| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| June 30, 2005 |
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The Express Times (6/12/05) and the Morning Call (6/12/05) both have an advertisement for the new
Forks Township Finance Manager position. Applications are due to the Township Manager by
6/24/05. The salary range is $45-$50K. A college degree in finance or accounting is not required if
one has 5 years of experience in government accounting with managerial and supervisory skills.
Forks Township Finance Manager position. Applications are due to the Township Manager by
6/24/05. The salary range is $45-$50K. A college degree in finance or accounting is not required if
one has 5 years of experience in government accounting with managerial and supervisory skills.
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At the 6/9/05 Planning Commission meeting an important issue was broached by Dean Turner (PC) who asked if a temporary
appointment to the PC would be possible pending the return of Dan Lichtenwalner, the 7th PC member. Solicitor Kline said he
would look into it. Turner explained that it would avoid tie votes like what happened at the joint meeting and the Strausser Village
Center project. And, during the Segal and Morel agenda item discussion we learned that the homes on the north side of Newlins
Road East will be allowed to hook up the to the new sewer line.
appointment to the PC would be possible pending the return of Dan Lichtenwalner, the 7th PC member. Solicitor Kline said he
would look into it. Turner explained that it would avoid tie votes like what happened at the joint meeting and the Strausser Village
Center project. And, during the Segal and Morel agenda item discussion we learned that the homes on the north side of Newlins
Road East will be allowed to hook up the to the new sewer line.
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Holy cow! The June 2nd meeting of the Board of Supervisors was filled with many important topics. Joe Nixon from the
Morning Call was there. Alas, the Express Times did NOT see fit to send a reporter. (Strange but true.) Nixon's subtitle is a
scary one... "Officials may draft a zoning amendment to allow the project." It portends the uncertain part, that is, if the zoning
change is allowed for Strausser, will more developers jump on the bandwagon? Will it, as Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas
suggested, "open the floodgates to everyone else?" A 3:2 vote was taken to encourage the Stausser people to continue working
on the project planning. Nicholas and Ackerman voted "NO." Holmgaard, Miller, and Hoff voted "YES."
Also discussed was raising the fees charged to developers. After much audience input, including questions from C. David
Howell about why the Township opted out of the State program in 1997, and suggestions from our newest PC member, Jim
Wideman, to raise the fees even more, it passed unanimously. Fees for new residential construction, the Traffic Impact and
Capital Improvement Fees, were raised by $300 each. The new fees apply only to projects not yet presented to the Township.
We learned too, that Met-Ed wants to trim some of the Township's trees. Supervisor Don Miller has worked out an agreement
that will allow Met-Ed's trimmers to do one tree as an example so that the Board can see it and decide if Met-Ed will be allowed
to trim the rest of the trees. We also learned from Police Chief Dorney that the Childsafe program was a success and that 80
gunlocks were distributed. He said that there are more available at the PD if any residents who could not attend the program
want one. Chief Dorney also announced the appointment of Trevor Baruda (sic) from part time to full time police officer.
There was much discussion too, this night about the Township's DEBT and whether or not the interest due over the life of the
loans should be included in the Agenda line item figure for total debt. It was decided NOT to include the interest figure nor to list
it separately (next to the debt figure.) The State "standard" will be used.
Palmer Township officials have requested a meeting with representatives of Forks (staff and 2 Supervisors) to discuss the bike
path that is planned to go through the Bushkill Park area of the Township. It is scheduled for June 9th at 2:30 PM. Supervisor
Nicholas is one of the Board members who will attend. And, Nick Horton was appointed to a full time (from part time) position in
the Parks Department.
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.
Morning Call was there. Alas, the Express Times did NOT see fit to send a reporter. (Strange but true.) Nixon's subtitle is a
scary one... "Officials may draft a zoning amendment to allow the project." It portends the uncertain part, that is, if the zoning
change is allowed for Strausser, will more developers jump on the bandwagon? Will it, as Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas
suggested, "open the floodgates to everyone else?" A 3:2 vote was taken to encourage the Stausser people to continue working
on the project planning. Nicholas and Ackerman voted "NO." Holmgaard, Miller, and Hoff voted "YES."
