NorCo Gaming Board Waiting on Harrisburg

Karen Collis 

Northampton County's Gaming Board has two funds. The first is a restricted account ($745,219.96 as of 9/30/17), from which it awards priority grants. The second is its uncommitted fund ($40,969.94 as of 9/30/17), which is used for everything else.

Communities surrounding the casino get priority and some of them would really like some money. But they'll have to wait.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that the tax imposed on slots revenue is unconstitutional because it violates the uniformity clause. The Court has stayed its decision while a legislative fix is attempted in the land of midnight payraises. But until that happens, the funds collected are in legal limbo. Solicitor Graham Simmons has warned the board that "the money collected is an unconstitutional tax" and that "there could come a day when the state calls this money back."

At the October 23 meeting of the Gaming Board, Tom Nolan urged the board to at least start accepting grant applications. "We're just letting the money sit there," he complained. But the Board will continue to wait.

The nine-person Board includes Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Tp), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Donna Louder (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth). Karen Collis is the Executive Director.

Pa Supreme Court Extends Gaming Fix Deadline

Pennington and Heintzelman

Late last year, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court stuck down the host fee that casinos must pay each year, concluding  that it violates the state constitution's uniformity clause. The state legislature was given until January 26 to enact a legislative fix, but has thus far been unable to do so. Three state senators sought and were granted an extension until May 26 on Friday. But in a testy dissent, Justice David Wecht grumbles, "[T]his Court should not, and I daresay properly cannot, ease the burdens of democracy by suspending the Pennsylvania Constitution at the first sign of political gridlock."

Given the absence of a legislative fix, Northampton County's Gaming Authority has adopted a wait-and-see approach. It will seek no grant applications until the legislature acts.

But it did reorganize at its January 23 meeting, and voted unanimously to keep the same leadership it has had in place the last two years: Jay Finnigan - Chair; Joe Kelly - Vice Chair; John Dally - Secretary; and Tom Nolan - Treasurer. It also welcomed Donna Louder, who has replaced David Willard as Lower Saucon Township's.representative.The remaining members of the Gaming Authority are Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Tony Pristash (Northampton), and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth).

Treasurer Tom Nolan reported that the Gaming Authority has $105,000 in uncommitted funds and $42,000 in restricted funds at the end of the year.

Northampton County Council liaison Seth Vaughn was absent from the January 23 meeting.

$476,000 in Casino Grants For Local Municipalities

Karen Collis and Jay Finnigan

In April, Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Authority awarded nearly $2.2 million in grants to communities surrounding the Sands Casino, including $407,000 to help fund a regional crime center. But because it failed to spend everything, it conducted a second round of what are called "impact" grant requests for Bethlehem and its surrounding communities. Those are restricted to projects dealing with the aftermath of gambling, from increased traffic to an increased police presence. In addition, the Board sought proposals from all county municipalities for money left over after impact grants are awarded

At their September 26 meeting, the Board voted unanimously the remaining $476,000, with $188,000 going for impact grants and $289,000 in awards for communities with no need to show impact. .

The impact grants went to Bethlehem Tp ($50,915 for a police vehicle); Hanover Tp ($11,675 for body armor); Hellertown ($43,626 for police SUV); Lower Saucon Tp ($24,981 for unmarked police car);and Freemansburg ($15,788 for body armor and $41,000 for license plate reader).

The $289,000 in uncommitted funds were awarded as follows:

Nazareth - $25,000 for police patrol and safety enhancements.

Palmer Tp.- $25,000 for body armor. This is an upgrade and includes plates for front and back kill zones.

Stockertown - $25,000 for police vehicle.

Forks Tp. - $25,000 for AWD police intereceptor

Bangor - $25,000 for K-9 vehicle.

Walnutport - $25,000 for new police unit. (This funds only a portion of the cost).

Lower Mt. Bethel Tp - $24,420 for speed radar message boards. These are solar-powered, with a battery back-up.

North Catasauqua - $25,000 for equipment upgrade.

Tatamy - $11,342 for emergency services.

Glendon - $25,000 for town hall improvements

Bath - $20,231 emergency services equipment upgrade

Wilson - $24,630 self-contained breathing apparatus

Hanover Tp. - $8,100 for speed message boards for Macada Rd, Southland Dr and Highland Ave.

