| Forks Action Committee |
| Homepage - Last Day of the Month |
| November 30, 2006 |
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| Running for Local Office Workshop 2006 The League of Women Voters sponsored this all important workshop - for anyone considering running for local office - on Saturday, November 18 from 8 AM. to 12:30 PM at Northampton Community College's Kiva Building. The workshop, designed to help you through deadlines and paperwork, has been praised by candidates There were to be some local election veterans there to share their tips and experience. We hope that everyone who is considering running for the two seats on the Board of Supevisors enrolled and found it worthwhile. We encourage you to contact us. Don't be shy, let us know that you are thinking of running. We'd like to meet all the brave souls who want to do more for Forks! |
The Board of Supervisors meeting on November 2, 2006 was not the run of the mill BoS meeting. Precious Petty
(Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there. Please read their reports. Yes, they were at the same meeting.
Forks resident Karen Haduck's letter to the editor dominated much of the meeting. Supervisor David Howell began by
personally apologizing for the dance. Howell said that he thought there was failure of communication between the Board of
Supervisors and its appointed boards and commissions. The Board agreed in a 4:0 vote to suspend all dances at the
Community Center pending review of the policies and procedures at a special public meeting/workshop. Ms. Haduck was
invited to lend her assistance at the meeting.
We also learned other news from the meeting:
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.
(Express Times) and Joe Nixon (Morning Call) were there. Please read their reports. Yes, they were at the same meeting.
Forks resident Karen Haduck's letter to the editor dominated much of the meeting. Supervisor David Howell began by
personally apologizing for the dance. Howell said that he thought there was failure of communication between the Board of
Supervisors and its appointed boards and commissions. The Board agreed in a 4:0 vote to suspend all dances at the
Community Center pending review of the policies and procedures at a special public meeting/workshop. Ms. Haduck was
invited to lend her assistance at the meeting.
We also learned other news from the meeting:
- The 2007 budget is almost in balance and will be sent back to the Finance Committee and the departments for more
trimming. - The Blue Mountain Youth Soccer League Annual Tournament being held in Forks parks this weekend is expected to
draw 5000 people. - The emergency command center will get a new computer.
- Lightening struck the same security camera and ruined a police department DVR.
- Surge protection for the security system and lightening suppression for all the buildings will go out for bids.
- The Sycamore homeowners association will get a letter explaining perpetual maintenance for the swale. They must
maintain it now that the Township has fixed it. - There is a new sinkhole on Arndt Road and 220 feet of sewer line must be replaced. It is under water.
- There is a lovely new clock in the meeting room. Cost? $35.00.
- Keys to the Municipal Building will not be issued to Supervisors at this time.
- All employees and Supervisors will soon have their pictures taken by Tim Weis for their new photo IDs.
- The police department's five-year plan will be voted on at the next meeting meanwhile authorization was given to begin
accepting applications for two anticipated positions. - By the end of November, the Knox-Box program will have 20 commercial properties online.
- The next hearing dates for the Kings Mill zoning challenge were announced for November 13, December 4, and
December 18. - The speed bumps in the park are too high and regular cars bottom out on them.
- Easton's swimming pools are in trouble and Forks was asked to help with some funding. Only Eddyside will be open
next summer.
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 November 16 meeting of the Board of Supervisors had the longest agenda in years. Both Joe Nixon
(Morning Call) and Courtney Lomax (Express Times) chose to focus their articles. Please read them.
Some of the meeting highlights include:
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) and Courtney Lomax (Express Times) chose to focus their articles. Please read them.
Some of the meeting highlights include:
- Forks agreed to provide fire and rescue services to the Borough of Stockertown for at least 120 days. Stockertown
rescinded sanction of the Liberty Hose Fire Company. Supervisors Hoff and Nicholas were appointed by the Board to
discuss options with Stockertown's representatives. - The Police Department 5 Year Plan will be discussed at a 7:00 PM public workshop before the January 18, 2007 Board
meeting. It contains plans for hiring 2 new police officers and purchasing 4 new vehicles in its first year. - The new Forks Quarterly has been printed and should arrive in mailboxes shortly.
- J.G. Petrucci has hired the nationally known firm of Kirkpatrick, Lockhart, Nicholson & Graham to represent them in the
Norfolk Southern negotiations as well as any they may have with the PUC in order to secure the rail crossing for Braden
Road. Petrucci promised Tioga Pipe when it recruited them to come to Forks that its facility would be on a cul de sac
and the PC's suggested road between Tioga and Georgia Pacific as an alternative to failed negotiations with Norfolk
Southern is unacceptable. Petrucci has negotiated with Modern Concrete for continuance of a stub road to Glover and
also agreed to straighten the jog in Glover at the Padula Road intersection should that be needed for a second access.
They have 5 years to get the rail crossing for Braden. - The CVS time extension to March 31, 2007 was accepted.
- Penn's Ridge roads in phases 5, 6, 7, & 8 were accepted on the condition that the amount liquid fuels money that won't
be earned by the Township because of the lateness (in the year) of this action will be paid to the Township by the
developer. There will be no snow plowing done on these roads until the check is received. - The 2007 budget was tentatively adopted.
- The Township Manager job description revision was adopted.
- Bonuses will be paid to Chief Dorney and the managers who filled in during the absence of a Township Manager.
- 4% raises (in 2007) were given to managers Bartek, Farley, Sandt, and Weis.
- The Kiwanis tree lighting will take place on December 3rd at 7:00 PM at the Municipal Building. Music will be performed
by local school students and Santa will arrive by fire truck. Donations of food, socks, book bags, and hooded
sweatshirts will go to Project Easton. - The Athletic Association and Recreation Board will select either Tuesday December 5th or Tuesday December 12th for
their public work session to discuss the youth dances. It will be posted on the Township website and advertised in the
newspaper. - Any Supervisor who wants a key to the front door of the Municipal Building may now have one.
- People continue to park in the fire lanes at the Shawnee Middle School. A letter has been written to Riker (Easton Area
Schools) and a police log will be kept of violators. - Forks resident Ken Nagy told the Board that the Townships of Forks, Palmer and Bethlehem are nothing more than
cash cows to the County and that the Board should change their meeting nights so that they can attend the
Northampton County Council meetings.
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.
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| More On Congress, Developers & Your Rights! On September 30th the Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 2006 was received in the US Senate. According to a New York Times Editorial (9/29/06), this Act will give developers who disagree with local zoning the right to bypass State courts and take their complaints directly to the Federal courts. This act makes local zoning laws meaningless. It was rejected by the US House of Representatives on 9/26 but on 9/29, in another vote, It passed with a 231 to 181 vote. Congressman Dent voted for it. On October 2, the Washington Post published an in-depth article about the bill's background and supporters. It is not the solution to eminent domain issues that it is purported to be. Please consider HR 4772's ramifications for Forks in light of the Kings Mill & partners zoning challenge, and contact Senators Santorum and Spector to let them know how you feel. Contact Santorum's challenger (in the November 7 election), Casey too. If you haven't already contacted Congressman Dent, do it now. Tell him what you think of his vote! Write to challenger Dertinger too. And... Vote on November 7th! This is not an issue to be ignored. It is about who can decide what our town will look like, the Federal court system or us! It is about our quality of life! |
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