 |
| Craig Storrs |
I arrived at the tail end of the discussion, which was attended by about 15 residents. Martin W. Comer, a regular at Board meetings, noted that many seniors on fixed incomes are unable to afford this kind of increase. "Where do you think we're gonna' get the money from?" he asked. "I doubt very much we can eliminate it without cutting services," responded Tom Nolan. Craig Storrs, a Northampton County Criminal Division employee with a Master's Degree in Public Policy, called the budget "fiscally irresponsible" and asked how a 37.6% can be justified when employee raises are given across the board.
Manager Melissa Shafer thanked the public for their suggestions and invited them to call for one-on -one sessions with her to discuss ideas.on how to reduce spending.
In other business, Marty Zawarski agreed with Barry Roth's complaints about the recent dorm expansion at Northampton Community College, which almost doubled the number of students who live on campus. Roth is concerned about the safety of students crossing Green Pond Road, where the dorms and parking are located, to the main campus. He chastised Commissioners for not insisting on a traffic study or demanding an overhead bridge. He noted that the lighting is poor in that area, and the treeline makes it impossible for drivers to see students until they are crossing the street.He added that students cross at different crosswalks, and should be limited to just one. he called the situation a "disaster waiting to happen," and also indicated that police are called to the area weekly because of loitering complaints.
"The community college has to step up and accept responsibility for the situation they created," agreed Zawarski, who added that "the trees could be gone tomorrow" if the college was interested in driver and pedestrian safety.
Commissioners also approved a planning module for sewage facilities at St. Luke's Anderson campus, and also agreed to permit Old Dominion Freight to commence redevelopment of a 43,000 sq ft distribution warehouse on Broadhead Road. Bethlehem Attorney Blake Marles told Commissioners that there will be only 100 trips to and from that site on a daily basis.
That Township has a tax rate much lower than mine but more than twice the development and stuff going on. They've barely raised taxes since, what? 1993???? Thats insane. Its unsustainable. Aren't they building an entire city from scratch or something down there?
ReplyDeleteNext comes the anonymous and ridiculous canned political rhetoric about taxpayers dollars, tightening belts, bootstraps, trickle down economics, blah, blah, blah.
Sounds like people spent the last 20 years with their heads in the sand and passing the buck on to future residents, employees, whatever.
By looking at your post from yesterday and the wish list from twp dept heads, the police dept must be smoking the pot they are obtaining over at the community college, $350K+ of toys...
ReplyDeleteThe PD is adding 3 new officers mostly due to the condo/apts at Wagner Farm...you cannot continue to develop, fail to appropriately charge the developers traffic impact fees and then expect the long time resident taxpayers to bear the brunt of a tax increase needed to provide services to the drastically increased population/drivers. Perhaps the planning staff and Supervisors should have been more proactive when reviewing and ultimately approving new developments like Wagner Farm.....
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight, we have to hold back services and improvement in our community so seniors don't have to pay an extra $15 a month and so those pesky public servants don't receive a raise for their labor. Got it.
ReplyDelete"how a 37.6% can be justified when employee raises are given across the board" - Um, because people work for a living and deserve a raise once in a while. What an idiot.
A 37.6% tax increase is what you get for kicking the can down the road for 10 years.
ReplyDeleteHis name is spelled "Storrs"!
ReplyDelete"The trees could be gone tomorrow" if NCC is worried about safety?
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of stupid, narrow-minded thinking is that? Cut down trees when you could address the issue in a number of positive, relatively inexpensive and effective ways?
This is why the Lehigh Valley looks more and more like a toilet bowl -- just ram through unsightly development, make no adjustments in infrastructure, allow idiots to trash the environment because it's easier than actually taking care of it -- and then raise everyone's taxes for the "privilege" of living in the pisshole our "leaders" created.
As someone who admires NCC and who drives along that road, I can attest to the concerns about pedestrian safety. That treeline makes it impossible to see pedestrians crossing the street until it is too late. It really needs to be cleared away near any of the crossings.
