Bethlehem Township is one of two municipalities from Lehigh County and two from Northampton County to receive a "Community of Distinction" award at a ceremony hosted by the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission. Factors considered included multi-municipal planning, multi-modal planning, preservation of natural resources and infrastructure planning and improvements.
"It was a great night for Bethlehem Township and we are already planning our applications for next year’s awards!" said Manager Melissa Shafer (far left above).
I do not know the other Northampton County community honored or the two Lehigh County communities.If you have that information, please post. .
Upper Milford was also celebrated as an award winner for our Open Space initiative. From the Morning Call on November 9, 2017: "Upper Milford Township voters approved the first open space tax in Lehigh County, while Lower Saucon Township chose to renew its 10-year-old open space tax.
ReplyDeleteAbout 59 percent of Upper Milford voters voted in favor of a 0.1385 percent increase to its 1 percent earned income tax — equivalent to an additional $69.25 per $50,000 of earned income."
I serve as the Chair of the Open Space Committee in Upper Milford, but I believe most of the credit goes to Brian Miller, Upper Milford's farmland conservation mavin and the current Upper Milford Supervisors, who appreciate the value of open space preservation. I am running to replace Supervisor George Devault, who has decided not to run for re-election. He has served the township ably and will be missed!
In the past year, Upper Milford and Lehigh County has completed the preservation of 219 acres in the Township, which is 6 farms, according to an email from Brian.
In my run for Upper Milford Township Supervisor, I hope that UMT residents will agree that farmland and open space preservation is a priority when they vote on November 7th, and grant me their vote.
I believe that Catasauqua also got recognized for all the work done redeveloping the Ironworks site
ReplyDeleteBethlehem Twp should get the award for spending the most taxpayer dollars, day in and day out. Right now, they are spending taxpayer dollars on staff lunches where the employees average salary is $70K.
ReplyDeleteHi Bernie. It's lunchtime and I thought I would take a moment to help you out on the LVPC awards.
ReplyDeletePortland, Heidelberg Township and Bethlehem Township also were nominated for the Community of Distinction award.
There were lots of nominees so for time's sake and if you allow it, the following list of other awardees is taken from Lehigh Valley Business, but would also be available from the evening's printed agenda:
Plan, Planning Policy or Ordinance – Easton, AKRF Inc. and Metropolitan Urban Design Workshop for Easton’s comprehensive plan 2035.
Land Development – Easton, Lafayette College, KSS Architects, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Spillman Farmer Architects and Allied Building Corp. for the Lafayette College Williams Arts Campus.
Revitalization – Bethlehem, Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Community Land Trust, Community Action Development Corp., HDC-MidAtlantic and Wells Fargo for the Hayes Street corridor improvements.
Open Space – Upper Milford Township for its open space initiative.
Outdoor Recreation – Allentown, JMT, Jordan Heights Neighborhood Association, Old Fairgrounds Neighborhood Association, Semmel Excavating Inc., U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Stevens Park master plan and park design.
Transportation Infrastructure – Allentown, Michael Baker International, IEW Construction Group, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation for the Design and Rehabilitation of the Albertus L. Meyers Bridge.
Transportation Planning – Northampton County, Northampton County General Purpose Authority, Norris McLaughlin & Marcus, Alfred Benesch & Co., Kriger Construction and Greenman-Pedersen Inc. for Northampton County’s public/private bridge partnership. [This is the current P3 project.}
Multimunicipal Cooperation – Plainfield Township, Wind Gap and Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for the shared road maintenance intermunicipal agreement between Plainfield and Wind Gap.
so let me get this straight, this is an award for doing your job and it is financed by tax dollars that are supposed to be spent on doing your job?
ReplyDeleteso tax payers get screwed again on this waste of time, money, and resources ?
Bernie, can you do a story on the funding stream that is used to have these dinners so they can make them feel better about spending our money? I'd like to see where the money trail leads
ReplyDeleteIt was actually Catasaqua Borough that won the award, not Bethlehem Township. Well deserved for Catty. Bethlehem Township, Heidelberg and Portland were all runner-up honorees. Bethlehem Township was also a runner up for their Comp Plan.
2:26- the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission hosts the awards which showcase both public and private projects of excellence in the region. I'm not sure of the financing, but you lost me and I bet others at your "taxpayer getting screwed" political dog whistle.
Bethlehem township gets the award for the most screwed up zoning resulting in massive water runoff and developer wealth.
ReplyDeleteThe LV planning commission is a joke anyway. They are a rubber stamp for projects in lehigh County. Many times when the planning commission objects to a project the local government involved says "screw you" and does it anyway. Every few years the planing commission comes to the county governments asking for more money so that they can keep their staff loaded up with dead wood.
ReplyDeleteBethlehem Township should be recognized for having a high tax rate. Can someone explain their high tax rate?
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:26: The Planning Commission has private sponsors for these events & the awards dinner showcases planning projects that improve Lehigh Valley Communities.
ReplyDeleteAnon 6:20 ... sounds like your actually critical of the local governments, The final decisions are typically made at the local level, that's PA law. Also... I don't think you can claim that their staff is loaded with dead wood, when your own comment is contradictory & uninformed.
ReplyDelete@7:16 - They like to spend money, always have and looking at budget projections, will continue to spend, spend and spend...
ReplyDelete@10:49: "Continue to spend, spend, spend" More Tea Party trolling dog whistles
ReplyDelete