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John Bate

Monday, November 19, 2012

Chief Praises Residents' Response to Storm

On Nov. 5 Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp thanked members of the public for remaining calm during the recent power outage that lasted for up to a week for some residents.

In a situation that was extremely trying for many local families, calm and order prevailed, Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp told Borough Council Nov. 5. Shupp praised residents for reacting stoically in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, whose high winds left much of the borough in the dark for days. "This was hard," he said. "I would like to thank the public, because everybody really took this in stride." "I don't think we had one call that was involving an argument or a fight at a gas station or something like that," he added. "It was nice to see that nobody acted out or anything like that." Shupp credited the fact that Dewey Fire Co. Social Hall was opened as a heated comfort station for residents for helping improve the situation…

In this Article:

Saucon Valley Cleans Up from Sandy, Sandy Brings Record-High Pa. Wind Gust, Much of Saucon Valley Still Without Power, and 3 more ›

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Rocks to Help Deter Rail Trail Scofflaws, Chief Says

Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp told Borough Council Oct. 15 that rocks have been installed at the Saucon Rail Trail's north end, to block access for ATV and dirt bike-riders.

An effort is being made to restrict rail trail access for dirt bike and ATV-riders, Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp told Borough Council Oct. 15. Shupp said rocks have been placed at the north end of the trail "at the Hellertown and Bethlehem line," where the path narrows considerably. Pedestrians will be able to bypass the rocks, "but you couldn't get a four-wheeler through (the barricade)," he said. The action was taken in response to complaints about people riding dirt bikes and ATVs on the trail, where motorized vehicles are prohibited. "We're hoping that'll stop it," the chief told council. Shupp said that if the barricade of boulders doesn't prevent riders from speeding up and down the trail, it might be an indication that they …

In this Article:

Saucon Rail Trail and Resident Says ATVs, Dirt Bikers Tearing Up Trail

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

New Emergency Generator Installed at Dewey Fire Co.

Hellertown Borough Council Vice President John Bate announced the installation of the new generator at council's Sept. 4 meeting.

The rare October snowstorm that last fall darkened parts of the Saucon Valley for days prompted local officials to re-evaluate their contingency plans for future natural disasters. In concert with that re-evaluation, officials decided to install a more powerful emergency generator at the Dewey Fire Company in Hellertown. The generator that had been installed at Dewey was not of a sufficient size to power the building's furnace, which limited its usefulness as a shelter in the wake of the October storm. At Hellertown Borough Council's Sept. 4 meeting, council vice president John Bate announced that a new generator--which is powerful enough to fully electrify and heat the fire station--is now nearly operational. Bate is also the captain of …

In this Article:

Saucon Valley Darkened by Rare Autumn Snowstorm, Officials: Lessons Learned from October Snowstorm, Dewey Fire Company No. 1, and 3 more ›

Monday, August 13, 2012

Council Criticized for Raising Residents' Pool Rates

On Aug. 6, Hellertown resident Christine Bauer criticized Borough Council's mid-summer decision to double daily admission rates for all pool attendees.

At a meeting Aug. 6, a Hellertown resident shared strong words with borough council about recently increased daily admission rates at the Hellertown Pool. Christine Bauer, of New York Avenue, said residents have been negatively impacted by the decision to double daily rates; a decision council made in mid-July, following complaints about overcrowding and behavioral issues among some patrons. "I think you guys are punishing the Hellertown residents and it’s not fair," Bauer said. "I think when the decision was made, the entire picture was not looked at." She told council that she would like rates to return to what they were for residents, which was $5 for an adult day pass and $4 for a child day pass. Councilwoman Gail Nolf said others have…

In this Article:

Hellertown Community Pool, Pool Problems Take Center Stage at Council Meeting, Official on Pool: 'We've Been Having a Lot of Trouble', and 1 more ›

Gerry Kranz

12:11 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I notice there have not been reports of thefts at the pool either. The right people must have been discouraged.   more ›

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Councilman on NIZ Lawsuit: 'It's Not Our Job to Fund Allentown's Dreams'

By a vote of 5-1, Hellertown Borough Council approved a motion to join the lawsuit against Allentown's Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) at its April 2, 2012 meeting.

The lawsuit against Allentown's controversial Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ), which was recently initiated by Hanover Township, Northampton County, gained another party on April 2. Hellertown Borough Council voted 5-1 to have the borough join in the suit, contingent upon solicitor Michael Corriere's review of the case's merits. The suit was also recently joined by Lower Saucon Township and Bethlehem Township. Borough councilman Joseph Pampanin voted against joining the suit, and councilman Mike McKenna abstained from the vote. The discussion about the lawsuit was initiated by councilman Thomas Rieger, who said he wanted to "gauge council's opinion" about the NIZ, which will divert earned income tax (EIT) revenue from local municipal …

In this Article:

Arena Tax Deal Brings Frustration, Skepticism, Borough of Hellertown, and Township Will Join Lawsuit Against Arena Zone

Anon-Prepper

9:19 am on Saturday, April 7, 2012

http://www.citymayors.com/society/urban-population.html Mayor's of the worlds cities will take your suburban resources whether you like it or not. This is just one instance of many geopolitcal decisons that will reallocate resources. You guys will be in heaven by the time the $(it hits the fan anyway. BTW I support the ZHB denial on clauser st. Start preppin.   more ›

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Resident's Handicapped Parking Request Denied

On Jan. 17, Front Street resident Lori Martin told Hellertown Borough Council that her family needs a second on-street reserved handicapped parking space. Council cited borough policy in denying her request.

