April 17, 2019 – Upper Nazareth Supervisors Meeting
Absent: Donna Hirst and Brian Pulliam
Announcements
April 19th – Easter Egg Hunt at 2:00 PM
April 22nd – April 26th– Curbside yard waste collection
The Safety Committee meets on April 26th at noon
April 27th – Electronics Collection at 500 Bushkill Drive Easton, PA from 9AM – Noon
May 1st – Board of Supervisor’s meeting
May 2nd – 6:30 Open Space meeting at Lower Nazareth Elementary School, 4422 Newburg Road, Nazareth
May 9th – Planning Commission Regular meeting
Public Comment
A Bangor resident, who owns lots on Kessler Street and Cameron Street, told the Supervisors that the Assessment office combined his two properties on a map but did not join the deeds. He requested the Supervisors contact the County with their approval to change the maps because he has neighbors who want to buy the lots. The Supervisors approved Gary Asteak to review the paperwork and move the process forward.
A landowner, who’s approached the board several times about a broken fence in Eagle’s Landing, gave documents to the Supervisors.
2018 Financial Audit by Maher Duessel
The auditor determined the report was materially correct. She reported that the General Revenue fund increased by $200,000 from 2017 to 2018, but that increase was offset by a decrease in grants.
Last year, expenses exceeded revenue by $250,000 from a reduction in HUD funding, and increases in Police salaries, workman’s comp and health insurance, and public work’s expenses. Market increases did make up some of the loss, but weren’t reflected in the final total because the audit ended at December 31.
The auditor also criticized the township’s internal controls.
First Step for Preserving Open Space
The Supervisors approved a motion for Gary Asteak to begin preparing an Ordinance to add an Open Space Preservation Tax to the General Election Ballot (November 5). Bushkill has had a preservation plan in place for several years. Lower Nazareth has put the tax on their ballot for the May primary. If Upper Nazareth doesn’t put a plan in place soon, all of the development will come to this township.
Nazareth Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan
Scott Sylvanius reported that the process is currently on hold, waiting for state funding.
Solicitor’s Report
A local farm had applied to hold farm activities on their land. Gary is working with the owner’s lawyer on a submission of a land development plan for parking lots, tent locations, sewer capacity, etc.
Township Engineer
Heritage Village is getting ready to file Phases 3 and 4.
The Penn Dixie Road bridge should be finished soon. There was an overage for specialized grout which had to be applied underwater–$13,698.
Administration
The HOME program will return $100,000 back to the state due to a lack of applications. These grants are for single family homes to bring them up to code. The maximum amount of each grant can’t exceed $24,900. The state limited the township to a targeted area last year which decreased potential applicants.
The Nazareth Intermediate School has received PennDOT approval to install ’35 mph school zones’ signs on Tatamy Road.
The Board approved Betty Parish to attend a Historical Cultural Assets Plan meeting.
The Nazareth COG sent over the Animal Control Officer report. There were no cases of lost dogs in Upper Nazareth in the first quarter of 2019.
Your Tax Dollars at Work
Approval to use Home Town Press for the next two township newsletters to be published in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Costs are covered by advertisements.
Approval for the engineer to prepare a report to justify the need for a traffic study to lower the speed limit on Gun Club Road from 35 to 25 mph. (A representative from JVI Tadmoor attended the meeting but did not comment)
Approval to install internet access to connect to the cameras at the Friedenstahl Garage at a cost of $45-$48/month.
Approval to but 2 Zero Turn Mowers at a cost of $19,868.
Becky Bartlett covers these meetings because citizens have a right to know what their government is doing.
Upper Nazareth Township Meetings 