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| Hanover Tp Manager Jay Finnigan Chairs Gaming Board |
At this meeting, the following officers were elected: Jay Finnigan - Chair; Joe Kelly - Vice Chair; John Dally - Secretary; and Tom Nolan - Treasurer. All votes were unanimous. In addition, members unanimously agreed to appoint Northampton County Economic Development Analyst Karen Collis as their Executor Director. She replaces Alicia Karner, who resigned to take over Bethlehem's Department of Community and Economic Development.
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| Karen Collis new Exec Director for gaming Board |
According to Treasurer Tom Nolan, the Gaming Authority is currently sitting on $354,223.26 in "restricted" funds, i.e. set aside for grants in process. There is also $446,403.27 in uncommitted funds.
Freemansburg Mayor Gerald Yob, who also sits on the Gaming Board, complained that his borough had to borrow money to pay for two police cars because the grant process is split into quarterly payments. Finningan and Kelly both told Yob that his grant was based on anticipated revenue that has not yet arrived from the casino.
"You can't write a check if the money's not there," explained Finnigan.
Volunteer firefighter Kevin Kalman, who is associated with volunteer fire companies in both Freemansburg and Bethlehem, complained that the Board shows a "heavy slant toward the police departments," and a "less than proportionate representation of the fire companies." Mayor Yob disputed Kalman's contention, noting that it is more difficult for fire companies to show they've been impacted by the casino. He added that a grant was recently obtained for defibrillators, which were then distributed to fire companies.
Chairman Finnigan sided with Yob, adding that Hanover Township was able to get a vehicle for its volunteer firefighters through a gaming grant.
Volunteer fire companies must apply for these grants through the affected municipality, cautioned Vice Chair Joe Kelly.
As a final item of business, Solicitor Scott Allinson told the Board that the terms of office have expired for members Timm Tenges and Tom Nolan. But he explained that, under the Municipalities Planning Code, a board member whose term has expired may continue to serve until he is re-appointed or replaced.
25 comments:
replace.
Let us pray they are replaced.
Instead of blaming the Gaming Board for the lack of funding toward fire services, Mr. Kalman should have done his homework and realized that requests for all funding originate from the municipalities. Therein lies the problem. All he managed to do was portray himself as uninformed.
Anonymous (7:51 am), thank you for your feedback. For the last month, I researched the available resources covering the Northampton County Gaming Board and related laws and regulations. I did not have a full understanding of this process, and I shared with the board members yesterday that I want to learn more about it. I did not "blame" the board members about the grant process; all one has to do is review the grants awarded in the past and see that the majority of the awards went to law enforcement agencies. While I wholly support law enforcement and the need to fund their services, it'd be remiss to ignore the other components of public safety: fire departments. I understand that the fire departments have to partner with their respective municipalities to apply for grants. This requires the contact person at the municipality to notify the fire department administration about the open period and for preparing the application for submission. Is this happening all across the county? It's not in Freemansburg. The borough acquired $1,309,280 in grant money for the police station addition ONLY. Certain authority members thought this included the fire department--it did not. Currently, the fire department is restricted to three garage bays and two small rooms--they have to move trucks to conduct in-house training. Also, the borough has been awarded grant money to acquire 7 police vehicles, with the intention to have a vehicle for each officer, yet, no capital purchases for the fire department. Also, I asked about seminars to introduce newly elected or appointed leaders to the Gaming Authority and grant application process, and the board advised information sessions are anticipated later this year. Also of note, what Mr. O'Hare failed to point out is the fact that Yob voted against awarding funds to the county for funding fire and EMS training, the value of the funds requested far less than what other fire academies have for their annual operating budget. Politicians like Yob tell fire companies to go and apply for grants, yet they'll be the same politicians who'll turn down those same applications for reasons unknown. That's what I'm trying to find out and see what can be done to improve the fire companies' chances of successful grant applications.
It may be a bit off topic, but Mayor Yob's disdain for anything related to fire departments (especially his own)is not new. He is a grumpy old man, and the voters of Freemansburg apparently prefer that to someone who is a bit more progressive.
Same winner. Same losers. So much money. So few benefactors.
Kalman is correct. That Board regularly turns down fire requests despite application from the municipalities. Check the minutes and tapes and it is evident.
The Gaming Board's decisions have little to do with need. It's all about how well you buddy up to those that will give you a majority vote. While the police get nearly everything they ask for, other requests are rejected. The city of Bethlehem even double-dipped by being granted money for a mass arrest vehicle, and a hazardous materials truck, in spite of receiving more in host fees than the Gaming Board has for total distribution. The municipalities need to schmooze the Board better to get needed funds for other first responders' needs, not just the police.
