I watched the presentation being made by Todd Colarusso to the zoning board, and as I said before, I thought the strip club was going to be a certainty. Then came the surprise U-turn swapping advertising for stripping. I was immediately uneasy. This was the same bait and switch I was taught to avoid in used car salesmen and politicians. However, this idea still has merit, minus the second floor strip club plans.
Now that both variance applications have been rejected by the zoning board, it's apparently off to court. "Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court. Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall."
Todd, this isn't going to help matters. It's pretty clear that the residents do not want to have a strip club here. It's also pretty clear that Morrisville needs to have the Stockham Building filled and rented. Take a look at the acrimony and animosity surrounding the new school building and Gateway issues and imagine it doubled or tripled.
I can't see this ending well. A strip club forced onto the residents would most likely be met with stiff community resistance.
Zoning Board: No strip club in Morrisville
By Petra Chesner Schlatter; Staff Editor
Morrisville Borough residents said they were happy when they heard the Morrisville Zoning Hearing Board's (MZHB) decision not to allow a burlesque-style theater with topless women in their town.
The request to allow the strip club in Morrisville Borough's old commercial zone was unanimously rejected May 6 by the board.
Todd Colarusso, president of Stockham Interests, LLC of Princeton, N.J., said after the meeting that he would appeal the decision in Bucks County Common Pleas Court.
Colarusso threatened there will be a strip club as he stood outside on the steps of borough hall.
According to board solicitor Dennis Denard, the MZHB must issue a written decision within 45 days of the hearing. Once issued, Stockham Interests, LLC has the right to appeal within 30 days.
In a 365-degree turn, Colarusso had said during the hearing that he would drop his original application for a zoning variance could be used by area businesses.
Pastor Gary Taylor of the 1st Baptist Church said he was concerned for the moral content of the sign and whether it could be controlled in the future.
Taylor said there would be adverse effects on the community because "Morrisville would be known for that particular establishment."
The applicant said he would not allow advertisements for alcohol, tobacco, condoms or abortion.
Hal Wilcox, a local sports coach, said he volunteers with the Solid Rock Youth Center, which is located on the second floor of the 1st Baptist Church. "I coach youth in this town. I teach them right from wrong. Morrisville does not need adult entertainment." He stressed the church is located "right down the street" from the Stockham building.
Three church pastors appealed to the board to reject the proposal to allow the burlesque theatre.
Father John Eckert, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic Church on Pennsylvania Avenue, quoted the book of Matthew from the Bible. He said when a man "looks at a woman with lust, he has already committed adultery."
Rev. Frank Sanders, pastor of the Morrisville United Methodist Church, said, "We stand in solidarity with him (Father Eckert)." Sanders questioned whether broken windows at the Stockham building would be replaced.
Colarusso said if a future tenant does not repair them in a few months, he would see that they would be replaced.
Along with other residents, Clarissa Taylor, Rev. Taylor's daughter, said if the adult entertainment use were approved, youths passing by the building to walk to and from school would be adversely influenced.
"They're going to dwell on it every single day."
After the 3 ½ hour presentation, discussion and public comment, the board voted 3-0 to reject the application for adult entertainment and an alternate option of a billboard or nylon hanging 'wallscape' for the west side of the historic Stockham building, located in Morrisville's ailing commercial district at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street.
Adult entertainment in the C-1 district is not allowed, however it is allowed in the two industrial zones.
Presenting stacks of paperwork to the board, Bruce McLaughlin, a witness for the applicant, argued that adult entertainment does not have an adverse effect on the community. He cited court decisions, which allowed adult entertainment. He said vagrants and undesirables would not congregate around a building offering adult entertainment.
Holly Mikhailik, of Casabella Design in Hamilton Township, N.J, said the proposed facility would be a French-style Moulon Rouge décor. A painting of a French café was shown for the first floor. Later, Councilwoman Jane Burger, who said she was not speaking as a public official, said that image was unacceptable to her.
In addition to the proposed restaurant on the first floor and a burlesque theater on the second floor, the applicant wants to rent the third and fourth floors to a fitness center. The center would provide babysitting services. That service was questioned since children would have to pass the proposed adult entertainment area on the second floor.
The applicant said the babysitting service would be located more than 500 feet from the burlesque area.
After the meeting, Morrisville Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said the zoning board deemed the burlesque club "inappropriate and not acceptable." Sherlock said she agreed with the board's decision.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Schools News Around the Blogosphere
Rendell's graduate skills test in trouble
Philadelphia Inquirer
Dozens of legislators and school boards statewide are objecting. They say local districts are the best judge.
A Rendell administration proposal to establish state high school graduation tests in 10 subjects has generated stiff opposition that threatens to scuttle the initiative.
Billions Needed to Fix Pr. George's Schools
Washington Post
The school system requires $2.1B to fix its aging buildings, according to a study that finds many schools running on antiquated equipment and deteriorating inside and out
The great literacy testing debacle in the United States
EducationNews.org
The United States seems to be caught up in measurement mania when it comes to literacy. The No Child Left Behind law calls for extensive testing of children's reading abilities in different grade levels. For adults, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has developed adult literacy tests, while Title 2: The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of the WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 calls for accountability measures that the DOE has implemented in a national reporting system that makes extensive use of adult literacy tests.
Special Ed Proposals Draw Scrutiny
Washington Post
Va. plans to give schools more leeway to suspend certain services for students and reduce the number of progress reports families receive. The most controversial proposal would give schools more leeway to suspend certain special services for students, such as speech or occupational health therapy. The targeted services would remain in place if parents object, pending a resolution of the dispute with the school system.
SpecialEdAdvocate.org
Student Tests - and Teacher Grades
Wall Street Journal
By John Merrow
Schools now have plenty of data to be able to see who is learning and why. Suppose a swimming instructor told his 10-year-old students to swim the length of the pool to demonstrate what he'd taught them, and half of them nearly drowned? Would it be reasonable to make a judgment about his teaching ability?
Advanced Placement courses, once a model for learning, are mere memory tests now.
Bursting the AP bubble
Los Angeles Times
By Tom Stanley-Becker
I'M AN AP DROPOUT. When classmates in my Advanced Placement U.S. history course take the AP exam Friday, I won't be with them. When they pick up their pencils and start filling in those little bubbles, I'll be reading the words of George Kennan, Lillian Hellman, Harry Truman and Paul Robeson
Charter-school fans want more
Denver Post
A group of angry parents stood before the Denver school board last month, holding up newspaper articles about a high-performing charter school and asking why their children were unable to receive the same education.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Dozens of legislators and school boards statewide are objecting. They say local districts are the best judge.
A Rendell administration proposal to establish state high school graduation tests in 10 subjects has generated stiff opposition that threatens to scuttle the initiative.
Billions Needed to Fix Pr. George's Schools
Washington Post
The school system requires $2.1B to fix its aging buildings, according to a study that finds many schools running on antiquated equipment and deteriorating inside and out
The great literacy testing debacle in the United States
EducationNews.org
The United States seems to be caught up in measurement mania when it comes to literacy. The No Child Left Behind law calls for extensive testing of children's reading abilities in different grade levels. For adults, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has developed adult literacy tests, while Title 2: The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act of the WorkforceInvestment Act of 1998 calls for accountability measures that the DOE has implemented in a national reporting system that makes extensive use of adult literacy tests.
