| ISSUE |
FACTUAL RESPONSIBLE ANSWERS |
| Bond Issue -$20,000,000 Why
was it done without bidding or referendum? |
The issuance of bonds requires
very specialized and professional services. The state enacted very specific regulations
and statutes governing incurrence of such debt. As a consequence the employment of both a
bond counsel (legal advisor) and a bond underwriter (financial advisor) are considered
both normal and necessary for a municipality to incur significant debt. Both positions are
professional services and we are not required to bid these services. Some disadvantages of
bidding are: the township must be well versed in the legal and financial regulations and
variables that are related to bonds in order to prepare specifications, the cost of
specifications and advertising can often offset any savings derived from a competitive
bid. In addition, a competive bid process invariably locks a municipality into strict
adherence to the specifications. Those experienced in financial affairs note that market
conditions, particularly with fixed income vehicles such as bonds, can change dramatically
over a short period of time. During the past 20 year, Northampton has issued bonds on 7
different occasions. In 1983, the Board received proposals for bond underwriting from at
least 5 different firms. In 1988 the township again solicited proposals. In both cases
different underwriters were selected. In 1992, due to unique market conditions, the
township again considered issuance of bonds. However, the bonds were not only to cover
proposed capital projects, but also to refinance prior bonds. Such a project required
considerable creativity on the part of the underwriter in scheduling debt. 4 proposals
were received and First American offered the best and most experienced service in
formulating a bond issue which could creatively refinance previous issues as well as
provide additional monies for capital projects at that time. The outstanding experience
and rates obtained led the supervisors to renew that relationship once again with the bond
issues of 1998,1999 and 2001. In all 3 of these instances, First American's familiarity
with the township's current debt, their skills in which future debt has been arranged,
ability achieving favorable rates and their reputation in the market were all factors that
led to their retention as underwriters. It should be noted that due to the Township's
financial stability and fiscal management, we have the highest bond rating obtainable by a
Township of the 2nd Class. |
| Commerce Bank and old Richboro
Elementary School Land Development Plan - preservation of the school |
Plans have been on the table
for more than 2 years now. The applicant developer has tried to work with the township
Planning Commission and Supervisors. The Planning Commission approved the plan, but the
Supervisors denied the plan because the applicant refused to keep the original historic
school building in place. Some Board members were also adverse to a Burger King. Recently
a permit was applied for by the applicant to demolish the school. This permit, as well as
the plan itself was denied by the Township and the applicant has since taken both issues
to court. |
| Commons Park at 232 & 332.
Too much money ($650,000) spent for a park. Who would use it and why wasn't there a
referendum to let the voters decide? |
This is part and parcel of a
larger puzzle that is being solved - safety and traffic at 232/332 and between Township
Rd/Mellon Bank and 332. The abandoned Arco station, after sitting vacant for years was
condemned by the Township after an Einstein Bagel was interested in moving to the site.
This action prevented undesirable traffic generating commercial occupancy and led to the
Richboro 2000 Committee, intersection improvements, new light at Township Road and
beautification projects related to the site. The Richboro 2000 Committee was a
committee of 15 to 20 residents formed to advise the Supervisors on rejuvenating Richboro.
Of the $650,000+ total cost being cited by our opponents, only $300,000 of that was
for developing the park. The balance is for acquisition and misc. costs of condemnation.