Twenty municipalities were unsuccessful. Only $289,000 was available for $764,000 in grant requests. These were ranked by gaming board members in advance of the meeting, and only the highest-ranked proposals were approved. So Bethlehem lost out on body armor for first responders, while Easton failed to get funds for pedestrian improvements on Northampton Street. So did smaller municipalities like West Easton .

The nine-person Board includes Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Tp), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Dave Willard (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth). Karen Collis is the Executive Director.

At the end of the meeting, Collis was thanked for her work in putting together all the applications.

"Did you get the flowers we sent?" asked Tony Pristash. "I think Mr. Heintzelman has the flowers," joked James Pennington.

Heintzelman is a funeral director.

NorCo Gaming Board Prepares for 2016

Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Board met on December 14 to gear up for next year's round of grants. It awarded $1.66 million this year in slots machine money from the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, and can be expected to do the same next year. Northampton County also receives about $1.2 million in table games revenue from the Sands, but that money is controlled by County Council. Table games revenue can be spent on anything considered in the "best interest" of the County, but with slots revenue, priority must be given to requests dealing with the impact created by gambling. In addition , these impact grant requests are limited to Bethlehem and the communities surrounding the Christmas City. Those are Freemansburg, Hellertown, Lower Saucon Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township.

If there is money left over after impact grants are awarded, the Gaming Board may consider grant requests from other municipalities. Last year, the slots revenue was only enough for impact grants.

Executive Director Karen Collis reported that grant applications will be accepted, starting on January 6.

She indicated there are currently 17 active grants in process. She also makes periodic compliance visits to determine the money is being spent according to the terms of the request. She has found no issues.

Treasurer Tom Nolan indicated that the authority is sitting on $390,000 as of the end of November, but $107,476 is set aside to pay for grants that have been awarded.

The Gaming Board is made up of nine members: Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Tp), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover, Chair), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Dave Willard (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth).

Executive John Brown attempted to replace Prostash earlier this year, but was rebuffed by Council and was forced to withdraw his nominee.

NorCo Gaming Authority Gears Up For 2016

Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Board met on December 14 to gear up for next year's round of grants. It awarded $1.66 million this year in slots machine money from the Sands Casino in Bethlehem, and can be expected to do the same next year. Northampton County also receives about $1.2 million in table games revenue from the Sands, but that money is controlled by County Council. Table games revenue can be spent on anything considered in the "best interest" of the County, but with slots revenue, priority must be given to requests dealing with the impact created by gambling. In addition , these impact grant requests are limited to Bethlehem and the communities surrounding the Christmas City. Those are Freemansburg, Hellertown, Lower Saucon Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township.

If there is money left over after impact grants are awarded, the Gaming Board may consider grant requests from other municipalities. Last year, the slots revenue was only enough for impact grants.

Executive Director Karen Collis reported that grant applications will be accepted, starting on January 6.

She indicated there are currently 17 active grants in process. She also makes periodic compliance visits to determine the money is being spent according to the terms of the request. She has found no issues.

Treasurer Tom Nolan indicated that the authority is sitting on $390,000 as of the end of November, but $107,476 is set aside to pay for grants that have been awarded.

NorCo Gaming Board Awards $1.66 Million in Impact Grants

Dave Heintzeleman is a local funeral director who
volunteers his time to NortCounty, like his fellow
Board members

Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Board, which doles out the slots revenue generated by the Sands Casino every year, is basically finished for the year. At their April 27 meeting, they awarded $1.66 million in what are referred to as impact grants to Northampton County, Bethlehem and the five communities surrounding Bethlehem. Since this exhausts all the revenue that will be anticipated this year, there will be no funds available this year for other communities seeking grants.

Bethlehem is getting nearly half of the $1.6 million expected this year. This includes $400,000 for a $1.2 million 95' aerial bucket truck, and $130,000 to rechassis an aging 2007 ambulance. Those grants were approved unanimously, but a $250,000 grant sought for improvements to the South Bethlehem greenway very nearly failed for lack of a second to Joe Kelly's motion for approval. At the last moment, Dave Willard seconded Kelly's motion for the "sake of discussion."