Special Ed Proposals Draw Scrutiny
Washington Post
Va. plans to give schools more leeway to suspend certain services for students and reduce the number of progress reports families receive. The most controversial proposal would give schools more leeway to suspend certain special services for students, such as speech or occupational health therapy. The targeted services would remain in place if parents object, pending a resolution of the dispute with the school system.
SpecialEdAdvocate.org
Student Tests - and Teacher Grades
Wall Street Journal
By John Merrow
Schools now have plenty of data to be able to see who is learning and why. Suppose a swimming instructor told his 10-year-old students to swim the length of the pool to demonstrate what he'd taught them, and half of them nearly drowned? Would it be reasonable to make a judgment about his teaching ability?
Advanced Placement courses, once a model for learning, are mere memory tests now.
Bursting the AP bubble
Los Angeles Times
By Tom Stanley-Becker
I'M AN AP DROPOUT. When classmates in my Advanced Placement U.S. history course take the AP exam Friday, I won't be with them. When they pick up their pencils and start filling in those little bubbles, I'll be reading the words of George Kennan, Lillian Hellman, Harry Truman and Paul Robeson
Charter-school fans want more
Denver Post
A group of angry parents stood before the Denver school board last month, holding up newspaper articles about a high-performing charter school and asking why their children were unable to receive the same education.
Friday, May 9, 2008
The State of Apathy
I received an email today that has me absolutely shocked and downright despondent at the same time. I was asked to not provide the specific details, so I've removed some of the information and changed some other items, but the general message is unchanged.
The writer asks for feedback, so let's open it up for discussion.
I have some friends who live in Morrisville. They are young, have no children yet and have lived in town for several years.
We were talking other day, and as it happened, the conversation came around to (OK, I brought it up) the various goings on in town. I wanted to get their views on things.
Much to my shock, they had no idea what was going on. They were vaguely aware of the “build a new school” issue, and asked what side of the fence I was on for that. I mentioned that since it was all but over and the district had moved on to other issues it didn’t matter how I felt. They nodded. They were unaware of the politics, of the infighting, of all the things that your blog and the papers cover.
I asked how they felt about the Gateway center, and about the Stockham building. They were unaware of those issues also. They did mention that they were glad that there was a new restaurant going into the “new building” on Bridge street.
These are intelligent and articulate people who monitor national and state issues.
They are oblivious to local issues.
I just had to shake my head over this. I was aghast.
It got me to thinking, in light of all that has been said about voter turnout, about people from Morrisville making bad choices in leaders and turning a blind eye to issues, that maybe there is a majority of people in this bedroom community, who only look at Morrisville as a place to eat and sleep. That they don’t have a care or interest at all in how the town is run, or where it is headed.
I’d be curious to read your thoughts on this, and to read the thoughts and experiences of others as well.
The writer asks for feedback, so let's open it up for discussion.
I have some friends who live in Morrisville. They are young, have no children yet and have lived in town for several years.
We were talking other day, and as it happened, the conversation came around to (OK, I brought it up) the various goings on in town. I wanted to get their views on things.
Much to my shock, they had no idea what was going on. They were vaguely aware of the “build a new school” issue, and asked what side of the fence I was on for that. I mentioned that since it was all but over and the district had moved on to other issues it didn’t matter how I felt. They nodded. They were unaware of the politics, of the infighting, of all the things that your blog and the papers cover.
I asked how they felt about the Gateway center, and about the Stockham building. They were unaware of those issues also. They did mention that they were glad that there was a new restaurant going into the “new building” on Bridge street.
These are intelligent and articulate people who monitor national and state issues.
They are oblivious to local issues.
I just had to shake my head over this. I was aghast.
It got me to thinking, in light of all that has been said about voter turnout, about people from Morrisville making bad choices in leaders and turning a blind eye to issues, that maybe there is a majority of people in this bedroom community, who only look at Morrisville as a place to eat and sleep. That they don’t have a care or interest at all in how the town is run, or where it is headed.
I’d be curious to read your thoughts on this, and to read the thoughts and experiences of others as well.
From the Mailbag
I received this email today and thought I would share it with you.
Thank you for the compliment. I do try to be fair.
What do you think about this?
Hello,
I read and enjoy your blog every day.It is very informative and you seem to be even handed about issues that affect our children's education.
Recently I saw a job posting in my daughter's school, Grandview Elementary. The job entails "taking minutes at school board meeting once or twice a month".
I was under the impression that this was Ms. Mihok's job,for which she receives a stipend.
This does not sound(to me)to be a very good use of our tax money.If you get a chance, please look into this and "put it out there", because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks for your time and effort on behalf of our children, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my name.
Morrisville Parent
Thank you for the compliment. I do try to be fair.
What do you think about this?
Hello,
I read and enjoy your blog every day.It is very informative and you seem to be even handed about issues that affect our children's education.
Recently I saw a job posting in my daughter's school, Grandview Elementary. The job entails "taking minutes at school board meeting once or twice a month".
I was under the impression that this was Ms. Mihok's job,for which she receives a stipend.
This does not sound(to me)to be a very good use of our tax money.If you get a chance, please look into this and "put it out there", because I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere. Thanks for your time and effort on behalf of our children, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't use my name.
Morrisville Parent
Zero Tolerance = Zero Intelligence ?
It doesn't take much to do a search where "Zero Tolerance" and "Zero Intelligence" appear very close to each other in published articles. Most of the time, these citations appear in the context of our schools where six-year-olds are suspended for innocent kisses or Eagle Scouts suspended because they accidentally left a rusted Scout knife in their pack or lost in the car trunk.
Today, Kate Fratti takes a look at an issue at a MHS student's freedom of speech rights balanced against the rights of the staff and administrators.
It's a tough call. But then again, aren't ALL of the teenage related decisions tough calls?
Kudos to Dr. Yonson and the rest of the staff. This was apparently a pretty sticky situation with a lot of extenuating circumstances and related baggage that had the potential to turn into an extremely serious situation.
What it really turned out to be was a typical high school student who was unhappy with the teachers, staff, and administration. What a shocking revelation. Even the "Back to the Future" movies caricatured Mr. Strickland the disciplinarian as a disliked high school fixture. How many of us can say we "liked" our high school teachers? (Yes, there were some we liked and respected, but for the most part, I know I thought of them as associate parents and nearly as annoying as the real thing.)
This student took it a step farther and created songs, burned them to CDs and started selling them. Extra credit points for the entrepreneurial spirit, but the execution of the business plan was not well thought out. Real people in the real world get fired when they use their employer's time and resources for personal gain. This was no different except that it was a high schooler who was using the "employer's" resources. Kids are notorious for not thinking things out fully.
It seems like the punishment here is severe but fits the crime. It's a bitter but reasonable ending for their high school career, and the future (college, etc) will not be effected, unless the students lets that happen.
CD stirs up trouble
Should a boy be allowed to write a song critical of adults running his high school and then produce a music CD with that song as its centerpiece?
