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| April 30, 2005 |
. Thanks to the attendance by a dozen or so high school history students, the April 21, 2005 Board of
Supervisors meeting was made especially interesting. One of the students spoke during the Comments
session describing the difficulty of making a left turn onto Old Mill during heavy traffic due to the extended
green light for traffic heading towards College Hill. She spoke for all of us and we thank her! The big
items of the evening were the 4:0 vote (Hoff abstention) to award the furniture contract for the new
Municipal Building to Corporate Environments (a local Bethlehem company), and the adoption (5:0 vote) of
the Two Rivers Area Greenway Plan. (We hope the Greenway Plan does not adversely affect the residents
near Bushkill Park who asked on March 17th that the Board "do nothing.") After the Executive Session (to
discuss personnel issues) the Board voted 5:0 to relieve Pete Gheller as Director of Public Works and to
appoint him to his new position as Facilities Manager at the same pay (frozen for the next three years.)
See our blog for 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.
The Zoning Hearing Board met on 4/15/05 to consider two sign (size) variance requests, one for Posh
Construction and one for Walgreen's Drugs. After the applicants presentations, testimony by residents,
and discussions by the Board, both requests were denied. The representative for Walgreen's stated that
"Walgreen's will not operate without signs like this." The votes were both 4:0 (Rossi was absent). We
learned from this hearing that Posh has an agreement of sale with Zawarski for the 7 acres of commercial
development and we learned that the tenants are to be Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Quisnos, Ace
Hardware, Walgreen's, and a pizza/sports bar. Our Zoning Hearing Board members, Egolf, Moyer,
Pappas, and HOWELL are to be commended for taking a stand to preserve our Zoning Ordinance's
intention for the Town Center District.
And, Chris Pollock's piece in the Express Times of 4/24/05 shows the more personal and human side of
the results of the April flood on local residents and of FEMA/PEMA's disaster recovery center. He
describes the sadness of those seeking FEMA/PEMA assistance. For those of you not affected by the
flooding, this may give you a better idea of what your friends who were face. We sincerely hope that all
who need help find it there.
Supervisors meeting was made especially interesting. One of the students spoke during the Comments
session describing the difficulty of making a left turn onto Old Mill during heavy traffic due to the extended
green light for traffic heading towards College Hill. She spoke for all of us and we thank her! The big
items of the evening were the 4:0 vote (Hoff abstention) to award the furniture contract for the new
Municipal Building to Corporate Environments (a local Bethlehem company), and the adoption (5:0 vote) of
the Two Rivers Area Greenway Plan. (We hope the Greenway Plan does not adversely affect the residents
near Bushkill Park who asked on March 17th that the Board "do nothing.") After the Executive Session (to
discuss personnel issues) the Board voted 5:0 to relieve Pete Gheller as Director of Public Works and to
appoint him to his new position as Facilities Manager at the same pay (frozen for the next three years.)
See our blog for 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.
The Zoning Hearing Board met on 4/15/05 to consider two sign (size) variance requests, one for Posh
Construction and one for Walgreen's Drugs. After the applicants presentations, testimony by residents,
and discussions by the Board, both requests were denied. The representative for Walgreen's stated that
"Walgreen's will not operate without signs like this." The votes were both 4:0 (Rossi was absent). We
learned from this hearing that Posh has an agreement of sale with Zawarski for the 7 acres of commercial
development and we learned that the tenants are to be Lafayette Ambassador Bank, Quisnos, Ace
Hardware, Walgreen's, and a pizza/sports bar. Our Zoning Hearing Board members, Egolf, Moyer,
Pappas, and HOWELL are to be commended for taking a stand to preserve our Zoning Ordinance's
intention for the Town Center District.
And, Chris Pollock's piece in the Express Times of 4/24/05 shows the more personal and human side of
the results of the April flood on local residents and of FEMA/PEMA's disaster recovery center. He
describes the sadness of those seeking FEMA/PEMA assistance. For those of you not affected by the
flooding, this may give you a better idea of what your friends who were face. We sincerely hope that all
who need help find it there.