Also discussed was raising the fees charged to developers. After much audience input, including questions from C. David
Howell about why the Township opted out of the State program in 1997, and suggestions from our newest PC member, Jim
Wideman, to raise the fees even more, it passed unanimously. Fees for new residential construction, the Traffic Impact and
Capital Improvement Fees, were raised by $300 each. The new fees apply only to projects not yet presented to the Township.
We learned too, that Met-Ed wants to trim some of the Township's trees. Supervisor Don Miller has worked out an agreement
that will allow Met-Ed's trimmers to do one tree as an example so that the Board can see it and decide if Met-Ed will be allowed
to trim the rest of the trees. We also learned from Police Chief Dorney that the Childsafe program was a success and that 80
gunlocks were distributed. He said that there are more available at the PD if any residents who could not attend the program
want one. Chief Dorney also announced the appointment of Trevor Baruda (sic) from part time to full time police officer.
There was much discussion too, this night about the Township's DEBT and whether or not the interest due over the life of the
loans should be included in the Agenda line item figure for total debt. It was decided NOT to include the interest figure nor to list
it separately (next to the debt figure.) The State "standard" will be used.
Palmer Township officials have requested a meeting with representatives of Forks (staff and 2 Supervisors) to discuss the bike
path that is planned to go through the Bushkill Park area of the Township. It is scheduled for June 9th at 2:30 PM. Supervisor
Nicholas is one of the Board members who will attend. And, Nick Horton was appointed to a full time (from part time) position in
the Parks Department.
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 Forks Action Committee enthusiastically endorses C. David Howell for Supervisor in the November
2005 election. Click on the VOTE tab to read our endorsement and click on ANY of the HOWELL links
(underlined Howell text and campaign buttons too) to read more about him.
Your vote will make a difference when you elect Mr. Howell as the newest member of the Forks Township
Board of Supervisors. The Primary is over. ELECT HOWELL in November!
For more information and/or to volunteer to work on the campaign, please click here and we will respond
shortly!
2005 election. Click on the VOTE tab to read our endorsement and click on ANY of the HOWELL links
(underlined Howell text and campaign buttons too) to read more about him.
Your vote will make a difference when you elect Mr. Howell as the newest member of the Forks Township
Board of Supervisors. The Primary is over. ELECT HOWELL in November!
For more information and/or to volunteer to work on the campaign, please click here and we will respond
shortly!
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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. The June 16, 2005 meeting of the Board of Supervisors was short but not a record setter.
This one lasted 48 minutes (not counting the executive session to discuss a personnel matter.) Joe
Nixon (Morning Call 6/17/05) and Sarah Mausolf (Express Times 6/17/05) did their best to describe
the deliverables. Kudos to them both... and WELCOME to Sarah Mausolf, a new ET reporter. We
learned from Township Manager Cathy Kichline that a Forks resident, Virginia MaryAnn English will
be turning 100 years old this coming August. Congratulations in advance! Kichline also said that
the 2004 Audit is available and has been distributed to the Board. We also learned that Supervisors
Bonnie Nicholas and Don Miller and Township Manager Kichline met with Palmer Township officials
last week about the bike path (abandoned rail line in Forks near Bushkill Park). Nothing was
resolved according to Nicholas.
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.
This one lasted 48 minutes (not counting the executive session to discuss a personnel matter.) Joe
Nixon (Morning Call 6/17/05) and Sarah Mausolf (Express Times 6/17/05) did their best to describe
the deliverables. Kudos to them both... and WELCOME to Sarah Mausolf, a new ET reporter. We
learned from Township Manager Cathy Kichline that a Forks resident, Virginia MaryAnn English will
be turning 100 years old this coming August. Congratulations in advance! Kichline also said that
the 2004 Audit is available and has been distributed to the Board. We also learned that Supervisors
Bonnie Nicholas and Don Miller and Township Manager Kichline met with Palmer Township officials
last week about the bike path (abandoned rail line in Forks near Bushkill Park). Nothing was
resolved according to Nicholas.
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.