Should he be allowed to sell said CD to classmates on school grounds? Isn't that the kind of entrepreneurial spirit adults should applaud?
Does your answer change if the CD lyrics are raunchy? What if they aren't just scandalous, but maybe slanderous, too? Like, what if the boy proclaims in lyrics that one administrator has been ... how can I say this delicately, because the singer did not ... uh, physically intimate with another?
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson says the boy had every right to sing what he thinks, and to lay it down on a CD for sale. You don't have to be old to exercise your right of free expression.
You do have to be old to see around corners, though.
The entertainer shot himself in the foot when he violated school policy by allegedly selling the CD on school grounds, even posting fliers that could have potentially exposed the district to liability for slander, Yonson said. What if it could be argued the CD amounted to a school-sponsored project?
The student cinched his undoing by violating another school policy, allegedly loading the CD onto a school computer to play it for other students. He'd signed a contract, as all the kids do, promising the computers would not be used for anything but school work.
His punishment?
The fledgling musician, a senior, has been suspended, and will not be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies.
The suspension is pretty stiff. The boy will be allowed to complete his senior requirements, but it won't be at Morrisville during the regular school day. He'll likely be invited to do his work at the close of the regular day. His college of choice will not be notified of his recent troubles.
Case closed? Not yet.
Yonson was at a conference in Harrisburg Friday when she got phone calls from the high school telling her lots of kids disagreed with her stand. They planned to walk out of the school in protest of the musician's suspension.
click here!
Kids were informed that any who chose to walk out wouldn't be permitted to participate in sports or any other extracurricular.
“There are proper ways to protest, to have your position heard,” Yonson said. “Walking out of class isn't one of them.” Kids stayed put.
Case closed now?
Not so fast again.
Fueling kids' continued opposition to the musician's suspension, even this week, is by now a well-circulated rumor that another student brought an unloaded gun to school, threatened other kids' safety via a “hit list” on MySpace, but was merely suspended for 10 days.
No fair, kids argued. The musician was being persecuted because he dissed staff, while a kid packing heat got off easy.
Yonson says it's just not true.
Administrators investigated the rumor and found a case of whisper down the lane that reached parents who phoned her. There was no gun in school, administrators found — and no “hit list.”
Yonson did concede that recently a Neshaminy student — who was attending a Bucks County Intermediate Unit support class at Morrisville High — did verbally threaten a classmate. He's been expelled from Morrisville and returned to Neshaminy.
“If he was a Morrisville student, we'd have to deal with him. We don't,” she said.
Some worry the gun rumor was manufactured and fanned by kids close to their music-producing peer who needed an argument to rile other kids.
In the end, the mess had a lot of grownups singing the blues last week — parents, teachers, administrators — all trying to reason with and calm teenagers. No word on whether they'll produce a CD.
Today, Kate Fratti takes a look at an issue at a MHS student's freedom of speech rights balanced against the rights of the staff and administrators.
It's a tough call. But then again, aren't ALL of the teenage related decisions tough calls?
Kudos to Dr. Yonson and the rest of the staff. This was apparently a pretty sticky situation with a lot of extenuating circumstances and related baggage that had the potential to turn into an extremely serious situation.
What it really turned out to be was a typical high school student who was unhappy with the teachers, staff, and administration. What a shocking revelation. Even the "Back to the Future" movies caricatured Mr. Strickland the disciplinarian as a disliked high school fixture. How many of us can say we "liked" our high school teachers? (Yes, there were some we liked and respected, but for the most part, I know I thought of them as associate parents and nearly as annoying as the real thing.)
This student took it a step farther and created songs, burned them to CDs and started selling them. Extra credit points for the entrepreneurial spirit, but the execution of the business plan was not well thought out. Real people in the real world get fired when they use their employer's time and resources for personal gain. This was no different except that it was a high schooler who was using the "employer's" resources. Kids are notorious for not thinking things out fully.
It seems like the punishment here is severe but fits the crime. It's a bitter but reasonable ending for their high school career, and the future (college, etc) will not be effected, unless the students lets that happen.
CD stirs up trouble
Should a boy be allowed to write a song critical of adults running his high school and then produce a music CD with that song as its centerpiece?
Should he be allowed to sell said CD to classmates on school grounds? Isn't that the kind of entrepreneurial spirit adults should applaud?
Does your answer change if the CD lyrics are raunchy? What if they aren't just scandalous, but maybe slanderous, too? Like, what if the boy proclaims in lyrics that one administrator has been ... how can I say this delicately, because the singer did not ... uh, physically intimate with another?
Morrisville Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson says the boy had every right to sing what he thinks, and to lay it down on a CD for sale. You don't have to be old to exercise your right of free expression.
You do have to be old to see around corners, though.
The entertainer shot himself in the foot when he violated school policy by allegedly selling the CD on school grounds, even posting fliers that could have potentially exposed the district to liability for slander, Yonson said. What if it could be argued the CD amounted to a school-sponsored project?
The student cinched his undoing by violating another school policy, allegedly loading the CD onto a school computer to play it for other students. He'd signed a contract, as all the kids do, promising the computers would not be used for anything but school work.
His punishment?
The fledgling musician, a senior, has been suspended, and will not be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies.
The suspension is pretty stiff. The boy will be allowed to complete his senior requirements, but it won't be at Morrisville during the regular school day. He'll likely be invited to do his work at the close of the regular day. His college of choice will not be notified of his recent troubles.
Case closed? Not yet.
Yonson was at a conference in Harrisburg Friday when she got phone calls from the high school telling her lots of kids disagreed with her stand. They planned to walk out of the school in protest of the musician's suspension.
click here!
Kids were informed that any who chose to walk out wouldn't be permitted to participate in sports or any other extracurricular.
“There are proper ways to protest, to have your position heard,” Yonson said. “Walking out of class isn't one of them.” Kids stayed put.
Case closed now?
Not so fast again.
Fueling kids' continued opposition to the musician's suspension, even this week, is by now a well-circulated rumor that another student brought an unloaded gun to school, threatened other kids' safety via a “hit list” on MySpace, but was merely suspended for 10 days.
No fair, kids argued. The musician was being persecuted because he dissed staff, while a kid packing heat got off easy.
Yonson says it's just not true.
Administrators investigated the rumor and found a case of whisper down the lane that reached parents who phoned her. There was no gun in school, administrators found — and no “hit list.”
Yonson did concede that recently a Neshaminy student — who was attending a Bucks County Intermediate Unit support class at Morrisville High — did verbally threaten a classmate. He's been expelled from Morrisville and returned to Neshaminy.
“If he was a Morrisville student, we'd have to deal with him. We don't,” she said.
Some worry the gun rumor was manufactured and fanned by kids close to their music-producing peer who needed an argument to rile other kids.
In the end, the mess had a lot of grownups singing the blues last week — parents, teachers, administrators — all trying to reason with and calm teenagers. No word on whether they'll produce a CD.
Pennsbury SD Budget Increase is 5.3%
Good thing we're not in the Pennsbury district.
Yet.
Preliminary budget includes $231 tax hike
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent. School board members vowed to work to reduce the increase.
By MANASEE WAGH STAFF WRITER
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com
The average Pennsbury taxpayer would face a $231 tax increase under the preliminary budget proposal approved 8-0 by the district school board Thursday night.
