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News From NW4SD
Board of Supervisors Meeting on Tuesday
July 18, 2010
Board of Supervisors Meeting on July 20th at 7:30 pm
Agenda Item: Public Hearing for the Rezoning of the Schnecksville Fire
Company Baseball Field from Agricultural/Residential to Planned Commercial
Situation:
Mr. Robert Johnson has offered to swap 52 acres of his land along both sides of Old Packhouse Road for 2.55 acres of land owned by the Schnecksville Fire Company, but only if the Fire Company obtains a zoning change from Agricultural/Residential to Planned Commercial. Mr. Johnson would like to connect the Fire Company’s land (currently a baseball field) to the acreage he already owns directly in front of the Schnecksville Fire Company. Combined together, both parcels of land would equal approximately 6 acres of Planned Commercial property. Mr. Johnson has stated this would be sufficient for 33,000 square feet of commercial development.
Concern:
North Whitehall Township Supervisors Ron Stahley and Ron Heintzelman both hold official positions within the Schnecksville Fire Company. Mr. Stahley is the Fire Chief and Mr. Heintzelman is a Trustee. Also, Mr. Heintzelman has family members who hold several official positions within the Fire Company. If Mr. Stahley and Mr. Heintzelman vote on this deal as currently structured, these two supervisors would be placing themselves in a possible conflict of interest situation.
Alternatives:
First: The Board of Supervisors (BOS) could decide this deal as structured places two of the Supervisors into a conflict of interest, and therefore a quorum would not exist for voting on rezoning. If Mr. Johnson wishes to swap land with the Schnecksville Fire Company, he could do so and then come before the BOS at a later date and request to have his land rezoned to Planned Commercial on his own. Then, neither Supervisor would have a conflict of interest.
Second: If the BOS wishes to vote on the rezoning/land swap deal as structured, then they should make a request for an “Advisory Opinion” from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission before doing so. This land swap deal places Mr. Stahley and Mr. Heintzelman on some very thin ice with regards to ethics, and they should obtain approval from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission before proceeding with a vote. The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has a website and the process looks quite simple to obtain an Advisory Opinion. Here is the link to their webpage that explains how to make a request for an Advisory Opinion:
http://www.ethics.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/advisories/11219
What can you do?
Please plan to attend this next BOS meeting and let your voice be heard. We should all expect our elected officials to conduct themselves in a manner that never brings their ethics into question. If Mr. Stahley and Mr. Heintzelman choose to vote on this deal as currently structured without the approval of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, then both men will have brought their ethics into serious question. NW4SD feels Mr. Johnson is asking Mr. Stahley and Mr. Heintzelman to put their ethics on the line in order to obtain his objective. That’s just not right. We hope you feel the same.
Please note NW4SD has a new email address: nw4sd@verizon.net
Proposed Zoning Changes
July 7, 2010
At the July 20th Board of Supervisors Meeting scheduled for 7:30 pm at the Township Building, the supervisors will conduct a public hearing to amend the North Whitehall Township Zoning Ordinance of 2002. Amending this ordinance would change the zoning on the Schnecksville Fire Company’s baseball field from Agricultural Residential to Planned Commercial. What are some of the consequences if this change occurs? Please click on the link and read the two page article to find out what this change may mean for our township and what you can do about it. Proposed Zoning Changes
No Sale, Walmart Says
April 30, 2010
If the opponents of the proposed North Whitehall Walmart thought they would have their concerns addressed by Walmart’s response to a score or more of conditions proposed by the North Whitehall Township Board of Supervisors, they were quickly disappointed by Walmart’s reaction on April 26. [Read more]
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North Whitehall for Sustainable Development is a volunteer community organization dedicated to promoting responsible township development that conserves natural resources and ecological balance, while also providing for the needs of the residents in and around North Whitehall Township.
How You Can Help:
- Donate to North Whitehall for Sustainable Development.
(Funds raised are being used for legal fees and engineering studies and evaluation)
Please send donations to:
North Whitehall for Sustainable Development, PO Box 117, Orefield, PA 18069 - Write letters to N.W. Township Supervisors expressing your concerns!
North Whitehall Township Supervisors, North Whitehall Township, 3256 Levans Road, Coplay PA 18037
For your convenience use this form letter. - Attend all Township meetings.
Link to: N Whitehall Calendar of Meeting Dates - Subscribe to our email newsletter for up to date information and upcoming meetings. To subscribe send email to nw4sd@verizon.net.