2009 General Municipal Election Freddies

Better late then never come the 2009 general Election Freddies, highlighting brilliance, miscues and gaffes during the last election. The Nominations are:

Number 10: Sleazy campaigns and politics as usual.
From candidates bought by kingmakers, collateral attacks upon the church, to unfounded links with Pennsylvania’s gambling.

When the candidate's qualifications suck, there is nothing left but sleaze.

Number 9: Thomas Creighton’s recycled signs.
I didn’t vote for Mr. Creighton this year but I supported him in two past elections. Shades rose again when Mr. Creighton brought out his old Supervisor election signs.

Newly written across each sign in magic marker, Lehigh County Comm’r with a sticker on the bottom, paid for by the candidate.

In case the County Board needs an assignment, I nominate Creighton to the County recycling committee!

Number 8: Kermit Delong
Mr. Delong almost prevailed with his Manchurian candidate last election. Mike Dietrich lost by 13 votes to his older uncle from across town.

So this election Delong took his secret weapon and unveiled the largest sign in Township election history, 4 by 5 feet or so. "Kermit Delong Supports Mike Dietrich, Write In Candidate for Supervisor." Alas, Mike lost. 540 to 308 votes.

It is not the size of the sign, it’s what is in the the print!

Number 7: The Split Ticket
Proving that nearly no one votes straight party even in the Northern Tier, Linda Tyson, a Democrat for Tax Collector easily won over her Republican challenger, 64% to 34%. This was in a Township which supported Republican Tom Creighton over his Democrat rival, 604 votes to 295.

Number 6: Victory Valley Camp
Upon learning that County Executive candidate Scot Ott resided rent free following his severance with his employer, Victory Valley Camp, the Cunningham campaign questioned the Church’s non-profit status.

They copied, of course, the I.R.S. and voters defected. The clear front runner nearly lost the election. Which goes to show you. The I.R.S. is not the ultimate authority!

I'll see you in church on Sunday!

Number 5: Glenn Smith and the AQC.
After spearheading Delong’s election for the AARC's return, Glenn Smith again handled the strings with his upstart, but stay at home candidate, Michael Dietrich. Glenn largely funded Mike's primary campaign. Mike lost but Glenn returned for another round.

As this anonymous flyer stated, Mike was "willing to look at future planning that is in the best interest in the Township . . . such as the Active Adult Community, . . .which is exactly the type of community he [Mike] could support."

It’s time to get out from behind the curtain. Glenn, if you think the best interests of the Township are not being served, then run for Supervisor yourself.

Number 4: Dick Edwards of Catasauqua
All that talk about watering the urinals nearly got Edwards elected to Borough Council, albeit til Vince Smith’s write in votes were counted.

Excuse me, I have to go drain my snake.

Number 3: Charles Perich
In yet another close one, perennial challenger Charles Perich, forced to run as a Democrat, nearly upended three term Heidelberg Supervisor, David Fink. Fink won by 36 votes.

In the week following the election Heidelberg Township, cited cash flow issues and announced a line of credit to cover operating expenses.

So if the election was held today . . . ?

Number 2: Carson Baer
In a first appearance for Carson, a fellow Baer, won the nod for Lynn Township Auditor. He garnered a total of 79 write-in votes, almost as many a Mel Charles got on her balloted position for Supervisor.

Carson has an uncanny ability to unite people. Carson hates everybody, which makes him uniquely qualified for auditor! He got my vote.

And the Freddie goes to:

Number 1: Tony Phillips
Tossed Salad, a slang term for butt licking, I learned that on Oprah. For more information, go to Freddy No. 10.

In a landslide Tony lost, 74% to 26%.

Butt kicking, butt licking, hey, it is only one letter place on the alphabet.

Lehigh County Humane Society continues war with "Zealots"

Months after the Lehigh County Humane Society called proponents of no-kill shelters “radical animal rights zealots” and accused them of physical attack on their premises, animal cruelty and conspiracy, the Lehigh County Humane Society formally declared war on its no-kill competitors.

Opening salvos occurred in May as reflected in these minutes of the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners, wherein the Board discussed a County $22,500 annual payment to the Humane Society.

Certain Commissioners, former Society employees and volunteers expressed concern over the Society’s practice in euthanizing unwanted animals. A preference toward no-kill emerged. The payment was canned.

According to this tax filing, the Humane Society obtained 1.8 million in gross receipts with expenses of $841,000 for 2007, the last year available from Guidestar. Current assets included 1.7 million in stock and treasuries.

In May the Lehigh County Humane Society wrote:

The loss of this revenue to the shelter, which has been used in the past to supplement the varying fees paid by each of the 23 municipalities for our animal control services, means that the municipalities must now bear the compensating burden of significantly increased fees when their individual contracts come up for renewal. We believe that the 23 municipalities, however, like all citizens, business and other local governmental entities, are presently struggling with the burden imposed by the recession, and that the municipalities might not be able to accept any such substantial increases . . .

In fact, the LCHS will be relieved by no longer having to incur the cost of subsidizing the county and its municipalities. Those extra funds will help us appreciably to absorb the continuing increases in animal admissions and shelter cost that we are experiencing due to the impact of the recession on job losses and foreclosures that force many pet owners to relinquish their pets. . . .

In April, well before the quandary erupted before the Board of Commissioners, Lynn Township received a proposal for services wherein the Humane Society sought to triple its fees.

The Township balked largely because we awaited an itemized accounting for the animals obtained from Lynn Township in 2008. Our past review found charges for animals recovered from other Townships.

The LCHS blamed their 300% proposed increase on the Commissioner’s subsequent decision to discontinue support. Funny, that hadn't happened yet! The increase was announced in April.

Further, LCHS sought to impose a 15% surcharge for an itemized account. I know of no business which charges a fee for an itemized invoice. We said no. So we’re still waiting on that accounting of animals.

In July LCHS wrote:

Financially, we cannot continue to perform animal control without proper funding. As far we can determine, the position expressed by the county commissioners is that the county is not financially responsible for animal control. You will have to ask them for their reasoning – it appears to contradict and conflict with Title 3, Chapter 9, Article III of the current Pennsylvania Dog Law. In 2008, our Humane Society expended more than $204,000 over its budget because of the rising costs of implementing animal control services in Lehigh County.

Over the past 2.5 years, a group of radical animal rights activists and zealots have been disseminating false information about the LCHS shelter, attacking not only or policies, but our physical facility as well. Some of this group’s members have managed animal rescue facilities within Lehigh County and have been cited over the years by the Lehigh County Humane Society’s cruelty investigator. . .

Today the Society turns against its competitors. In a recent letter to the Township, they wrote: since it appears that we will not be providing this service for your township in 2010, it is imperative that we have the name and phone number of your new animal control service provider so that these calls can be forwarded to that number and not to the municipal officials or the county commissioners. (emphasis in the original).