The $174.5 million budget plan, about $6.3 million more than last year, includes a 7.4 mill increase for the 2008-2009 year. Figures are based on the district’s average home assessment of $31,160.
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent, more than the state mandated 4.4 percent limit. However, the district applied and received approval for three exceptions to raise the tax rate above the state-mandated percentage in order to fund special education and other costs.
The board cited several reasons for the boost.
Besides employee salaries and benefits, which make up about 75 percent of the 2008-09 expenses, special education costs have risen, as have diesel fuel costs and utilities.
Additionally, falling interest rates have negatively impacted revenues, as has the loss of state subsidies.
Although board members approved the proposed budget, they said they would work to reduce the final numbers.
“My target is around 4 percent. That’s what I was hoping for,” said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Some board members suggested focusing on salaries and benefits to control expenses.
“That’s the only controllable aspect,” said member Arlene Gordon.
To reach the 4.4 percent index demanded by the state, the budget needs to be reduced by more than $1 million.
“We’re going to try to reduce the budget without detracting from programs and services,” said district CEO Paul Long.
The district will continue tweaking the budget until the final 2008-09 budget has to be adopted on June 12.
One board member, Wayne DeBlasio, was absent.
Yet.
Preliminary budget includes $231 tax hike
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent. School board members vowed to work to reduce the increase.
By MANASEE WAGH STAFF WRITER
Manasee Wagh can be reached at 215-949-4206 or mwagh@phillyBurbs.com
The average Pennsbury taxpayer would face a $231 tax increase under the preliminary budget proposal approved 8-0 by the district school board Thursday night.
The $174.5 million budget plan, about $6.3 million more than last year, includes a 7.4 mill increase for the 2008-2009 year. Figures are based on the district’s average home assessment of $31,160.
If approved as is, the tax increase would be 5.3 percent, more than the state mandated 4.4 percent limit. However, the district applied and received approval for three exceptions to raise the tax rate above the state-mandated percentage in order to fund special education and other costs.
The board cited several reasons for the boost.
Besides employee salaries and benefits, which make up about 75 percent of the 2008-09 expenses, special education costs have risen, as have diesel fuel costs and utilities.
Additionally, falling interest rates have negatively impacted revenues, as has the loss of state subsidies.
Although board members approved the proposed budget, they said they would work to reduce the final numbers.
“My target is around 4 percent. That’s what I was hoping for,” said board President Gregory Lucidi.
Some board members suggested focusing on salaries and benefits to control expenses.
“That’s the only controllable aspect,” said member Arlene Gordon.
To reach the 4.4 percent index demanded by the state, the budget needs to be reduced by more than $1 million.
“We’re going to try to reduce the budget without detracting from programs and services,” said district CEO Paul Long.
The district will continue tweaking the budget until the final 2008-09 budget has to be adopted on June 12.
One board member, Wayne DeBlasio, was absent.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Another Surveillance Photo
Our intrepid mole inside the unnamed security agency has obtained another classified photo that should not be shared with anyone.
.jpg)
.jpg)
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Crossposting to Kate Fratti
Kate recently updated her blog with entries on the hiring of Mike Fitzpatrick as solicitor, and the lack of quorum for the school board retreat. Please check it out and leave her some comments to let her know that we appreciate her hard work in keeping us all informed about what is happening here in the borough.
Stockham Strip Club Followup
The BCCT carries a story about the Stockham Building zoning board hearings: Denied on two counts.
Board denies building plans
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER
A property owner in Morrisville proposed two ideas for the largely vacant Stockham building in the borough: a burlesque themed strip club or a 1,000-square-foot billboard.
Morrisville’s zoning hearing board, though, unanimously denied both proposals Monday night at a hearing.
Stockham Interests LLC originally proposed a first floor French-themed restaurant and a gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
The land owner was asking the zoning board for variances to allow adult entertainment in the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and variances from sign regulations.
But more than an hour into the hearing, Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests, said he would kill plans for the “less-than-popular” strip club if the zoning board would allow a 1,000-square foot “soft” vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
“This alternative variance request will allow us to bring in the fitness center on the third and fourth floor … [and] it may very well help us attract a restaurant.”
Many residents spoke out against the gentleman’s club yet seemed to favor the billboard — or at least favor it more than a gentleman’s club.
But resident Barbara Runner said she was wary of the billboard alternative.
“I believe Mr. Colarusso, in my opinion, has threatened this board: Take Option 1 or the lesser of two evils. And I hope you gentlemen will not fall for that,” Runner said.
Stockham Interests denied the charge: “The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable,” Colarusso said.
The zoning hearing board has 45 days from Monday to give a written decision on the matter, and the applicant has 30 days after that to appeal the decision.
Board denies building plans
By DANNY ADLER STAFF WRITER
A property owner in Morrisville proposed two ideas for the largely vacant Stockham building in the borough: a burlesque themed strip club or a 1,000-square-foot billboard.
Morrisville’s zoning hearing board, though, unanimously denied both proposals Monday night at a hearing.
Stockham Interests LLC originally proposed a first floor French-themed restaurant and a gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as a fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
The land owner was asking the zoning board for variances to allow adult entertainment in the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street and variances from sign regulations.
But more than an hour into the hearing, Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests, said he would kill plans for the “less-than-popular” strip club if the zoning board would allow a 1,000-square foot “soft” vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
“This alternative variance request will allow us to bring in the fitness center on the third and fourth floor … [and] it may very well help us attract a restaurant.”
Many residents spoke out against the gentleman’s club yet seemed to favor the billboard — or at least favor it more than a gentleman’s club.
But resident Barbara Runner said she was wary of the billboard alternative.
“I believe Mr. Colarusso, in my opinion, has threatened this board: Take Option 1 or the lesser of two evils. And I hope you gentlemen will not fall for that,” Runner said.
Stockham Interests denied the charge: “The sign alternative was brought to our attention and we brought it here in good faith as a method to make this building economically viable,” Colarusso said.
The zoning hearing board has 45 days from Monday to give a written decision on the matter, and the applicant has 30 days after that to appeal the decision.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Retreat!
I received a message from Joe Kemp reporting on the Cinco de Mayo School Board Director's retreat last night. The forecast for the greater Morrisville area: continuing cloudy, thunderstorms likely with intermittent snarkiness.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M.: Thanks for the blog mention.]
Retreat was attended last night (Cinco de Mayo) by directors Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer and administrators Yonson and Dunford. Dr. Barry Gallosso and Joanne Perotti of the BCIU (for free) put together a PowerPoint and had the big easels out. The goal of the retreat was to find common ground and put together a short list of short-term goals we could all agree on for the district. Since we were several apples short of a consensus tree, we amended the goal to trying to figure out if there can be any trust built up between board members and administrators. Outlook gloomy, but we're going to try to do it again with full participation. Corner me sometime for comments.
Kudos to members Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer, and Yonson and Dunford. Frankenfield remains on the injured reserve list. Assign an incomplete to members Mihok, Heater, Worob, and the big enchilada himself, the Emperor.
