Wolf Building Gets KOZ Designation

A news release from Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation indicates that, as rumored here, the Wolf Building in Easton now has a KOZ designation. Until the year 2023, the owner nd tenants at that site will be exempt from virtually all but federal income taxes.

Northampton County's agreement to sell the Wolf Building to developer Mark Mulligan was contingent upon that designation. Now that it's been granted, he has no wiggle room to demand a lower sales price.

Archibald Johnston Lands To Be Preserved

Archibald Johnston

When Archibald Johnston, Bethlehem's first Mayor and one-time President of Bethlehem Steel retired in 1927, it was to what he called "Camel's Hump," a large tract along the Monocacy Creek. It included a three-story mansion that the engineer designed and built himself. He spent his last twenty years calling himself a "farmer," but still had The New York Times delivered daily from the open cockpit of an airplane.

During the Great Depression, this capitalist steel magnate started a bartering system among local farmers, making sure they each had work.

Johnston's granddaughter, Janet Housenick, would later convey 36 acres of Camel's Hump to Northampton County as the Archibald Johnston Conservation area. In her Will, she devised another 55 acres, including the mansion, to Bethlehem Township as a park. She also set aside $2 million for the Township to maintain the property.

But other lands next to the park, once owned by Johnston, were being threatened with development. Luxury apartments. Another strip mall along Route 191. Development was being planned at a recharge point for the Monocacy Creek, where hundreds of small springs combine to replenish a Class A trout stream.

The storm waters generated would undoubtedly cascade into downtown Bethlehem during heavy downpours.

But last night, thanks to the Central Moravian Church and the Leckonby Estate, Northampton County will be able to preserve 44 acres surrounding the park and conservation area.

Executive John Stoffa told Council that nobody will remember the Budget they voted on, but everyone will remember the decision to preserve this land.

Victoria Bastidas, living proof that one person can make a difference, spearheaded this project when luxury apartments were being contemplated at the site. But she did not credit herself. "This is not just about a park, not just about stormwater management, not just about buffering," she said. "This is about a community coming together."

Bethlehem Attorney Don Miles, President of the local Sierra Club, called this tract the "most environmentally sensitive land in Northampton County." In addition to being a recharge point for the Monocacy Creek, Miles told Council there are nine different eco systems inside Camel's Hump farm. He indicated that preservation of this land would mitigate the flooding in downtown Bethlehem.

Another Sierra Club member, Bib Adams, called it "a breath of life that will come to Bethlehem."

County Council unanimously authorized the following fee simple purchases by the Natural Lands Trust, of both the Central Moravian and Leckonby tracts.

The Central Moravian tract consists of 26 acres along Christian Springs Road, and the County will contribute $367,000. A matching grant of $367,500 will come from DCNR.

The Leckonby tract consists of 18 acres along Santee Mill Road, and the County will contribute $290,000. A matching grant of $290,000 will come from DCNR.

Council member Bob Werner called this project the kind of thing that "draws people to the community." John Cusick had another justification. "We're preserving history as well as open space."

Scott Parsons, who somehow got this in front of Council almost as soon as it was proposed, called it an "unbelievable great piece of property."

In his final month in office, this is probably John Stoffa's greatest achievement as County Executive.

John Stoffa's 7th No Tax Hike Budget Adopted

Executive John Stoffa’s final budget as Northampton County Executive was adopted last night, with only minor changes.  His $329 million spending plan, a 3.5% drop over the previous year, was reviewed in detail by County Council during six lengthy hearings. Last night, Council considered thirty amendments that will have no real impact on the bottom line. The tax rate – 10.8 mills – will remain the same. Stoffa will now finish his two terms as Executive without a tax hike, with the exception of a ½ mill tax hike dedicated to open space that Stoffa warned voters about when first campaigning for office. “They elected me, anyway,” he often quips.

The only Council member to vote against the budget were Tom Dietrich and Barb Thierry, whose term expire at the end of the year.

Stoffa’s final spending plan spares the taxpayer, but it leaves the cupboard bare. Doran J. Hamann, Acting Director of Fiscal Affairs, warned Council that the County’s fund balance at the end of this year will have dropped approximately $10 million from the $42 million at which it started in January. Of this $32 million, $16 million is committed to the 2014 budget. This means there will be just $16 million left in the County’s stabilization fund, which is sometimes called the rainy day fund.

The County’s independent auditor has cautioned that this stabilization fund should have four months of expenses, or $32 million. The County’s own funding formula calls for one to two months of expenses, which would be between $8 and $16 million.

The County’s biweekly payroll, by itself, is $3.2 million.

"That's cutting it close, isn't it?" President John Cusick told Hamann. But Council member Bob Werner countered that "[u]nder the circumstances, we did extremely well. I don't see anything wrong with this."

