To those of you who have found your way here because of Sarah Mausolf's article in the 8/2/05 Express Times, we say THANK
YOU! Thank you for taking the time to see what F.A.C. is all about for yourselves. Before you dive in we want you to be aware
of a few things:
YOU! Thank you for taking the time to see what F.A.C. is all about for yourselves. Before you dive in we want you to be aware
of a few things:
- Despite what some may say, Forks Township is YOUR town. F.A.C. is here to keep you informed and involved.
- Please take just a few moments to read our mission statement.
- Like other organizations, we need you. Unlike other organizations, you can help us to help you from the comfort of your
home... and, at your convenience.
- WELCOME!
In case any of you wonder how our website and blog are doing lately, here are some graphs to view. Double click on the
images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
images below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
Check out our Election 05 page for more on C. David Howell's election run and his victory. You'll find charts and graphs
and even polling place details. Email us if there's anything else you'd like to see there.
Our Howell links and the election results are now in one convenient place. We hope you like it. Congratulations to all who
voted!
and even polling place details. Email us if there's anything else you'd like to see there.
Our Howell links and the election results are now in one convenient place. We hope you like it. Congratulations to all who
voted!
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| No one knows that you CARE if you don't let them know! |
| School District Impact Assessments - An Update - 5/7/06 The Board agreed to sign the Impact Resolution (#060504) at their meeting on 5/4/06! Forks Supervisors had this as an agenda item at their meeting on the 4/20. The Board listened to grassroots activists Don Dal Maso and Richard Cowell (both of Lower Mount Bethel Township) describe the costs to our schools of new developments and the children they bring. The Board learned that other townships have already passed resolutions in support of school district impact fees. They learned that Rep. Rich Grucela and Rep. Stephen Maitland (his bill is lengthy - jump to page 24 for the meat of it) have introduced bills in support of giving townships the legal right to assess school impact fees on developers. And, most important to Forks taxpayers, our Supervisors voted in favor of a resolution supporting the concept! - Williams Township residents are starting to weigh in on it too! It's got a long way to go according to the Morning Call. An editorial in the Express Times described the proposal, the debate(s) to come, and Rep. Grucela's efforts. This is a big deal. To learn more about it, please contact Don Dal Maso directly. Please see our December 2005 Archive and our blog for more on this topic. Read Dal Maso's latest newsletter too and the Op-Ed piece in the Express Times. |
| In The News - F.A.C. Surveys! A special thanks to Express Times reporter Sarah Mausolf for reminding folks that they have a place to go to express their opinions. Although our surveys are not scientific, they are always topical and often thought provoking. We hope that you continue to participate! If you have a suggestion for a survey, please send us a note either via email or the form on the Contact Us page. |
Meetings are where things happen and happen TO you!
Meetings are where YOU can listen and can be heard!
If you can't get there, visit our forksaction weblog. Join in the dialogue!
You are visitor #
F.A.C. and YOU!
F.A.C. will do its best to keep you abreast of things that are happening in our township... things that impact you, the residents
of Forks. For the 2005 Board of Supervisors race, we endorsed the candidacy of C. David Howell. He WON! Read more
about the race on our Election 05 page. Is that a FAC? You bet it is!
F.A.C. will do its best to keep you abreast of things that are happening in our township... things that impact you, the residents
of Forks. For the 2005 Board of Supervisors race, we endorsed the candidacy of C. David Howell. He WON! Read more
about the race on our Election 05 page. Is that a FAC? You bet it is!
F.A.C. is for everyone!
Follow the news link to the left for updates on current and proposed projects in the township... and more about F.A.C. Don't
forget to visit our forksaction weblog where you can read what others think as well as express your own concerns, ideas, and
facts!
Follow the news link to the left for updates on current and proposed projects in the township... and more about F.A.C. Don't
forget to visit our forksaction weblog where you can read what others think as well as express your own concerns, ideas, and
facts!
We welcome those of you who reached our page in error when searching for Forks Township, PA in Sullivan County. We are
the Forks Township in Northampton County! Feel free to poke around and visit any time at all!
the Forks Township in Northampton County! Feel free to poke around and visit any time at all!