How caring! Thanks!

Unofficial Write In Results

Lehigh County's posted election results do not include write candidates and the Morning Call's local coverage is spotty. The Call shows Lynn's write-in candidate for Supervisor, Mike Dietrich, received 60 votes, which would be correct if one only counted the poll at Lynnport.

For Lynn Township, my unofficial tally (all three polls) for Supervisor shows:

540 votes for Republican Brian Dietrich;
308 write in votes for Mike Dietrich (give or take 2); and
94 votes for Democrat Mel Charles.

Write in candidate Carson Baer won handily as write in for the uncontested seat as Lynn Township Auditor. My maternal great grandmother was a Baer. Maybe I'll finally have an in . . . well, maybe not.


For North Whitehall Supervisor, my unofficial tally has:

1569 for Jerry Joseph; and
318 for write in candidate Brian Brinker.

Attorney Jeff Dimmich apparently received at least 24 write in votes at the Schnecksville poll for Auditor. I don't know about the other polls in North Whitehall. I was too tired to look, but quite possibly Attorney Dimmich filled North Whitehall Township's uncontested seat for auditor.

Train Wreck on the Highway

I was forwarded a copy of the last minute mailer in support of Jeanne McNeill's run for Commissioner and I wrote to fellow bloggers,

I dont know what to say. Its like watching a train wreck, I'm just able to stare, watch and gasp.

You can read the mailer for yourself here and and here.

The mailer is inaccurate in that it accuses candidate Tom Creighton for accepting a campaign contribution from a "contractor with Keystone Consulting Engineers the very same day that the firm made an official pitch for business at a Lynn Township Supervisors Meeting."

While it is true that Creighton accepted a contribution from a contractor whose employer does business with the Township, the myth that the contribution was made as a quid pro quo on the same day that the employer lobbied for business was debunked here.

One need only listen to the audio of the meeting in question to uncover the truth, which is why I take great pains to post the audio of our Board Meetings here.

Lest we not hold the politicians accountable for reading this blog, a simple task was to check the Township's official minutes.

All of the above portends why I repeatedly state, inquire for yourself. Don't believe the hype.

That said, there's still a controversy in any candidate that accepts money from one who does or seeks business with the Government, be they Tom Creighton or Don Cunningham. Which is why I said, politics suck!

In considering questionable loyalties there is little difference in accepting money from pay to play contractors from accepting money from ranking politicians. I begged for an epiphany, which was not forthcoming. Call me idealistic but naive.

Until politicians set a high bar and force the others to follow, no party will ever have the monopoly to the high road, Democrats and Republicans included.

Be it here or here or here the blogsphere and open government are not always pretty, but they uncover much truth for debate!

And now for lighter fare . . .

Crazy Elmer returned again to Ontelaunee Park for the 2009 Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society's Pioneer Days. The band was joined by the granddaughter of Shorty and Dolly Long, of Shorty Long and the Sante Fe Rangers fame.

The concert was sponsored in part by Yours Truly, The Rural Preservation Association of Northwestern Lehigh County and the Call of Nature Portable Toilets, not forgetting of course, the Lynn Heidelberg Historical Society.

Elmer, suffering from a bout with a cold, still put on his usual time-proven good show. Watch closely for Richard Metzger's 3 corner hat!



Crazy Elmer's facebook page is here. Check it for more concerts.

Broken Sewer Plants

Election moguls are again taking back channels. Rather then face the light of day, they've reverted to their anonymous gossiping ways.

Pennsylvania's Election Law requires full disclosure. All election materials much state who paid for the message and whether the message was authorized by the candidate. Anonymous election messages are illegal. So I'll not dignify the message by posting a copy.

Attached to the flier however was a copy of Ken Petrini's newspaper article which reported on the Sewer Authority's budget for next year. Although the Township has no role in setting the sewer authority's budget, or fixing the Authority's fees, the messenger highlighted the following:

The first will increase user fees by $25 per quarter or $100 a year for residential and commercial users. If the plant is built, rate adjustments are likely to result from the financing of the plant. Members have suggested that a doubling of fees is possible.

The plant is at capacity. In fact, its hydraulically and organically overloaded. All of this begs the question.

If the plant is unable to turn a profit and must increase rates now while at full capacity, how much more money will they loose after they add more capacity?

Plan carefully says I!

Meet the Candidates

GOP Candidate Brian Dietrich and Democrat Candidate Mel Charles introduced themselves last Thursday at a Meet the Candidates Event. Each are vying to fill the seat left open by outgoing Tom Creighton who is running for Lehigh County Commissioner.

The event was hosted by the Lehigh Valley League of Women Voters. After each candidate made their opening statement, they answered questions from the LWVLV moderator. Afterward, they took questions from the floor.



The hidden story was not the candidates, who spoke for themselves. Striking was the absence of those who speak in support of their pet zoning or sewer project. Yes, the same folks who are circulating anonymous flyers and gossip in support of their Manchurian candidate did not have the courage to ask questions. They failed to appear.

I found it odd that those who largely complain the loudest, dared not ask one question. They dared not even come. My how courageous! Daylight can cure all ills.

One in private said to me earlier that he did not know what Brian Dietrich stood for. Well then, why did you not come to ask him?

Big Show Tonight!

Thursday October 29th, 6:30 to 8:30, that's tonight . . . the two nominated candidates for Lynn Township Supervisor will square off at the Lynnport Fire Co., 6174 Behler Rd, New Tripoli. That's basically where SR 863 meets SR 143.

Protesting outside might be Mike Dietrich, whose candidacy was relaunched by his handlers after Mike lost a close primary. Supporters now are circulating fliers in the Township. Yet the flier does not indicate who paid or authorized it. Sound familiar?

Weirdness aside, it can be refreshing to look at politics in neighboring Townships. So as a prelude to tonight's debate, watch these excerpts from Catasauqua.



One commentor from the UK observed, We got some political pricks in the UK but you Yanks ace us every time.

When a dog is like a credit card . . .

In upholding a sentence against a defendant who rescued an abused dog from its owner, the Pennsylvania Superior Court opined flatly . . .

A dog is personal property just as a credit card is personal property.

The court refused to differentiate intangible objects from living things and upheld criminal convictions against the rescuer. You can read the case here.

The Court found a requisite intent to steal when the Defendant refused to return the dog to its abusing owner. If the evidence has shown beyond a reasonable doubt that the Defendant failed to return the dog to the owners and gave or sent the dog to someone other than the owners, you may conclude that the Defendant intended to deprive the [owners] of their dog.

Dare there another reason not to return the dog to its abusing owner!

The facts were straightforward. Tammy Sneath Grimes, now Tamira Ci Thaynea, or "Peaceful Dog Warrior", (wha?) founder of Dogs Deserve Better, rescued a tethered dog in need of medical treatment after first attempting to contact the owners, who were not home.