Personnel costs account for 44.9% of proposed spending. They’ve increased by approximately $8 million (5.7%).

Here are some of the matters considered last night.

Council Tells LVIA Airport to Take Off! – The Airport wanted a $250,000 subsidy for its struggling operations. President Cusick had proposed offering $125,000, so long as the grant was matched by Lehigh County. But he made that proposal knowing that it is unlikely Lehigh County would agree to a dime. The grant failed unanimously.

Scott Parsons suggested, "It is their job to run the airport. If they can't do it, let them find people to do it. Echoing Parsons,  Bob Werner said "[t]hey should stand on their own feet."

Council Fires Administrator For Christmas - Not only did Camille Barlett lose her job as Mail Room Supervisor, but she was denied the opportunity to make her case to Council before they dumped her last night. That certainly appears to be a blatant violation of her due process rights.

Technically, Council has no authority to hire or fire Administration positions. But they do have the right to defund a job, and that's exactly what happened last night. Unanimously, too.

While denying that this was personal, Ken Kraft was miffed that Barlett may have sought proposals for a phone system after Council had already made the call. He claimed at a budget hearing that her position is "redundant" and  the County already has "too many chiefs."

When the issue came up last night, Barlett rose to defend herself, but Cusick denied her the opportunity, claiming the matter had been reviewed in detail the day before. Barlett had spoken the previous day, but only to some members of Council. She was essentially denied the right to address the full board on her livelihood.

This is a matter that could have and should have waited. Council members should satay out of personnel matters. Also, the question whether her job really is "redundant" should be explored more thoroughly. But Council members were apparently in a hurry to get ready for Christmas, and thought nothing of ruining the Christmas of someone else.

It was a lousy thing to do.

Here Comes da' Judges, Here Comes da' Judges - Between parking tickets and lawsuits, I see way too much of President Judge Stephen Baratta and District Judge Jackie Taschner. Thankfully, they were at last night's Council meeting, not to hold me in contempt, but over a Council threat to deny funding for 3 1/2 Magisterial District Judge Clerks.

Judge Taschner actually came in a wheelchair, having an injury to her leg. A Deputy wheeled her in, banging her into about fifteen people in the process.

"Now you broke her other leg," I told him.

Worst of all, he seated poor Judge Taschner next to me.

"So, do you come here often?"

"Shut up, Bernie."

Judge Baratta sat next to her and tried to pretend he didn't see me, even though I was wearing my bumblebee shirt.

Judge Baratta told Council that though there's a plan to consolidate two District Judge offices, the workload has actually increased. He contradicted a Cusick assertion that the downtown Easton court is vacant. "That office is not vacant. Judge Elwell's office is a very busy office."

Judge Taschner added that the caseload handled by the typical clerk is well above the recommended level set by the state Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. She pointed out that District Judges, the front line of our judicial system, act as a collection agent for both state and county revenue. She reasoned the county would realize more revenue with a few more clerks.

As a regular visitor to District Judges throughout the County, I can back up what Judge Taschner says. My parking tickets alone are probably responsible for at least one District Judge. So I offered to speak up for Judge Taschner.

"Please don't," she pleaded.

County Council gave the judges the positions they requested, with only Council President John Cusick dissenting.

Don't get a ticket, John.

As the judges were leaving, Baratta suddenly spun around and said, "I just want all of you to know I have nothing against breast feeding. Honest!"

Morganelli Continues to Professionalize District Attorney's Office. - John Morganelli comes from the world of South side Bethlehem politics, and knows all about patronage. But over his years as District Attorney, he has slowly transfigured that office from a world of politically appointed assistant DAs to professional prosecutors. This coming year, he will be replacing a PT Assistant, usually someone who also has a private practice, with another FT career prosecutor. He will also get someone to supervise his 11 clerks. His secretarial staff has only grown by 2 persons since 1991. “I need to use my resources wisely,” he told Council on Wednesday. “Every request you’ve ever made is necessary,” agreed Council President John Cusick.

His Budget request was adopted unanimously with no discussion.

In fact, earlier that night, Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board member Bill Fitzpatrick, the victim of an attempted homicide, told Council how much he appreciated the "professionalism" and "compassion" that Morganelli's office displayed as the case made its way through the courts. He especially singled out Tatum Wilson, one of those career prosecutors.

Nobody was available to speak for the bad guys.

Affordable Care Act Not So Affordable to the County – Human Resources Director Pat Siemiontkowski told Council that the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has placed an immense strain on her office. That law requires medical benefits to be offered to PT employees who work over 30 hours per week. She requested an additional clerk to keep track of who needs to be offered medical benefits and the numerous notices that will be required under this new and controversial law. Her request passed unanimously.

"This is a federal mandate," she told Council. "The County could be facing severe penalties under the law."