The original issue was one of safety. The 232/332 intersection and the Township Rd
intersection had been experiencing numerous accidents. The acquistion was a first step in
the overall process of improving the area for smoother traffic flow and addressing the
safety issues. All four directions at that intersection will soon have 3 lanes. No
way was this referendum material. |
| Community Center and new
Senior Center at Morrisey adjacent to the new High School. Why are we spending so much
money on this? |
The total cost is not yet
known. Bids are pending and expected to range $10 to $16 million depending on options
selected. Partnering with Council Rock will save substantial taxpayer dollars on a shared
competitive swimming pool. This will be a facility that all residents will want to use, be
proud of and will be a major focal point of our recreation programs. Included in the
facility will be a new Senior Citizens facility. The Morrisey ground condemnation by CRSD
for a new High School and by Northampton Township for a new Community Center prevented
hundreds of homes from being developed thereby saving school tax burdens. Additionally,
the sharing of facilities here and at other Township/School District sites has resulted in
the savings of millions of taxpayer dollars. For additional information on this item
please see the topic "Morrisey Property" below. |
| Emergency Services and
Disaster Planning. Do we have them and are we safe from disasters? |
We have one of the best
prepared Emergency Response Teams in all of Bucks County - Police, Fire and Rescue. In
place is NORTEMS, an emergency management team that meets and addresses methods of
reacting to disasters, including terrorist attacks. Our men and woman have demonstrated a
tremendous response to past snow and flood emergencies. Northampton was the first in the
area to own a Hovercraft and it was used many times to save lives. Our police has a
Tactical Response team. A new Rescue Squad building was built and recently
dedicated. In addition, we are linked to the County, state and federal emergency agencies.
Even in the case of chemical and germ invasion, training is done and we have a plan in
place to respond. |
| Library expansion.
What's happening? What about the Seniors? |
Our current library facility
does not have sufficient room to meet demand. It will expand and take over the Senior
Center area plus add an expansion to the rear. The Senior Center will relocate to the new
Community Center in 2003. Bids are going out but the total cost is not yet known. |
| Morrisey Property, Toll
Brothers and the new High School. What happened here? |
Also see Community/Senior
Center above. Without acquiring this tract of land we would not have had the amount of
land needed to build our community center and share facilities with the new High School.
The amount of homes that could have been built on this land was in the hundreds under R-1
zoning. In addition, current R-3 zoning on the balance to be developed by Toll could
possibly allow for 400+ high density dwelling units. But through the efforts of the
Supervisors and the Planning Commission, Toll's plan has since been revised and now calls
for a combination of some 237 age restricted townhomes and single family detached
dwellings. |
| NAWC Park How much did this
cost us? |
$6-$7million estimate. The
land was acquired free from the Federal government after the Supervisors submitted an
application on the basis that it would be used for recreational purposes. Studies were
conducted, experts were hired to conduct public surveys and meetings and the site was
included in the updated Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan. |
| Open Space and Land
Preservation How are we doing? |
In May 1998 a $5,00,000 bond
referendum was overwhelmingly approved for the acquisition of open space. Since then, the
Township has acquired hundreds of acres via outright purchase or purchase of development
rights and we will have expended $8-$10 million with a portion of it ($700,000) subsidized
by grants and other sources. The price of what open space remains in the township is quite
expensive and would take substantial dollars to acquire. Despite this, the Board is open
to making sensible acquisitions whenever appropriate. It should also be noted that the
open space we have saved along with the housing developments that were avoided has
resulted in at least one less school being needed. |
| Spread Eagle Inn Cost
Preservation Giamo Brothers |
After sitting vacant for 8+
years, and in order to take control of addressing public safety and asthectics, the Spread
property was condemned and acquired by the Township. After the Historical Society and many
residents implored the Board to save the Inn, a method of funding was sought. Funds were
committed by the Township for intersection improvements in conjunction with the Commons
corner. Shortly thereafter, Toll Brothers and the Hovnanian Group, through the efforts of
some Board members, committed in excess of $400,000 that in essence saved the Inn from
demolition. This enabled bids to be let for site improvements, moving the Inn and
restoring it. The Board is currently in negotiations with various commercial and office
type interests to acquire the Inn and restore it. In the end, the Inn will be
restored, the intersection will be improved and the Township will incur little or no
expense for the cost of saving the Spread Eagle Inn. |
| Street paving schedule.
What does the Township do? |
The Public Works department
compiles a list of roads to be resurfaced in the future. Basically, when a street has not
been resurfaced for 15 years or more it goes on a punchlist for scheduled resufacing. The
list is set in priority as to condition of the road and a particular year is assigned for
resurfacing each road. This list is on file at the administration office and roads
scheduled for the upcoming year are published in the Township Annual Report to residents.