After having the dog treated by a qualified veterinarian, Grimes placed the dog in foster care. Afterward, she posted pictures and videos of the abused dog on the Internet as a case example.

The Court found no difference with one who was convicted of larceny and receiving stolen goods after he used another man’s credit unlawfully.

Rather than bemoan the Court’s dissing of living things, I take solace in the elevation of my credit card, which now also lives. So as Skip Eckhart was charged for animal cruelty, I’ll contemplate charges against Wachovia for cruelty to my credit card.

Maybe I’ll get my lost credit back!

Axel was a Rose

The Morning Call newpaper reports the death of Axel, Allentown's K9 police dog who died at 8 years of age from cancer. A full video can be found here.

Unbeknownst to most, Axel, and his handler, Sargent John Hill, are both from Lynn Township. That made them our neighbors. The two were often seen traveling to/from work in their blue APD Durango. I felt safer know they were among us.

For the sake of the Sagrent's privacy, I'll not post his home address. His email, however, is readily available on the Allentown Police Department K9 Unit website.

Although no specific foundation has been set up, you may send your condolences with any donations directly to the Allentown Police K9 Unit in memory of Axel.

Reading's Stokesay Castle Renovates

Stokesay Castle, Reading Pa, the former residence built by my grandfather, George Baer Heister, closed its doors in 2007.

This video shows its now dilapidated condition. My, how far it fell.

Turning a corner with a planned 2.5 million dollars in renovcations started, the Castle is said to have taken reservations for several weddings next summer, 2010. The Reading Eagle reports . . .

Shun or be Shunned

Responding to criticism about the County’s budget problems, the local Republican Committee briefly excommunicated Ken Petrini from their facebook fan club.

Methinks, Ken’s shunning was not the really the result of his criticism. Ken is the tripartite of evil. He is a blogger, journalist and an attorney! Go away, devil!

Sometime earlier, rabid Republican Joe Hilliard was shunned from the Republican Committee.

Joe is not afraid to speak his mind. He was a prevailing Plaintiff in this taxpayer appeal against the City of Allentown. Joe advocates something very dangerous. The GOP should actually stand for what they say they believe.

Yours Truly resigned from the Committee after receiving a tongue lashing from then candidate, Gary Day, whom I actually endorsed. I asked, what was the nature of Day's income from the Jaindl Estate? Maybe it's nothing, but I await an answer.

Tho' outside his district, Lower Macungie could ask Day the same question. Jaindl seeks to overturn L'Mac's agriculture preservation district. There, the battle just begins.

Could an ag. preservation battle spring here? Jaindl has been accumulating property. For Lynn Township, try PINs 540923704146, 449874249280, 449877077302 and 449885367020, here. For Albany , go here, keyword Jaindl.

After receiving an invitation join Harhart, Reichley, Day, and others for Cigars, cognac, and fine wine . . . former Commissioner Marc Grammes wrote: These people are out of touch. In this economy, no one should be puffing on cigars and drinking cognac to raise money for a taxpayer funded job.

Party Chairman Bill Platt responded, It seems like a cheap shot, trying to tarnish the Republican brand. I didn't know you had to be rich in order to smoke a cigar.

Wowzer!

In his election to Commissioner, Candidate Marc Grammes, then unsupported by the GOP, was the one only elected Republican who actually beat the GOP endorsed candidate. Marc since resigned from the Committee.

For all their differences, the Party could learn a lot from people like Grammes, Petrini or Hilliard.

Me? not so much!

Dr. Jeckel & Mr. Hyde of Public Grants

Lehigh County Grant - Sidewalks In Ontelaunee Park

Without fanfare, Lehigh County’s Office of Community and Economic Development awarded Lynn Township a Streetscape Amenities Grant for the construction of handicapped accessible sidewalk in Ontelaunee Park.

The sidewalk, as proposed, will stretch from the parking lot near the flag pole to the Carl Snyder Monument to the New Pavilion, with a branch extending toward the Band Shell. Lehigh County ponies up the largest share, with the Trexler Trust and Century fund, i.e. private funds, pitching in.

While my left brain questions the notion of expending public funds to largely private memorials, my right brain congratulates our forward looking Township staff, without which the County monies would simply go to some other municipality. Good job on their part, a very good job! Thank you.

Yet with another looming county tax increase ahead, the real question is how any candidate for Local, County or State office will break this adiction to spending. Most candidates are running from this question. (Answer is, they won't.)

Update: Lehigh County District 1 Commissioners race

Within a short time after my last post, I learned from outside sources, the Morning Call photograph for commissioner, Tom Creighton, is really a photograph of Tom's father, also Tom Creighton, a current State Representative for the 37th district including Lancaster County.

I suspected the same but because of my aging memory, I remember Tom's father as being older than the Morning Call's file photograph. I met Tom's father at the polls in Lynnville, a decent fellow, yes.

But I wonder if the Morning Call received the same wrath as I did after I noted the candidate's photo, since redacted, which included members of Tom's family. I suspect not.

I also understand Tom's opponent, Jeanne McNeill, photo above, is actually the wife of former Whitehall Township Commissioner, Dan McNeill.

Dan McNeil was the subject of this controversial appointment to Township Manager in Whitehall Township. Seems Whitehall Township had a prohibition against appointment of former Commissioners to Township employment.

Specifically , the Township's home rule charter provided that no former Commissioner shall hold any compensated appointive Township office or employment, until 1 year after the expiration of the full term for which he or she was elected to the Board. Yet McNeill was appointed!

Not commenting on the merits of any of the foregoing, the moral of the story is that candidates for office are best avoided where they have familial connections to career politicians. That's my take anyway!

I fear Creighton's sights are as per his father's, i.e. a prelude for a run to yet higher office versus running for the actual office of Commissioner. The candidate should put their sites on representing us! That means taking a stand on controversial issues rather than "keeping one's powder dry", so as to avoid controversy. I'd rather they vote clearly. That's what they're paid for. Quite frankly, Tom's record has been nothing but ambiguous.

Yet I also fear Jeanne McNeill, having little or no experience in her own right, is simply a puppet for the now current County administration. Her husband worked under Don Cunningham as a regional coordinator. What are Jeanne's qualifications in her own right? I know not.

Consider McNeill's photograph with it's backdrop. Whats with the law books? Really, has a self proclaimed community organizer really read those learned law treatises? I suspect not!

My take is that Creighton retains a very slight advantage in District 1, based on history in the District. Thank Sterling Raber. On the other hand, the weak GOP slate with strong democrat County candidates elsewhere can do nothing but help Democrats generally.

In Lynn Township, that helps Democrat candidate for Supervisor Mel Charles, especially now that Mike Dietrich has officially again entered the race to challenge his Republican uncle.

To the pro-development constituents, be careful what you wish for!

Who is the real Tom C?