Currently, Siemiontkowski has a staff of 12 people to deal with 2,100 County employees, negotiate 11 union contracts and also deal with career service or nonunion issues.

Here request was approved 7-2. Only Council members Peg Ferraro and Tom Dietrich voted against this request.

Bruce Haines Might Make Northampton County a Habit. - Historic Hotel Bethlehem's Bruce Haines is a regular at Bethlehem City Council meetings. Sometimes they give him what he wants. Sometimes they say no. But he's batting 1,000 at Northampton County Council. By a 6-3 vote, Council agreed to increase the funding for the Historic Bethlehem Partnership from $20,000 to $65,000. The purpose of this grant, which comes from hotel tax money and not real estate tax revenues, is to attract people who can spread the message of the three centuries of history known as Bethlehem. This extends beyond Main Street, where Hotel Bethlehem is located. It also includes places like the Burnside Plantation and the Kemmerer Museum.

I offered to speak against the project, assuring Haines that it would get him unanimous support. "I got this," he answered.

Only Bruce Gilbert, barb Thierry and Tom Dietrich opposed the request.

Conservation District Gets a Secretary! – A little known aspect of County government is the Conservation District, established in 1961 to promote conservation and prevent soil erosion. Anyone planning to build on more than an acre must provide an Erosion and Sediment Pollution Control Plan. In a sign of an improving economy, District Manager Bruce Pysher has noted that requests have increased. But ut's hard to get out in the fiield when answering the pone. So he asked that a PT secretary be made full time. recommended an additional person to review those plans. His proposal was adopted unanimously.

What Number is 911? –  Emergency management Director Bob Mateff has 35 people to answer 911 calls, 24/7. If someone is ill or unable to make it, the post must be still manned by a team of four people. These leads to voluntary and, sometimes, mandatory overtime. That is turn leads to burnout and a high turnover in a job So Mateff sought and got permission to hire two full-time and two part-time 911 dispatchers, as well as a shift supervisor. Mateff that will reduce both stress and OT.

"Public safety is something we shouldn't mess with," noted John Cusick, before a unanimous vote approving the request.

Coroner Ain't Got No Body. - .Though Lamont McClure has never made past from The Edge to visit the county morgue, he apparently is a big fan of C.S.I, a television show he mentioned on Wednesday. He wants a very modern morgue with the latest equipment, too. Though a coroner only needs a high school diploma, he thinks they're all medical examiners. So he bought into Coroner Zach Lysek's plea for not just an extra FT and two PT Deputy Coroners, but a major increase in salary.

Human Resources Director Pat Siemiontkowski told Council she really should do a desk audit first, so her office could provide a more appropriate job description. But McClure dismissed her plea as "bureaucratic intransigence."

Executive Stoffa was asked why he had never reclassified the position.

"There are probably 100 people who need to be re-classified," responded Stoffa. "We cannot afford it."

By a 6-3 vote, County Council reclassified the positions on their own. Bruce Gilbert, Barb Thierry and John Cusick were the no votes.

 I'm all for giving Zach whatever he wants so liong as he promises not to describe what he does.

A Walk in the Park! - Northampton County now has Wayne Grube Park, and asked for two groundskeepers and a park attendant to keep up with everything.  Parks Director Gortie Heller had told Council that his staff of 13 is stretched thin because they do the maintenance on four county parks, county grounds, and assorted pocket parks like Fry's Run and Doe Hollow.

Marcellus Shale and Open Space? - John Cusick did persuade four members of Council, including self-proclaimed open space advocate Lamont McClure, to reduce the funding next year for environmentally sensitive land because of funds the County will be receiving for that purpose from the Marcellus Shale funds.

"What I am suggesting is that we replace money we get from our taxpayers with money that we get from the gas companies," explained Cusick.

Open Space Czarina Maria Bentzoni was frustrated by Cusick's proposal because Marcellus Shale funds are restricted and she is unable to commingle them with other funds or leverage the money for additional grants.

Ken Kraft Wants to Eliminate Mail Room Supervisor

At yesterday's Budget Hearing, Council member Ken Kraft had no problem telling mail room supervisor Camille Barlett that her services will not be needed next year. He called her position redundant because the County will soon be switching to Voice Over IP with its telephones, which is part of the responsibility of the mail room supervisor.

Bartlett presented a memo outlining what she does, trying to justify her job. But Kraft, without more than glancing at it, apparently has his mind made up. While repeatedly telling her that it's nothing personal, he seemed angry that Bartlett had sought proposals for Voice Over IP from organizations besides the one already voted on by Council. So I suspect it is personal.

"I think we have too many Chiefs and not enough Indians," he told her. "This position is not needed."