I hereby renew the open invitation to any of the nine school board members who want to comment or contribute.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M.: Thanks for the blog mention.]
Retreat was attended last night (Cinco de Mayo) by directors Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer and administrators Yonson and Dunford. Dr. Barry Gallosso and Joanne Perotti of the BCIU (for free) put together a PowerPoint and had the big easels out. The goal of the retreat was to find common ground and put together a short list of short-term goals we could all agree on for the district. Since we were several apples short of a consensus tree, we amended the goal to trying to figure out if there can be any trust built up between board members and administrators. Outlook gloomy, but we're going to try to do it again with full participation. Corner me sometime for comments.
Kudos to members Radosti, Farrell, Kemp and Reithmeyer, and Yonson and Dunford. Frankenfield remains on the injured reserve list. Assign an incomplete to members Mihok, Heater, Worob, and the big enchilada himself, the Emperor.
I hereby renew the open invitation to any of the nine school board members who want to comment or contribute.
Strip Club Plans Dropped?
From the looks of things last night, it seemed like the strip club in the Stockham building was going to be a reality. The owner of the building brought in a professional urban planner who produced ten or twelve studies showing that adult entertainment does not have a negative effect on the area. I thought the coup de grâce was when he stated that there was nothing in the current Morrisville ordinance that prevented an adult bookstore from being put in a certain square footage of the Stockham building, right now!
Then the owner presented a second plan: give us a larger square footage signage variance and we'll drop the strip club variance request. The side of the Stockham Building would have a large "wallscape" nylon mesh advertising panel. The wallscape would showcase the building's tenants at first, and then generic advertising later, minus alcohol, tobacco, and condoms.
I'm appreciative of the willingness for compromise that the owner is showing. It's not a completely black and white issue here. I'm mindful of the difficulties in renting out the Stockham Building. Part is location, part is the borough's (lack of?) maintenance of the parking lot area and downtown maintenance in general, but part is the condition of the building. Any homeowner checks for the building's condition and their ability (or inability) to upgrade the purchase before buying. When the elevator in a four story building doesn't work, let's get it fixed.
This is not an issue where the owner is completely at fault for an inability to rent/sell the floor space. This is not an issue where the borough is completely at fault for making it difficult to rent/sell the floor space. There's room to work together...WITHOUT THE STRIP CLUB...
Owner offers to scrap plans for strip club
The owner of the Stockham building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street offered an alternative zoning request that would eliminate a controversial proposal to bring a burlesque-style gentleman’s club to Morrisville.
Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests LLC, said Monday night he would scrap plans for the strip club if the zoning hearing board allowed him to put a 1,000-square-foot vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
More than 70 residents crowded Monday’s zoning hearing, most of whom seemed to be against the proposed gentleman’s club. As of late Monday, the zoning hearing board did not make a decision.
The original proposal called for an “upscale” French-style restaurant on the first floor and the gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as the fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
Then the owner presented a second plan: give us a larger square footage signage variance and we'll drop the strip club variance request. The side of the Stockham Building would have a large "wallscape" nylon mesh advertising panel. The wallscape would showcase the building's tenants at first, and then generic advertising later, minus alcohol, tobacco, and condoms.
I'm appreciative of the willingness for compromise that the owner is showing. It's not a completely black and white issue here. I'm mindful of the difficulties in renting out the Stockham Building. Part is location, part is the borough's (lack of?) maintenance of the parking lot area and downtown maintenance in general, but part is the condition of the building. Any homeowner checks for the building's condition and their ability (or inability) to upgrade the purchase before buying. When the elevator in a four story building doesn't work, let's get it fixed.
This is not an issue where the owner is completely at fault for an inability to rent/sell the floor space. This is not an issue where the borough is completely at fault for making it difficult to rent/sell the floor space. There's room to work together...WITHOUT THE STRIP CLUB...
Owner offers to scrap plans for strip club
The owner of the Stockham building at Pennsylvania Avenue and Bridge Street offered an alternative zoning request that would eliminate a controversial proposal to bring a burlesque-style gentleman’s club to Morrisville.
Todd Colarusso, a principal with Stockham Interests LLC, said Monday night he would scrap plans for the strip club if the zoning hearing board allowed him to put a 1,000-square-foot vinyl billboard on the side of the building facing Route 1.
More than 70 residents crowded Monday’s zoning hearing, most of whom seemed to be against the proposed gentleman’s club. As of late Monday, the zoning hearing board did not make a decision.
The original proposal called for an “upscale” French-style restaurant on the first floor and the gentleman’s club on the second floor, as well as the fitness center on the third and fourth floors.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Stockham Interests Burlesque Hearing Tonight
The burlesque club application for the second floor of the Stockham building will have its zoning board variance hearing tonight at 7:30 P.M. at borough hall.
We've mentioned this project and the hearing in several places on the blog.
This sounds like a great project...until you get to the second floor plans. We do not need another R or X rated business in town.
Please come out and show your Bulldog pride and principles. Come out and let the zoning board know to reject any proposal that has any R or X rated references
We've mentioned this project and the hearing in several places on the blog.
This sounds like a great project...until you get to the second floor plans. We do not need another R or X rated business in town.
Please come out and show your Bulldog pride and principles. Come out and let the zoning board know to reject any proposal that has any R or X rated references
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Inexperienced Board Members?
We've had the members of the school board referred to as "inexperienced" recently. Is that really the case?
The Emperor: School board, zero. Former Morrisville controller.
Al Radosti: Second term
Maryls Mihok: Second tour on board.
Gloria Heater: Second term
Brenda Worob: Second term
Joe Kemp: Completing first term
Ed Frankenfield: Completing first term
Bill Farrell: Newcomer
Robin Reithmeyer: Newcomer
Let's keep in mind the board president is the inexperienced one. He also hates rules and regulations that apply to him. Combined with his natural arrogance, this is a bad way for a leader to operate.
His accomplices on the board have plenty of experience. They're the ones not doing the job to educate and guide the newbie.
Did you notice that for a newcomer, Robin Reithmeyer seems to be doing just fine?
The Emperor: School board, zero. Former Morrisville controller.
Al Radosti: Second term
Maryls Mihok: Second tour on board.
Gloria Heater: Second term
Brenda Worob: Second term
Joe Kemp: Completing first term
Ed Frankenfield: Completing first term
Bill Farrell: Newcomer
Robin Reithmeyer: Newcomer
Let's keep in mind the board president is the inexperienced one. He also hates rules and regulations that apply to him. Combined with his natural arrogance, this is a bad way for a leader to operate.
His accomplices on the board have plenty of experience. They're the ones not doing the job to educate and guide the newbie.
Did you notice that for a newcomer, Robin Reithmeyer seems to be doing just fine?
Mike Fitzpatrick is New Solicitor
Fitzpatrick named school board solicitor
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M. Kate Fratti mentions this in her blog. I don't really agree with the sentiment, but I agree it's unfortunately a real and viable option. I still prefer the smaller district. That's what brought me and my family here in the first place.]
Former Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, an attorney with Begley Carlin and Mandio in Middletown, is the newest solicitor for the Morrisville School Board.
Fitzpatrick, a Middletown resident and former county commissioner, will replace Thomas Kelly of Media.
