Borough Manager’s Message
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters
to create many ripples.” - Mother Teresa
rentwood
B RI EFLY BR EN T WOO D BOR O U GH N ews
“BUY BRENTWOOD 2013..2014…2015…2016… !”
I can’t believe we are less than two
months away from Christmas and
Thanksgiving is right around the corner!
We have much to be thankful for.
Brentwood continues to blossom as it
prepares itself for the next 100 years. We
saw the installation of a brand new track
and synthetic turf field at the stadium
and plans are currently underway for new
bleachers and press box. A state of the
art In-Line Dek Hockey Rink with a new
tennis court and new basketball court (all
lighted) were installed not to mention
two new ball fields. The Department
of Public Works has been relocated out
of the cramped Municipal Building and
into its own DPW Building. Speaking of
the Municipal Building, the Borough is
currently going through an analysis to see
if it is more economical to renovate the
existing building to build a new municipal
building. We saw the final section of
the Brownsville Road paved as well as
the crumbling Hillson Avenue. These
are only a few of the major projects the
Borough has undertaken in 2013. Some
less “glamorous” projects are the nearly
$1 million the Borough put into the
Sanitary Sewer Systems this year. All of
these projects, although not a concern
to some, demonstrate the Borough’s
proactive approach for ensuring the
future sustainability of the Borough. It
shows that they are not simply “kicking
the can down the road” for future Council
to address. Yes, these are costly projects
and the Borough has been fortunate with
some grant funding but to ensure that
Brentwood maintains its identity in the
future, the Borough has to show that it can
operate and pay for these projects. The
Borough investing in itself demonstrates
to businesses that they too should come
and invest in Brentwood. (We are seeing
some of these businesses already.) Which
brings me to the real subject of my holiday
article, and that is, we must be willing
to invest in Brentwood ourselves! As a
community! Each year, around this time, I
have been promoting the “Buy Brentwood”
campaign. (Although we should “Buy
Brentwood” throughout the year.) The
“Buy Brentwood” campaign began in 2011
when the Brentwood Borough Council
adopted a resolution asking everyone
36 Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall
to consider Brentwood “first” when
shopping during the holiday season. The
“Buy Brentwood” campaign is dedicated
to increasing visibility and prosperity of
Brentwood Borough’s locally owned and
operated independent businesses through
a grassroots campaign of education and
publicity.
One of Brentwood Borough’s most
important, but under-utilized qualities,
is its unique array of locally owned and
operated, independent businesses.
Supporting locally owned and operated,
independent businesses is in the best
interest of the Brentwood community
because those businesses are part of the
traditions and heritage of Brentwood
Borough and are critical to maintaining a
socially, environmentally and financially
sustainable local economy.
Did you know that for every $100 spent
in locally owned independent stores, $68
returns to the local community through
taxes, payroll, and other expenditures?
Spend that online and $0 comes home!
This concept goes with Brentwood’s 3/50
project. That is where you pick 3 of your
favorite businesses in the community
each month and spend $50 at each. The
following Top 10 Reasons to Support
Locally Owned Businesses came from the
Institute for Local Self-Reliance web page
(www.ilsr.org).
1. Local Character and Prosperity
In an increasingly homogenized world,
communities that preserve their one-of-akind businesses and distinctive character
have an economic advantage.
2. Community Well-Being
Locally owned businesses build strong
communities by sustaining vibrant town
centers, linking neighbors in a web of
economic and social relationships, and
contributing to local causes.
3. Local Decision-Making
Local ownership ensures that important
decisions are made locally by people who
live in the community and who will feel the
impacts of those decisions.
4. Keeping Dollars in the Local Economy
Compared to chain stores, locally owned
businesses recycle a much larger share of
George Zboyovsky, PE
their revenue back into the local economy,
enriching the whole community.
5. Job and Wages
Locally owned b