Frequently Asked Questions

Voting is a privilege and a duty of citizenship. You can register up to 30 days before the next primary or election if you're:

• a US citizen for one month
• a resident of Pennsylvania for 30 days
• 18 years old on or before election day

In Pennsylvania, polls are open from 7am to 8pm.

• Voter Registration Information
• Where to vote
• Absentee ballot
• Absentee ballot information for military

Here is an animated tutorial provided by the state on basics of registering and the voting machine we use in Springfield.

When new residents move into town, they are greeted with a visit from a police officer and welcomed to the community. In the information packet they are given are the following (subject to change). If you have recommendations for other things to be included, Let me know.

1. Letter from the Board of Commissioners with the name of their commissioner, polling location, voting district, and refuse collection information
2. "New Resident Handbook"
3. "Rules and Regulations for the Storage, Collection, and Disposal of Refuse" (Similar information on township website)
4. "The Emergency Services of Springfield Township Welcome You to the Community:" Single sheet with contact information for the fire companies
5. "Home Safe Home" pamphlet with safety information particularly for the elderly (published by State Farm Insurance, with information found here)
6. "Inventory" booklet with space to list household possessions (published by State Farm Insurance)
7. "A Consumer Reference Guide for Seniors:" How to avoid scams and fraud (published by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General)
8. "The Pennsylvania Point System" pamphlet (published by PennDOT)
9. Map of Springfield & Whitemarsh Townships (published by FEEA, Flourtown Erdenheim Enhancement Association)
10. "How to make crime more trouble than its worth" booklet (published by Pennsylvania Crime Warch, Governor's Office)
11. "How to Protect Your Neighborhood" pamphlet (published by AARP, Same content here)
12. "Crash Scene Do's and Don'ts" pamphlet, with guidance for victims and bystanders (published by PennDOT)
13. "Township of Springfield Newsletter" (the same one mailed to all our residents)

"First Class Townships" are those governed by a Board of Commissioners.

In Springfield, we have seven commissioners who form the governing body for the Township. Members are elected for four year terms and all members must be residents of the Township.

The Commissioners are the ultimate authority on such issues as:

• tax rates
• expenditures
• purchases
• legal position of the Township
• uses of public facilities
• the establishment of zoning districts
• conditions for land development
• budgets
• remuneration and benefits for its staff

It establishes law by the passage of ordinances, and expresses its wishes by resolution, motion or consensus.

Brief Background

Springfield Township was incorporated as a First Class Township in 1901 and is further organized under the council-manager form of government. The council-manager form of government seeks to achieve the value of representation through the elected Board of Commissioners and the value of efficiency through the appointment of a professional municipal manager. The center of power in the council-manager plan is the elected Board of Commissioners, Springfield's governing body who, in turn, appoints a manager to administer the affairs of the government and supervise the service departments and agencies.

Springfield Township provides a full range of municipal services including:

• police protection
• refuse and recycling collection
• sewage conveyance
• highway maintenance
• recreational activities
• programs and park areas
• economic development initiatives
• zoning and codes enforcement
• building inspection

The Board of Commissioners of Springfield Township meets on the second Wednesday of every month for the purpose of conducting the General Business of the Township. The Business Meeting is held at 8:00 p.m. at the Township Building, 1510 Paper Mill Road, Wyndmoor. The Board accepts public comment at this meeting prior to, and following, all committee reports.

The Board of Commissioners also meets on the Monday preceding the Business Meeting for workshop discussion of the items for consideration at the Business Meeting. Due to the length of this meeting, public comment is limited to the first few minutes of the meeting. Therefore all interested parties are encouraged to be present when the Board begins discussion at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Building.

At any given meeting, the Board hears and discusses all manner of problems identified by the general public, the members themselves and their staff. They give the Township staff general direction on what information they may need to make decisions, and the kinds of solutions they would like to see for these problems. The decisions of the Commissioners set or adjust the staff's duties, priorities, and wherewithal to do their jobs.

Mission Statement

"The Springfield Township Government exists to provide for the health, safety and welfare, quality of life and common good of the Springfield Township Community. The representative government plans for and responds to opportunities, needs and concerns of its residents. At all times, the government shall be open, fair, sensitive, responsive, innovative, accountable, effective, efficient and protect of the rights and dignity of its people."

The Will Shortz Puzzle Night fundraiser at the Flourtown Country Club was a great success. Join us on October 13, 2011 for another! Details, pictures and puzzle/answer from 2007