| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| September 30, 2005 |
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A special F.A.C. thank you to Professor Barbara Canfield from Northampton County Community College and the
Center for Business and Industry who graciously spoke at our 9/12/05 F.A.C. meeting on the Forks-centric topic of
environmental issues that arise from growth and development. Those of you who were able to attend learned what SPRAWL
and SMART GROWTH really are. You learned too that the environmental consequences of bad planning affect our water, our
soil, our air, and our quality of life. Professor Canfield is a wonderful speaker so if you have an opportunity to hear one of her
presentations, go for it!
Center for Business and Industry who graciously spoke at our 9/12/05 F.A.C. meeting on the Forks-centric topic of
environmental issues that arise from growth and development. Those of you who were able to attend learned what SPRAWL
and SMART GROWTH really are. You learned too that the environmental consequences of bad planning affect our water, our
soil, our air, and our quality of life. Professor Canfield is a wonderful speaker so if you have an opportunity to hear one of her
presentations, go for it!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Planning Commission met on 9/8/05 and we all learned that Strausser Enterprises' proposed Village at Riverview Estates
has been formally withdrawn. You can read all about the meeting in articles by Sarah Mausolf (9/9/05 Express Times) and by
Joe Nixon (9/9/05 Morning Call). Strausser representative, Sal Panto, said that they may come back with plans for a traditional
housing development or "maybe another concept." Our project list has been updated with the other items before the Planning
Commission that night. Click on this NEWS link to see what else is happening on a property near you.
has been formally withdrawn. You can read all about the meeting in articles by Sarah Mausolf (9/9/05 Express Times) and by
Joe Nixon (9/9/05 Morning Call). Strausser representative, Sal Panto, said that they may come back with plans for a traditional
housing development or "maybe another concept." Our project list has been updated with the other items before the Planning
Commission that night. Click on this NEWS link to see what else is happening on a property near you.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Both Sarah Mausolf (Express Times 9/2/05) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call 9/2/05) covered the rather long and diverse
September 1, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting. It began with a Conditional Use Hearing for Richard's Drive-In and ended
with the hiring of a part-time mechanic. In between, we learned that the Township was presented with two lawsuits last week.
Both were from residents in the Lafayette Park development and both are over stormwater runoff. The residents filed suits
against their contractor, Howard Construction. Howard Construction "joined in" the Township. Solicitor Karl Kline will now
involve the Township's insurer. We learned more about the soon to be dissolved Sewer Authority and power struggles than we
ever knew. We learned that our construction manager's fixed price contract with the Township ended on August 1st and that we
are now paying him according the hourly rate in that same contract. We learned that rodents moved into the generator and that
the fuel in it may be contaminated with bacteria... oh, and that Schoor DiPalma, our contractor for the new Municipal Complex
wants to get its own bids for the CVS/Giant connection - instead of paying the $18.4K that was agreed to a few weeks ago. We
learned that Richard's Drive-In will be open from 11 AM to 11 PM (finally a place to go after a long meeting). We learned that
"septic management is not a Township function" (Holmgaard). We learned that there were 42 applications for the Police
Department and that 2 of the applicants are now in Louisiana and will not be taking the test on October 1st. We learned that
Hoff will present the Fire Department's 5 year plan in a special workshop meeting at 6:30 PM on October 6th. We learned that
last year's employee blood drive (Halloween) was very successful and another will be held this year on October 28th. We
learned that the new Finance Manager will be paid $50K and, if he accepts the Township's vacation package offer, will begin
work on September 6th. We learned that the business at the bottom of Hill Road is not violating any ordinances with its truck
parking. We learned that the contractor for the Easton Suburban Water Authority wants to top off Elizabeth Avenue, Richmond
Road, and Frost Hollow Road (where the work was recently done) instead of trying to repair the road surfaces. We learned that
the Supervisor elected in November will be paid $2600 (instead of $2000) and that the two elected in November 2007 will get
$3250. We learned that Forks will pay off its 1% loan to Tatamy and at the same time dissolve the Sewer Authority once and for
all. We learned that Lower Mount Bethel Township is having a special public meeting of their Board of Supervisors on
Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00 PM in the former Centerfield School Building with PPL and the DEP to discuss the fly ash
spill and remedial actions and that we are all invited. We learned...
Please read 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.
September 1, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting. It began with a Conditional Use Hearing for Richard's Drive-In and ended
with the hiring of a part-time mechanic. In between, we learned that the Township was presented with two lawsuits last week.
