Legal Action Possible Against Property Owner

Citing a potential for nuisance/zoning ordinance violations, Lower Saucon Township Council unanimously approved a motion to take legal action against the owner of 1415 Puggy Lane.

Following an executive session at their May 1 meeting, the members of Lower Saucon Township Council voted 5-0 to approve taking legal action against the owner of 1415 Puggy Lane. According to online Northampton County property records, the owner of the 1.36 acre property is Phyllis M. Birk. Council solicitor Linc Treadwell said the legal action is being taken because of the potential for violations of the township's nuisance and/or zoning ordinance "going on at that property." The specific possible violations were not publicly disclosed at the meeting.

• Photos (1)

Township Fears Silver Creek Road Trees Will Be Axed

PPL has marked a number of large trees for removal along a section of Silver Creek Road in Lower Saucon Township. Township council members have expressed concern about the potential loss of the trees.

The eastern end of Silver Creek Road in Lower Saucon Township is a narrow thoroughfare that winds through dense woods composed of towering trees. Interspersed with the trees are historic homes, some nearly hidden from view. That unique character could change, however, if PPL succeeds in its effort to remove many of the large trees from along the sides of Silver Creek Road, not far from its terminus at Lower Saucon Road. The issue of the trees' potential removal was brought before Lower Saucon Township Council Wednesday by Township Manager Jack Cahalan, who said it was recently discovered that many tree trunks along the road are tagged in preparation for cutting. Several council members expressed concern about PPL's plan, which Cahalan said…

•  18 Comments
• Photos (6)

Walking Trails Could Be Built on Township Land

Lower Saucon Township Council discussed a proposal to construct walking trails and a parking area on township-owned land known as the Dravecz property near Apple Street.

Members of Lower Saucon Township's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) and councilman Ron Horiszny have been walking a piece of township-owned land known as the Dravecz property for the purpose of planning walking trails, township manager Jack Cahalan told council March 20. Construction of the trails and a parking area would enable members of the public to visit the 72-acre property at 2388 Apple Street and enjoy it as a passive recreation area. The land was acquired by the township as part of an open space preservation initiative. At present, the property is accessible via a gravel lane off Apple Street, Cahalan said. The gravel lane crosses a bridge over the east branch of the Saucon Creek, which is where construction of a parking area …

• Photos (1)

Black River Road Residents Want Runoff Addressed

Residents of Black River Road recently told Lower Saucon Township Council that spring water runoff in the area of Fire Lane is damaging property and threatening safety.

Two Black River Road residents who live near the Fire Lane intersection told Lower Saucon Township Council members March 20 that spring water runoff is threatening their homes, as well as the safety of children who wait for the school bus in that area. Dr. Ted Griggs, who lives in the 2300 block of Black River Road—west of Old Philadelphia Pike—told council he can no longer purchase flood insurance for his historic home near the Black River. Citing flooding concerns, he said he may have to take drastic measures. "I'm going to have to have the house destroyed—removed," Griggs said. "And it's a shame. I think it's a gem, and it should be salvaged." Griggs also told council that a child waiting for a school bus on Black River Road slipped on …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

Deb

3:13 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Yes Dave you are correct, the mosquitoes are awful.   more ›

L. Saucon Council Candidate Plans Write-In Campaign

Lower Saucon Township Council candidate Donna Louder says she is not opposing a legal challenge to the petition she filed to appear on the May primary ballot. Instead, she is launching a write-in campaign.

A Lower Saucon Township Council candidate and political newcomer whose petition to appear on the May 21 primary election ballot has been challenged by a current councilman on a technicality says she won't oppose that challenge, but does plan a write-in campaign for the seat. Republican Donna Louder's election petition was challenged at the county level this week by township council vice president Tom Maxfield, who argued that she failed to file a statement of financial interest with the township, according to an article published by the Express-Times. In a statement issued Thursday, Louder admitted that she failed to file the necessary statement of financial interest by the required deadline. "When I learned of this issue, I attempted to …

• Photos (1)

3 Running for 2 Lower Saucon Council Seats

Two incumbents and one political newcomer have filed petitions to appear on the May primary ballot in Lower Saucon Township. All three are running as Republicans.