Thanks To Deputies, Attorney To Make Full Recovery

A few weeks ago, I told you that my friend, Attorney Rich Schaedler, owes his life to Northampton County Deputy Sheriffs. While waiting to present a motion in Court, he was stricken by a severe heart attack, and had stopped breathing for over seven minutes. Deputies valiantly stayed with him, and fibrillated him until his heart started going.

I am pleased to report that Rich is expected to make a full recovery. He is currently in rehab. Sheriffs wondered if their efforts mattered. It turns out they made a difference.

Should We Bail Out the Airport?

The struggling Lehigh Valley "International" Airport has asked Northampton County for $250,000 next year. This will be voted on by Council tonight. President John Cusick said he's willing to kick in $125,000, but only if Lehigh County is willing to make a matching subsidy. "We'll see what they think about it over there," he remarked.

Bob Werner was a bit more strident. "They out to be able to seek a solution on their own." he also derided the Board's "management skills."

What do you think? Would you bail these guys out?

I Am Seeing Coroner Way Too Often

Ever since he made me hurl with the graphic descriptions of what he does at a Council meeting, I've been bumping into Northampton County Coroner Zach Lysek just about everywhere. He always asks, "Are you all right?" Last week, he started measuring me. This is beginning to scare the shit out of me.

He had a budgetary request last night that sounded a lot more complicated than it is. He just wants one additional deputy coroner and a secretary, but translating it into bureaucratese made it sound like he was seeking a staff of 50.

"Was there some event that happened in this County that we need to be aware of?" asked President john Cusick.

Then Lamont McClure started asking all kinds of questions, like how many people die every day (10), how many are suicides, etc.. Then for some reason, they started talking about blood splatters and how rough people look when they die and start decomposing.

"It doesn't matter how good looking a person is, we all stink," noted Lysek.

Nice to know. Thank you very much. If Lysek talks for more than three minutes tonight, I'm in trouble. So is everyone within a 3' radius of me.

McClure Slams ArtsQuest

You don't see Lamont McClure at Committee or Budget hearings. He's too good for them. The only time he shows up is if it involves District Attorney John Morganelli. You see, McClure's wife works for Morganelli. McClure has no respect for the people he represents, but definitely wants to make sure his wife continues receiving her paycheck. Morganelli was present at yesterday's Budget hearing, so McClure also made one of his rare appearances.

While waxing on about the 9% increase in hotel tax revenue, he took a gratuitous shot at ArtsQuest. He complained that the County stood on its head to ensure that one of the ArtsQuest tracts received a tax exemption. he also grumbled that about seven executives there are paid over $100,000 per year.

According to their 2011 Form 990, three ArtsQuest employees make over $100,000. This nonprofit produces $18 million in revenue every year.

Rumor Mill: Wolf Building Granted KOZ

At the end of a very lengthy budget hearing yesterday, Northampton County Council members began hounding executive John Stoffa to update them on the progress of the Wolf Building sale. Bob Werner, the sole Council member to vote against it, said he's been hearing and reading a number of things, and asked Stoffa if the County has agreed to accept less than developer Mark "I'm an opera singer" Mulligan had agreed to pay for the property in June. That agreement was contingent upon a KOZ classification, which basically would exempt the property and all its tenants from all but federal income taxes.

Stoffa started to answer, but then changed his mind. "I'll have a report tomorrow," he told Werner.

Although no one is willing to go on record, I've heard from several persons that there's no reason to give Mulligan any breaks at all. That's because, against all odds, state officials have designated the Wolf building as a KOZ property. I'm guessing this is what Stoffa intends to report.

If this is so, Mulligan has no basis for holding Northampton County hostage to a reduced sales price.

What this also means is that the mad rush to reduce the assessment on this property, which was being pushed by Mulligan and Easton officials, was totally unnecessary.

The Revenue Appeals Board broke the law for nothing. The members of a quasi judicial board stained their credibility and integrity by not just disregarding the law, but by permitting one person to vote by proxy in a matter in which he had heard none of the testimony.

NorCo Revenue Appeals Board Gives Easton Official A Tax Break

Silk Mill

On Monday, Northampton County's Revenue Appeals Board reduced the assessment at the Wolf Building, located in Easton. You see, developer Mark Mulligan has an agreement to purchase that property from the County, and Easton officials have done everything in their power to help him.

He's developing the Silk Mill project all by his lonesome, even though there's room for three or four developers there. He's benefited from $7 million in RCAP grants at the Silk Mill, as well as another $2 million at the Pomeroy Building.

But they love him because he used to sing opera.

A KOZ application, if granted by the state, will excuse Mulligan from paying virtually any taxes at this site, including property taxes. But Easton officials Richard McAteer and Gretchen Longenbach were taking no chances. They were behind the illegal push to reduce assessment on the property. McAteer, who sits on that Board, incredibly gave his proxy to another Board member to reduce the assessment.

