Penn Forest Twp. says no to spending asks

by Seth Isenberg

June’s Penn Forest Township supervisors meeting featured a couple of arguments over spending. The first of these was over whether to engage with the Natural Lands Trust for a zoning and SALDO land development ordinance update. The Trust offers a $10,000 grant towards the cost, and the work, by Sarcinello Planning & GIS Services, would cost $29,930. At last month’s meeting, engineering and attorney costs were also mentioned.

Supervisor Dr. Pat Holland pointed out that “this is expensive,” and followed up saying the idea of greenways is all fine but the township doesn’t even have sidewalks. Discussion continued, led by supervisor Christian Bartulovich, who explained the benefits of putting rules in place on the remaining developable land, such as having commercial buildings front on the main road, with parking lots in the back and to the side rather than having the parking lot in the front. The hope is also to have a “green buffer” along Route 903, perhaps with walking trails.

Supervisors’ chairman Roger Meckes remained unconvinced. Supervisor

Scott Lignore, who had not heard the original presentation by the Natural Lands Trust staff, wants more information on what the updating can do for the township. He chose to abstain from voting to learn more.

When the vote was called to accept the $10,000 ‘minigrant,’ there was a split of 2-2-1, Bartulovich and Jim Denier in favor, Holland and Meckes not, and Lignore abstaining. The motion failed.

At Lignore’s urging, it was decided to invite the Natural Lands Trust back for a more detailed presentation. A more robust disagreement arose from the agenda item which proposed for the township to buy a two-sided electronic billboard sign to be placed at the township park. The sign alone costs nearly $65,000, and there are other costs.

Dr. Holland led off the arguments against the sign with the point that the sign would bother the neighbors at night. From the audience, it was pointed out that there already is a sign of this type at the Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company #1, just up the road from the park. Members of PFTVFC#1 turned out at the meeting, See PENN FOREST, page 3