I often wondered: who is the real Thomas C. Creighton, member of the Board of Supervisors and candidate for Lehigh County Commissioner.

After all, Tom was against the proposed AARC before he was for it. He led the repeal effort before he led the effort to reinstate it. Then after paying special counsel three times the Township’s regular rate, he punted.

Tom led the effort to retain a CPA firm to audit the Township’s books. Yours Truly initially balked, that was, before I recognized just how bad our former record keeping was.

In a year one Supervisor was charged with taking Township property and falsifing timesheets, Tom changed his mind. Tom was against an outside audit after he was for it!

I could go on with a list of Tom-isms, but I won’t. I know even less about his new opponent. What’s her name? Jeanne who?

Seems the Morning Call doesn’t know Tom either. Who is that guy in their photo? It is not the candidate Tom Creighton.

Maybe I can vote for guy in the photo.

Guard your llamas, (and sheep and goats for that matter).

In another forum, two of our llamas are offered for sale to a good home. So imagine my surprise when I received the following email, purportedly from Skip via Almostheaven@aol.com. No, I’m not making this up!

From: Almostheaven01@aol.com
Date: September 24, 2009 10:23:32 PM EDT
To: sale-5sqtp-1376051705@craigslist.org
Subject: Llama friendly m/f pair - $250 (New Tripoli)


i am inquiring about your lhama pair are they available and how is the male temperament and how far along is the female bred i would love to see pics of them and possibly the male she would be bred to

skip

" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his
life, his love, his leader. He will be yours faithful and true, to the
last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such
devotion." Author Unknown

Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely, for that one dog,
the world will change forever." ~~Unknown

Almostheaven@aol.com was the email address for Almost Heaven Dog Kennels. The address remains on this orphaned web page. The kennel’s proprietor, Derbe "Skip" Eckhart awaits sentencing on a boatload of charges including multiple counts of animal cruelty, which makes the signature's footnote about dogs being your friend, all the more surreal.

Now I understand the part about Internet email. Its easy to spoof or alter the origin so that the email appears to have come from a different person. But that's probably a lot harder to do through an anonymizing remailer such as on craigslist.

So assuming the email came from the now convicted Skip Eckhart, I question the compulsion with animals, so as to attempt to acquire more animals while awaiting sentencing for cruelty to animals. I wonder whether the attempt to acquire more animals after his were taken away from him violates a condition of bail.

Yes, revoking Eckhart's dog kennel license was appropriate. Keeping him away from dogs, a good start. Keeping him away from all animals even better.

The Light in Lowhill Blinks Softly

After a string of fatal accidents, residents demanded action to correct the fatal intersection at State Route 100 & Kernsville Rd/Clausville Rd. To wit, residents got a yellow blinking light. Oh Joy!

A year and a half later, it still takes a prayer and forever to cross the intersection.

Lord leadeth me through the valley of the shadow of death and safely to the other side of PA State Route 100!



Is the road work done? I don't know.

Come to Penn DOT's meeting for the PA100/Claussville Road Intersection Improvement Project at the Lowhill Township Municipal Building on Thursday October 1, 2009 at 7:30pm to find out.

Other Blog Wars, Cyber Bullies, etc.

2nd Amended Complaint in Doe-V-Ciolli


Because there is now peace is the valley, some readers may be suffering from withdraw. What good is a train wreck if you can't watch. So for those, there is Doe 1 et al v. Ciolli et al, a federal cyberbulling case in Connecticut.

Two female Yale law school students sued over defamatory remarks posted anonymously at AutoAdmit.com, an online message board. By special motion they were permitted them to proceed in the case as Plaintiffs Doe1 and Doe 2.

The Defendants include wonderful pseudonyms: A Horse Walks Into A Bar, The Ayatollah of Rock-n-Rollah, Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey, Playboytroll.

The Defendants are alleged to have posted comments "just don't F--K her, she has herpes", "I think I will sodomize her", "Dumba-- B---h is a slut" lesbian, ugly whore and so forth.

One Defendant attempted to impair the Plaintiff's employment by suggesting that Doe paid her way into Yale. He emailed links to Doe's former employer.

Others google bombed the messages so that the harassing statements would appear in the first search results returned by Google.

Rate this HUGE breasted cheerful big tit girl from YLS wrote one, with links to her photograph. The Amended Complaint leaves out few details.

Federal jurisdiction is established, in part, by the United States Copyright Act, which is a warning to those who tend to usurp photographs.

As this lengthy docket attests, no one remains anonymous. Just ask Horse Walks into a Bar who, like others, attempted to have his case dismissed, (motions denied) but ultimately settled.

Secret emails and rumors of them.

At last month’s Township meeting, Chairman Delong admonished, "there are too many rumors in the township" Kermit DeLong asked residents to come in and confirm information with the staff at the township before spreading rumors.

Unfortunately Kermit’s constituency failed to follow his advice. Bearing the brunt of it was Yours Truly, again!

You can read about it here.

At issue, Township employees who get paid for responding as volunteer firemen, but without indicating their time spent on calls on their timesheets.

I suggested we set a policy as the former procedure was undocumented. There was simply no record of it and that is a problem. Who can say otherwise?

To hear it from some, I was stealing from the mouth of babes! But was I?

I was out of town for the meeting. A specific policy had not yet been suggested. The issue thus was not on the agenda, at least not on the copy provided to me in the week before the meeting. So the meeting was not rescheduled.

I learned about the amended Agenda the night before from a motel room in New Milford. Apparently I was the last to be informed. The whole Township already knew, even some from outside the Township. They were there with a noose! Let the conspiracy theorists roll and smoke that one, but I won’t. Thats just politics in Lynn.

My question concerned possible liability in the event a responding fireman injured a third party. While the fire companies have insurance, might the Township be secondarily liable if the employee is still "on the Township clock". Any policy must anticipate this. Lets make our policy smart!

From my motel room I drafted an email. You can read it below.

From: David C. Najarian
Date: Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 5:21 PM
Subject: Fire Co worker questions
To: Marc Fisher
Cc: Kevin Deppe

Marc

I'm not sure I'll be back from depositions for our meeting Thursday. There is not much on the agenda, but I understand a matter concerning fire company volunteers is on the agenda. It has come to our attention that the Township reguarly paid its Township employees who were also volunteer fireman, however nothing required the fireman to indicate his firefighter time separately. It would appear simply as time worked for the Township, which is problematic cause employee get time-and-a-half for work over 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. We have no written policy. Hence the question on our agenda.

So the agenda will include whether, and to what extent, and how, should the Township pay its employees while performing the duties of a volunteer fireman. Thats all it needs to include. But before we get to any policy issues, I have some legal questions for you.

