Video: Candidates Forum: Michael Speck

On Oct. 19, candidates for Phoenixville Borough Council headed to  for a candidates forum.

In the days leading up to the Nov. 8 municipal election, we'll present video of each candidate's answers. Each candidate responded to four questions dealing with topics like crime, downtown revitalization, traffic, parking, infrastructure and more. Dr. Lou Beccaria of the  served as moderator of the event.

The candidates had time to prepare answers to the questions before the forum.

Up next, going in alphabetical order, is Michael Speck, running for an open seat in the east ward. He's currently serving on council. Watch the above video for Speck's responses.

Name: Michael Speck

Party: Democrat

Ward: East

Opponent:

Forum Summary: Speck's questions dealt with leadership and assimilation of the Latino population, the borough budget, infrastructure and crime. 

Leadership 

Speck said that leadership is a spirit of working together. 

"It involves active listening, reaching out to your constituents, being truly invested in the whole system, anything that makes our borough better," Speck said. 

He added that the borough is very diverse and said Phoenixville is lucky to have a good borough manager and numerous civic organizations. 

As for a question dealing with the assimilation of the Latino population, Speck said he sits on the police and personnel committee as part of his role as councilman. 

"Several members of our police force, on their own, have gone out and taken lessons and set up some sort of schooling with a tutor to help them better understand key phrases of the Spanish language," Speck said. 

He said a program could be started to help teach key phrases to the borough employees who work with the public. 

Speck closed by saying he's been on council for four years and he said leadership means doing the right thing. 

"Do what's good for the community regardless of your political affilation," Speck said. 

Borough Budget 

Speck said the 2012 budget process had already started. 

"We're sort of between a rock and a hard place," Speck said, noting union issues and salary and benefit costs are still uncertain as both unions are out of contract. 

For ideas that don't involve raising taxes, Speck said development could help expand the tax base, and he said the borough can also pursue grants. 

He called the borough's compost site "state of the art" and the envy of nearby communities because through a recycling grant, the borough is now producing high-quality compost. 

Speck added another idea of putting an impound lot in the borough that could also help generate revenue.

Infrastructure and Codes

Speck highlighted three projects being done at the water treatment plant and said the borough had hoped to get a grant for a project on Cherry Street. 

Regarding the Vale Rio Diner, which opponent Brady Appleman mentioned when asked the same question, Speck voiced concerns but said the developments were unexpected. 

"As soon as that was moved there we were assured that it was going to be taken care of," Speck said. "We quickly learned that it was not taken care of."

After three months, the diner was covered but it still was a safety hazard, Speck said. 

"The bottom line is that this individual has rights," including the right to keep the diner there, Speck said. 

Speck said he talked to borough officials about approaching the matter from a safety standpoint. Another option is to go to court. 

"It could cost us tens of thousands of dollars and we may not win," Speck said. 

Crime, Drugs and Violence 

Addressing this topic, Speck said he gives kudos to Chief William Mossman. 

"The chief firmly beleives in training," for his officers and himself, Speck said. 

With most crime in the borough, Speck said many times it's not borough residents causing problems. 

"For the most part it's not our borough residents," Speck said. 

The police department coordinated a gun buyback and prescription drug take-back in the borough, and the chief laid out a five-year plan. 

That plan, however, involved hiring more officers. 

"Unfortunately budget constraints keep us fro reaching that goal," Speck said.