ReplyDeleteIf you drive like a reasonable person on Green Pond, you can see students walking and stop at the crosswalk as appropriate. The students need to also take responsibility and look before walking blindly (and slowly) into the street.
ReplyDeleteAll that being said, the amount of student pedestrian traffic is high and is slowing down traffic used to driving that road. NCCC meds to either install some stop signs or lights or build a bridge. Students wouldn't bother with the bridge so thats a waste.
As someone who admires NCC and who drives along that road, I can attest to the concerns about pedestrian safety. That treeline makes it impossible to see pedestrians crossing the street until it is too late. It really needs to be cleared away near any of the crossings.
ReplyDeleteI drive it every single day and all you need to do is bring it down to 20mph as you approach the crosswalk. Every college campus is like this - you need to slow it down.
This is not every college campus. Green Pond Road is a rather busy street, and at night, it is almost impossible to see students as they dart out of the treeline, even at reduced speeds. I am no speedster, by the way. The poor lighting and treeline create a driving hazard. Lots of the suggestions will take time and money. But clearing the treelines near crosswalks is something the college could do right away, as Zawarski observed. I think he is correct on that point. I do think human lives matter more than a few trees, which can be planted elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteA life is more valuable then a tree obviously. Even for a tree hugger like me who places alot of value on trees. Esp mature street trees. Problem is, cutting down trees that will take 25 years to replace is only a bandaid. The end game is traffic calming the road. Work towards the end game not a band aid.
ReplyDeleteMuhlenberg College is very good at it. You make students visible with bump outs while also shortening the distance across the cartway and calming the traffic all at once.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5964472,-75.5099659,3a,75y,258.39h,73.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIaMW3sBy9rOoDi_wJXScfw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The end game you mention takes time and money. So while striving towards that end game, cut down the trees near the crossings. I agree it is just a band aid, but one that could save a life.
ReplyDeleteThis is not every college campus. Green Pond Road is a rather busy street, and at night, it is almost impossible to see students as they dart out of the treeline, even at reduced speeds. I am no speedster, by the way. The poor lighting and treeline create a driving hazard. Lots of the suggestions will take time and money. But clearing the treelines near crosswalks is something the college could do right away, as Zawarski observed. I think he is correct on that point. I do think human lives matter more than a few trees, which can be planted elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteThat's absurd. Every college campus has trees. Ever drive through Muhlenberg? The problem is that NCCC took it upon themselves to take over that road by building dorms (which is odd in and of itself) and the citizens who use the road to drive to work have to adapt. It's the same as any other school zone - you have to watch.
I've already pointed out this NOT Muhlenberg, nor is Muhlenberg particularly safe for pedestrians on the perimeter roads. This is NOT a perimeter road, but a busy street that cuts right through the campus. Cutting down a few trees to save life seems reasonable. I've said all I'm going to say on this point.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the million dollars for street lighting that the township paid ? Why was a 250,000 toilets built for a few people who don't use it except for a few months of the year. Why didn't the Bulldogs pay for it? How many superstar football players have we got from the Bulldogs?
ReplyDeleteThe township is actually paying off a loan it took out for those streetlight purchases. We are all aware that the township was scammed. Of the Comm'rs up for re-election, only Tom Nlan was on the board when the township was flim-flammed. Barnard and Zawarski were not on the Board. I would not hold Nolan or Hudak responsible. They had no reason to believe that this firm would steal from the township. Jim Broughal, who was not Solicitor at the time of this theft, was able to get some of the money back.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Bulldogs, it never ceases to amaze me how many people just hate an organization that provides outdoor recreation for the children of township residents. Their job is not to produce spuperstar football players, but judging from Freedom's record, they're doing something right.
But ios it fair to Senior who had children play for the Bulldogs never have what these organization wants. We had to go home to the bathroom. And their were grandparents then.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you're a senior and you haven't figured out that life is not fair by now, i can't help you. I can see no reason, other than pure selfishness and mean-spiritedness, why you would be so unwilling to help the kids.
