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| Ben Hedrick |
The tool I like best is Nixle. This provides notifications via text or email or both of traffic problems, road closures, snow emergencies and public safety concerns. It was activated during a recent standoff on Oakland Road, which resulted in the apprehension of a heavily armed Bushkill Township man accused of shooting and killing his cousin. Residents were warned to stay away from the area or shelter in place. They were also informed when the suspect was eventually in custody.
On a lighter note, Shafer also plays the female lead in a Youtube video. Council President Mike Hudak and CPL Shaun Powell toss her into the back of a cruiser to show what can happen to people who drive without a license.
I'm waiting for a taser demonstration on Pat Breslin to see if he is still alive.
As hard as Shafer is trying, even she makes mistakes. And at last night's Commissioners' meeting, resident Ben Hedrick called her out. He was so angry that flames were shooting off the top of his head, as you can see in the photograph.He wanted to know how on earth the Township can conduct budget hearings, starting on Monday, when the budget itself is still unavailable.
Shafer told Hedrick that the budget is still being prepared and will be online by the end of the week.
Hedrick also wanted to know why the budget hearings are not listed on the township calendar. "That's not right," he complained. "We have to do better than this."
Shafer apologized and said that the budget hearings will be listed on the township calendar today. She indicated they are listed on the Township newsletter, and I have listed them below.
Hedrick and his lovely wife attend lots of meetings, both on the county and township level. He is a good government advocate, and I decided to console him after the meeting.
"You don't have the budget yet?"
"No, and how can people attend budget hearings when they don't know what's in the budget?"
"Gee, Shafer gave me the budget last week."
Flames began shooting from the top of his head again.
In other business, Commissioners approved a series of change orders to renovations oft the community center, adding about $100,000 to the $1.8 million price tag. Assistant Manager Doug Bruce went through each of them in exhaustive detail, explaining that they were the result of unforeseen conditions.
Thanks to State Senator Lisa Boscola, Manager Melissa Shafer has been able to persuade Penn East Pipeline to meet with residents who are going to be be as close as 200' to the latest version of the compressed gas pipeline. That meeting will occur at the Hope Ridge Condominium.
President Mike Hudak apologized for being a little off his game because he had just returned from overseas.
"Oh , were you in Russia?" I asked Hudak. "How is Putin?"
Hudak explained he was in Japan, learning martial arts moves. Fortunately, he chose not to try any of them on me.
Tom Nolan was absent.
Budget Hearing Schedule:
Monday, October 23rd 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Monday, October 30th 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday, November 11th 9:00am - 12:00pm
Monday, November 20th 7:00pm (First Public Reading)
Monday, December 18th 7:00pm (Budget Adoption)
Just hope the Budget will include infrastructure upgrades (even though I am not a township resident). The Township's Roadways could benefit from repaving some the roads (NOT Patchwork or potholes filled). The city of Bethlehem did an awesome job this Summer with Paving Operations (I see there doing a big stretch of PA Ave from Catty Rd To Club Ave) Maybe the Township can follow in there footsteps next summer.
ReplyDelete@6:04,
ReplyDeleteBefore you go praising the City of Bethlehem, know that their paving projects consist of the milling & replacement of only the top 2 inches. No extensive replacement, just top coat. That will wear through in 2 years.
Township department heads don't need a budget as every month they (commissioners) approve "un-budgeted" line items as their money grows on trees.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Howard will be the voice of the people and pick apart the budget and expose the incompetence in twp management.
ReplyDeleteFor all who are interested, the Bulldogs' and the fire companies' budget hearings are October 30th. Come out & support them, before their budgets are cut.
ReplyDeleteMaybe Shafer should stop the cutie youtube video's and concentrate on remembering her job. Everyone wants to play reality movie star. Just suck it up and do your work.
ReplyDeleteThe video with Shafer involves the use of license plate readers mounted on marked police cars. For much of the summer there was a black Ford Focus with these plate readers mounted to all four corners parked along Main St. Freemansburg, unmarked with a civilian license plate. Anyone know if this is Freemansburg PD's car or some other agency? I've occasionally also seen it parked on private property off the side of Rt. 191 south of Nazareth in the evenings.
ReplyDeleteJust curious what agency is scanning my license plate "undercover.'
Will ask their chief.
ReplyDeleteAsk the chief how much his luncheon budget is for next year?
ReplyDelete@8:37,
ReplyDeleteNot only does law enforcement use plate scanners, but some repossession agents do as well.
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