Decorum and Civility: They're More than Words in the Dictionary

From the BCCT.

I'm told that Monday's special meeting of the board of chosen accomplices started with a statement that "public comment is welcomed" and that it only took a few minutes before the Emperor was bashing the speakers and the speakers were bashing right back.

There were a few calls for civility in the midst of the emergency, but the personalities populating the polarities of the situation seem to have already been determined and are digging in for a long haul.

The "new" board, now a year old, had a chance for such a fresh start and immediately began with the concealment of information, the now emerging email chains of back room deals. Hoping for change from the current board is like hoping the scorpion won't sting the frog. Fat chance: it's the scorpion's nature.

If you are unhappy with the way things are working in Morrisville, the time to step in is NOW. The filing deadline for candidates for the May primary is only a few short weeks away. Several seats will be open on both the board of education and the borough council.

Vote out those who can't be trusted. Bring in the people who will work for the future.

New supervisors chairman calls for civility, decorum
By: DANNY ADLER

Vincent Deon, Northampton's freshly appointed supervisors chairman, called for "civility and decorum" during public meetings in the new year. However, Monday's reorganization meeting was marked with the increasingly common sparring and heckling that's seeped its way into town hall over the past year.

"We need to do the people's business without all of the bickering and political infighting that's infiltrated the meetings in the past year," Deon said. "The residents of this township deserve better and we must deliver."

That might be easier said than done.

During the three-hour meeting, board members raised their voices and interrupted one another. At one point, Supervisor Frank Rothermel, a Democrat, mimicked Republican Supervisor George Komelasky as he spoke and chopped his hand on the dais.

Komelasky had suggested that both Rothermel and his fellow Democratic supervisor, Jim Cunningham, resign from the board. And Deon asked Cunningham to watch his language after saying "goddamn" during the televised meeting. ("I'm sorry, I offer it up as a prayer of patience," Cunningham responded.)

Deon had even asked one audience member to leave the meeting after he was heckled. Apparently, Deon spoke with the resident during a brief recess and he was not forced to leave.

There were accusations of supervisors putting out half-truths and inaccuracies, cronyism, mud-slinging and smear tactics.

One resident, Marvin Gold, likened the board to the deserted schoolboys in William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," suggesting the Republicans are "bullies" who "are afraid to discuss issues."

"I'm disappointed, I'm saddened, I'm embarrassed, I'm frustrated," Gold said, "+ I thought you men were better than this. I thought eventually you'd come to your senses. I thought eventually you'd stop pissing on the public, but I see tonight's not quite that night, not just yet."

"We're not bullies," Deon said Tuesday. "I invite the discourse."

Republicans criticized Rothermel for his heavy emphasis on issues relating to the Northampton Bucks County Municipal Authority - with both the controversial $11.5 million west end sewer expansion plan and a lawsuit involving the Richboro Shopping Center - and for "running a political campaign" at the township's meetings.

"I think business needs to be conducted as business for the citizens, not for the politicians," said resident James Kinney, a Republican committeeman who served as a supervisor for 24 years.

Rothermel dismissed the criticism Tuesday afternoon. "We're trying to change politics as normal in Northampton," he said.

The supervisors also clashed on some key appointments during the reorganization meeting.

Appointments for supervisors' chairman, vice chairman, township solicitor and vacancy board chairman were split along party lines. Others, such as those to the township's municipal authority, were on the agenda but never brought up for a vote.

Rothermel wanted the board to "put a good foot forward" and work towards bipartisanship by appointing Cunningham as vice chairman after Deon was appointed chairman. Ultimately, Republican John Long Jr. was appointed vice chairman. Komelasky said it wasn't a partisan issue and he had confidence in Long's leadership.

The Republicans reappointed solicitor Ed Rudolph. The Democrats opposed the reappointment, with Rothermel saying he wanted an independent solicitor because Rudolph also serves as the municipal authority's solicitor.

Republicans also appointed Robert Borkowski, secretary of the local GOP committee, as the vacancy board chairman. The Democrats voted against it.

Cunningham said: "2009's getting off to a bang-up start."

"All in all, I think things went pretty well this evening," Deon said at the end of the meeting, getting a roomful of laughs from the crowd. "Clearly, we have a lot to work on on this board."

SEPTA and Morrisville

From the BCCT.

The story mentions the $25,000 portion of the grant that Morrisville needs to come up with. I received an email that reported a Borough Council Member has previously applied for another transportation-oriented grant of approx. $42,000. At this point in time, there's no information available that grant was approved or not.

This is wonderful news! I have no idea who the council member is, but the idea that we could potentially already have most of the pieces in place to move this study along is great. A portion of the grant could be used to cover most of the $25,000 that Morrisville needs to provide.

I've called the borough council a do-nothing group intent on allow Morrisville to stagnate and fail. Here's a sign that at least one forward thinking council member is out there.

Planner to discuss transit ideas for borough
By: DANNY ADLER

SEPTA has no long-term plans to create a stop in Morrisville.

A professional planner will meet with Morrisville's economic development corporation this week about a possible study aimed at creating a transit-oriented borough.

The vision is to use mass transit and the borough's walkability as a catalyst for redevelopment.

Brian Miller, of the Miller Design Group in Newtown Township, will meet with the corporation at 7 p.m. Thursday at borough hall, 35 Union St. The meeting is open to the public.

Proponents say a new train station along SEPTA's R7 rail line is vital to the "transit revitalization investment district." Morrisville had a train station that was discontinued in the 1960s.

SEPTA spokesman Felipe Suarez said the transportation authority has no long-term plans to create a stop in Morrisville.

A Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant is available to help pay for the study. The DCED could give up to $75,000, with a local match of up to $25,000.

Steve Amend, chairman of the borough economic development corporation, said a transit-oriented plan would attract developers to Morrisville, which for years has sought to revitalize.

Miller has created plans for other Lower Bucks towns.

He presented Penndel's Renaissance Plan in September 2007. It called for a hotel, supermarket, drugstore, office space, amphitheater, art studios, apartments and acres of open space.

The new Croydon plan for Bristol Township, presented in November 2007, called for office parks, outdoor theaters, a 17-acre environmental center and a multi-story transit center, eight marinas, a skate park and hundreds of acres of existing homes cleared for open space.

Penndel and Bristol Township officials haven't taken concrete steps to implement the plans.