| Forks Action Committee |
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October 31, 2004
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From 10/23/04: Looks like the old adage you snooze, you lose was at work last night (10/21/04) at
the BoS meeting. From now on, township residents who wish to speak during the Comments
session of the meetings will have to sign-up before the meeting starts and will have an entire five
minutes to get their points across once they are called upon for their turn at the podium. Of course,
(we were assured) if other audience members have something to add, they may. We were also told
that no one would be holding a stop watch. And, yes, the chairman has the discretion of allowing a
resident a little more time. And so it goes... Oh, if one has a really BIG issue (yes, some of us do on
occasion have really big issues like the Heather Lane residents) then a call to the Township Manager
should be made. She, after hearing the story/issue, will advise the resident(s) that they and their
problem(s) will be placed on the upcoming meeting agenda. We are hoping that those residents
(with really big issues) get their calls in to the Township Manager before the Tuesday at 2:30 PM
cut-off for agenda items! Too bad more residents weren't there to express their opinions. This is sad.
the BoS meeting. From now on, township residents who wish to speak during the Comments
session of the meetings will have to sign-up before the meeting starts and will have an entire five
minutes to get their points across once they are called upon for their turn at the podium. Of course,
(we were assured) if other audience members have something to add, they may. We were also told
that no one would be holding a stop watch. And, yes, the chairman has the discretion of allowing a
resident a little more time. And so it goes... Oh, if one has a really BIG issue (yes, some of us do on
occasion have really big issues like the Heather Lane residents) then a call to the Township Manager
should be made. She, after hearing the story/issue, will advise the resident(s) that they and their
problem(s) will be placed on the upcoming meeting agenda. We are hoping that those residents
(with really big issues) get their calls in to the Township Manager before the Tuesday at 2:30 PM
cut-off for agenda items! Too bad more residents weren't there to express their opinions. This is sad.
Also on the Agenda last night was a discussion of a (municipal) software purchase. This is no small
item. It will be expected to tie all of the township's departments together and expedite the entry of data,
the issuing of bills, purchase orders, checks, payroll, taxes, and financial reports. The Township
Manager had her selection narrowed down to one. Supervisor Nicholas had asked for a demonstration
of that package and others. The demo was at 6:00 PM before the meeting. What? You didn't see the
notice in that morning's Express Times Classifieds? In any event, a committee has been formed
consisting of two Supervisors (Ackerman & Nicholas), the Office Manager, and the Township Manager
to look at and demo another package. Supervisor Nicholas explained that this other package is
software that is used by some neighboring (similar in size) municipalities and may or may not be more
suitable for a growing township like Forks. There was much animated discussion over this. It was
TABLED pending the committee's research results (by next meeting.) We applaud the slow down.
$70,000 and a $450/mth service fee, is a LOT of money. It is good that Supervisor Nicholas did her
research on our behalf.
There will be a budget workshop (open to the public) at 4:30 PM October 25, 2004 to go over the 2005
expected revenues and expenses. Looks like those of us who wish to attend, have plenty of notice this
time!
There are more meeting notes on our (just click on) BLOG! We welcome your comments!
item. It will be expected to tie all of the township's departments together and expedite the entry of data,
the issuing of bills, purchase orders, checks, payroll, taxes, and financial reports. The Township
Manager had her selection narrowed down to one. Supervisor Nicholas had asked for a demonstration
of that package and others. The demo was at 6:00 PM before the meeting. What? You didn't see the
notice in that morning's Express Times Classifieds? In any event, a committee has been formed
consisting of two Supervisors (Ackerman & Nicholas), the Office Manager, and the Township Manager
to look at and demo another package. Supervisor Nicholas explained that this other package is
software that is used by some neighboring (similar in size) municipalities and may or may not be more
suitable for a growing township like Forks. There was much animated discussion over this. It was
TABLED pending the committee's research results (by next meeting.) We applaud the slow down.
$70,000 and a $450/mth service fee, is a LOT of money. It is good that Supervisor Nicholas did her
research on our behalf.
There will be a budget workshop (open to the public) at 4:30 PM October 25, 2004 to go over the 2005
expected revenues and expenses. Looks like those of us who wish to attend, have plenty of notice this
time!
There are more meeting notes on our (just click on) BLOG! We welcome your comments!
In case any of you wonder how we are doing after a full month online, 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!
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From Oct. 17, 2004: Trick or Treat is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 31st from 6-8 PM.
The FEMA/PEMA Disaster Recovery Center (in the Community Center) is now closed. We hope that all those who needed
their help got it.
their help got it.