A Front Street resident whose household includes two handicapped individuals asked Hellertown Borough Council to consider her request for a second on-street handicapped parking space to be added in front of her home Jan. 17. Council, however, cited the borough's handicapped parking space policy in unanimously denying her request. According to the policy, only one handicapped parking space is allowed per household. "We've had this requested before," police chief Robert Shupp told council. "Going back 10 years, we allow one (space) per household." Shupp said that allowing more than one handicapped space per household could ultimately affect the public's ability to park on borough streets. "What happens if her neighbors move in and her (new) …

Mary Anne Looby

2:30 pm on Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Sadly, what goes around comes around.   more ›

Friday, January 6, 2012

Borough Council Leadership Remains Unchanged

On Jan. 3, Philip Weber and John Bate were re-elected president and vice president, respectively, of Hellertown Borough Council. A new council member, Joseph Pampanin, was also sworn in at the meeting.

As anticipated, Hellertown Borough Council members stayed the course Jan. 3, with their unanimous re-election of Philip Weber as council president and re-election of John Bate as council vice president. The votes were taken at council's annual reorganization meeting, at which several council members elected in November--including new member Joseph Pampanin--were sworn into office by District Judge David Tidd. The current members of Hellertown Borough Council--in addition to Weber, Bate and Pampanin--are Richard Staffieri, Mike McKenna, Thomas Rieger and Gail Nolf. All are Democrats. Hellertown mayor Richard Fluck presided over the reorganization meeting until Weber's re-election as president, at which time the meeting gavel was …

In this Article:

Borough Council Leadership Unlikely to Change in 2012, Profiles in Volunteerism: Firefighter Phil Weber, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, District 03-2-04, and 1 more ›

Friday, December 30, 2011

Borough Council Leadership Unlikely to Change in 2012

At a reorganization caucus following Hellertown Borough Council's Dec. 19 meeting, council members expressed support for the re-election of Philip Weber as council president and John Bate as council vice president.

The leadership of Hellertown Borough Council is unlikely to change in 2012, in light of a discussion that occurred at a reorganization caucus that was held following council's Monday, Dec. 19 meeting. Council member Mike McKenna was the first person to express a preference for reelecting Philip Weber council president and reelecting John Bate council vice president. Other council members agreed with McKenna's recommendations, and both Bate and Weber said they would be willing to continue to serve in their current roles if nominated. At the caucus, Weber also said that as far as borough council committee appointments are concerned, "everything's basically going to stay the same" next year. Council's reorganization meeting will be held at …

In this Article:

Profiles in Volunteerism: Firefighter Phil Weber, Borough of Hellertown, and Local Candidates Seeking Office

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Council Discusses Fire House's Future as a Shelter

Dewey Fire Company No. 1 could become a heated emergency shelter for local residents, provided that money to complete necessary upgrades is obtained.

Dewey Fire Company No. 1 could become a fully-functioning emergency shelter for Hellertown residents, provided that upgrades to the building are made and funding for the necessary improvements is found. At Hellertown Borough Council's Dec. 5 meeting, council members discussed the formation of a committee that will research issues involved in making the 1950s-era volunteer fire house the type of shelter that many residents would have been thankful for during the October snowstorm and subsequent blackout. The freak storm left thousands of borough residents without heat and electricity for days, and many who lacked transportation were unable to travel to hotels or to stay with friends or relatives who still had power. Other residents needed …

In this Article:

Dewey Fire Company No. 1, Saucon Valley Darkened by Rare Autumn Snowstorm, Power Being Restored to Saucon Valley, and 1 more ›

Eastward

2:16 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011

I also agree with Mr. Hanner.   more ›

Monday, December 5, 2011

Officials: Lessons Learned from October Snowstorm

Hellertown officials say the blackout caused by the Oct. 29 snowstorm revealed the need for a heated shelter and an efficient emergency notification system for residents.

Before the freak snowstorm of Oct. 29, 2011, Hellertown officials and local emergency responders felt prepared for just about any type of weather Mother Nature might throw at them. That all changed, however, in the aftermath of a destructive natural event that seemingly no one saw coming. At Hellertown Borough Council's Nov. 21 meeting, officials discussed the various lessons that were learned from the storm, which resulted in an unprecedented blackout that darkened much of the Saucon Valley for days. One of the major realizations for emergency officials, council vice president John Bate said, was that elderly and infirm borough residents need a heated place to go to in the event of a widespread, long-term power outage. Particularly …

In this Article:

Saucon Valley Darkened by Rare Autumn Snowstorm, Power Being Restored to Saucon Valley, Saucon Valley Manor, and 4 more ›

Roger Jurczak

11:22 am on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

The Saucon Valley School complex has multiple gymnasiums and food preparation capabilities. If Hellertown is considering having facilities to house and keep members of our community such as described in this article, might not the school facilities be better suited than the Dewey complex OR town hall? In the recent past, Hellertown’s downtown has flooded and limited access through those lower …   more ›

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