1. If the employee is on the township clock, does the Township become liabile for the actions of that fireman. For exampe, if the volunteer crashes his vehicle while responding to a fire call and hurts someone. I'm thinking of the accident by allentown police offficers who crashed while responding to a 911 call, one person died. The matter is now a federal civi l rights case. The officer was from New Tripoli. Could the Township stand to become liable if a "paid" volunteer crashed.

2. If the above is in the affirmative, should we require a separate endorsement from our insurer. I'm not sure they include emergency response as our normal operation. Will a separate endorsement be enough?

The next two questions are prolly better directed at others., but jump in if you wish.

1. Their 501(3)c status is as a non profit, and lists no paid employees. If some of their volunteers are paid by the Township, might it affect their status?

2. Can an auditor, who is the fire chief of the firecompany, audit Township payments paid to his fire company workers. Assume the auditor is not a Township employee.

Please provide any insight as to the above, and how we might craft a policy that accounts for any of the above. We should prolly make a written short summary part in shaping any policy. I'd hope that someone could share this email and any response at the meeting

Thank you

Apparently my email was not shared. Ode to the conspiracy? Nahh!

The same group now propounds a rumor involving new "secret" emails. To wit the Township received a right to know request asking for the "alleged emails". You can read the request and the Township's response here. I redacted personal information

So in addition to recorded meetings, I must now post email. Some of you guys are too much! How do you sleep?

If my "secret email" was this Right to Know Request, here it is. Knock yourself out.

From: David C. Najarian
Date: Thu, Aug 13, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Subject: SA R2K Request
To: Marvin Charles

By this email I request a copy of the CD recording for the SA meeting in July, and any in August.

In addition, I request copies of all invioces paid to, or charged by, Gannet Flemming as well as any invoices related to any bog turtle study undertaken in 2009.

Lastly I request a copy of any policy, meeting minutes, etc, if any, related to the payment of SA employees while off performing duties as a volunteer fireman, responding to calls, etc, otherwise during business hours, or while "on the clock." Please advise me if no such record exists.

This request is made pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law. I certify that I am a legal resident of the United States and Pennsylvania.

Sincerely

The Right to Know Request was directed at Marvin Charles, who is the Open Records Coordinator for the Sewer Authority. I smell another conspiracy! A Charles is involved!

Its a train wreck in Kempton. . . REALLY!

Although not on par with the Gare Montparnasse in 1895, the train wreck at the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern train lines (WK&S) this past Saturday was nonetheless exceptional. Reported accounts concluded the driver of the SUV ignored the red crossing blinker, which were visibly flashing. Check out the conductors olde time uniform!

The accident occurred during the late afternoon on Saturday September 5, 2009 in the sleepy village of Trexler. Ignore the date in my photo. I did not program my camera.

The train wreck, the first for WK&S in over 40 years, is an anomaly. WK&S is famous for operating always on time, incident free and with no public funds. Lawyers and politicians need not apply.

A new milestone!

This week Yours Truly reached a new milestone. The new high? I now have three, count-em, yes three stalkers!

We’ll maybe not stalkers in the sense that no one is physically following me around, or so I hope! But they’re all set on incessantly sending me disconcerting or threatening communication.

The first appeared formerly on this blog. He still sends me hate email. He rants about me (and others) to whoever might listen, wherever they might be.

The second, well that’s this fellow who sends his messages to the Township.

The new entrant?

Well that’s a self proclaimed Pro Wal-mart Stalker. He leaves me pro Wal-mart phone messages. Yeah, Wal-mart! Go Wal-mart, I love Wal-mart, and so forth. However, pick up the phone and he goes click!

It’s sick out there and getting sicker.

Survey Says . . . ?

Over at the right sidebar is a survey, Which will be finally completed first: Lynn Township's expanded sewer plant or Leaser Lake? The survey ends in three days.

So far, 15 people responded. Considering only 500 or so people even bothered to vote for Supervisor, 15 people responding here is pretty good! That's 3% of the voting public.

Preliminary results are telling:

13% of the people believe the Sewer Plant will be completed before Leaser Lake. That's two people. I could guess which two!

66% believe Leaser Lake will be completed before the sewer plant.

20% wrote neither . . .

which means 86% believe that Lynn's WWTP will not be completed any time soon.

Bringing out the Best . . . Clunker!

Our local new car dealers have been very busy, very busy indeed, courtesy of the U.S. taxpayer and our national cash for clunkers program!

Whether you support the program or not, interesting are the clunkers, soon to be discarded on the national tax heap of history.


Consider this Mercedes M-Class, (green SUV in the foreground) which is soon to be destroyed in the interest economic reform. I can't afford an M-Class, not even a used one, but my tax dollars may buy many as clunkers.

Funny, I learned to waste not. I was wrong! The U.S. Government now teaches me!

Ironic is that Mercedes, purchased Chrysler, the owner of the iconic Willy's Jeep, purchased by the German company it help defeat.

Of course before that, Chrysler absorbed American Motors. Wasn't that Mitt Romney's dad's company?

Later Chrysler was spun off to a private company, which lead it to bankruptcy.

So this Government auto bailout . . . Its all good, Isn't it?

New in town, Fiat Spa, the new owner of Chrysler. Fiat also owns Lancia automobiles and New Holland tractors.

I've owned several Lancias, from Flavias to Deltas. Lancia (rhymes with llama) may have been the clunker of our generation, at least here in the U.S.

I also own a New Holland tractor, but it runs good. Can't say the same for my Lancia.



So comes this Maserati! Yes a Maserati! the cousin to Ferrari, again owned by Fiat. This Maserati was traded in as a clunker at Krause Toyota.



Traded on what, you ask? A Toyota Prius perhaps? B O R I N G!

By way of background, the Maserati TC was jointly developed by Maserati and Chrysler. Only 7300 were made during its 3 year run.

According to Old Car Price Guide, the book value of a Maserati TC, similar to this one with 81, 000 miles, in average condition, i.e. an operational original with defects but which looks good from 20 feet away is close to $10,000.

So lets see, burn $10,000 for a $4500 rebate on a $25,000 car, which you don't need to save . . . how much gas?

Now that's green!

And these people run our economy?

Youtube's NWLalumni

The Northwestern Lehigh Alumni Association is a subsidiary of the Northwestern Lehigh Educational Foundation. I can't say I know what that means.

But the person known on Youtube as NWLAlumni, perhaps even some nemesis of mine, has been very active indeed!

Check out this cool video with old photographs of New Tripoli, or watch video of last year's reunion in Ontelaunee Park. Check out NW All Star basketball, or this funny video.

Super Supervisors Meeting, not exactly

For you conspiracy theorists out there, or those who simply have trouble sleeping, the following new links may cure your ilk:

Lynn Township Board of Supervisors Meeting for June 4, 2009.

Lynn Township Board of Supervisors Meeting for July 16, 2009.

Lynn Township Sewer Authority Meeting for July 14, 2009.

Lynn Township Sewer Authority Meeting for August 11, 2009.

