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| Melissa Shafer explains new ward boundaries |
Commission President Marty Zawarski was absent.
Manager Melissa Shafer stated that a new ward map will soon be available on the Township's web page, and pledged to work with the County to make sure that residents know where they need to go to vote.
"It's something we need to do, remarked Tom Nolan, while Michael Hudak added that the biggest problem will be notifying voters.
Solicitor Jim Broughal advised Commissioners that there was "some urgency" in getting these new boundaries adopted so that County elections officials can notify residents.
In other business, Commissioners voted 3 to 1 to adopt an ordinance authorizing a four-way stop sign at the busy intersection of Chester Avenue and Santee Road. That;s where a lot of traffic goes into and out of freedom High School. It is also located very close to the Bethlehem Vo-Tech, East Hills Middle School and Our lady of Perpetual Help Elementary School.
In September, two East Hills Middle School students were stuck by a car at the intersection while involved in a cross-country practice run. Parents had pleaded with township officials for a four-way stop sign, and an engineering study confirmed that there are some justifications for a fourth stop sign.
Resident Barry Roth, complained that "[t]he problem is the kids running in the street with a lack of respect for anyone" and complained about "jumping through hoops for two kids." Michael Hudak agreed with Roth, noting that the intersection has had very few accidents over the years. But three other Commissioners voted for the stop sign.
In other business, Commissioners authorized spending $8,450 for laptops in Township police cruisers.They also appointed several residents to boards and commissions as follows: Planning Commission - Don Wright and Mark Grandinetti; Municipal Authority - Ronald Gori; Civil Service - Ronald Todd; Recreation Board - Marilyn Minder; Vacancy Board - Frank Pologruto; Zoning hearing Board - Richard Pellizon; and Library Board - Janet Barry.
Finally, Commissioners authorized revisions to the Township's pension plans to include married gay couples.
21 comments:
Shouldn't redistricting have been done after the census and why don't they go to 5 wards or all at-large to elect commissioners? 4 and 1 is strange.
Is it possible to file a RTK request to ascertain the gay's and lesbians in the township workforce?
Not that it matters, inquiring minds would like to know.
9:18 hey homophobe, did you trip and hit your head !
Think about what your saying, " yes I'd like to file a RTK because I want to know if there are any gays working for the township", not that it matters though. ASSHOLE.
Would have to assume you were not at the meeting so why do you feel you have the right to comment ?!
If you were you would have heard the solicitor say they are doing this because it is a STATE MANDATE. Has nothing at all to do with who is working in the township or if their gay or not. Come out of the closet, It's ok, nobody cares but you.
Round em all up and ship em off to Siberia, let Putin deal with em all...
9:18, Someone's sexual orientation is his or her own business. I don't believe that you can file a RTK to find out the identity of the spouse of a municipal employee.
"Shouldn't redistricting have been done after the census "
It probably should have been done sooner.
Victor Scomillio's performance as Solicitor is a clear demonstration of why he should never be a judge.
His record is the ugly picture of self serving political expediency and all the destruction that follows.
Your comment is on the wrong thread, dude.
The last redistricting took place in 2001. I recall they were very transparent and had a public meeting, with census blocks projected and were able to click on different blocks to see the impact. The old mildly gerrymandered ward lines became much boxier in the process of evening out the population. Actually, if memory serves, they were ahead of the State redistricting, and so had to tweak it a little to accommodate the new State Rep lines. I don't believe it went into effect until the 2003 Muni elections.
So they are a little behind, considering we are already half way through the census period, but with the development growth several years ago it is needed so I am glad they are doing it. After Madison Farms, future census will likely dictate some more changes.
Would this be for this year's Muni elections? Considering petitions for primaries will be around the corner, it does raise an eyebrow that they are waiting to finally get this done now in 2015 considering the State Rep/Senate maps have been done. Hopefully they will be on their website soon. I have no personal interest, but rumor has floated a few interested candidates. They could find themselves in different Wards now. I guess we've learned that as long as they actually live in the Twp when/if they run, then all's fair.
I did not think it was necessary in the past, but by next census we might be at a juncture where a 7 person board (5 ward, 2 at large) might be beneficial. Obviously too late for now, but I think its kind of sad to see how much money is starting to flow into some of these races, with their glossy fliers, when a couple hundred bucks for yard signs and a lot of door to door used to be sufficient. The idea of the average citizen-legislator might be more idealism than reality, but past two election cycles have seen developers and out-of-township friends pumping some money into these local races.
Would you mind sharing some of the interested names?
Sorry. Two I heard directly from, the other two were just the rumor mill. However, whether to run or not is a personal choice for them and their families to make. So IF they ultimately decide to it should come directly from them. Plus there may be others mulling it over(?). Regardless, a little competition is healthy. Then like always, whoever shows up at the polls makes a decision and life moves on.
That said, I don't like the perception of changing the ward lines right before a primary election when it should have been done a long time ago. Besides affecting potential candidates, voter turnout for Muni elections are low as it is. I would certainly hope new voter ID cards get mailed to anyone now in a new ward and/or precinct.
very suspicious of the timing
this is Melissa getting political
very bad
should not go into place until next cycle this is unheard of and think there will be a legal challenge regarding sufficient notice to the voters
I think Shafer did this bc it is required by law. She did it in conjunction with the Solicitor and IT guy, and for the express purpose of avoiding politics. But I agree this change needs to be in place well before an election, and should be delayed until after the 2015 election cycle.
Glad I didn't have an interest in running :-D From what I just read in the Morning Call, sounds like I am likely in a new ward not even up this year.
Hopefully no one who was seriously mulling it over finds themselves in a new ward. I know new Ward lines should have been drawn a couple years ago, and are needed. But its funny how things "coincidentally" happen right before primary season 3 municipal elections into the current census period.
That's a legitimate point, and whaterver new boundaries are established should not go into effect until after this election cycle.
Funny. Maybe it's because we had a manager that didn't do his job. And now he is considering running for township commissioner. Really! Didn't he do enough damage.
I have not seen the new map, only the description reported by Nerl in the MCall. Has the person I believe you refer to also been safely moved to a different ward?
10:29 Who are you referring too?
He must be talking about Jon Hammer the guy after him was just someone on staff they used as a fill in until Melissa was hired.
In response to your personal attack, I had nothing but respect for Howard Kutzler as township manager. He was always straight with me, and more than helpful. I have no problem with his replacement, either.
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