Stop Coatesville's Condemnation of family farm to build a Golf Course

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Amendment 1. The City Council is prohibited in exercising and performing the powers below without gaining voter approval through the referendum process: (x) To actively engage in, develop, or benefit from, any golf or golf related facility and/or recreation center outside the municipal boundaries of the City of Coatesville, Pa. effective from January 1, 2000.

Fact: This amendment does not hamstring city government nor does it prohibit any revitalization efforts within the city boundaries. This amendment simply states that City Council must get voter approval before it can build golf or golf related facility outside of the municipal boundaries. This amendment will not stop any revitalization programs within city boundaries.

Fact: Coatesville has already wasted over $5 million of your tax dollars in legal and engineering fees to pursue building a golf facility and recreation center outside of Coatesville municipal boundaries. Why not put those dollars and attention into the revitalization of downtown Coatesville?

Amendment 2. The City Council is prohibited in exercising and performing the powers below without gaining voter approval through the referendum process: (x) To engage or participate in, sponsor, support, administer, or benefit from a city-owned or operated proprietary or business enterprise that would directly compete against a privately-owned business sector that is, can or could provide such service or goods effective January 1, 1999.

Fact: This amendment does not hamstring city government. It does not prohibit the city from running the police, fire or any other government operated institution. There is no privately owned police force or Fire Company in Coatesville. The amendment requires the City Council to get the voters' approval (via the next election) before it can operate a business that competes with a private enterprise such as a golf course, driving range, ice-skating rink, retail store, etc.

Fact: Pa State law already limits the city from competing with private enterprise. 

53 Pa.C.S. 2962(c)(1); Home Rule Charter and Optional Plans Law:
(c) Prohibited powers.--A municipality shall not:
   1.  Engage in any proprietary or private business except as authorized by statute.

see http://members.aol.com/StatutesPB/53.Cp.29E.html for more details.

Fact: Several privately owned golf and ice-skating businesses have banded together to take legal action against Coatesville to prohibit them from competing against them. These private enterprises charge that Coatesville city government has an unfair advantage over private enterprise since the city doesn't pay taxes, they get special deals from suppliers and they take the land through eminent domain.

Amendment 3. The City Council is prohibited in exercising and performing the powers below without gaining voter approval through the referendum process: (x) To engage in the conveyance, transfer, lease or annexation of any real property existing or laying outside the municipal boundaries of the City of Coatesville.


Fact: This amendment does not hamstring city government. It requires the City Council to get voter approval before is takes over property outside the municipal boundaries of the City of Coatesville. It does not apply any restrictions on the city's powers within the municipal boundaries of the City of Coatesville.

Coatesville voters tried to return Power to the People by voting Yes to these amendments.  However, the majority of City Council Members have chosen to ignore the amendments and the voice of the people.

E-mails are welcome at nrsaha@aol.com or call Dick and Nancy Saha at 610-383-4295