Kelly represented a prior school board, which had begun moving forward with plans to construct a new high school despite public outcry. The new board majority, which took office in December nixed that plan and recently defeased the bond lined up to pay for it.
Although this will be Fitzpatrick’s first time as a school board solicitor, the firm has a long tradition in that arena. Currently, it represents Bristol, Neshaminy, Bensalem, Centennial and Central Bucks school districts.
In 2006, Fitzpatrick lost his 8th district congressional seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy, and was expected to challenge Murphy to regain it this year. Instead, Fitzpatrick expressed interest in running against Democratic State Rep. Chris King. Not long after his announcement, Fitzpatrick declined saying a family health consideration demanded he stay closer to home. He returned to practice law full time after 12 years.
Other candidates for the solicitorship included Karen Quinn of Steif Gross Sagoskin Gilman and Classetti and Harry Glosser, a Morrisville attorney and former school board director.
Board members said they were counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience to guide their way as they decide how to maintain or reorganize the small and financially beleaguered school system.
The law firm Curtin and Heefner recently finished its review of the district’s contract with school Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson. Some board members have expressed interest in reducing the duration of that 5-year agreement. No details of the Curtin and Heefner review have been released to the public yet.
[UPDATED May 7, 2008 3:30 P.M. Kate Fratti mentions this in her blog. I don't really agree with the sentiment, but I agree it's unfortunately a real and viable option. I still prefer the smaller district. That's what brought me and my family here in the first place.]
Former Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, an attorney with Begley Carlin and Mandio in Middletown, is the newest solicitor for the Morrisville School Board.
Fitzpatrick, a Middletown resident and former county commissioner, will replace Thomas Kelly of Media.
Kelly represented a prior school board, which had begun moving forward with plans to construct a new high school despite public outcry. The new board majority, which took office in December nixed that plan and recently defeased the bond lined up to pay for it.
Although this will be Fitzpatrick’s first time as a school board solicitor, the firm has a long tradition in that arena. Currently, it represents Bristol, Neshaminy, Bensalem, Centennial and Central Bucks school districts.
In 2006, Fitzpatrick lost his 8th district congressional seat to Democrat Patrick Murphy, and was expected to challenge Murphy to regain it this year. Instead, Fitzpatrick expressed interest in running against Democratic State Rep. Chris King. Not long after his announcement, Fitzpatrick declined saying a family health consideration demanded he stay closer to home. He returned to practice law full time after 12 years.
Other candidates for the solicitorship included Karen Quinn of Steif Gross Sagoskin Gilman and Classetti and Harry Glosser, a Morrisville attorney and former school board director.
Board members said they were counting on Fitzpatrick’s political connections and legislative experience to guide their way as they decide how to maintain or reorganize the small and financially beleaguered school system.
The law firm Curtin and Heefner recently finished its review of the district’s contract with school Superintendent Elizabeth Yonson. Some board members have expressed interest in reducing the duration of that 5-year agreement. No details of the Curtin and Heefner review have been released to the public yet.
Schools News Around the Blogosphere
An Initiative on Reading Is Rated Ineffective
New York Times
By SAM DILLON
President Bush's $1 billion a year effort to teach reading to low-income children has not helped improve their reading comprehension, according to a Department of Education.
In 123-page guide, state offers schools tips on stopping bullies
Boston Globe
The goal is to dispel myths: that bullies have low self-esteem, that bullying is just a part of childhood, and that victims often overreact to taunts. The advice is often simple: Increase supervision where students get on and off buses and in the lunchroom, where some of the worst bullying can take place.
Californians divided over new taxes for schools, poll finds
Los Angeles Times
By Mitchell Landsberg
Californians want their public schools protected from state budget cuts and are willing to tax the rich to make that happen. But despite the threat of schools taking a beating in next year's state budget, residents are sharply divided over whether they would support higher taxes for themselves, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday.
New York Times
By SAM DILLON
President Bush's $1 billion a year effort to teach reading to low-income children has not helped improve their reading comprehension, according to a Department of Education.
In 123-page guide, state offers schools tips on stopping bullies
Boston Globe
The goal is to dispel myths: that bullies have low self-esteem, that bullying is just a part of childhood, and that victims often overreact to taunts. The advice is often simple: Increase supervision where students get on and off buses and in the lunchroom, where some of the worst bullying can take place.
Californians divided over new taxes for schools, poll finds
Los Angeles Times
By Mitchell Landsberg
Californians want their public schools protected from state budget cuts and are willing to tax the rich to make that happen. But despite the threat of schools taking a beating in next year's state budget, residents are sharply divided over whether they would support higher taxes for themselves, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday.
Ancient Chinese Secret?
Once the moo goo gai pan, fried rice, and the General's chicken are finished, the bill is delivered along with the fortune cookie. Rare bits of wisdom are dispensed along with the all too frequent Gil Grissom-esque zingers, lottery numbers, and the Chinese pronunciations of words.
Well now. That was rather relevant considering the past few days. Prophetic even.
I am not well versed in the tenets and teachings of other faiths, but I know where I can find Christian teaching on this topic.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence”and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings (James 3:1-13).
Words for all of us to consider.
Well now. That was rather relevant considering the past few days. Prophetic even.
I am not well versed in the tenets and teachings of other faiths, but I know where I can find Christian teaching on this topic.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. 3 And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. 4 Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. 5 So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. 6 And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence”and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and sea creature is subdued and has been subdued by humankind. 8 But no human being can subdue the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people made in God’s image. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. 11 A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? 12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct he should show his works done in the gentleness that wisdom brings (James 3:1-13).
Words for all of us to consider.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Conspiracy?
There's almost always a grain of truth inside of the conspiracy theories. That puff of smoke on the grassy knoll and an inexperienced and harassed pathology team combined to provide us with forty five years of entertaining JFK conspiracy theories. There's even a great link for the Ten Wackiest Conspiracy Theories. (Numbers 5 and 9 were new to me.)Boldly ignoring the cyberspace "STOP" sign, Steve Worob has heedlessly plunged into the four way intersection of Fact and Fiction Lanes toward the ultimate destination of Wassup Dude?
The latest Insults instead of answers post is rather misspelled and awkwardly phrased. I find it entertaining that some of the people who most desperately want school standards would not be able to cut it in a ninth grade English class at Morrisville.
Why for God's sake would he ever use the name "Gould" in a written text? Ever? I wouldn't talk about Elliot Gould, Stephen Jay Gould, Gulden's Mustard, or the Gould Coast of Antarctica. Taking up his challenge to "Here’s a hint, just like here he never finished out his contract as superintendent. You can google his name with Allentown Morning Call if you feel my statement is leaking water.", I did just that.
On Monday [Feb 25, 2007], a new superintendent will take charge of the Northwestern Lehigh School District.
The Board of Education on Tuesday appointed Assistant Superintendent Susanne Meixsell to replace John Gould, who will assume a newly created position as the district's director of strategic initiatives. Meixsell will have a five-year contract.
A press release issued by the board said Gould, whose employment agreement would have expired June 30, 2008, will retire Jan. 16, 2008.