For a catalog of all archived audio, go here.

Special Meeting Makes Progress

Resolution No

On Tuesday, the Lynn Township Board of Supervisors jointly met with members of the Lynn Township Planning Commission and prominent members of the community. The atmosphere was uncharacteristically cordial. A long term plan for Lynn Township was quickly forged.

FUJIMO!

The FUJIMO Summer Nationals are on this weekend at the Kempton Community Recreation Center. I can hear the motors racing from my home nearly two miles away! Even my palms are sweaty! Well, they would be if the weren't full of grease!

For those who don't know, FUJIMO racing is, it's F__K YOU JACK I'M MOVING OUT, which simply means get out of my way I'm gonna pass. Think of dirt track stock car racing, except with 4 wheel drive no ovals!

For a sneak preview, go here. For more on FUJIMO Team Racing, go here.

Aaah, its truly great to live in the Northern Tier!

Pondering the Imponderables

Given the State budget impasse and the ever present likelihood of engineering cost over runs, a new poll questions which local project, Leaser Lake or Lynn Township's Sewer Plant expansion, will be completed first. Completed means open and ready for business, versus merely breaking ground. Of course, if neither will ever be finished, you may indicate that as well. The poll, located in the right sidebar, closes on August 30th.

The talk of reform.

The Northwestern Press published an expose two weeks back on Lynn Township Supervisor Tom Creighton, who apparently accepted a $500 campaign contribution from the Township's engineer. The contribution came while the engineer's firm was being considered for replacement. The article was rather neutral and took pains to note that no laws were broken.

I understand those that opine otherwise. The Press even asked me to comment. I chose not to.

The law as to ethics provides:

No person shall offer or give to a public official, public employee or nominee or candidate for public office or a member of his immediate family or a business with which he is associated, anything of monetary value, including a gift, loan, political contribution, reward or promise of future employment based on the offeror's or donor's understanding that the vote, official action or judgment of the public official or public employee or nominee or candidate for public office would be influenced thereby.

The Pennsylvania criminal statute provides:

A person is guilty of bribery, a felony of the third degree, if he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: (1) any pecuniary benefit as consideration for the decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter by the recipient; (2) any benefit as consideration for the decision, vote, recommendation or other exercise of official discretion by the recipient in a judicial, administrative or legislative proceeding; or (3) any benefit as consideration for a violation of a known legal duty as public servant or party official.

But the statute requires specific intent. There is no evidence of specific intent here, and thus no crime or violation. Candidate Creighton did nothing illegal.

Consider Supervisor Kermit Delong, whose campaign accepted contributions from 2 of 3 persons subject to the Township Amusement Tax, which he helped repeal just two years later.

Is Kermit barred from voting on tax cuts because his campaign benefited from the two area business affected by the tax cut? (guess which two! aahhh!) The answer is no. It's just politics.

Yes, but politics suck!

The County GOP cites a need for more transparent county government and proposed a trio of reforms. One proposal would require businesses hoping for county contracts to report any campaign contributions in excess of $500. The proposal is in response to criticism about contractors who donated more than $100,000 to the campaign of the County Executive.

Some time ago, I spoke with GOP officials. Creighton could still have an epiphany and turn his situation into an opportunity.

Consider the politics of someone who agreed not to take money from those who have or seek business with our Government. Consider still the politician that returns money and demands others do the same. Set a high bar and force the others to follow.

Until that happens, no party will ever have the monopoly to the high road.

Bloggers go mainstream, or vice versa?

Area Weekly Press Reporter, Ken Petrini, joins the ranks of citizen journalists with his blog on Examiner.com. Reporting on local issues oft missed in the traditional press, his reports can be found here. A full bio can be found here.

Petrini, a self-labeled Allentown Fiscal Responsibility Examiner, recently reported about the apparent hypocrisy in County spending, the controversy with the Lehigh County Humane Society, and the 15th district race between Charlie Dent and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan.

Examiner.com, which birthed as a news aggregator, has since recast itself as a local news source with a plethora of citizen bloggers, which it calls bloggers on steroids.

That's just what we need: bloggers on steroids, and lawyers too!

Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.

Some time ago I noted this battle between Cromwell Township and the Department of Environmental Protection. At issue was the Township’s failure to proceed with its approved Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan.

Sound familiar? Well not really, but its close.

Lynn’s Sewer Authority has disembraced the Township's approved Plan, but DEP has not foreclosed other options. Questions over proposals which add additional tanks, the need and cost for a second separate clarifier, and the ever present bog turtle remain.

Complicating the process is available grant money. The first round of grant money has left the building. As no detailed design was ready, the Authority could not apply.

The deadline for the second round of grant money was extended to August 4, 2010. While the new deadline provides more time for the Authority to flush out details with DEP, (no pun intended) the extended deadline means more competition for limited funds. Others also who were not ready can now apply as well.

Over in Cromwell Township, DEP got tough. It’s time for Cromwell Township to stop delaying action and address the ongoing problems with malfunctioning . . .[systems]. This is in the best interest of its residents, said DEP.

The Pennsylvania Court agreed, The Court sentenced the Supervisors to jail for a term of at least three months!

On July 8th, the Supevisors were bound over except for Supervisor Lewis Fleck, who resigned. A second supervisor resigned after the hearing. A third township supervisor was appointed later, filling the vacant position created by Fleck's resignation.

The remaining Supervisor, David Booher, went to jail. Boohner can purge himself by complying with the terms of the Township's Act 537 plan.

Meanwhile, there is no Government and no one to pay the bills!

The Court and DEP mean business. All applications for reconsideration were denied. An appeal is pending.

Which is why I say, be careful in the minefield, very careful indeed!

The Village Referendum

In the aftermath of a primary election loss by 13 votes, the prospect of a possible democratic victory for Mel Charles, or the daunting task of managing a write-in campaign for the upcoming general election, prodevelopment advocates in the village of New Tripoli have embarked on a new initiative.

The new initiative, code named, nehmt uns zuruck, or translated take us back, seeks to succeed from Lynn Township and incorporate New Tripoli as a new Pennsylvania Borough. The idea is not without legal support.

53 P.S. Sec. 45202 states:

The courts of common pleas may incorporate any contiguous area within their jurisdiction, not already incorporated or a part of an incorporated municipality and having a population of at least 500 residents, as a borough, which, after having been so incorporated, shall be a body corporate . . .

This publication by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) provides a primer:

Incorporation is initiated by filing a petition with the court of common pleas. The petition must be signed by a majority of freeholders residing within the limits of the proposed borough and by freeholders owning a majority of the land within the limits of the proposed borough. Where the proposed borough is composed of portions of more than one township, the petition must be signed by a majority of the resident freeholders in each of the township portions and by freeholders owning a majority of the land in each of the township portions. The requirement of freehold status is somewhat archaic: This provision limiting the petitions to freeholders residing in the area is a relic of colonial days when only freeholders were allowed to vote.” However, the stipulation that only freeholders may sign a petition for incorporation was upheld as constitutional. A freeholder is one who has actual possession of land for life or a greater estate; corporations may qualify as freeholders. All signatures must be obtained within a three-month period prior to the date of
the filing. At least one of the signers, usually the circulator, must sign an affidavit attached to the petition.