Kelly argued that the greenway is one of the "rare projects" that rewards a positive impact of gaming. It provides a means of access for casino employees who walk to work, as well as patrons. The reason for the high cost, explained Kelly, is that the connection to Hobart Avenue must be ADA accessible. In response to questions from several board members, Bethlehem DCED Director Alicia Karner advised that 15% of the casino workforce live in South Bethlehem, and these improvements will help them walk to work.

That was enough to persuade the Gaming Board, who voted in favor of the grant by a 7-2 vote, with only Tony Pristash and Gerald Yob opposed.

After all grants were awarded, John Dally urged fellow board members to come up with a way to differentiate between impact caused by the casino and impact caused by other things. "If we're here to determine impact by the casino, we have to come up with a way to determine impact of other venues that are there,." he reasoned.

The Board also voted to set limits on grants for commonly requested items, like police interceptors, adjusted to the consumer price index.

There grants awarded are as follows:

Bethlehem Tp. - Two police vehicles ($101,528), 15 new defibrillators ($23,514) and replacement of a 2007 ambulance ($120,200).

Freemansburg. - $102,988 for an enhancement to operational technology.

Hanover Tp. - $50,601 for a Chevy Tahoe to be driven by one of the Township's three emergency management professionals, as well as software for accident reconstruction.

Hellertown.- $207,034 for two police officers.

Lower Saucon. - A police officer ($101,897) and police cruiser ($30,294).

Northampton County. - $143,765 to Northampton County Drug and Alcohol for gambling addiction treatment and support services.

The Gaming Board is made up of nine members:  Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Tp), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover, Chair), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Dave Willard (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth).

NorCo Gaming Board: $1.6 Million Expected, $1.6 Million Sought

Darlene Heller (L) and Alicia Karner (R)

Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Board doles out the slots revenue from the Sands Casino every year. This year, their work might be finished early. Applications for this year's grants stand at about $1.6 million, and that's about all that the Board expects to get.

Karen Collis out it succinctly when the Board met on March 23. "As of now, there's $88." she said, referring to the amount of money in the restricted fund used for the first and possibly only round off grants.

"Thanks for coming!" John Dally wisecracked to the applicants in the audience.

By law, the first round of grants must go to Bethlehem, Northampton County and the five municipalities surrounding Bethlehem. These are Hanover Township, Bethlehem Township, Lower Saucon Township and Freemansburg and Hellertown. To be awarded a grant, they must show they've been impacted by gambling. If any money is left over, it can be awarded to other municipalities.

This year's grant applications are as follows

Bethlehem. - The Christmas City is seeking nearly half of the $1.6 million expected this year. It also is impacted more heavily than any other municipality. It wants $400,000 for a $1.2 million 95' aerial bucket truck. This vehicle will be able to respond to the casino within four minutes if called into service. It is asking for $130,000 to rechassis an aging 2007 ambulance. EMT Tom Decker told the Board that 7.5% of the ambulance call volume is for the casino. Finally, Planning Director Darlene Heller and DCED Director Alicia Karner pitched a $250,000 proposal for improvements to the South Bethlehem greenway. Karner called this a positive impact of the casino because many casino employees are using the greenway,located between 3rd and 4th streets, to walk to work.

Tom Nolan was dubious, stating that it is "difficult" for him to see what connection the greenway has to the casino. "I find it difficult to connect the dots," he groused. Karner connected them,noting that people who live in South Bethlehem neighborhoods use the greenway to get to their job at the casino. "When the Bethlehem Steel was there, they all walked," added Jerry Yob,

Bethlehem Tp. - Three grants are being sought for the purchase of two police vehicles ($101,528), 15 new defibrillators ($23,514) and replacement of a 2007 ambulance ($120,200). Capt. Greg Gottschall explained that the new cruisers will replace the oldest vehicles, which are seven years old. He added that the defibrillators need to be replaced because of changes in the software.Finally, ambulance officials told the Board that they responded to 842 calls in Bethlehem last year, most of them on the South Side.