In addition to his position on the Revenue Appeals Board, McAteer also chairs the Easton Redevelopment Authority, where Longenbach is Executive Director. And it just so happens that McAteer's Board is playing favorites among certain Easton-connected property owners, as they clearly did with Mulligan. Longenbach herself might have been given a tax break, I've been told. I decided to check.

It's true. At a hearing before the Revenue Appeals Board on August 27, she was given a tax break at one of two properties she owns in Bethlehem. The assessment at a Riverport Condo unit was reduced from $75,500 to $51,200. Another unit, located right beside her, is still assessed at $75,500.

I'm sure McAteer had a proxy vote all lined up just in case.

Congrats to Frank Pintabone

Now that Frank Pintabone is President of the Easton Area School Board, I think I finally have a shot at getting a diploma.

NorCo Revenue Appeals Board Bends Rules For Wolf Developer

Mark Mulligan

During a bizarre assessment hearing on Monday, the NorCo Revenue Appeals Board ignored a 2010 ordinance governing the timing of appeals. That's not all. One of five members of what is supposed to be a quasi judicial body, Richard McAteer, actually voted by proxy. They were all in a hurry to give Easton's latest savior, gazillionaire Mark Mulligan, yet another tax break. They voted, 3-2, to lower the assessment at the county-owned Wolf Building, a property that Mulligan won't even own until next March. Let me tell you the story.

Northampton County is hell bent on relocating and centralizing its human services department to a building under construction in Bethlehem Township. But to make this work, it had to unload the two buildings where human services workers are located. One of these places is the Bechtel Building, which was sold last Wednesday to prominent Bethlehem Attorney Justin McCarthy. But the other property, Easton's Wolf Building, is more problematic. Developer Mark Mulligan agreed to purchase the property in June for $1.925 million, but his agreement was contingent on a KOZ tax exemption that could be disapproved by the state. Mulligan told Council he'd probably still go ahead if the designation was disapproved, but reducing the assessment would sweeten the pot for Mulligan.

Never mind that the state could very well decide to grant the KOZ.  Let's give this guy another tax break!

There's no need to sweeten his pot. Easton has fallen over itself to give Mulligan practically anything he wants. The Easton Silk Mill project, for example, has benefited from at least $7 million in RCAP grants, but the City is just giving it to this guy. That's a project that could easily be split up among three or four developers, but Mulligan is their fair-haired boy. He once sang opera, so he must have class.

Recently, a trendy "Cheeburger Cheeburger" opened up at one of Mulligan's properties. Easton waived all permit fees. Do you think they did that for Sharbel Koorie's "Daddy's Place," which opened up just a stone's throw away?

Some people get special treatment. Others get the bill.

Not content with all the money and projects they've showered on Mulligan, which includes regular payments from the Easton Redevelopment Authority as a project manager, Easton officials wanted the assessment reduced at the Wolf Building.

To be more specific, Easton Redevelopment Authority's Richard McAteer, wanted that assessment reduced. So he asked the County to start the ball rolling..

Here's the problem. If you know you could never get a nickel over $150,000 for your property, but the tax man says it's worth $300,000, you can always file an assessment appeal. But if you want it to take effect for the next tax calendar year, you must file by August 1. This way, the Assessment office has time to process and hold a hearing. This isn't some rule or guideline. It's an ordinance. It was adopted by Northampton County Council in 2010, pursuant to the state Tax Code. It's the law.

Northampton County, at the urging of Easton officials, appealed the $1.6 million assessment of the Wolf Building, which  translates to a building worth $4,224,000. Obviously, it is overvalued. But instead of filing its appeal on or before August 1, it filed on November 19.

Under state law and a Northampton County Ordinance, the Revenue Appeals Board lacked the authority to reduce the assessment for calendar year 2014. But they did it anyway.

During the hearing, the County produced a 2012 appraisal that valued the property at $1.8 million (not the $760,000 incorrectly reported yesterday). A County appraiser decided to appraise the property herself, using both comparable sales and income. She valued the property at $2.55 million, far more than the the $1.925 million that Mulligan agreed to pay.

The Revenue Appeals Board decided to ignore the County's own appraiser and reduce the value of the property to $1.925 million, the amount that Mulligan agreed to pay. But there was a problem. Appeals Board members Bob Miklas and George Andralis voted to reduce the assessment, but Board members Marci Carter and Leonard Zavacky said No.

This dilemma was solved when Miklas announced that he had a proxy from the absent fifth board member. That absentee is none other than Richard McAteer, the Easton Redevelopment Authority official who improperly suggested that the assessment be reduced in the first place.

So the bluebloods took care of each other on Monday.

And we will make up the difference.