Both were from residents in the Lafayette Park development and both are over stormwater runoff. The residents filed suits
against their contractor, Howard Construction. Howard Construction "joined in" the Township. Solicitor Karl Kline will now
involve the Township's insurer. We learned more about the soon to be dissolved Sewer Authority and power struggles than we
ever knew. We learned that our construction manager's fixed price contract with the Township ended on August 1st and that we
are now paying him according the hourly rate in that same contract. We learned that rodents moved into the generator and that
the fuel in it may be contaminated with bacteria... oh, and that Schoor DiPalma, our contractor for the new Municipal Complex
wants to get its own bids for the CVS/Giant connection - instead of paying the $18.4K that was agreed to a few weeks ago. We
learned that Richard's Drive-In will be open from 11 AM to 11 PM (finally a place to go after a long meeting). We learned that
"septic management is not a Township function" (Holmgaard). We learned that there were 42 applications for the Police
Department and that 2 of the applicants are now in Louisiana and will not be taking the test on October 1st. We learned that
Hoff will present the Fire Department's 5 year plan in a special workshop meeting at 6:30 PM on October 6th. We learned that
last year's employee blood drive (Halloween) was very successful and another will be held this year on October 28th. We
learned that the new Finance Manager will be paid $50K and, if he accepts the Township's vacation package offer, will begin
work on September 6th. We learned that the business at the bottom of Hill Road is not violating any ordinances with its truck
parking. We learned that the contractor for the Easton Suburban Water Authority wants to top off Elizabeth Avenue, Richmond
Road, and Frost Hollow Road (where the work was recently done) instead of trying to repair the road surfaces. We learned that
the Supervisor elected in November will be paid $2600 (instead of $2000) and that the two elected in November 2007 will get
$3250. We learned that Forks will pay off its 1% loan to Tatamy and at the same time dissolve the Sewer Authority once and for
all. We learned that Lower Mount Bethel Township is having a special public meeting of their Board of Supervisors on
Wednesday, September 7th at 7:00 PM in the former Centerfield School Building with PPL and the DEP to discuss the fly ash
spill and remedial actions and that we are all invited. We learned...
Please read 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 September 14, 2005 Board of Supervisors meeting was covered by the
. Morning Call’s Joe Nixon. The short agenda was augmented by comments from two residents,
one who wondered why the Planning Commission wasn’t having regular workshop sessions (July,
August, and September Joint Meetings were cancelled) and was told to ask the Planning Commission
Chairman. The other resident asked that the Board add a four-way stop flashing light to a bad
Township intersection.
Always a source of news, the meeting revealed:
And, Patriot Village, a development off of Meco Road (to the north) consisting of 21 single family lots
and two cul de sacs had its Preliminary Plan approved.
Please read 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’s Joe Nixon. The short agenda was augmented by comments from two residents,
one who wondered why the Planning Commission wasn’t having regular workshop sessions (July,
August, and September Joint Meetings were cancelled) and was told to ask the Planning Commission
Chairman. The other resident asked that the Board add a four-way stop flashing light to a bad
Township intersection.
Always a source of news, the meeting revealed:
- A resident was told by the Police Department that she cannot walk her dog in Lafayette Park.
Apparently NO DOGS ALLOWED signs are posted but she didn’t see them. Supervisor John
Ackerman suggested establishing a fenced dog area in the Township park near the airport. - Supervisor Bonnie Nicholas suggested that kids needing Community Service credits be
provided with maroon and gold paint to paint the Community Park’s unsightly trash cans. - The Police Department was awarded a grant from Homeland Security for the purchase of
thermal imaging equipment (and the training that goes with it.) - The Township’s pension obligations must be stated publicly and are $235,163 for the Police
Department and $30,192 for non-uniform employees. - Supervisor Nicholas feels that the liaison roles must change at the Re-organization meeting in
January as she no longer has a department dedicated only to the sewers. - Supervisor Henning Holmgaard presented a timeline of Police Department meetings,
communication, and actions with the Shawnee School and Easton Area School District
Superintendent Riker. He said that the lack of standard operating procedures is a serious
problem. Solicitor Karl Kline said that he will call the district’s solicitor and work it out.
And, Patriot Village, a development off of Meco Road (to the north) consisting of 21 single family lots
and two cul de sacs had its Preliminary Plan approved.
Please read 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.