Reminder: The Board of Supervisors meeting on October 21st will once again have as a topic, restricting or limiting
Comments from the Floor (not agenda items). This issue, at least the part where one supervisor suggested moving the
Comments to the END of the meeting, earned Forks Township's Supervisors a TURKEY in the Easton Express. We hope that
you will all attend and let the board know how you feel about your right to speak out being snubbed. See our (click on) blog for
other residents' opinions!
Another item on the agenda will be discussion of a proposed software purchase (a $69,650 software purchase). Two
supervisors, Nicholas and Miller, were to be shown a demonstration of the software sometime between Oct. 7th and 21st.
Holmgaard and Hoff saw it a PSATS conference and apparently liked it. According to the newspaper (MCall?), this purchase
does not need to go out for bids because it is a "professional service."
Comments from the Floor (not agenda items). This issue, at least the part where one supervisor suggested moving the
Comments to the END of the meeting, earned Forks Township's Supervisors a TURKEY in the Easton Express. We hope that
you will all attend and let the board know how you feel about your right to speak out being snubbed. See our (click on) blog for
other residents' opinions!
Another item on the agenda will be discussion of a proposed software purchase (a $69,650 software purchase). Two
supervisors, Nicholas and Miller, were to be shown a demonstration of the software sometime between Oct. 7th and 21st.
Holmgaard and Hoff saw it a PSATS conference and apparently liked it. According to the newspaper (MCall?), this purchase
does not need to go out for bids because it is a "professional service."
From Oct. 9, 2004: The October 7, 2004 BoS meeting was a long and important one. Those of you who attended heard/saw
the heartbreaking testimony of homeowners living on Heather Lane whose basements were inundated by raw sewage
because of failures in the township's and the Giant's drainage systems. The residents are eligible for FEMA low interest loans
but they don't want LOANS! They want relief. Apparently, according to our Township Manager, because the township
implemented some (but not all) of the recommendations (after flooding to that area in 1984 and again in 1996) to correct the
problem, the township's insurer will not cover the cleanups and damages. This is awful. The BoS has asked the residents to
provide photos, estimates, and receipts so that they can have a better idea of how to help. There may even be a special BoS
meeting to consider it. We sincerely hope the residents get help and that the problem sewer and stormwater lines are fixed
ASAP.
There was indeed a discussion on the imposition of time limits on residents' comments during (the Comments section of)
meetings. Fortunately for us, this was TABLED until the next meeting on Oct. 21st. Chairman Ackerman said that this was the
first time he saw this item (as well as the software item) on the Agenda and that it was added after the Tuesday deadline. The
Express Times (10/9/04) awarded Forks Township a TURKEY for this!
Oh... yes, there were police at the meeting too! They were NOT in uniform. Two of them were cited in a resident's letter for
heroism during the flooding on Bushkill Dr. We apologize for not getting their names. The letter was read so quickly. The
resident (again, didn't catch the name) enclosed a check for $1000 in appreciation of their bravery. We are glad to see the
police attending township meetings as the issues discussed affect us all. We hope they continue to join us.
See the meeting notes on our BLOG for more.
the heartbreaking testimony of homeowners living on Heather Lane whose basements were inundated by raw sewage
because of failures in the township's and the Giant's drainage systems. The residents are eligible for FEMA low interest loans
but they don't want LOANS! They want relief. Apparently, according to our Township Manager, because the township
implemented some (but not all) of the recommendations (after flooding to that area in 1984 and again in 1996) to correct the
problem, the township's insurer will not cover the cleanups and damages. This is awful. The BoS has asked the residents to
provide photos, estimates, and receipts so that they can have a better idea of how to help. There may even be a special BoS
meeting to consider it. We sincerely hope the residents get help and that the problem sewer and stormwater lines are fixed
ASAP.
There was indeed a discussion on the imposition of time limits on residents' comments during (the Comments section of)
meetings. Fortunately for us, this was TABLED until the next meeting on Oct. 21st. Chairman Ackerman said that this was the
first time he saw this item (as well as the software item) on the Agenda and that it was added after the Tuesday deadline. The
Express Times (10/9/04) awarded Forks Township a TURKEY for this!
Oh... yes, there were police at the meeting too! They were NOT in uniform. Two of them were cited in a resident's letter for
heroism during the flooding on Bushkill Dr. We apologize for not getting their names. The letter was read so quickly. The
resident (again, didn't catch the name) enclosed a check for $1000 in appreciation of their bravery. We are glad to see the
police attending township meetings as the issues discussed affect us all. We hope they continue to join us.
See the meeting notes on our BLOG for more.
| Forks Action Committee |