"“The tax increase which is a 1.7 percent increase in the prior millage rate is $175,763 of additional local revenue to help balance the budget,” Paul DeAngelo, the district’s business manager, said."
The Head Start lawsuit could cost double that.
And the piggy bank was depleted to avoid tax increases to balance budgets.
We had 4 years of lowest common denominator Bush Administration here. Cut taxes, blow the surplus, don't follow rules, engage in costly wars and other misadventures, extract vengence on political opponents, leave it to their successors and taxpayers to deal with the terrible consequences of their crappy reign.
Americans don't care too much for beauty they'll shit in a river, dump battery acid in a stream They'll watch dead rats wash up on the beach and complain if they can't swim
You all need to THANK GOD for those brave people like Bill Hellmann and Marlys Mihok and Al Radosti. They did the job and kept the taxes low like they promised. Just like we all knew would happen the Morrisville Matters people are now raising taxes.
Yeah, THANK GOD for the brave people who did everything they could to destroy the Morrisville SD. Now your students will be offered less options for more money.
It obvious the decisions made by most of the previous board members, and the few remaining SOC stragglers, plus the current administration are directly responsible for this mess.
Keeping taxes low should NOT be the only priority for a SB member.
when the prior board drains your account to zilch how else do you cover expenses i paid more to help the pool debt im pretty sure nobody will lose a home over this and if they do they were losing it before the 54
Something I want to note from last night’s Board meeting while it's fresh in my mind.
Steve Worob suddenly perked up and started complaining about legal fees being charged by Hill Wallack LLP, the firm of the Board’s Solicitor, David Truelove.
Jack Buckman joined in, expressing his feelings that the usage of Hill Wallack was not being managed well. I don’t trust his or Steve Worob’s judgments on these sorts of things, but hey, I listened. I heard what they had to say.
In Public Session #2, I echoed the sentiments of some other Board members who said "you get what you pay for". I mentioned that you also get what you DON'T pay for. I meant that seeking, heeding, and paying for, a little good legal advice might have gone a long way in avoiding some legal entanglements the “Prior Board” brought on.
I mentioned the Tech School lawsuit and the Head Start/Manor Park lawsuit as examples.
I don’t know how much the Tech School debacle cost in legal fees and other expenses, but we ended up settling and paying all of the funds the Prior Board withheld.
With Head Start, we’re on the hook for $325,000+, and we gave up $200,000+ in rental income through 2018.
My remarks seemed to get Jack Buckman fired up. He said the Prior Board terminated the lease to keep the Manor Park building. Jack Buckman thinks Head Start was getting too good a deal on it. OK. That’s debatable in and of itself.
But here’s the thing: The Prior Board reneged on paying the costs associated with terminating the lease. The lease clearly states that Head Start must be paid for certain things if the lease is terminated. Namely, the things they’re asking to be paid back for in the lawsuit they filed. Can you imagine?
The Prior Board ended the lease, but ignored or refused to honor the contractual obligations to pay. It’s not rocket science.
It's not the first time the Prior Board has refused to honor contracts either. That’s the troubling part.
OK, Jack. You wanted to keep the building. A building that:
1. Sits vacant now, for going on 3 years;
2. We (Morrisville taxpayers) have to take care of while it sits vacant (when Head Start was there, they were responsible for taking care of it);
3. We gave up $200,000+ in rental income on from Head Start through 2018;
4. Would take a lot of money to bring up to code for anyone to use;
5. Has us enbroiled in a losable lawsuit that could costs us $325,000+.
Yeah, we own it all right. Please tell me how that’s such a good deal for the taxpayers of Morrisville?
After I spoke, Ron Stout made a remark implying that I get fed information from people I know on the Board.
That is absolutely false. It has never happened. Ever. On any topic. The people I know, like, and respect on the Board wouldn’t do that. And I wouldn’t ask. They take their positions and responsibilities seriously, and I do too. We know where the line is, and we respect it.
I wish I could say I believe the same about him and some of his friends on and off the Board, but I can’t.
Everything I learned about the Tech School and Head Start lawsuits is public information that I learned on my own.
"It better be upwards of $750,000 or we own an albatross. Has it been appraised lately?"
Person Two choc-ices please. Man I haven't got choc-ices. I only got the albatross. Albatross! Person What flavour is it? Man It's a bird, innit? It's a bloody sea bird . .. it's not any bloody flavour. Albatross! Person Do you get wafers with it? Man Course you don't get bloody wafers with it. Albatross! Person How much is it? Man Ninepence. Person I'll have two please. Man Gannet on a stick.