Why F.A.C.?
Much of what happens in and to our community is not found in our local newspapers. The Forks Action Committee's website
and weblog are here to fill the void. "Knowledge is power!" Our goal is to keep you informed so that you have real power,
power at the polls and power at the podium.
Much of what happens in and to our community is not found in our local newspapers. The Forks Action Committee's website
and weblog are here to fill the void. "Knowledge is power!" Our goal is to keep you informed so that you have real power,
power at the polls and power at the podium.
Are you looking for Sullivan County, PA?
... keeping you informed!
| in beautiful Forks Township, PA 18040 |
Things YOU can do now! updated 6/29/2008
This month in Forks! updated 6/29/08
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Building Moratoriums and Impact Fees - Not Forgotten! On Wednesday, August 1st, State Representative Bob Freeman chaired a public hearing at Lafayette College to discuss allowing municipalities to impose building moratoriums while zoning and comprehensive plans are rewritten. And, on Thursday, August 2nd, both Freeman and State Representative Rich Grucela hosted a hearing on developer impact fees (a way to pay for schools when development makes expansion necessary) in Upper Mount Bethel Township. Below are links to meeting(s) coverage, some of the testimony, and the House Bills: |
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Lawsuit Filed - Tree Cutting! Gary Strausser - the man - and Strausser Enterprises - the company - are being sued by Forks Township. The Board voted 4:0 at its meeting on September 20th to sue both Gary Strausser and Strausser Enterprises, the developer of Riverview, for cutting the stately old township owned maples on Old River Road. Read more in articles by JD Malone (Express Times) and by Tom De Martini (Morning Call). This battle will be not be dull - Gary Asteak, Esq. represents Gary Strausser and his company. According to Township Solicitor, Karl Kline, the Township has requested a jury trial. Strausser In The News Again! The Express Times' Jimmy Miller (9/2/07) reported further on the allegations made by Strausser representative Sal Panto to the Forks Supervisors - that on at least four occasions, EMS (from outside Forks) did not arrive at the Riverview Country Club when a 911 call was made because the (still private) Riverview roads are not on the Northampton County 911 mapping system. Panto said that dispatched vehicles are not able to find the golf course country club on Winchester Drive. - Because of this, Strausser has asked the Township to take over maintenance of Riverview's roads. Barry Alberston, Jr. of Suburban EMS, said that this was untrue. Apparently there are two witnesses to one of the incidents - that of a woman fainting at the country club. Albertson said that Forks EMS called off that ALS call. .................................. Maples Gone - Strausser Gets TURKEY! The giants - maple trees that are older than any of us - are gone. Strausser Enterprises cut them down. One was 53" in diameter. Chopped to pieces. An Express Times TURKEY (August 25) went to Gary Strausser for cutting the trees and then asking the Forks Supervisors to take over maintenance of some of the Riverview roads! According to Express Times reporter JD Malone, the Township-hired arborist has finished inspecting the destroyed trees and will submit a report to the Board. This will be an agenda item at the September 6 meeting. Candidates are not quiet on the issue either. Bob Egolf's letter to Morning Call calls for vigilance when dealing with developers. David Billings' letters to the editor in both the Morning Call and to the Express Times urge the Board to take strong legal action. |
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| Kings Mill Round 23 - August 4th - 7:30 PM Forks Municipal Building Update 6/21/08: At Round 22 (on June 16th), Charlie Schmehl of Urban Research & Development Corp (URDC) was cross-examined by attorney John VanLuvanee representing the KMRD partnership. With questions about open space and "the path of growth," VanLuvanee tried to make his point that "infrastructure follows development." Mr. Schmehl continues to maintain that the Farmland Protection (FP) is already "highly developed" - as farmland. A "path of growth" determination is important in the Surrick analysis - an item crucial to the challengers' contention that Forks' zoning is too restrictive. Additional cross examination of Mr. Schmehl by attorney John VanLuvanee is scheduled for Monday, August 4th at 7:30 PM. KMRD will also present a rebuttal witness. For more, see Madeleine Mathias' Morning Call (6/17/08) article. It is winding down! ..................................................................... Check out the new Kings Mill page for more about the project, the lawsuits, and the history. Come to these last sessions! This is it... the end is near. Monday, August 4 at 7:30 PM - Round 23 of the KMRD zoning challenge |