ReplyDeleteBut if you check them out not all players are from the Bulldogs. So they are not all representing the township. As a senoir we paid our dues let all the outsiders pay for what they want but have it handed to them.
ReplyDeleteThe pedestrian safety on Green Pond Road is and always has been a paramount concern of the College. Throughout the 31 years that I worked at the college (I am retired), it was always a very serious concern. A number of initiatives that were undertaken by the College to improve pedestrian safety on this road over the years have been: additional pavement markings to identify crosswalks, street signs both on the sides and center of the road, flashing warning signs, and additional lighting installed by the college to illuminate the roadway crossings between the various entrances and crosswalks on Green Pond Road. As I understand the developers agreement which the Township and College negotiated as a condition of the additional dormitory construction, a new study is underway concerning traffic and pedestrian improvements for this road. The biggest obstacle in making improvements is PENNDOT. Green Pond Road is a state road and every solution that might be proposed requires their review, engineering, and approval. Tell your state legislators to get this as a priority with PENNDOT!
ReplyDeleteBy the way the idea of a pedestrian bridge over the road was part of the original master plan of the campus back in the 1970's. It could be done, but knowing pedestrians, they will still take the path of least resistance to get from point A to point B. The bridge would be a waste of money!
Probably. Hence, cut the trees near the crossings. The area is still very poorly lit, and definitely is in need of better traffic calming. The college has grown. It is a great school, perhaps the best in the country. My comments are meant as constructive criticism.
ReplyDeleteChew St cuts directly through the Muhlenberg campus. There are busy roads all over Lafayette. Packer Ave cuts right through Lehigh. Most college campuses have roads cutting through them. NCCC is so sad they have police officers acting as crossing guards. These are adults?
ReplyDeleteAs for the bathroom controversy, I'm all for building those facilities. I'm a bit skeptical of the price tag given you can build an entire house with carpet hardwood, appliances, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, a heating system, a yard, dozens of windows, etc for LESS than what this bathroom shack cost.
By the way, Muhelenberg has those humps on the road. They should add those humps. Then I'll take a different way.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe this conversation about how the only solution is to cut down trees when there are so many other ways to deal with this. Speed bumps before and after the crosswalks will do the trick, and trust me -- people in the L.V. have no problem throwing speed bumps everywhere.
ReplyDeleteBut to cut down mature trees -- which, let's face it, will NOT be replaced and will take years to reach mature beauty -- instead of opting for basic, inexpensive and simple solutions is just ridiculous.
I know it's not popular, and most people want to just mow down anything inconvenient, but drive through many other communities and you can tell how much more they value their history and their environment, and how little we do around here.
And go to any other college in the area, and see how they each found a way to have trees, busy roadways and pedestrian safety. It's not rocket science.
I at no time said that the ONLY solution is to cut down trees. I said it is a bandaid, but a short-term solution that just might save a life. Between a human life and a tree, i'll take a human life.
ReplyDeleteI want to reiterate what 12:54 said... Green Pond Road is a state road, NOT A TOWNSHIP ROAD. The Township has very little control or say on what can be done to correct the situation. It took an act of congress several years ago just to get PennDOT to agree to drop the speed limit from 40 MPH to 35 MPH and post the pedestrian crossing signs. EVERYTHING needs their approval and their process is quite onerous. PennDOT will not allow "traffic calming" devices on their roadway. I agree, cutting some of the trees near the crosswalk areas will help. Additional BRIGHT lighting at the crosswalks will help. The lighting the college added previously was inadequate. The flashing lights they added are inadequate and are hardly noticeable at night time let along during day time hours. The College should be taking the lead to correct this situation. This situation has existed for years, since they built the first dorms. Now they more than doubled the size of the dorms and added more overflow parking on North Campus. They still have done nothing to improve pedestrian safety.
ReplyDeleteHeard the Main line woman manager on TV state how lucky people are to pay such a small increase in taxes to live in Bethlehem Twp. Is she on drugs?
