Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-25
CITY PLANNERS NOT
INVITED TO SESSION
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attend and present their arguments
pro and con on the subject.
City Planners Didn't Appear
Only the electric companys ofhelals
appeared and some of the Council
men construed the absence OF the
Planning Commission to mean that the
body was not very aggressive in dis-
approving the change of river landing
location from Market street TO the
island.
Mr. Umberger states in his letter
that he construed the official commu-
nication he received as secretary OF
the commission. to he personal one
and did not in turn notify the other
city planners.
In discussing the proposition to-day
Secretary Umberger said that so far
as he knows all that the commission
will now do will be to pass upon the
plans for the proposed construction as
provided for by the ordinance. Fol-
lowing is his letter;
To the Honorable Members of
City of Harrisburg. Pa.
Gentlemen:
Honorable Body passed the ordin-
nance No. 1S6 without the pres
ence of any member of the CITY
Planning Commission, l feel II in
member OF our commission, except
myself. had notice of your request
TO he present at your meeting.
through a misunderstandinS. Lhe
notice was mailed by the city
Clerk TO me as secretary or the
commission, and was delivered TO
my business office on Wednesday
morning. the 18th instant Owing
TO a death in my family that morn,
in l did not see my mail until
about Friday or Saturday. and then
ola hgFTfaHHN rnTnllXn l
took the notice for a personal one;
and notified Mr.. Taylor by phone l
could not be present. II seems
now that the notice was addressed
to the Planning Commission, ana
l ought to have notified the other
members Of the commission. The
fault If any is TO he found. was
mine / make this statement so
that you may know no dtscourtesy
to your Honorable Body was IN
tended. and so that the pubhc may
understand that the action of this
commission in disapproVing the or
dinance was founded on good rea-
sons and made in good faith.
This commission devoted constd-
erable time and study 10 the ordi-
nance. and disapproved of the same
because the members believed IL
was against the best interests of
the city. Their findings and the
reasons therefor were sent TO you
in communication OF the 18TH IN
stant. in language so plain they
could nvv pe misunderstood. First.
that the passage of the ,roinance
would not eliminate present condi-
tions but only relieve them. Sec
ond. that the commission was con-
yinced that the suggested site is
not the only available one, nor the
proper location. Third that the
granting OF the privilege asked for
would esta abliSh bad precedent. To
these reasons was added a state
ment tha- -Ge-r decision was reach
ed after very careful consideration.
This language could not he mis-
understood. and in fact was not
misunderstood.
While the members OF the COM
mission do not want Ia be under
stood as practicing discourtesy to
Your Honorable Body. Vet they feel
that all OF the facts were before
YOU. They feel injured that the
fact Of their absence was taken as
an indication that their action was
not sincere and genuine. Speaking
for the other members OF the COM
mission. their probity and standing
is such that they would not be
guilty OF towing with so important
question Speaking for myself
I am of opinion that the River
Front is worth more in dollars and
cents TO Harrisburg than all the
coal In the river. With great re-
spect and sincere regret for my
personal lapse (Which under the
circumstances I am sure will he
excused. I am.
Respectfully.
B. T. CMBERGER.
Secretary.