Doylestown Borough Lauded for Transparency

Doylestown Borough has received top honors from an alliance of area real estate agents for its efforts to make local government as transparent as possible. 

The Suburban REALTORS® Alliance has awarded Doylestown Borough as the recipient of the organization’s annual “Open Book Award for Transparency in Local Government.”

“The borough was chosen from 238 municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania for its efforts to provide residents and local businesses with detailed, up-to-date information about public meetings, proposed ordinances, borough finances and existing rules and regulations,” the alliance said in an announcement.

“The Open Book Award recognizes the efforts of boroughs and townships in southeastern Pennsylvania to put the publics’ right-to-know at the forefront of their business and activities,” said Jamie Ridge, president/CEO of the Alliance. “Doylestown Borough’s willingness to provide easy and open access to critical public information is an excellent example for other area municipalities to follow.”

The alliance praised Doyletown Borough for having a “robust” municipal website that includes information about meeting schedules, draft ordinances, minutes and agendas. Plus, the alliance applauded the borough for having a “highly detailed” annual budget process and openly encouraging communication between staff, elected officials, residents and businesses.

“We're proud to be a community that uses the web and social media to improve engagement with our residents and simplify their interactions with local government,” said Det Ansinn, Doylestown Borough Council President.  “While it is great to be recognized, we are still working to further improve resident access to valuable information and bring government into the 21st century. Everyone benefits from this increased transparency and level of communication.”

The 9,000 member Suburban REALTORS Alliance was established in 1998. The group is a subsidiary of the three largest local REALTOR associations in Pennsylvania: the Bucks County; Montgomery County and Suburban West Associations of REALTORS.

“The focus of the Alliance is to encourage public policy decisions that create a positive climate for real estate sales, consumers, and property rights,” according to the group.