Last October when the Upper Hanover Township Planning Commission gave "conditional" approval for the Upper Perkiomen School District to build a new Middle School along Montgomery Avenue, a chain of events started that have set neighbors against neighbors and created another reason for a go at "ballot fisticuffs" in the upcoming Primary Election.

            The Planning Commission said "yes you can, but" and the School District said "no I don't have to."  Don't take my word for it, the court documents are available for the public to review.  It may not have been what school district officials meant, but it's what the lawyer filed.

            "Aw shucks, we always intended to do it and we're taking unnecessary heat from the public for it" doesn't appear in any court document.

            If compliance was intended all along, how come the public (or at least the court) didn't know it?

            Public confidence in government officials is the first and most important casualty of back-room meetings and discussions that result in "surprises" when dropped on the public.

            Whether it's police services or a $60 million middle school, from the inception of the idea through discussions, presentations, and decisions the public needs to be kept in the loop.

            They'll appreciate that and officials may even get a better end product as a result of it.

            Alternative motives for any decision are left to the imagination of the public when the perception of a lack of transparency exists.

            And, the public isn't doing any favors for themselves either.

            The lack of understanding by so many people on both sides of the issue is alarming.  If you oppose the new middle school you're anti-education.  If you support it you're for a massive tax increase.  Those are the two conclusions to most, and nothing else will be acknowledged by the hardliners.

            The amount of money in property tax increases is disputed by both sides.  Just writing that will be disputed.

            Either way, you're accused of being "slanted."  Really?

            The truth can be disputed but facts, proven facts, can't.

            Folks need to get off their high-horses and educate themselves on the issues and the processes that lead to decisions.  In today's computerized world, official government documents are at your fingertips – unless you're too busy on social media.

            You can support a new middle school, just not at a cost of $60 million, and if you do, what does that mean?  Wow – you might be pro education and pro middle school and looking for a better solution to achieve both!

            Is that possible?  How will the "slanted" handle that.  They already loathe each other, now there'll be a third group in the community to hate.

            It is a guarantee that when this is over, not everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.

            As I wrote last week, somewhere in the middle of all this will be a negotiated settlement.

            That will be the end result of the process.

            By tomorrow morning we should know what that is.