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| Round 23 of the Kings Mill Challenge! Monday, August 4th - 7:30 PM Check out the Kings Mill page for running news and links to mentions of KMRD/Kings Mill in the FAC blog and website. The linked newspaper articles include the first mention of this massive project at a Board of Supervisors meeting - in December 2004! Yes, it is that old. A short summary of the latest Kings Mill hearing session (with any newspaper links) is on our homepage. For everything older, please see the new Kings Mill page. |
| FAC's Election 07 and Candidates In The News pages are very much alive and will remain available on this website. The four Forks Supervisor candidates waged some of the cleanest campaigns ever seen. It was truly a race among the good guys. It's too bad for Forks Township that only two candidates could win. To see the final tally, click here. To read JD Malone's (Express Times) after election interviews with Erik Chuss and Bob Egolf, click here. |
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| PPL Public Workshop in Forks New High Voltage Transmission Lines PPL has selected two routes for its way to deliver energy to the east coast. One slices through the Lehigh Valley and the other through Schuylkill County. The company says it has no preference for either route. Public input is sought. A series of public workshops has been scheduled and one of them is set for Wednesday, June 25th from 5-8 PM at the Forks Community Center. PPL has sent letters to property owners whose land is within 1000 ft of the proposed routes. For more, check the PPL website and plan to attend the meeting. |
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| Planning Commission - Another Surprise! Planning Commission Chairman, Dean Turner, called an Executive Session at the end of the regular PC June 10th meeting. No reason was given and the "staff" was explicitly excluded. Only the seven planners were included. Tim Weis, acting recording secretary, was asked to be sure that the building would be locked when the session concluded. He and the rest of the staff left the building. So, with no official recording secretary and with no publicly announced topic, the Planning Commission moved to the Supervisors' room for a private meeting. Ref: PA Open Meetings/Open Records, The Sunshine Act and the Right to Know Law |
On June 5th, the Board of Supervisors held a 3-1/2 hour regular meeting followed by an Executive Session to discuss a
personnel matter. Forks' representative to the EAJSA, Henning Holmgaard, attended that session. The air conditioning was not
running for most of the meeting. It was hot. Many in the audience did not stay through to the end.
The Board did vote on a part of the last agenda item of the night, the Neighborhood Recreation Parks Proposal, to donate $10,000
of recreation capital equipment funds, to the playground drive headed by parents of Forks Elementary School. This school
playground is open to the public during non-school hours and its fields are used by the Forks Athletic Association. Read
Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call) for details of this Board action.
And, for more on the entire Neighborhood Parks Proposal read Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call). A joint meeting with the Board
of Supervisors and the Recreation Board to discuss neighborhood parks has been set for 6:00 PM, June 19th before the regular
meeting of the BoS.
Also under discussion was the contract with the Center for Animal Health & Welfare. A Forks resident, Beth Adoni, addressed her
concerns about the lack of a contract to the Board. For more on that topic read Chris Knight (Express Times). Expect more in the
Township Manager's Report at the meeting on June 19th.
Other items discussed include:
See the FAC blog for even more meeting details. Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments. You only need to be registered with Blogger or with
Google to comment.
personnel matter. Forks' representative to the EAJSA, Henning Holmgaard, attended that session. The air conditioning was not
running for most of the meeting. It was hot. Many in the audience did not stay through to the end.
The Board did vote on a part of the last agenda item of the night, the Neighborhood Recreation Parks Proposal, to donate $10,000
of recreation capital equipment funds, to the playground drive headed by parents of Forks Elementary School. This school
playground is open to the public during non-school hours and its fields are used by the Forks Athletic Association. Read
Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call) for details of this Board action.
And, for more on the entire Neighborhood Parks Proposal read Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call). A joint meeting with the Board
of Supervisors and the Recreation Board to discuss neighborhood parks has been set for 6:00 PM, June 19th before the regular
meeting of the BoS.