If the state grants a KOZ and exempts the property from all property taxes for ten years, this will mean that the Revenue Appeals Board broke the law for nothing.

According to one assessment official, there has never been an occasion before Monday in which a late appeal was entertained for the next calendar year. And she's never heard of a Board member voting by proxy.

The Board is clearly playing favorites, especially among certain Easton-connected property owners. I've been told for example that Gretchen Longenbach, an Easton official tied at the hip to McAteer, has had the assessments reduced on two of her Bethlehem-owned properties. I am not sure about that, but will be checking.

After playing favorites with Easton Savior Mark Mulligan, the Revenue Appeals Board screwed Abe Atiyeh. He had appealed the assessment on a school building that he actually owns, located on Northampton Street. He had an appraisal, but failed to submit it ten days before the hearing. He was shot down for failing to follow their rules. This was from the same Board that thought nothing of breaking both County and state law for the opera singer.

Abe's blood is not blue enough.

What's disturbing about this is the involvement of Richard McAteer, who was Shadow Mayor under Phil Mitman. After screwing that up, he's latched onto Executive Elect John Brown. It is McAteer who got Brown on the RenewLV Board and who introduced him to all the Lehigh Valley Partnership aristocrats. It is McAteer who thinks he can vote by proxy on a quasi judicial board, and who urged the County to violate the law. It is McAteer who jumped the gun on getting a lower assessment without waiting for a KOZ determination that could be granted.

Friends of Johnston Need Your Help

From the Friends of Johnston:

The Johnston Estate was the former country home of the first Mayor of Bethlehem and former Bethlehem Steel President, Archibald Johnston, and his descendants. This beautiful urban park contains not only a 23 room Mansion, but pathways connecting the nine different ecosystems and the Monocacy Creek. After years of effort the land is now on the verge of conservation! We need your help to secure the funding from Northampton County Council for acquisition of the Leckonby and Central Moravian Church lands to complete this iconic park for the benefit of our community. 

WHO IS INVOLVED? 

Natural Lands Trust, a highly skilled land conservation organization will own and manage the additional Leckonby and Central Moravian acreages.  NLT has applied to Northampton County Open Space Committee for funding for acquisition costs.

The Friends of Johnston is a group of citizens that have committed themselves to the preservation, restoration and sustainable reuse of this property for the good of all our community. 

WHAT IS THE VISION? The vision for the estate is that all of the parcels will function as one larger park even though they are under different ownership. That through collaboration with government agencies, businesses, schools and the community we will provide educational programming, stewardship, and fresh produce to those in need.

WHERE IS THE JOHNSTON ESTATE? The Johnston Estate is approximately 138 acres comprised of the 33 acre Archibald Johnston Conservation Area, the 55 acre janet Johnston Housenick and William D. Housenick Memorial Park, the 26 acre Central Moravian Church Spiritual Center and the 18 acre Leckonby Farm. located between Christian Spring Road,Rte 191, Santee Mill, and Township line roads in Bethlehem.

WHY DOES THIS PARK BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY? The additional acreage will complete the park area,  and provide:

          buffer to the park 

          greater area for wildlife and recreational trails, 

          community garden space 

          storm water management

          eliminate the risk of development on the parcel

          Education- for all ages from preschool through college

          Programming- bird walks, history walks, gardening native plant walks 

HOW WILL WE PAY FOR THE LAND?  Northampton County Open Space is dedicated to preserving environmentally sensitive lands. The NorCo Open Space Committee has approved the funding of the projects at $520,000.00.  Understanding that the land owners have been offered much more for their properties by developers, Natural Lands Trust has made offers above the current guidelines. Therefore the County Council will have to approve a resolution in the Open Space Ordinance for this project. to increase the allocation to a total of $657,500.00  There is enough in the 2013  budget for this year to fund these projects.

WHEN:                      NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

                                                6:30 pm,  THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2013

                                       NORTHAMPTON COUNTY COURT HOUSE

                                                                  EASTON, PA

HOW MUCH WILL THE PARK COST AFTER IT IS ACQUIRED? There will be no additional cost to the tax payers. Natural Lands Trust Preserves are free and open to the public

WE NEED YOUR HELP: 

           1) Get the word out- pass this email along 

           2) Write emails or call your council members ( FFlisser@northamptoncounty.org) and include the wording:

                     "I support the use of $657,500.00 of the Northampton County Open Space Funding for the 

                      acquisition of the Central Moravian Church and Leckonby Estate properties on the former 

                      Johnston Estate and request that the amendment to the Open Space Ordinance be passed at the 

                      December 5, 2013 Northampton County Council Meeting."

3) Come to the December 5, 2013 NorCo Council Meeting and bring your kids, friends and grandparents

4) COME OUT TO THE PARK!

