An example of this was highlighted by both Zawarski and Tom Nolan. For years, the space between stairway railing balusters was six inches apart. But a few years ago, that was suddenly reduced to require that balusters be placed every four inches. This would require homeowners to rip out and install new balusters at considerable expense.
"We need to use a little more commonsense," observed Michael Hudak.
Planning Director Nathan Jones said his staff is currently reviewing inspection requirements to weed out code requirements that are regarded as burdensome.
Commissioners also agreed, by a 4-0 vote, to recognize the Freemansburg-Bethlehem Township Athletic Association as the Township's official Little league and Senior Legion sports organization. In June, the Board recognized the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, also known as the Bulldogs, as an "official" Township youth sports group. Both of these organizations are nonprofits supported, in part, by public tax dollars.
According to Hudak, 98% of the baseball players come from the Township.
In the aftermath of Township police successfully tracking down and capturing a suspected burglar, Commissioners had no problem approving, by a 4-0 vote, a number of funding requests for the police department. These included a Toyota Scion ($24,623), radios for detective cars ($5,920.80) and polygraph exams for new recruits ($2550). Part of this money was awarded to the township by the County Gaming Authority in the form of grants.
Pat Breslin was absent from this meeting. Commissioners will meet again on Monday, October 19, at the Municipal Building.
Correct title should be " Bethlehem Twp to make home inspections "Easier for Marty Zawarski"
ReplyDeleteDig deeper on this Bernie, this all started with him.
Same zawarski who rehabbed one of his apartment rentals on Glouster & Hecktiwn rd without any permits displayed in the window like all are required. Begs the question: Were there any permits for the renovation applied for? Properly inspected?
ReplyDeleteIs this the same Zawarski that buys, sells, and rents homes in Bethlehem Twp? If so all this makes sense. Another item to check off his Personal Agenda......
ReplyDeleteI am aware this all started with him. He will be the first to admit it all started with him. He had issues with the process in BT. This is no conflict of interest, either legally or ethically, bc those issues affect everyone. If there was some attempt on his part to make things easier for his own properties and screw everyone else, you would have a valid point. As it stands, the other Comm'rs agree with Zawrski that the inspection process could use a few tweaks. The Planning Director thinks it could use a few tweaks. So do inspectors. So it is hard for me to understand your comment as anything less than a personal attack on Zawarski.
ReplyDeleteAlso, following the last discussion on this issue, I did look into your claims and did not see anything worth pursuing. This is not to say Zawarski is beyond challenge. I have criticized him when i thought he was wrong. I have been highly critical in the past when he has tried to clamp down on public comment.
They talk about topics like this but have a huge storm water problem and it's never talked about. I thought storm water was Zawarski's #1 priority. What is the latest on that issue???
ReplyDeleteOf course storm water is a big problem, and I will have a post bout that vey soon. But contrary to your constant rants, the Township has to consider a lot of other things as well. You seem to just e looking for an excuse to be negative.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading your post about that. I have not heard anything since June except they applied for a grant. Have been affected numerous times and getting nowhere w/ the commisioners. I just feel if this is their #1 priority we should have had some type of update since June. Tax payers in the dark. Again, Looking forward to your story. Thanks
ReplyDeleteSince June, there have been numerous complaints about a possible assessment to pay for stormwater abatement, including complaints from the very people complaining about stormwater. Taxpayers are by no means in the dark. In fact, the township is more transparent now and posts online allresolutions and matters being considered on any given agenda, including department reports. As I said before, you are looking for an excuse to be negative.
ReplyDeleteThe four inch spacing between gaurds has been in effect for at least twenty years. This four inch spacing was put into the Residential Building Code due to the death of a small child falling through the spindles of a balcony over a foyer to the ceramic tile below. This code is for the safety of small children and should NOT be left out or changed to appease anyone.
ReplyDeleteThe incident you refer to happened in Virginia, not BT, happened in 2011, and involved a balcony at a hotel. I think balconies and commenrcial establishments require more scrutiny than the stairwell at someone's home.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jlconline.com/how-to/exteriors/toddler-slips-through-balcony-rail-falls-to-death-at-virginia-beach-hotel_o
Toyota Scion, good to see the tax dollars going to American owned companies that build American cars /sarcasm
ReplyDeleteScions are manufactured here, but don't let facts get in the way of your negativity.