GOOD NEWS again: FEMA has located its disaster recovery center in the former Laneco shopping center. Both the Express Times
and the Morning Call have detailed the hours of operation and scope of the aid available for flood victims. FEMA asks that you
register with them before visiting the center however it is not mandatory. It is also not mandatory that you visit the center to receive
aid. The FEMA contact number is 800-621-3362. They can and will answer your questions. And, more GOOD NEWS (we hope) is
that a NJ task force has been formed to examine the double (September & April) flooding causes. It's Pennsylvania's turn to be
proactive and explore the effects of the dam releases on the severity of the flooding.
and the Morning Call have detailed the hours of operation and scope of the aid available for flood victims. FEMA asks that you
register with them before visiting the center however it is not mandatory. It is also not mandatory that you visit the center to receive
aid. The FEMA contact number is 800-621-3362. They can and will answer your questions. And, more GOOD NEWS (we hope) is
that a NJ task force has been formed to examine the double (September & April) flooding causes. It's Pennsylvania's turn to be
proactive and explore the effects of the dam releases on the severity of the flooding.
The BAD NEWS is that we had a flooding disaster on April 3rd & 4th. The GOOD NEWS is the Federal Government has recognized
it as such and thus, there will be help available to those who need it. Both the Express Times and the Morning Call reported
(4/16/05) on the disaster declaration for all counties covered so far. If you need assistance please call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) (or
1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- and speech-impaired) or apply online at http://www.fema.gov. The phone lines will operate from
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM until further notice. Good luck to you all.
it as such and thus, there will be help available to those who need it. Both the Express Times and the Morning Call reported
(4/16/05) on the disaster declaration for all counties covered so far. If you need assistance please call 1-800-621-FEMA(3362) (or
1-800-462-7585 for the hearing- and speech-impaired) or apply online at http://www.fema.gov. The phone lines will operate from
8:00 AM to 6:00 PM until further notice. Good luck to you all.
Here is an UNOFFICIAL TENTATIVE work schedule for Easton's Cattell Street repairs. Click here. To keep this information
up-to-date, we count on our site visitors and friends. Please let us know if you know anything! Ed Seiger (Express Times 4/8/05)
details the latest from PennDot.
up-to-date, we count on our site visitors and friends. Please let us know if you know anything! Ed Seiger (Express Times 4/8/05)
details the latest from PennDot.
The flooding on April 3-4 caused much damage, property loss, and heartache for our friends and neighbors with homes and
businesses along the area's streams and rivers. F.A.C. hopes that the recent inspection/tour by FEMA/PEMA will result in quick
aid for all impacted. Two floods in six months is a lot for people to bear. Those of you inconvenienced by traffic pattern changes
only are the lucky ones. Both PennDot and our Township crews have worked long, hard hours to make our roads passable
again. We thank them. They have done an excellent job. Regarding Route 611: We have learned that the shoulder on the river
side has been damaged in spots. Try to avoid pulling over if you can. There's no telling if there's any ground under the pavement.
businesses along the area's streams and rivers. F.A.C. hopes that the recent inspection/tour by FEMA/PEMA will result in quick
aid for all impacted. Two floods in six months is a lot for people to bear. Those of you inconvenienced by traffic pattern changes
only are the lucky ones. Both PennDot and our Township crews have worked long, hard hours to make our roads passable
again. We thank them. They have done an excellent job. Regarding Route 611: We have learned that the shoulder on the river
side has been damaged in spots. Try to avoid pulling over if you can. There's no telling if there's any ground under the pavement.
