removal. That can put eyesore properties that generate no tax money for either local or school government back on the market.
The benefit is more than just the tax bill. It boosts the communities — both in property value and in quality of life.