Wow. That was hard hitting, um, conclusive proof...of...what exactly? The only outrageous thing I saw was the fact that the new superintendent got a five year contract! That's scandalous! FIVE YEARS!! What school district would ever give a five year contract to a superintendent?
Oh. Sorry. My bad. [Shout-out to EHY: Keep up the good work!]
The whole statement itself is also a bit out there. I believe he's confusing one Jon for another for one thing. [Oh dear, I always get this mixed up. It's slander when it's spoken, and libel when it's written, right?] But,
28: First of all, high public offical is just an accurate description of the position and nothing more. No concete intended. And common people are regular hard working people. I put myself above no one. I’m about as blue collar as you can get. Some people will twist anything.
Kate, I didn’t think you’d have the courage to interview me. Nice excuses. But at least you get to keep your job now. Although I don’t usually read your colum, (It’s boring) it will be good to see your picture three times a week. Nice job defending your newspaper but you’re wrong again. You really should do some research before before spouting off about things you don’t know. You are a waste of time.
And Jon, oh my gosh it’s former school director Jon Franklin. I should have known but to tell the truth, I forgot all about you. You were quiet and went with the flow when you were on the board. Glad to see you’re finally speaking up 7 years later on the blog. Interesting how in one breath you believe I was guilty of malice but then you say “I believe that you believe it.” You contradict yourself Jon. Then you say “you describe things a lot differently than I remember.” Why don’t you say what these things are? Because you can’t. You don’t know anything about what happened and I didn’t see you in court. You my friend, were a self server enabler. You had blinders on and neglected to see the double billing, triple billing, and altered contracts. In fact, you enabled the thugs to spread like a cancer and wreak fiscal havoc elsewhere. Then, the students school store was even plundered. All this while the school lawyer was embellishing himself to the tune of $78,000 per year.And what about the wonderful Einstein Cyber Charter School that you favored? How many thousands of dollars were we out on that deal. Am I the only one who read the Nihill and Riedley forensic audit report on Einstein? Am I the only one who read the SEC report on the Dolphin and Bradbury Bond Company? Why do I torture myself like this? I guess it must be because I hold myself high above the common people, right Jon? You were an ardent supporter and enabler to the former superintendent. (The good doctor) Do you recall after he was Morrisville’s superintendent for over 4 years that “74% of the middle-senior high school and Grandview Elementary students performed at basic or below basic levels in math and 63% scored at basic or below basic in reading.” Do you think this could have been because the good doctor was to busy jetting around the country performing private/paid services for Classroom Conect and Interlink? You should know Jon, you approved the taxpayers paying for that. Do you remember in fact that the test results were so poor that even you became angry? I cite Courier Times news article of January 24, 2002, titled “Board hesitant to support project.” The project was the Rivers Bays and Ocean project that the good doctor and his gooooood friend Dawn wanted you to approve. I quote, “Board member Jon Franklin demanded a plan. “I think there needs to be a plan laid out for our kids to score better on tests. Is there a plan in place where administrators and teachers directly attack central elements that are leading to weaker scores?” Franklin said. “The district is in the process of developing a plan, Gould said. That was the one time i remember you speaking out. It was a flash in the pan Jon. Sorry, not good enough to make my book. Finally Jon, you were critical of the people who allegedly drove the good doctor out of Morrisville but did you happen to see how he performed at his next school district? Here’s a hint, just like here he never finished out his contract as superintendent. You can google his name with Allentown Morning Call if you feel my statement is leaking water. I could go on for hours telling things but that would spoil the book so finally Jon, keep up your good blog work for I believe you found your calling in life but do me one favor, when you criticize me and state that you “saw things differently,” please have the courage to state the examples IF YOU CAN.
Comment by:
Steve - 5.2.2008 at 12:26 am
First Act for Act I
From the BCCT this morning:
Taxpayers to reap Act 1 benefits
Bucks property owners will get an average of $236 in property tax relief next year, according to state estimates.
By BRIAN SCHEID STAFF WRITER
For the first time, Bucks County property owners will receive an average of nearly $236 next year in property tax relief from gaming revenue, according to estimates released by the state Thursday.
The amount of tax relief varies by each of the county’s 13 school districts. Bristol Township property owners will receive $289, the most of any district in the county, while property owners in the Centennial School District will receive $166, the lowest amount in Bucks. Overall, districts in Bucks will receive nearly $33.6 million in property tax relief from the state, just more than 5 percent of the $613 million in gaming revenue that will be given out to the more than 500 districts throughout Pennsylvania.
The funding is part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, also known as Act 1, and is taken from state revenues collected from Pennsylvania’s seven slot machine casinos, including Philadelphia Park Casino in Bensalem, which opened in December 2006. Gov. Ed Rendell signed the act into law in June 2006.
As of April 27, those casinos had made gross revenue of more than $1.1 billion during the current fiscal year, including a 34 percent state tax that has climbed to more than $376.6 million as of late last month, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
According to Michael Race, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, the amount each district will receive is based on a complex formula he said benefits high property tax, low wealth districts. Based on the formula, districts with high property tax bills and low income residents will benefit most, he said.
The funding will be given directly to the school districts and the relief will be reflected in each property owner’s tax bill, Race said.
The money will cover only a small portion of most property owners’ tax bills, but likely will offset many of the proposed budget increases area school boards could approve this year, several school administrators said Thursday.
“They’re certainly not going to use this money to go on an extended vacation, but I’m sure every bit helps,” said James Lombardo, superintendent of the Bensalem School District, where an estimated 11,170 property owners are expected to receive about $203 in property tax relief from gaming revenues. “It’s nice to see some reduction.”
Lombardo said the district’s school board will consider a preliminary budget next week that calls for a $175 increase for the owner of a median assessed home.
In Bristol Township, homeowners’ tax bills could be less next year than they were this year, according to Gerry Barcik, the district’s business manager. The school board is considering a preliminary budget that calls for a $111 increase for the average homeowner while the state estimates that each of the township’s 11,729 eligible homeowners will receive $289 in tax relief.
In the Neshaminy School District, where the board will consider a preliminary budget in two weeks that calls for a $358 increase for the average homeowner, the property tax relief is a welcome and unexpected bonus for Joe Paradise, the district’s business administrator.
“The fact that we’re getting any gaming revenue at this point is great,” Paradise said. “It’s good news for taxpayers.”
Throughout the Neshaminy district, 16,602 property owners will receive an estimated $216 in property tax relief.
State Rep. John Galloway, D-140, whose district includes the Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts, said the tax relief “couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Prices for fuel, utilities and food continue going up so it gives me great pleasure to let my constituents know that at least their school property tax bill is going down,” Galloway said.
Taxpayers to reap Act 1 benefits
Bucks property owners will get an average of $236 in property tax relief next year, according to state estimates.
By BRIAN SCHEID STAFF WRITER
For the first time, Bucks County property owners will receive an average of nearly $236 next year in property tax relief from gaming revenue, according to estimates released by the state Thursday.
The amount of tax relief varies by each of the county’s 13 school districts. Bristol Township property owners will receive $289, the most of any district in the county, while property owners in the Centennial School District will receive $166, the lowest amount in Bucks. Overall, districts in Bucks will receive nearly $33.6 million in property tax relief from the state, just more than 5 percent of the $613 million in gaming revenue that will be given out to the more than 500 districts throughout Pennsylvania.