ReplyDeleteCommissioners also agreed, by a 4-0 vote, to recognize the Freemansburg-Bethlehem Township Athletic Association as the Township's official Little league and Senior Legion sports organization. In June, the Board recognized the Bethlehem Township Athletic Association, also known as the Bulldogs, as an "official" Township youth sports group. Both of these organizations are nonprofits supported, in part, by public tax dollars.
ReplyDeletedumb question. why are tax payer dollars used to fund the so called non profit organizations like little league ? I heard of certain leagues getting grants for lights , from PPL or a fence donated by a fence company and food for the refreshment stand donated by local businesses like just born and coke.
Do we in the township fund all the other non profit organizations as well and if so what is the cost the tax payers are having to pay for non profits.
So if the politicians deems an organization as the "official", organization of the township, tax payer cash can be used by that organization?
Please explain to me or direct me to the cash flow chart from the tax payers for official baseball organizations and other official organizations in the township.
don't these organizations charge fees to play. fees for insurance.
Money for food and beverages at the stand during the game. Basically these so called official organizations have a pretty steady cash flow and my guess, they do not need one penny of tax payer cash for anything.
I could be wrong on this issue and I might not understand it. that's why im asking.
2:12. You should go to a meeting and ask what is new with storm water.
ReplyDelete8:40. In your world you need a permit to change a lightbulb. The township would have been all over him if there were any issues. He is being watched closely. A wall was fixed that had some water damage.
ReplyDelete@10:22,
ReplyDeleteYour argument begins stating that these organizations are funded "in part" by tax dollars. You then go on to question their other sources of income, which composes the rest of their funding. These organizations could not exist without both sources. The cost of becoming self-sufficient will threaten their existence, and likely result in their demise.
Bernie, Can you provide a timeframe when you will post about the storm water? Thank You
ReplyDeleteVery possibly tomorrow. Certainly by Friday. .
ReplyDeleteAnother push by Zaworski to make things easier on him by removing long standing public safety provisions. Why would the Township not want to make sure that its housing stock is safe and up to code?
ReplyDeleteThis is what he does. This is a law that helps him and no twp. employee will go off script. This is the old Pa. municipal govt. at its worst. The buddy system is alive and well.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie! I think you are unduly harsh on Darlene. She is a real professional, deserving of more respect than you have given her.
ReplyDeleteI have questions about this ordinance, although I was not at last night's meeting. I did attend the previous Bethlehem Planning Commission meeting where it was discussed. There I shared the ten principles of smart growth. If they are going to call it "smart growth" then I hope it really gets built out as something which has a sense of place and that people recognize as smart growth.
Renew Lehigh Valley upholds and advocates for the application of Smart Growth Principles in all planning and development, especially for the future growth of the Lehigh Valley.
Mix land uses
Take advantage of compact building design
Create a range of housing opportunities and choices
Create walkable neighborhoods
Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place
Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas
Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities
Provide a variety of transportation choice
Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost effective
Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions
I've heard that there will be big box retail there. I wondered it big box retail can be smart growth. I asked some of my New Urbanist friends, and they said "yes" and provided me with a link to what that would look like. It's a matter of scale...smaller retail footprints that we imagine. It seems that the CRIZ designation will weigh the ultimate development toward retail, which means it won't look like the pictures in this link.
http://plannersweb.com/2014/02/walmart-stores-go-small-urban/
Here's some more free advice from them: http://bettercities.net/news-opinion/blogs/robert-steuteville/21756/ten-ways-make-big-boxes-more-walkable.
I would love to see a rendering of what the vision of this site is. That would make this easier for everyone.
Sorry. That last post was from me, Joyce Marin. I don't know how to get my name to appear.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading that, now I know it is not good.
ReplyDeleteJoyce, I figured it was you. I copied and pasted your comment.
ReplyDeleteBernie, Are you going to run the storm water story you reference in the posts above?
ReplyDeleteYes. I lost my list, but believe there will be a vote tonight by NorCo Council to authorize a stormwater study in Bethlhem Tp and Freemansburg. I wanted to get that out there at least a aweek ago, and will do so in tomorrow's story, unless the vote is delayed.
ReplyDelete