Kevin, as a fire department from freemansburg seeking IMPACT relates fees from the casino, how do you show an impact? Have you responded to x amount of accidents in your bork due to people coming from the casino? Have you been impacted in any way? If the answer is no, then how do you feel that a fire department warrants a grant from a casino that is only for IMPACT?
7:24 WRONG again, a Host fee has nothing to do with IMPACT. I understand that you didn't finish 6th grade english but again I will say, A HOST FEE DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH IMPACT. I know this is hard for you but this is the Law as written.
First of all, the grants are awarded in accordance with a state law that dictates parameters, not some anonymous commenter on a blog. Second, the Board is composed of members in the surrounding municipalities, They outnumber Bethlehem's vote. Third, the question is impact. It is easier for a municipality to show an impact ion police than on a volunteer fired department. Fourth, the municipalities make the applications.
The Gaming Board does not distribute host fees.
12:29
It was never stated that the host fee and impact funding were the same. Before the casino came to town, Bethlehem residents were promised lower taxes directly or indirectly through the host fee. That has yet to happen. As a matter of fact, they've gone up since the casino. The host fee was also for improvements to the city (police or fire vehicles are considered an improvement). That has yet to happen. It was merely stated that the city, in spite of the host fee, was granted additional funds, while other projects could have been funded.
Bernie,
While it may be easier to show impact for law enforcement, fire and EMS services outside the city are also directly impacted. Yes, there are certain rules that must be followed, but the Board still has the last word on funding. For an example of volunteer fire and EMS personnel being affected directly: The construction on 412 has the traffic so messed up that buses coming from NY and NJ are exiting 78 at 33 and using Freemansburg Avenue in Bethlehem Township and Washington Street in Freemansburg as part of the route to the casino. If a bus was to crash on either of those roads, volunteer fire and EMS people would respond.
Make your case and you will be awareded funds for something that deals with the impact. But don't lash out at people, as you have been doing. That is counterproductive and unfair. Those people are volunteers, too.
1:48. Wrong again, traffic incidents in Bethlehem township have been down every year over the last 5 year period. Check for yourself I. Their own testimony last year at the gaming board meetings... Nice try though
Bernie,
What does the number of incidents over the last five years have to do with the fact that these buses are using local roads that they normally would not have? The road construction hasn't been going on for five years, either.
Just because others may drive more carefully, it has nothing to do with the fact that these buses wouldn't be there if not for the casino. If that doesn't qualify as impact, nothing does. We were "warned" by the nay-sayers that crime would run rampant as a result of the casino. That hasn't happened either. So where's the impact that justifies police funding? It's easy to manipulate the facts to get your desired result.
If Stoffa had not given over half of the gaming funds to Lehigh County and Allentown there would be a lot more money to distribute.
5:52, Like I said, make your case, show impact and you will get money. It is not complicated. K know this much. A good way of shooting yourself in the foot is to start by saying police get too much and then attack members of the Board.
Bernie,
5:52 here.
You didn't answer the question, and nobody's bashing the police.
Yeah you are. Look, i am not here to play the wizard of oz and answer questions you should be addressing to public officials. I would suggest fire companies to look for someone besides you to advocate for them. You don't get somewhere by bashing the people making the decisions as well as other beneficiaries.
Didn`t Stoffa start the war in Iraq as well ?
I'm pretty sure he gave Assad those chemical weapons, too. Either him or Angle. Angle thought it was just shit.
Again, I want to reiterate that my inquiry does not involve police bashing. The men and women in blue deserve as much support as possible from all available resources. Having said that, the same should hold true for the men and women in the fire and emergency services. My inquiry included a request for the criteria used by the gaming authority members to approve grant applications. I was not provided with that info. I understand that grant recipients have successfully demonstrated impact related to the presence of the casino. Well, exactly what are the “impacts” referenced? It’s my understanding that various police departments were unable to present statistics directly related to the casino’s presence. In order to accomplish this, police officers would have to ask if the subject(s) they make contact with were traveling to or from the casino. I haven’t seen documentation of any sort indicating this is happening. Also, a large part of fire department leaders’ responsibilities include PREPARATION, in addition to emergency response. Fire department responders cannot wait until a major incident originating at or from the casino to acquire contemporary or specialized equipment and/or training to respond appropriately and efficiently. Furthermore, fire services are part of the governmental infrastructure, and financial resources originally appropriate to them may have been diverted to other areas to prepare for the arrival of the casino. That too is an impact felt by fire and emergency services. Ultimately, my goal is to better understand this process and improve the working relationship between municipal officials and fire department leaders … and the ultimate objective is improved public service to our communities. That’s what this is all about.
Mr. Kalman is correct.
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