Also under discussion was the contract with the Center for Animal Health & Welfare. A Forks resident, Beth Adoni, addressed her
concerns about the lack of a contract to the Board. For more on that topic read Chris Knight (Express Times). Expect more in the
Township Manager's Report at the meeting on June 19th.
Other items discussed include:
- An anti-speeding program will be launched by the Forks police force in the next few weeks.
- A fuel budget review of Forks emergency vehicles pointed out that by law, emergency vehicles are not to idle over 20
minutes. The emergency departments are over budget for fuel because of the rising costs for it. - Forks EMS squad president, William Keifer appeared before the BoS and asked for the Township's support, in particular,
the $20,000 that was budgeted in 2007 and not yet given to the squad. He said that they have reached a payment plan
agreement with Suburban and have honored it for the last 60 days. The Board asked that the squad's current financial
statement be submitted to them by Tuesday before the next Supervisors' meeting. - The demolition of the old playground equipment in the Community Park is done and the new play equipment should be
installed next week. - The Forks Quarterly proofs are late again and the Community Relations Committee will consider finding a new vendor.
- The Township Engineer has yet to hear from PennDOT regarding the Meco/Sullivan traffic light. He will take steps to
contact them. - A bid package for the work needed to complete the municipal improvements to the Sullivan Trail Business Park is being
prepared. This site is where the Merchants Bank is and where the new Weis Market is to be built. The developer's letter of
credit was drawn on to fund the work. - The developer for the Weyerhaeuser site began grading and site work without final approval of the erosion and
sedimentation plans by the Northampton County Conservation District. A notice of violation was issued by the
Conservation District. According to Solicitor Kline, the developer's position was "Better to do something and ask
forgiveness than it is to ask for permission in the first place." Instead of the usual efforts to work with developers on a tight
schedule, the Township will now require that all outside agencies' permits be in place before a pre-construction
conference. - The DPW capital equipment purchases loan/bond for $1,020,000 has been awarded to PNC, the low bidder with a 3.54%
interest rate. The note is scheduled to close on July 9th. - Conditional preliminary final approval was given to the Paxinosa School expansion plan.
- The Township did its annual fee schedule adjustment. Second electrical inspections will cost and are no longer free.
- Fort James III sanitary sewer lines will go under the Norfolk Southern rail bed.
- According to the Finance & Administration Committee report, the Township, in particular the Supervisors, are going to go
as "paperless" as possible. They get a stack of paper before every meeting and work is in progress to eliminate that and
to take them to the 21st century - and save trees in the process.
See the FAC blog for even more meeting details. Don't forget to read some of the other posts there... and the Comments too.
Don't be afraid to join in the discussion(s) and add your own Comments. You only need to be registered with Blogger or with
Google to comment.
On June 10th, the Planning Commission, after what proved to be a relatively short main meeting with only two somewhat
minor agenda items under review, at the request of Chairman Dean Turner, held an Executive Session. No announcement of the
topic(s) to be discussed out of public view/earshot was given. "Staff" was explicitly excluded. Neither the Zoning Officer (Tim
Weis), the Township Engineer (Fred Hay), the Township Manager (Rick Schnaedter), nor the Solicitor (Karl Kline) were invited to
participate. They were at the main meeting. Mr. Weis who was acting as recording secretary in the absence of Barbara
Margolese, was asked to be sure the building would be (self) locked when the PC adjourned.
Turner said that no action would be taken by the PC and the seven planners moved to the Supervisors' room - for a private
discussion.
It is unusual for the Planning Commission to do this. In nearly five years of Township meeting observations this is only the
second Planning Commission private session we can recall. The other was on January 27, 2008 when the planners were
charged with recommending PC candidates to the BoS. The candidates were evaluated in private. The recommendations were
announced in public.
For reference, see PA Open Meetings/Open Records, The Sunshine Act and the Right to Know Law. The allowed reasons for
Executive Sessions and the procedures involved begin on .pdf page 45 (document page 40). Executive session minutes are not
open to the public but must exist.