The funding is part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, also known as Act 1, and is taken from state revenues collected from Pennsylvania’s seven slot machine casinos, including Philadelphia Park Casino in Bensalem, which opened in December 2006. Gov. Ed Rendell signed the act into law in June 2006.
As of April 27, those casinos had made gross revenue of more than $1.1 billion during the current fiscal year, including a 34 percent state tax that has climbed to more than $376.6 million as of late last month, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
According to Michael Race, a spokesman for the state Department of Education, the amount each district will receive is based on a complex formula he said benefits high property tax, low wealth districts. Based on the formula, districts with high property tax bills and low income residents will benefit most, he said.
The funding will be given directly to the school districts and the relief will be reflected in each property owner’s tax bill, Race said.
The money will cover only a small portion of most property owners’ tax bills, but likely will offset many of the proposed budget increases area school boards could approve this year, several school administrators said Thursday.
“They’re certainly not going to use this money to go on an extended vacation, but I’m sure every bit helps,” said James Lombardo, superintendent of the Bensalem School District, where an estimated 11,170 property owners are expected to receive about $203 in property tax relief from gaming revenues. “It’s nice to see some reduction.”
Lombardo said the district’s school board will consider a preliminary budget next week that calls for a $175 increase for the owner of a median assessed home.
In Bristol Township, homeowners’ tax bills could be less next year than they were this year, according to Gerry Barcik, the district’s business manager. The school board is considering a preliminary budget that calls for a $111 increase for the average homeowner while the state estimates that each of the township’s 11,729 eligible homeowners will receive $289 in tax relief.
In the Neshaminy School District, where the board will consider a preliminary budget in two weeks that calls for a $358 increase for the average homeowner, the property tax relief is a welcome and unexpected bonus for Joe Paradise, the district’s business administrator.
“The fact that we’re getting any gaming revenue at this point is great,” Paradise said. “It’s good news for taxpayers.”
Throughout the Neshaminy district, 16,602 property owners will receive an estimated $216 in property tax relief.
State Rep. John Galloway, D-140, whose district includes the Bristol, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury school districts, said the tax relief “couldn’t come at a better time.”
“Prices for fuel, utilities and food continue going up so it gives me great pleasure to let my constituents know that at least their school property tax bill is going down,” Galloway said.
Shoes too small? Too bad.
Here's an article about a district that has rejected the SECOND citywide referendum to expand the school facilities. Note to the Emperor and friends: Imagine sending multiple referenda out to the people for repairs and they keep rejecting the expenditures. That's a safety issue too. Tell me what you'll do then. Who would you find to do the cursory repairs report then to cover your butt?
School district wrestles with expansion
By Will Hobson
For The Inquirer
Administrators and school board members in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District are again asking "What's next?" after another failed referendum proposal.
Voters last week rejected the district's proposal to borrow $30 million to pay for a renovation and expansion of Unionville High School. This was the second try for the district, as voters rejected a proposal in November to borrow $62.5 million for the high school project.
In response to the second failed referendum proposal, the district and the school board called a facilities committee meeting of the whole for Monday night, gathering the entire school board, Superintendent Sharon Parker, and a few other administrators to discuss the district's next move.
The result of the meeting, though, is that the next move is still up in the air.
The administration did have a plan C (the two referendums were for plans A and B) that was discussed Monday night.
Plan C, with a price tag of about $5 million, would add 12 modular classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in the high school, where enrollment is expected to be near 1,400 next school year, but capacity is only 1,135. Unionville already has 12 modular classrooms.
Parker said in a phone interview Tuesday that she felt the board did not not support moving forward with plan C, because most of the $5 million would be in stopgap measures - like the modular classrooms - that would be rendered useless if the proposed renovation is ever done.
Monday's meeting, attended by about 40 community members, ended around 9:15, with a board decision to continue discussion of the issue at the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Parker said Tuesday that, if more modular classrooms are not the answer, perhaps the next step could include starting construction to add more rooms, with the district trying to fund the project itself.
In looking over responses given to a survey posted on the district's Web site last week, Parker concluded that voters still objected to the scope of the proposed renovation, which was not scaled down from November (only the funding was changed).
"That's a great concern to me, because the planned proposal was based on a needs assessment, and the needs still exist," Parker said.
Two former school board members, Jeff Hellrung and Keith Knauss, started Citizens for Efficient Education last year to oppose both referendum proposals. Despite their win on Election Day, Hellrung was less than celebratory.
"We know that we need a renovation, we know that we need an expansion, we just want to see one done with a lower scope or cost," Hellrung said.
Whatever the next step is, both sides agree that something needs to be done, and soon.
"It's not a good feeling to see the need continue," Hellrung said.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford District has tentatively scheduled another facilities committee meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.
Check the district Web site - www.ucfsd.org/ - for confirmation on the date.
School district wrestles with expansion
By Will Hobson
For The Inquirer
Administrators and school board members in the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District are again asking "What's next?" after another failed referendum proposal.
Voters last week rejected the district's proposal to borrow $30 million to pay for a renovation and expansion of Unionville High School. This was the second try for the district, as voters rejected a proposal in November to borrow $62.5 million for the high school project.
In response to the second failed referendum proposal, the district and the school board called a facilities committee meeting of the whole for Monday night, gathering the entire school board, Superintendent Sharon Parker, and a few other administrators to discuss the district's next move.
The result of the meeting, though, is that the next move is still up in the air.
The administration did have a plan C (the two referendums were for plans A and B) that was discussed Monday night.
Plan C, with a price tag of about $5 million, would add 12 modular classrooms to alleviate overcrowding in the high school, where enrollment is expected to be near 1,400 next school year, but capacity is only 1,135. Unionville already has 12 modular classrooms.
Parker said in a phone interview Tuesday that she felt the board did not not support moving forward with plan C, because most of the $5 million would be in stopgap measures - like the modular classrooms - that would be rendered useless if the proposed renovation is ever done.
Monday's meeting, attended by about 40 community members, ended around 9:15, with a board decision to continue discussion of the issue at the next meeting, tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Parker said Tuesday that, if more modular classrooms are not the answer, perhaps the next step could include starting construction to add more rooms, with the district trying to fund the project itself.
In looking over responses given to a survey posted on the district's Web site last week, Parker concluded that voters still objected to the scope of the proposed renovation, which was not scaled down from November (only the funding was changed).
"That's a great concern to me, because the planned proposal was based on a needs assessment, and the needs still exist," Parker said.
Two former school board members, Jeff Hellrung and Keith Knauss, started Citizens for Efficient Education last year to oppose both referendum proposals. Despite their win on Election Day, Hellrung was less than celebratory.
"We know that we need a renovation, we know that we need an expansion, we just want to see one done with a lower scope or cost," Hellrung said.
Whatever the next step is, both sides agree that something needs to be done, and soon.
"It's not a good feeling to see the need continue," Hellrung said.
The Unionville-Chadds Ford District has tentatively scheduled another facilities committee meeting for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the high school library.
Check the district Web site - www.ucfsd.org/ - for confirmation on the date.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)