Otherwise, roads are repaired on an as needed basis based on surveys and complaints from
residents. |
| Super Fresh - old vacancy and
occupancy status |
It's basically up to the
owners (Kravco) to find occupants for their buildings. For years, rumor had it that a
Channel, Sears outlet, hardware store or other commercial occupants were coming into the
vacant building, or being discussed about doing so. To date, nothing has occurred. We are
starting to hear rumors again about a potential occupant and perhaps this time we will see
someone take over this space. |
| Taxes are too high. Seniors
can't afford to live here anymore |
Our real estate tax millage is
lower today (12.90 mills) than in 1980 (17.75 mills). In 1994 the millage rate was 30.45
and therefore the millage reduction has been 58% since 1994 and we will endeavor to keep
taxes low whenever possible while maintaining services to our residents. The township
taxes must not be confused with school taxes. Our current millage rate of 12.90 has been
at that level for the past 3 years. In 1994Council Rock instituted a 1% Earned Income Tax.
Although unsupportive of this new tax, the supervisors reluctantly exercised its right to
take half and promised to reduce real estate millage proportionately in order to help
offset the burden of the EIT on Northampton taxpayers. By doing so, Northampton
Supervisors actually helped our residents by keeping money in our part of the district.
This was a promise they kept. |
| Towers - location, zoning, can
they be controlled? |
Several years ago controls
were placed for telecommunications towers via zoning and the Comprehensive Plan. Federal
restrictions often tie our hands in regulating where towers can go. We constantly monitor
applications to evaluate current zoning. Zoning is not static, it changes, and is a
complex issue that must be properly monitored and changed when necessary. Towers are
presently allowed only by conditional use and only in the Industrial and Institutional
zoning districts. Bottom line, we are not interested in locating towers in residential
areas and will fight to reject those that attempt to locate them there. The Township also
encourages multiple users on existing towers in order to cut down on the overall number of
towers needed. This has already occurred at the current tower near the Township building
where several companies have attached their equipment. There are currently 4 or 5 active
applications to install towers in Northampton and we will keep a close eye on these. |
| Traffic congestion caused by
over development |
Despite arguments to the
contrary, Northampton has experienced carefully planned, not haphazard, growth as
evidenced by Comprehensive Plans dating back to the 70's and 80's. We were right on target
as to where our population numbers would be. Major road improvements have been made and
many traffic signals have been installed and paid for by developers via impact fees
imposed at the time of land development approvals. The Township is constantly addressing
traffic and intersection improvements and, in fact, traffic flow in Northampton is
actually better today than it was 10 years ago. We are currently undergoing major
improvements to the intersection of 232/332 that will dramatically improve traffic flow
through the center of town. |
| Trash collection cost &
recycling problems with Mascaro. What can be done? |
We are at the end of a 3 year
contract with Mascaro that had an option to extend it for 2 additional years. The current
yearly hauling contract cost is $103 and goes to $108 in the 4th and 5th option years. In
an attempt to see if better pricing was available and also services of a hauler that may
do the job better, we recently went out to bid. However, Mascaro was the only firm who
submitted a bid ($180). Waste Management did not submit a bid, citing the low Mascaro
price. Indications are that they would have been in the $215 to $228 range. The Township
opted to reject the Mascaro bid and extend the current contract 2 years at the $108 price.
This issue may be litigated by Mascaro who alleges that the Township is stopped from
exercising the options due to its going out to bid. Penalties were put in place last year
to enforce proper pickup of trash and recyclables. Although we're not happy with the
overall service of Mascaro, it was not prudent to force residents to pay more than double
the present cost to change haulers with no guarantee of better service. In addition,
many people are satisfied with Mascaro's service, even though many others are not. We will
endeavor, with increased monitoring of complaints that are received by the Township
administration, to improve service. |