In an announcement (before the surprise Executive Session) was the fact that at this moment, there are no developer plans in the
pipeline to come before the PC at its July meeting. That may change of course, but it is fair warning that the scheduled July 10th 7
PM meeting may be canceled. Please check the official Township calendar before braving the July heat to make a trip to the
Municipal Building.
And, just in case you were wondering how the agenda items fared, both the lot line adjustment and the minor subdivision were
given conditional approval in 7:0 votes. The projects move on to the Board of Supervisors in July. (See the FAC Projects page for
updates.)
The above is reprinted from the FAC blog.
Our objective is to relate what is experienced at Forks Township meetings for those who cannot attend. We are attempting to be as
factual as we can. If we make a mistake, tell us via email or COMMENT in the blog, and we will do our best to correct it. We are not
perfect. We want to get it right.
minor agenda items under review, at the request of Chairman Dean Turner, held an Executive Session. No announcement of the
topic(s) to be discussed out of public view/earshot was given. "Staff" was explicitly excluded. Neither the Zoning Officer (Tim
Weis), the Township Engineer (Fred Hay), the Township Manager (Rick Schnaedter), nor the Solicitor (Karl Kline) were invited to
participate. They were at the main meeting. Mr. Weis who was acting as recording secretary in the absence of Barbara
Margolese, was asked to be sure the building would be (self) locked when the PC adjourned.
Turner said that no action would be taken by the PC and the seven planners moved to the Supervisors' room - for a private
discussion.
It is unusual for the Planning Commission to do this. In nearly five years of Township meeting observations this is only the
second Planning Commission private session we can recall. The other was on January 27, 2008 when the planners were
charged with recommending PC candidates to the BoS. The candidates were evaluated in private. The recommendations were
announced in public.
For reference, see PA Open Meetings/Open Records, The Sunshine Act and the Right to Know Law. The allowed reasons for
Executive Sessions and the procedures involved begin on .pdf page 45 (document page 40). Executive session minutes are not
open to the public but must exist.
In an announcement (before the surprise Executive Session) was the fact that at this moment, there are no developer plans in the
pipeline to come before the PC at its July meeting. That may change of course, but it is fair warning that the scheduled July 10th 7
PM meeting may be canceled. Please check the official Township calendar before braving the July heat to make a trip to the
Municipal Building.
And, just in case you were wondering how the agenda items fared, both the lot line adjustment and the minor subdivision were
given conditional approval in 7:0 votes. The projects move on to the Board of Supervisors in July. (See the FAC Projects page for
updates.)
The above is reprinted from the FAC blog.
Our objective is to relate what is experienced at Forks Township meetings for those who cannot attend. We are attempting to be as
factual as we can. If we make a mistake, tell us via email or COMMENT in the blog, and we will do our best to correct it. We are not
perfect. We want to get it right.
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| Forks' Draft Comprehensive Plan - Another Look Forks Board of Supervisors and Planning Commissioners (PC) will hold a joint public workshop after the July 10th regular PC meeting. The purpose is to review/discuss the latest draft of the Comprehensive Plan. Each of the Supervisors and Planners has received a copy of the lastest iteration created by URDC. It is currently online at the Township website - for public review. If you have concerns or questions, this is a not-to-be-missed meeting. The Plan has not yet been submitted to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission nor to our neighboring municipalities nor to the EASD for review. July 10th - 7 PM |
On June 19 the Board of Supervisors (Bos) and the Recreation Board held a joint workshop session at 6 PM
before the regular 7:30 PM BoS meeting. Many general recreation topics, in addition to the on-topic Neighborhood Parks
Proposal, were discussed. They included:
before the regular 7:30 PM BoS meeting. Many general recreation topics, in addition to the on-topic Neighborhood Parks
Proposal, were discussed. They included:
- Speeding on Penn's Ridge Boulevard.
- PennDOT may require extra lanes and that is slowing the Meco/Sullivan traffic signal installation.
- PennDOT will not allow a four-way pedestrian crossing button at Meco/Sullivan. It maintains that a "Pede