Submitted by Marianne Gabel, Chair, Nancy Snook and Ashley Doctor, members of the Nominating Committee.
LOCAL PROGRAM POSITIONS for Readoption
Developing Beneficial Social Programs for Delaware County
The League of Women Voters of Delaware County believes that provision of human services is imperative to maintaining the health and well-being of our community. To this end the League supports:
1. Adequate funding of the Department of Job and Family Services by the County Commissioners until a continuing stable source of funding becomes available.
2. Encouragement of policy makers to provide funds for meeting needs such as affordable housing, public transportation, and medical coverage for low-income families and individuals.
3. A coordinated system to administer multiple services to promote and support stable families.
4. Efforts to promote 24 hour child care seven days a week for low-income working families.
5. Interagency cooperation to provide Adult Protective Services to Delaware County residents. Promoting awareness of Adult Protective Services and prevention of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Managing Growth in Delaware County
The League of Women Voters of Delaware County believes that it is crucial to the quality of life of county residents that growth be managed carefully to assure that the needs of current residents are met, that future development is orderly and environmentally friendly, and that infrastructure needs are met concurrently with growth in the population. To this end, the League supports:
1. Careful long-range planning for development that addresses infrastructure needs, including transportation and public transit networks, water and sewer, and storm water drainage.
2. Intergovernmental cooperation and coordination among regional, county, city and township governments in order to achieve a balanced, desirable mix of high-quality business, residential, and public service development.
3. Consideration of LEED principles in building requirements, with building standards that protect the environment and conserve energy.
4. Provision of infrastructure and public services (including public schools) at a pace that does not lag new development
5. Preservation of farmland, open space, parkland, waterways and wetlands to protect the environment and enhance the quality of life of residents.
6. Preservation of the unique character of Delaware County’s neighborhoods and their historic architecture, including residential, commercial and public buildings.
7. Inclusion of housing developments that meet the needs of all Delaware County residents.
8. Transparency in the review of development proposals and provision for citizen input.
Supporting Education in Delaware County
The League of Women Voters of Delaware County believes that a free, high quality public education is critical to the lives of children and to the vitality of the entire community. The attractiveness of the community to new residents, the community’s economic well-being, the stability of property values, and the quality of public discourse are all increased by a system of quality local public schools and other educational programs. To these ends, the League supports:
1. The provision of local and state funds as needed to increase the capacity of the districts to accommodate growing number and the increasing diversity of children.
2. Government planning and policies that ensure a fair equitable allocation of industrial, commercial, and varied residential development among the county’s public school systems.
3. The evaluation of student progress, in combination with challenging curriculum, of broad interest to students. The schools must also prepare students for their role(s) in a global economy.
4. Ongoing communication and cooperation among the school districts, and county government, local agencies and the public to strengthen education.
5. The construction, preservation and or rehabilitation of school facilities with sensitivity to the environment by use of “green” materials, increased energy efficiency and use of environmentally friendly building techniques.
6. Education as it takes place in many venues and activities in the community.
Adopted May 14, 2009