4) Join the Friends of Johnston- share your time, talents or resources to help this worthy project! 

THANK YOU!!!

Northampton County Seeks Lower Assessment at Wolf Building

Northampton County's Governor Wolf Building, located in Easton, is currently under agreement of sale to developer Mark Mulligan. When the County moves its 173 human services workers into a new, centralized facility next March, Mulligan is expected to take over, and pay $1.925 million for the building. His agreement is contingent upon a KOZ classification, which basically exempts the property tenants from virtually all property and even state income taxes for ten years. It now appears unlikely that the state will grant this designation. But instead of pulling the plug, which has worried Council member Bob Werner, Mulligan appears to be moving forward. Mulligan will reportedly use the property’s LERTA designation for a tax abatement that is based on the value of improvements above and beyond the property’s initial assessed value.

But the property is assessed at $1.6 million, meaning it has a fair market value of $4,224,000. That's a lot higher than the $700,759, at which the property appraised.

So yesterday, Northampton County presented an assessment appeal of its own property to the Revenue Appeals Board, seeking a lower assessment for Mulligan.

Although I understand the appeal was granted, I do not know the new assessment. I will found that out and report it to you tomorrow.

There is also some question about the timing of this appeal. Because it was seeking a KOZ classification, the County missed the August 1 deadline for filing assessment appeals that would be effective in 2014. So I don't know whether the new assessment will be effective in 2014 or 2015. I will have to find that out tomorrow, too.

But it appears that KOZ or no KOZ, Mulligan is moving forward.

Why Bethlehem Tp: Comm'rs Passed On Female Police Officer

Bethlehem Township Commissioners added two new police officers at their November 18 meeting. They were selected from a field of what were initially 400 applicants. They were recommended by Chief Dan Pancoast. President Paul Weiss, Tom Nolan and Phil Barnard supported Pancoast's judgment. But the remaining two Commissioners, Mike Hudak and Marty Zawarski, attempted unsuccessfully to have a woman appointed in place of one of the two male recommendations.

Resident Barry Roth criticized these new hires at the December 2 meeting, arguing that more diversity is needed in the police force. President Weiss agreed, noting that the Township has had no female police officers officer in over ten years. But he told Roth he tries to support the decisions of department heads.

"The Board should hire as they deem fit," countered Hudak, noting that the female applicant was the "highest scoring candidate." But Marty Zawarski noted that she still needed to be certified, and Chief Pancoast wanted boots on the ground now. Zawarski said he would have preferred to hire her and wait the four or five months for her to be certified.

In other business, Commissioners unanimously endorsed a letter supporting the purchase of the Leckonby and Central Moravian tracts next to Housenick Park. Rough plans call for community gardening, a preserve and trails at that site. It was originally a part of the Camel's Hump farm, owned by Bethlehem's first mayor, Archibald Johnston.

Charges Against Front Yard Gardener Dropped

Karl Hirsch

In October, I told you about Lehigh Township front yard gardener Karl Hirsch. Thirteen years ago, he vowed to provide his wife and children with the most nutritious food he could find. He found it, too, in the front yard of his Church Road property. He grew everything, from potatoes to Jerusalem artichoke and even Pawpaws, George Washington's favorite desert. For his trouble, Hirsch was convicted of violating the Township's weed ordinance. But in an early Christmas present, Lehigh Township has dropped the case.

Though convicted and fined by District Judge Robert Hawke, Hirsch appealed. Then prominent municipal attorney Gary Asteak, reading about the case, agreed to represent Hirsch pro bono. After discussing the matter with Lehigh Township Solicitor Dave Backenstoe, the case has been dropped. To save face for a zoning officer who failed to do her job, Backenstoe states that all weeds have now been removed. The truth is there were never any weeds there. Just crops. But the important point is that the charges have been dropped and Hirsch is free to continue growing food instead of grass, which Hirsch calls a "green desert."

Unknown to Hirsch, a petition drive was organized on his behalf by Freya Harris, called "Let Karl Hirsch Grow His Garden." He collected nearly 15,000 signatures worldwide.

Stefano Stronati, from Italy, is one of them. He suggests that we in Northampton County should have more sex. "It works, trust me," he says. I'm all for that, Stefano.

A Brit, Bethany Heard, gives a very English response. "As long as he keeps it tidy, and everything grown in it is legal, where's the harm?" Jolly good. Another Englishman waxed on about his delicious nettle soup, although I believe most British cuisine was invented on a dare.

Then we have a Russian, Julia Sergueeva, complain about "zoning gibberish." This is one former (wink, wink) Commie who should join the tea party.

Priscilla Jinabhai, from South Africa, said it best. "We need more Karl Hirshes in this world."

Let's Raise Rates at the Airport!