Three Republicans have filed petitions to appear on the May primary ballot as candidates for two open Lower Saucon Township Council seats. The deadline to file a petition to appear on the primary ballot was March 12. Incumbent council members Glenn Kern and Ronald Horiszny are seeking reelection to four-year terms. Kern is the current council president. Donna Louder, a resident and landfill committee member, will challenge Kern and Horiszny in the primary. Since last year, Louder—whose husband is a township police officer—has been vocal about IESI Bethlehem Landfill's proposed expansion plan at meetings. May's primary is closed, so the two highest vote-getters among Republicans will likely be the winners of the council seats in the fall …

• Photos (4)

L. Saucon Library Services Discussion Planned

A discussion of library services for Lower Saucon Township residents will take place at the next township council meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7pm.

Residents of Lower Saucon Township who are concerned about the future of their municipality's library services agreement will want to attend the next township council meeting, where a review of the Saucon Valley Library Task Force report and a discussion of library services for residents is scheduled to occur. An announcement about the discussion, which will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, Feb. 20, was recently posted on the township's website. Interested parties are invited to attend the meeting to provide their views on the subject of library services, according to the announcement. Lower Saucon Township has maintained an annual library services contract with the Bethlehem Area Public Library (BAPL) for decades. However, recent studies …

• Photos (2)

New Emergency Management Coordinator Appointed

Bryan Evans was appointed to fill the position vacated by Bill Csaszar at township council's Jan. 16 meeting.

Lower Saucon Township Council unanimously appointed Bryan Evans to be the township's new emergency management coordinator at a meeting held Jan. 16. Evans replaces Bill Csaszar, who had been the township's EMA coordinator since 2005. In speaking about his years at the helm of local emergency management, Csaszar said he has fond memories but is ready to let someone else shoulder the burden that goes along with dealing with infrequent crises, such as the widespread blackout caused by the remnants of Superstorm Sandy last year. "It has truly been a pleasure serving the township and I will continue to serve in some capacity. It’s just in my blood," Csaszar assured council members. "And I know my replacement will do an exceptional job," he …

• Photos (1)

Proposed Township Budget Includes Small Tax Hike

Property taxes for Lower Saucon Township residents will increase by one quarter of a mill in 2013 if township council adopts the budget it preliminarily approved Nov. 7.

Lower Saucon Township residents could see a small tax increase next year, if township council ultimately adopts the version of the $6.8 million preliminary 2013 budget it unanimously approved Nov. 7. The total millage rate with a .25 mill increase would become 4.39, meaning a homeowner whose home is assessed at $100,000 would pay $439 in taxes in 2013, or $25 more than was paid in 2012. The increase would help pay for fire vehicles. According to a 2013 Budget Highlights one-sheet prepared by township finance director Cathy Gorman, the township's revenues are forecast to decrease by about three percent in 2013, with "overall revenues stagnating...due to the crisis in financial and housing markets." Fixed township expenditures that are …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Walter

8:30 am on Saturday, November 24, 2012

Another tax increase. Forth one I’ve read about since the election. Dig Deep.   more ›

Letters to the Editor

Letter: L. Saucon Council Should 'Just Say No' to Landfill

Lower Saucon resident Bob Wells says Township Council should protect residents by voting against the rezoning of land that would allow for the expansion of IESI Bethlehem Landfill.

Editor's Note: The following is an open letter to the members of Lower Saucon Township Council. I am a resident of Lower Saucon Township. Since June of this year, I have attended every scheduled Town Council meeting and Planning Commission meeting. The reason for my attendance has been to voice my strong opposition to any zoning changes or other legislation that might enable the expansion of the IESI landfill in our township. In addition to township meetings, I have attended numerous community meetings on both the east and west sides of our township. These community meetings were attended by between 10 and 100+ citizens in every case, all of which have been vehemently opposed to any landfill expansion. During my attendance at every one of …

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)