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:

  1. Despite what some may say, Forks Township is YOUR town.  F.A.C. is here to keep you informed and involved.
  2. Please take just a few moments to read our mission statement.
  3. 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!  
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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!
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!  
December 31, 2005 text
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Recent Website Visits through 6/28/08
Recent Blog Visits through 6/28/08
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March 31, 2006 text
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.
November 30, 2005 text
April 30, 2005 text
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.
November 30, 2004 text
April 30, 2006 text
Meetings are where things happen and happen TO you!
October 31, 2005 text
May 31, 2005 text
May 31, 2006 text
October 31, 2004 text
Meetings are where YOU can listen and can be heard!
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Counter
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If you can't get there, visit our forksaction weblog.  Join in the dialogue!
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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!
July 31, 2006
September 30, 2004 text
August 31, 2005 text
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!
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!
August 31, 2006
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.
Are you looking for  Sullivan County, PA?
1st Anniversary Text
... 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
Forks Action Committee
Forks Action Committee
September 30, 2006 text
October 31, 2006 text
November 30, 2006 text
Countdown to 8/4/08 -  Kings Mill
December 31, 2006 text
 
For more, see - the F.A.C. unofficial Forks Meeting Calendar
Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting - Thursday, July 3 - 7:30 PM  - Municipal Bldg
Planning Commission - Thursday, July 10 - 7:00 PM - Municipal Building
  • Regular Meeting - followed by
  • Joint meeting - Board of Supervisors -  to review the draft Comprehensive Plan
Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting - Thursday, July 17 - 7:30 PM  - Municipal Bldg
Planning Commission - Workshop - Tuesday, July 28 - 7:00 PM - Municipal Bldg
Round 23 of the Kings Mill Zoning Challenge Hearing - Zoning Hearing Board -
Monday, August 4 - 7:30 PM - Municipal Bldg
Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting - Thursday, August 7 - 7:30 PM  - Municipal Bldg
Take our F.A.C. Weekly Survey!   CLICK HERE.  The results will be available for each survey
question the week following the survey.  To view the vote totals for last week's question, click
RESULTS!
If you'd like to see ALL of our weekly survey results,
click here.
Visit our (click on) BLOG!  In order to post comments, you must be registered with Google or
Blogger.  Registration is simple and free.  If you have questions, please drop us a line.  We will help
you.  You have only read 1/2 of our website if you do not read the
BLOG posts and the Comments too!
Bookmark this website (and blog). It is updated regularly and if you do not visit us at least once a
week you may be missing out on important information that affects your wallet and your quality of life!  
Also,
tell your friends, family, neighbors and EVERY Township resident that you know about this
website.
 Thanks!
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February 28, 2007 text
March 31, 2007 text
April 30, 2007 text
May 31, 2007 text
Advertised Meeting
Schedules 2008
June 30, 2007 text
July 31, 2007 text

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:
 
House Bill 904 - Hearing - Building Moratoriums
  Express Times - HB 904 Hearing
  HB 904 - The Bill
  HB 904 Analysis - Freeman
  PSATS (PA State Association of Township Supervisors) Testimony
  PBA (PA Builders Association) Testimony
  PSBA (PA School Board Association) Comments
  EASD Business Manager - Jeffrey Bader - (excerpt) Testimony
  Easton News - Forks Supervisors Endorse Bill "in principle"
 
House Bill 72 - Hearing - Developer Impact Fees
  HB 72 - The Bill
  Express Times - HB 72 Hearing - sidebar
  Morning Call - HB 72 Hearing









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.
Diameter 53 inches - a maple tree no more
Residents from the area described the destruction to  the
Supervisors at the August 16 meeting.  The deed  cannot be undone.  
Forks Supervisors are considering the punishment.  

Read
Jimmy Miller (Express Times) and Madeleine Mathias (Morning
Call) for more.  

For more photos, see the FAC blog
Did You Hear The Trees Scream?
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
August 31, 2007 text
Eight RIP Signs Planted - Eight Removed!

According to the Express Times, the signs were placed next to the
stumps of the Strausser-cut trees by Supervisor Howell.  After only
two days, the signs were removed -
by someone - not Mr. Howell.
September 30, 2007 text
October 31, 2007 text
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.
November 30, 2007 text
Housing Moratorium Bill Still Alive In Harrisburg!

According to an article by
Richard Fellinger in the (December 30, 2007) Lebanon Daily
News, Representative Robert Freeman's bill for temporary development moratoriums
has passed committee and will come before the full house in 2008.  This bill will
allow municipalities undergoing zoning and/or comprehensive plan reviews to
impose up to eighteen month development/building moratoriums.

For
more background on HB 904, click here.  

In discussion, at their
August 16, 2007 meeting, Forks Supervisors endorsed HB 904
in principle but tabled passing RESOLUTION #070816-2/SUPPORT OF TEMPORARY
BUILDING MORATORIUM LEGISLATION.  Miller and Ackerman both preferred that a
letter of support be sent (instead of the Howell sponsored Resolution).  

At its
September 6th meeting, after discussion and input from Planning Commission
members Erik Chuss and Dean Turner, the Board voted 5:0 to PASS RESOLUTION
#070906-3/Support of Temporary Building Moratorium Legislation.

PennFuture has HB 904 on its list of bills to watch.  Check it out.
December 31, 2007 text
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January 31, 2008 text
February 29, 2008 text
F.A.C. Blog
Meeting Calendar
March 31, 2008 text
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.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
April 30, 2008 text
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:  

  • 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.
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Municipal Meeting Room
Municipal Meeting Room
May 31, 2008 text
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 i
s 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
Backyard Fireworks?  -  Click to vote!
Backyard Fireworks?  -  Click to vote!
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:

  • 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