A Morning Call report that the Lehigh Valley "International" Airport intends to raise rates has Lehigh University Professor Steve Thode scratching his head. He's prepared the graph you see above, showing a declining passenger count, and makes this point.

Let's see if I have this right:

Passenger traffic at LVIA will drop 16-17% this year after dropping almost 20% last year;

Passenger traffic is off more than 40% since 2004;

Half the airlines serving LVIA have left. Even when there were 8 carriers, LVIA was operating well below capacity; and,

One of LVIA's fastest growing "routes" is the bus to Newark.

So, here's their great idea: since we have half as many tenants for our building, let's raise the rent on our (few) remaining tenants!

But Doctor Thode, at least Board Chair Tony Iannelli and Exec Director Chuck Everett are still paying their staff with no planned layoffs.

Perhaps they should read a little about the demise of Beth Steel, Mack Trucks, Lucent, and any of a number of other LV powerhouses now gone.

You don't pay people to do nothing.

... unless they work for the government.

Then you pay them a lot and hope they do nothing.

Updated 11:10 AM: The United Bus is Airborne!

This comes right from the LNAA webpage.

Allentown Priest Worries About Gay Menace

Run! The queers are coming! 

Even its most strident cheerleaders will agree there are many problems in Allentown. Violent crime. High unemployment. Terrible schools. Extreme poverty. Hunger. Homelessness. It's a place where a church, any church, can do so much good. So what does one Allentown priest do?

Attack the gays.

In a snippy letter to the editor, a Catholic Allentown pastor has taken aim, not at any of Allentown's real problems, but those damn queers. Andrew Baker, a Bishop wannabe housed in comfort at Allentown's Cathedral, calls same sex benefits a "potential harm to the common good" and likens them to extending maternity benefits to men.

Gays, incidentally, are manufactured in Greece by Satan and then shipped all over the world.

Baker has condemned the gay menace before. In 2002, while doing a stint at the Vatican with all the other Bishop wannabes, the obscene wealth did not trouble him a bit. But he sure was bothered by gay priests. In an essay, Baker called homosexuality a "disorder" and worried that gay priests could ruin the good gig priests have at places like St. Catharine of Siena, where rich people can pretend they're just like Jesus Christ. Except cleaner.

I'd be a little more worried about pedophiles.

If you google Baker, you'll learn that he's very concerned about gays and "religious freedom." But not much about poverty, illness, homelessness, violence.

Make that man a Cardinal!

Baker does not speak for the Church. Nor does Vic Mazziotti, a Lehigh County Commissioner who hid behind Baker's robes to justify a vote denying same sex benefits in that County.

Pope Francis, who does speak for the Church, has just released his first Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium. He thinks the Church should focus on the poor, not the gay menace. In fact, he condemns the "wafer wars" threatened by misguided clergymen against those who refuse to follow a message of intolerance. "The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak." The Pope wants the Church to be more inclusive, not less.

Allentown's poverty problem should bother the Pope a lot more than queers. I'd love to see Baker and all the other Monsignors and auxiliary Bishops come out of their cathedral and actually help people, instead of advising some rich guy after Mass that he's right to hate gay people. .

The Pope's message does not specifically address the gay question. That itself is a signal. The Church needs to be more focused on helping people than deciding who is worthy of Holy Communion.

Wow! What Knockers!

If you read this blog, you are probably a mutant, not like most normal people. That's because I focus a lot on local politics, and most people have no interest. Want proof? Where do political mailers end up? In the garbage can, along with other junk mail. And robo-calls, which are timed to occur either at dinner time or when we're in the shower, send us right up they wall. But as much as people hate politics, they love when someone without an appointment knocks on their door. Go figure. That is why door knocking is regarded the most effective way to win elections.

The Lehigh Valley's most formidable campaigner, Charlie Dent, does it. Years ago, when he was first running for wither the State Senate or Congress, he was going up and down a street, knocking on doors. One homeowner, a Democrat, listened politely until his dog figured out a way to bolt out the house and run down the street. Dent ran after the dog and brought him back. That Democrat has voted for Charlie Dent ever since that day.

At the courthouse, I spoke to a worker who is both a Democrat and lives in Bethlehem. You'd think he would have voted for Bethlehem Mayor John John Callahan. But he pulled the lever for Bangor Mayor John Brown, Callahan's opponent in the Exec race. That's because Brown came to his home and Callahan did not.

"I make it a policy to vote for someone if they come to my home and ask for my vote," I was told.

Virtually ever political consultant I've spoken with tells me this is the single most effective way to win an election.

Donchez To Announce Additional Cabinet Members Today

Last week, Bethlehem Mayor-elect Bob Donchez announced the appointment of Att'y Bill Leeson as his Solicitor and Alicia Karner as DCED Director. Today, at 11 am, he will announce additional appointments.