One such petition was filed in Monaghan Township. The area, a/k/a proposed Chilton Borough, involved two developers, a proposed housing development, and you guessed it, a golf course!

Previous attempts to develop [the property] had been frustrated by zoning restrictions, litigation and opposition from the township and local residents. Developers desired incorporation in order to qualify for a liquor license for the golf course in the dry township and to permit enactment of zoning ordinances specifically designed for their development plans.

The Chilton effort failed because the Code requires a borough population of at least 500.

One private residential community, Bear Creek Village was successful. The area, built around Bear Creek Lake, was already served by private roads and private recreational facilities. See, In re Incorporation of the Borough of Bear Creek Village, 616 A.2d 111, 150 Pa.Cmwlth. 595, appeal denied, 625 A.2d 1196, 533 Pa. 664.

Candidates in the primary election have been reportedly mum on the issue. Contributors here were not willing to go on record.

Can you read this? 54 68 69 73 70 6f 73 74 69 73 61 6a 6f 6b 65

UPDATE: Since posting this entry, my colleague and Supervisor Chairman Kermit Delong commented in our Board meeting about rumors circulating in the Township. This post was not one of the reported rumors. Nonetheless, allow me to point out this post's entry labeled as "humor" and the coded message: 54 68 69 73 70 6f 73 74 69 73 61 6a 6f 6b 65 which can be translated here. This post was intended to poke good hearted fun at the polarization within the constituency of Lynn Township. For those of you who find merit in the content of this post, ours is a free country, you are free to proceed with any petition you see fit. Tis a free country, even in our reported post Obama socialist world.

Enjoy!

The Chicken Massacre

From llama sheering, missing steers and groundhogs that love cauliflower, I suck at farming. But my chickens are extra tender thanks to Greta, our 16 week old German Shepherd puppy.

The chickens came as day-old chicks from Albrights Mill in Kempton. On chick day, they hand out day-olds. You buy the feed. They supply the birds!

In what my Youngest calls a chicken holocaust, the massacre began the morning I picked up our so-called "Amish built" pre-fab chicken coop, which left ample time for Greta to discover her chicken toys!

The problem with dead chickens is they don't squeak. So Greta simply moved on to the next one. Smart pup!

By the time Great was done, I had a dozen corpses, 5 or so half-dead chickens and three live ones.

As for the walking wounded, I sprayed them with Blue Kote, a bright purple colored wound dressing, which means I had five bright purple half-dead chickens.

Ugly indeed, but I’m not the first to spray my sick chickens. Owners can choose one of two colors!

Three of the half-dead chickens eventually recovered. Growing more slowly and eating little, they took time to heal. Eventually they healed and gained weight, with Henry the rooster growing the most.

We ate Henry last weekend. My wife said he was the tenderest. Thanks Greta!

Subdivide & Conquer (in secret)

Video by Ken McCrea, East Cocalico (Any) Township, Lanc. Co. PA,

If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?

Appearing before the Board of Supervisors in May, Aural Arndt of the Lehigh County Authority cited local control, economies of scale, it's AA credit rating and in-house expertise as advantages over self operation of our Township sewer plant.

LCA proffered sewer rates likely well below Lynn's rate as projected in the approved Act 537 Plan. The excerpt can be heard here.

So while the Sewer Authority forges a new direction, DEP remains cautious.

Be careful in the minefield, says I!

Before the Township or Authority embarks on new debt, higher sewer rates and/or taxpayer guarantees, due diligence requires an examination into LCA's proposals.

Did you hear that tree fall? Probably not, methinks.

So as to avoid accusations of editorial conspiracy, the entire meeting can be heard here. Enjoy, (or not)!

What kids learn in school these days!

The above post card was circulated at Lehigh Carbon Technical Institute (High School Vo-tech for the uninitiated).

The post card promotes last month's Teen Diva Party at Crocodile Rock, May 9, 2009, 8:00pm to 2:00am. Sponsored by Solid Ground Entertainment, all ages were reportedly welcome.

Would you let your teen daughter (un)dress that way at a party at Croc Rock til 2:00am? Just what is a Teen Diva "all ages welcome" Party anyway?

This advertisement makes me wonder!

2009 Primary Election "Freddies"

Highlighting Lehigh County’s campaign brilliance and gaffes for the 2009 Municipal Primary. The nominations are . . .

Number 10: Dietrich in Lynn Township
It was not the Hatfields versus the McCoys in the race for Supervisor. Nope, it was Dietrich versus Dietrich!

Area diary farmer Brian Dietrich was pitted against his cousin’s son, Mike Dietrich, a Bally Borough Public Works Superintendent

The winner?

Well Dietrich, of course!

Number 9: Terry Stoudt in North Whitheall Township
The Pennsylvania Campaign Finance Law mandates that all advertisements include a statement with the name of the person or committee who financed the advertisement. 25 P.S. 3258.

So exactly, who paid for those Terry Stoudt yard signs?

Only the Shadow knows! The signs didn’t say!

Number 8: Abraham "Abe" Ahner in Washington Township:
One term Supervisor and Board Chairman sought re-election. His wife, Jo Ann Ahner is the Township Secretary/Treasurer.

Ahner's potential adversary? Democrat Edward Yesik

Alas, Ahner lost to Republican spoiler Gerald Phillips.

No dessert for Abe! Just who signs Abe's check anyway?

Number 7: County Commissioner Candidate Thomas Creighton
Creighton's mailer cited Lynn Township's 30% property tax cut. Hmm, 1.3 mils reduced to 1.0 mils, 30%? Hmmmm.

Just what the County needs, a fiscal conservative that sucks at math!

Number 6: Political satirist Scott Ott,
Great Scott! If you think County government is a joke, a comedian is the perfect candidate!

Number 5: Lowhill Township’s Democratic machine
Lowhill democrats offered no, nada, zero balloted candidates in the field for any elected position.

Lowhill must be all hunky dory, thanks to those pesky Republicans!

Number 4: Lynn Supervisor Candidate Mike Dietrich
Mike's mailer cited an alleged conspiracy to wrest control of the Board from Supervisor Kermit Delong.

Pray tell who circulated Mike’s nomination petition? (Hint: Kermit Delong) In a shocking twist, a conspirator alleged a conspiracy!

Comming up, scenes from the next episode of 24!

Number 3: The empty slot for Lynn Township Auditor
With all the fuss about taxing and spending, everyone, someone, anyone should run for auditor. No one did.