ReplyDeleteWhere's the so called state representative Marsha Hahn? The silence is deafening...
ReplyDelete"It's a state road, the township has no control" is an often repeated myth. Far too often conversations at the local level end when someone repeats it.
ReplyDeleteIn fact FHWA created a whole website to help states and municipalities implement road diets. You can get federal money for diets.
http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/road_diets/info_guide/
You can get state money for diets.
PennDOT goes so far as to publish a whole design guidebook encouraging calming improvements just like I listed above.
lol- govt at it finest. 37% tax hike and at the same time the township employees got raises during the worst so called economy since the depression. how is that possible? the real; issue is who did not get a raise, while they kicked the can down the road for years. no we can never , ever ,ever cut spending , reduce work forces , eliminate duplicated services and so on...raise the taxes. keep kicking and try to get reelected. we see this scam demonstrated of a local, state and federal level all the time. People on fixed incomes, and no im not talking about the rich aunt, are going to be taxed out of their homes thanks to this crew as well as the school board.
ReplyDeletelove the people who love the big mature trees...especially the ones the city put in 25 years ago and now they are not only lifting every side walk on Butzton road..
ReplyDeletethese amazing "mature" trees also found their way into the houses on the road as well as their water/toilet systems . The expense to fix the side walks in front of the house as well as the expense to hire a plumber and an excavator to dig out the roots was outrageous.
love when the city or township plants these trees and walks away after 20 years and then the home owner is told they have to prune the tree, fix the uprooted sidewalks and pay for major excavating and plumbing repair to save the home.
For some reason, even after we fixed the side walks ...the city deemed it necessary to replant trees, so in the next 10 to 20 years we can piss away another $10,000 so the city has mature tress.
I don't get it . the trees don't grow any more? even after they replanted them 2 times in one year.
lol- govt at it finest. 37% tax hike and at the same time the township employees got raises during the worst so called economy since the depression. how is that possible? the real; issue is who did not get a raise, while they kicked the can down the road for years. no we can never , ever ,ever cut spending , reduce work forces , eliminate duplicated services and so on...raise the taxes. keep kicking and try to get reelected. we see this scam demonstrated of a local, state and federal level all the time. People on fixed incomes, and no im not talking about the rich aunt, are going to be taxed out of their homes thanks to this crew as well as the school board.
ReplyDeleteOK, time for someone to get their head out of their ass. The "great recession" ended in June 2009. Over 6 years ago. Are you going to use that recession for another 20 years to whine about people, your neighbors and friends, getting raises? Seriously? And you are truly delusional if you think public entities did not cut workforces, freeze payroll, stop hiring, and cut other expenses for years. You can't do that forever. You seem to deflect your own sad existence on everyone else in the community. Stop being negative and contribute something positive to society.
The Great Recession may have ended for economists then, but for many of us, it continues even today. It hit hard. I agree that the public sector needs to be paid what it is worth and did make sacrifices in BT for several years. Butt let's not minimize the severity of the economic downturn.
ReplyDeleteIt's Bethlehem Twp. for Christs sake.
ReplyDeleteCut down all the trees.
"Stop being negative and contribute something positive to society."
ReplyDeleteEasy fro the trough feeding twp worker to say. Half the time you go in there and people are standing around shooting the shit. Taxpayers on fixed incomes are forced to subsidize this nonsense. Try being more productive and less preachy about what other should pay to subsidize your lifestyle.
Yeah, they just stand around all day. That's all they do. You unlocked the secret, lucrative, and audacious "lifestyle" of the public worker.
ReplyDelete10:02 - And let's not overstate the effect of the recession either.
As a private sector worker I have received cost of living raises and a bonus over the past couple years. So has my husband. My brother is a teacher and I find it very insulting that public servants are certain peoples' favorite punching bags just to pursue a flawed agenda.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me this tax increase is a classic case of reaping what you sow. You can't be one of the biggest baddest townships around and ignore everything that comes with it for years.