Freemansburg. - Chief Todd Pantuso did the talking, and is asking for $102,988 for an enhancement to operational technology. Freemansburg's Main Street is taken as a short cut to the casino, the Chief explained. He's seen the traffic triple since his arrival 1 1/2 years ago. DUI and drug arrests have increased as well. While dealing with increased crime and traffic, his computer system has frozen several times. No data has been lost.

Hanover Tp. - Director of Administration Ryan Kish wants $42,000 for a Chevy Tahoe to be driven by one of the Township's three emergency management professionals. He also is asking for $8,800 for crash and crime scene software.

Kish's proposal is just a fraction of the cost for a similar software program sought and obtained by Palmer Tp Police last year. Kish explained he was trying to find an inexpensive program. "The way it looks, you found it," noted John Dally.

Less complimentary was Tom Nolan. He questioned whether this software can legally be purchased for Colonial Regional Police when two of the municipalities that it serves are not impacted communities. He also questioned the need for an emergency management official to drive around in a Chevy Tahoe.

Hellertown.- Nobody needs a traffic study to know that traffic is congested in Hellertown, especially coming from South Bethlehem, where the casino is located. Chief Robert Shupp told the Board that there;'s now prostitution, daytime DUIs and he even seized an illegal poker machine from a local business. He's seeking funding for two police officers at $207,034.

Lower Saucon. - Chief Guy Lesser would like to fund a police officer ($101,897) and wants to replace a Ford Interceptor Van ($30,294) that is 2 1/2 years old and has more than 100,000 miles.

Northampton County. - Drug and Alcohol Administrator Tiffany Rossanese is seeking $143,765 this year for gambling addiction treatment and support services. She believes the county needs to do more to identify problem gamblers and provide more education to the community. In addition to transitional housing, the county supports three recovery centers, and assists addicts with job placement and even interviews.

These grants could be awarded in April. It will be up to Joe Kelly (Bethlehem), Tom Nolan (Bethlehem Tp), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown), Dave Willard (Lower Saucon), Tony Pristash (Northampton), John Dally (Pen Argyl) and James Pennington (Lower Nazareth).

NorCo Gaming Board Gears Up For Another Year of Grants

Northampton County's nine-person Gaming Board is off to a late start this year. Its first meeting, scheduled in January, was canceled as a result of a snow emergency, so it started one month behind schedule on February 23. This body was created by Northampton County Council to distribute the slots tax revenue received from Bethlehem's Sands Casino, Table games tax revenue, which is doled out by the County, can be used for any purpose that is deemed to be in the best interests of the county. But for slots tax revenue, priority must be given to Bethlehem and the municipalities surrounding the casino, i.e. Freemansburg and Hellertown Boroughs, as well as Lower Saucon, Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township

This nine-person board consists of one representative from each of the five impacted municipalities, as well as three at-large members. The impacted municipal members are Joe Kelly (Bethlehem); Tom Nolan (Behlehem Township), Gerald Yob (Freemansburg), Jay Finnigan (Hanover), Dave Heintzelman (Hellertown) and Dave Willard (Lower Saucon). The at-large members are Tony Pristash (Northampton area), John Dally, Jr. (Slate Belt) and James Pennington (Nazareth area).

Finnigan, despite his protest, was unanimously selected Chair again. Kelly is Vice Chair, Dally is Secretary and Nolan is Treasurer. The Board's Executive Director is Karen Collis, who is also an employee of the County's Department of Community and Economic Development. Legal advice is provided by Scott Allison and Graham Simmons III.

In 2014, the Gaming Board awarded $1.5 million in two rounds of what they call restricted grants. These were awarded to Bethlehem and the municipalities surrounding the Christmas City. Those awards, most of which were public-safety oriented, required a showing that the community has been impacted by the casino.

Before the meeting, Mayor Yob, who is Freemansburg's representative on the gaming Board explained that pre-casino, Freemansburg had only about 67 police incidents on a monthly basis. But now, that number has grown to over 300.

Last year, the Gaming Board also awarded another $711 thousand to municipalities in Northampton County, based on a showing of need.  Those grants also went mostly to public safety enhancements like new police vehicles, or in the case of Upper Nazareth, thermal imaging equipment.