I nominate Carson Baer! Really!

Number 2: Dick Nepon
While Dick urged supporters to make their own yard signs his campaign accepted no money. Excuse me, I have a craft show to attend!

Number 1: Thomas Creighton

Tom Creighton again makes the list, this time for swiping the winning pose first made famous on Don Cunningham's myspace page.

Shades of an executive? Well, he has got the pose!

. . . AND THE FREDDY GOES TO. . .

Anyone but Mel!

Faced with no choice for the Democrat nomination, one Lynnport voter wrote-in his preferred nominee: Anyone but Mel!

So it's now the second year the candidate Anyone but Mel drew at least one write-in vote in the nod for Supervisor.

I guess that means her husband Marv is OK, unless of course, he was, that one vote!

Do I see a dog house in his future?

The Wal-mart election in North Whitehall Township

The Republican nomination for supervisor in North Whitehall Township was a notable election, in part, because of the controversy surrounding the proposed Wal-mart in Schnecksville. New commer Jerry Joseph, known for his advocacy against the proposed Wal-mart, ran against long time incumbent Terry Stoudt.

Stoudt pretty much got spanked! The vote was 474 to 344.

However, the ballot position for supervisor on the democratic side was empty, which left the democratic nomination up for grabs. Consider 2003. Stoudt secured the democratic nomination with just 16 votes, and thereby secured both ballots.

The Lehigh County Voter's Office won't have the official tally for write-in candidates available for another week. So I took a drive to the polls and read the tapes, which are posted at each balloting station along with the summary chart.

My unofficial tally, discounting any misspellings, show Jerry Joseph also won the democratic nomination, by a vote of 122 to 20.

I cant be sure about the tally for the votes cast at the Schnecksville Grange because only one tape was posted. Each machine yields a separate tape. So long as the Grange had only one voting machine, the above tally should be nearly correct. Yet with any margin of error, looks like Jerry Joseph won both ballots.

That sends a message! Will anyone hear it?

Wall Street Journal on declining AARC developments

WSJ December 1, 2008.

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. -- For Sheldon Behr, buying a condo in Century Village East has meant the chance to live out his retirement years with other older adults who enjoy golf, long walks and comedy nights at the clubhouse. But with the financial crisis deepening and the housing market stalled, a growing number of units at the 55-and-over community are lying vacant.

Some residents are now considering the once unthinkable: letting younger people in -- a proposition that has pitted neighbor against neighbor. "We don't want someone to come in and suddenly have a flock of kids," says Mr. Behr, 65 years old, who opposes the move. "That'll destroy our village forever."

At "active adult" developments across the U.S., residents are debating whether to scrap the age restrictions that have helped define their way of life for almost five decades. Proponents of "age desegregation," as it's known in the industry, say opening the doors to people under 55 is the only way their once-idyllic enclaves can stay afloat amid a worsening economic climate.

From Florida to Arizona, condos are sitting idle as potential buyers find themselves stuck, unable to sell their houses and relocate. Read the full article.

My grandfather's castle: Stokesay

As I wrote before my grandfather was George Heister, the second son of Isaac Heister 1856-1905 and Mary Kimmel Baer of Berks County, daugther of George F. Baer. That means little to most unless you once visited Stokesay Castle in Reading, Pennsylvania.

George Baer Heister, my grandfather, built Stokesay Castle in 1931. He sold it to a group of private investors in 1956 after offering it first to my mother. The asking price then was $58,000. She declined. Today taxes alone are $62,000 per year.

After years sitting idle in bankruptcy, Stokesay was put on the auction block. last March Selling price was $593,600, which included the adjacent residence. Add $27,500 for the liquor license with several dozen half-empty bottles included. One "bidder" actually imbibed! He was totally trashed by the end of the auction.

Electricity was off. Pipes and plumbing had burst. Plaster was falling and mold was growing. Yet, the tables were still set. Canned food still lined the pantry.

As this video shows, its been a long time since someone got married at Stokesay.

AARC and Sewer Election Redux!

AARC/AQC Draft with overlay in VC and RR April 2009

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Law & Government Business & Law age 55+ aqc

Just a few days following my post about the low key election in Lynn Township, Supervisor Candidate Mike Dietrich’s election mailer hit most mailboxes, mine excluded. In short time however, I received copies forwarded by others.

I’ll leave the personal stuff aside. That’s not my bailiwick, but I will point out other inaccuracies.

First, Mike cites this post for the proposition that I want start the sewer planning process all over again. That 10 year Act 537 planning fiasco cost the Township well more than the $200K.

So I have been steadfast in not wanting to start the planning process over again. Lets not go there. The Department of Environmental Protection reviewed and approved our plan. We have an approved plan. That is a far cry from 10 years ago. Its a far cry from even 3 years ago, my first year in office.

It is time to get on with it. Build the plant. Apply for funding. Do it before the funding is gone. We missed two rounds of funding already. Dont miss the last round.

As to the impasse between engineers, I wrote before, we can’t have the Township’s engineering firm threatening to sue the Authority’s engineering firm and vice versa. That situation was intolerable. Dare one think otherwise?

I repeatedly suggested that the Township and Authority jointly interview and select one firm, so that our respective engineers work better and more efficiently with each other, rather than against each other. That suggestion was unheeded. The result was what it was.

Second, Mike cited the AARC ordinance prepared by outside counsel. Outside counsel conceded that his ordinance was incomplete, yet it cost $15,000 (not 12K).

I voted against retaining outside counsel because his rate was $300/hour, nearly 3-times our regular rate. I questioned the legality of paying 3 times our normal rate with taxpayer funds. So I voted, nay.

Our new solicitor (inside counsel) prepared another version. The board twice considered and approved its components. The votes were unanimous. The draft is complete and can be read here.

The new draft is actually less restrictive than the former draft. First, it allows an AARC/AQC in the VC and the RR, so it includes more land area. Second, the new draft also allows business in the overlay as a matter of right. The purpose was to create a more integrated community with vibrant commercial establishments. The new draft requires less land. The developer need not build out 60 acres at once, but can develop in phases, 30 acres each.

My insistence for some things concern traffic and sewer. We must plan to make our roads safer before we open further development. A traffic advisory committee is imperative. The project must also use municipal sewer. Density can be decided by the 7 members on the planning commission. All but one member were appointed by my predecessor.

Cost of the new draft was a whopping $1100! That's eleven hundred dollars versus the fifteen thousand dollars which Kermit Delong sought for outside counsel. Yet, they say, I wasted money!

Yet, I agree with Mike in one respect. The future of our Township requires citizens that are concerned and knowledgeable about the issues. That’s why I post the audio of our meetings, public documents and link to our meeting minutes.

Hold your candidates and public officials, myself included, accountable. Don’t accept personal agendas. Inquire for yourself. Don't believe the hype.