At the April 7, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting we learned that Brent Alinger has submitted his resignation (effective May 1,
2005) from the Planning Commission because of a job transfer. He will be missed. He deeply cared about Forks Township and
gave us his best efforts. His term ends on 12/31/2006 and anyone interested in filling his seat should send (via certified mail) a
letter of interest to the Township Manager or to one of the Supervisors. We wish Brent well in his new position. Also at this
meeting we learned that Strausser Enterprises' representatives, Panto and Seibert (sic) met with Karl Kline, our solicitor, and
other Township staff and that there was a "good give and take" regarding road layout and density for Strausser's desired 25 acre
zoning change. Apparently our people are working with their people to get a plan that may be approved by OUR BoS. Isn't that
special? That wasn't the only meeting that OUR people attended with a developer since the last Board meeting either.
Supervisor Nicholas reported walking in on a staff meeting with the Zawarski/Maloney group. The meeting was about the
proposed zoning overlay (400 acres and 800 dwellings). Representing OUR side in this bit of give and take were Kline, Kichline,
Weis, & Hay. The developers were represented by Zawarski and (attorney) Benner. Is this a hole in the Sunshine Act or what?
Wouldn't you like to see it include STAFF as well as elected officials? Maybe OUR Supervisors can draft an Ordinance to amend
it?
Before the regular BoS meeting (4/7/05), there was a one hour presentation by Urban Research & Development Corporation of
the Two Rivers Area Greenway Plan. URDC was commissioned to do this study by the Two Rivers Area Council of
Governments. Among the members of the Two Rivers Area Greenway Planning Committee are Forks resident Sandra
Merwarth (President, Bushkill Stream Conservancy) and Kathy Kichline (Township employee). If you want more information,
either of them will be able to point you in the right direction. The main goal locally is to conserve known areas of green space
along the Bushkill Creek. They have targeted a linear area from Blue Mountain/Appalachian Trail to Fry's Run in Williams
Township for trails and environmental enhancements and conservation. Here's a link to their ACTION PLAN.
See our blog for 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.
2005) from the Planning Commission because of a job transfer. He will be missed. He deeply cared about Forks Township and
gave us his best efforts. His term ends on 12/31/2006 and anyone interested in filling his seat should send (via certified mail) a
letter of interest to the Township Manager or to one of the Supervisors. We wish Brent well in his new position. Also at this
meeting we learned that Strausser Enterprises' representatives, Panto and Seibert (sic) met with Karl Kline, our solicitor, and
other Township staff and that there was a "good give and take" regarding road layout and density for Strausser's desired 25 acre
zoning change. Apparently our people are working with their people to get a plan that may be approved by OUR BoS. Isn't that
special? That wasn't the only meeting that OUR people attended with a developer since the last Board meeting either.
Supervisor Nicholas reported walking in on a staff meeting with the Zawarski/Maloney group. The meeting was about the
proposed zoning overlay (400 acres and 800 dwellings). Representing OUR side in this bit of give and take were Kline, Kichline,
Weis, & Hay. The developers were represented by Zawarski and (attorney) Benner. Is this a hole in the Sunshine Act or what?
Wouldn't you like to see it include STAFF as well as elected officials? Maybe OUR Supervisors can draft an Ordinance to amend
it?
Before the regular BoS meeting (4/7/05), there was a one hour presentation by Urban Research & Development Corporation of
the Two Rivers Area Greenway Plan. URDC was commissioned to do this study by the Two Rivers Area Council of
Governments. Among the members of the Two Rivers Area Greenway Planning Committee are Forks resident Sandra
Merwarth (President, Bushkill Stream Conservancy) and Kathy Kichline (Township employee). If you want more information,
either of them will be able to point you in the right direction. The main goal locally is to conserve known areas of green space
along the Bushkill Creek. They have targeted a linear area from Blue Mountain/Appalachian Trail to Fry's Run in Williams
Township for trails and environmental enhancements and conservation. Here's a link to their ACTION PLAN.
See our blog for 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.
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!
below for larger views. We are excited at the traffic we are getting. Thank you all! Tell your friends!
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