The Board decided to eliminate the requirement that interest money earned on grant monies be returned to the County. Collis explained that, for over 130 grants awarded, the County only received back about $2,000 in interest money. "It seems like a lot of work for not a lot of money," reasoned Board member Pristash.

The Board's Compliance Committee has agreed to meet with Freemansburg, which is struggling with an audit of the grant for its new police station. Borough Manager Judith Danko explained that it's a lot of extra work for a small borough that provided a six-month report, twelve-month report and closeout. "A lot of this is redundant to what was submitted," she explained, adding that the material being sought is stowed away in 18 separate boxes of documentation.

Collis reminded everyone that applications for the first round of restricted grants are due on March 4. The Board will begin its review of those grant applications at their March 23 meeting.

$710,747 in Gaming Funds Awarded to 16 NorCo Municipalities

Joe Kelly

Northampton County's nine-member Gaming Authority, at their September 22 meeting, placed a priority on public safety. They voted to provide the money for seven new police vehicles, establishment of the Slate Belt Police Department headquarters, in-car police cameras, a thermal imaging to help police during rescue operations, a computer work station for law enforcement, police radios, security cameras, speed radar signs and a breathing apparatus for firefighters. They also funded the purchase of road crew truck. Of 35 applications received for over $1.5 million, 16 municipalities were awarded a total of $710,747.

Each of the 35 applications received a numerical rating by each Board member.

The 6th highest rated application was a combined request by Wind Gap, Pen Argyl and Plainfield for $150,000 to help establish the Slate Belt Police Department, a new regionalize police force in Northampton County. This project had the support of Northampton County Council member Scott Parsons, who was President of Wind Gap Borough Council.

But Ken Kraft, the Northampton County Council non-voting liaison, argued that application should be rejected because Wind Gap mishandled a previous grant award in 2012. Executive Director Karen Collis explained that the previous grant award to Wind Gap "fell within the scope of the entire project." She added that Wind Gap did file a late compliance report, but did return unspent grant funds.

Kelly pointed out that Wind Gap's noncompliance was made known to all board members before they rated each project, and still came in at #6. "It finished fairly high in the overall ranking of the projects," he observed.  

By a 7-2 vote, the Gaming Authority voted to fully fund the 16 most worthy grants, as opposed to partially funding each municipal request.

Bethlehem Township Commissioner Tom Nolan, whose township's request was rated #30, advocated a distribution to each grant applicant, where "everybody goes away with something." Freemansburg Mayor Gerald Yob, whose Borough's application was rated at #28, joined Nolan in voting unsuccessfully against fully funding the highest rated projects.

Joe Kelly, representing the City of Bethlehem, countered Nolan's argument by noting that that some municipalities would lack the resources to fund the difference between what is needed and a pro rata award. Chairman Jay Finnigan agreed, noting that Tatamy in particular, had warned "they are pretty strapped for money." Joining Kelly and Finnigan in voting to fully fund the 16 most worthy projects were David J. Heintzelman, David Willard, Tony Pristash, John Dally,Jr. and James Pennington.

The highest rated projects, in order, are as follows:

• Stockertown - $30,000 for a new police vehicle and accessories
• Bangor -$47,461 for emergency response police vehicle and equipment
• Bushkill - $50,00 for two new outfitted police vehicles
• Forks - $36,531 for new outfitted police vehicle
• Washington - $45,971 for Ford Expedition police vehicle with four-wheel drive 
• Pen Argyl, Plainfield and Wind Gap - $150,000 to establish Slate Belt Police Station
• Roseto - $50,000 for fire company breathing apparatus and portable police radios
• N Catasauqua - $28,415 for updated in-car cameras
• Upper Nazareth - $10,625 for thermal imaging equipment in search and rescue operations
• Hellertown - $47.985 for new police vehicle and forced entry equipment
• Lower Saucon -$9,398 for 16 security cameras at township complex
• Hanover - $39,000 for two radar speed signs
• Lower Nazareth - $49,431 for traffic signal battery back-ups
• Tatamy - $28,058 for road crew truck and police computer work station
• East Allen - $42,897 for security cameras at three municipal locations
• Palmer - $48,965 for computerized accident and crime scene mapping software

You can see all 35 grant applications, and how they were rated, here.