I won't touch that one. In other, less frightening news, Bristol Twp. raised its taxes 4.23 mills to 196.4993 mills. This is the highest millage rate in Bucks County, and exceeds Morrisville's rate by 16.1853 mills.
Bristol Twp raises school taxes, enacts cuts, uses savings
The Bristol Township School Board discusses its 2013-2014 operating budget at a meeting Wednesday night.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer Posted on June 28, 2013
Bristol Township School District will raise taxes 2.2 percent, use nearly half of its savings and enact about $2 million in cuts and cost reductions to fill a multimillion-dollar gap for 2013-14.
Under the $122.68 million spending plan approved late Thursday night, the owner of a property assessed at the township average of $18,800 will see their tax bill go up about $79 next year. The 4.23-mill tax hike brings the total millage rate to 196.4993 mills, and the tax bill for a home assessed at the district average up to $3,694.
School board members Angela Nober, Stacy Gerlach, Katherine Bachman, Frederick Black, Earl Bruck, Patricia Koszarek and Constance Moore voted to approve next year’s spending plan. James Baker Jr. voted against it. Board member Helen Cini was absent.
The board chose not to raise taxes as high as it could have; the district was given certain exceptions from Act 1 which, if enacted, could have pushed next year’s tax bill even higher.
The board was tasked with closing a $6.5 million budget shortfall. The tax hike generates about $1.57 million in revenue and the district will use $3.2 million of its $7 million in savings.
Additionally, the board approved a series of cuts and cost reductions outlined by district administrators. They include the following eliminations: English as a second language teacher (saving $94,000); special education teacher ($93,000); assistant transportation coordinator ($82,800); federal program secretary ($63,400); medical access secretary ($62,500); an assistant principal position through attrition ($140,000); and three teachers assistants ($150,000).
The district also will convert eight teaching assistants to 16 inclusion specialist positions (saving $181,136); convert two eight-hour custodians to four four-hour custodians ($38,900); save a net of $73,600 with the retirement of its grant writer/public relations person and contracting out the position; and reduce student worker program expenses by $45,800.
Additionally, the cuts include reduced overtime and budget reductions for elementary curriculum budget ($47,000), athletics ($132,000) and technology ($205,500). Bristol Township will save $13,600 through a new hire at the special education supervisor level.
As with other districts, increased costs and reduced revenues over the last handful of years have fueled budgetary woes.
About 60 people attended Thursday’s meeting. Among them was Fairless Hills resident Al Angelini, who said that previous school boards “created contracts we cannot sustain. There’s just not enough money. You’re going to run out of money. It is inevitable.”
Another was Catherine Gudknecht, 80, who works part time and lives off Social Security.
“With the school taxes, I’m so afraid,” she told the board. “I really don’t know where I’m going to go if I have to give my house up. I try to do it on my own, but it’s getting hard.”
Baker, the school board member who voted against the budget, said he has heard the same stories from residents many times and that the board must do more to get the budget in check.
“I know we compromise on a lot of things to get this budget to where it is. I appreciate everyone’s hard work, however, looking into next year and the following year, we’re going to be in the same boat.”
Contract negotiations will play a huge role in next year’s budget discussions, as the district will negotiate new contracts with four bargaining units, officials said.
Hey their taxes went up 79 vs our 54 but they didn't get HIT. And we enacted cuts and DIDN'T use savings. Does somebody over in BT have pictures of BCCT editors in compromising positions???
Anyone know who will be in charge of facilities now that Tim Lastichen has been let go? I hope our buildings are maintained properly and in a timely manner. Can't let them fall apart again.
What? will he simply scowl everything in order? How could anyone suppose that would be a proper appointment? There are qualifications for such a posting, and I don't think a retired cop has such. This sounds more like rumor-mongering, but since the SOC-SOT gang is no longer running things into the ground, it really doesn't matter.
Morrisville: 7 people robbed at gunpoint on the same night last week
MORRISVILLE — Seven people were robbed at gunpoint in two incidents on the same night last week, the latest in a recent rash of armed robberies on borough streets, police said. Borough police reported three people were robbed at gunpoint while walking along the Delaware River path shortly after 10:30 p.m. June 24. The suspects disappeared on Park Avenue into Williamson Park, police said, offering no other information. The second robbery occurred less than 10 minutes later. Four people were robbed at gunpoint while walking through the Giant Plaza parking lot on West Trenton Avenue. Those suspects got into a car, which was parked on Plaza Boulevard, and fled, police said, again offering no further information. The latest incidents bring the total number of armed robberies to at least five in June. All but one involved suspects with guns. One person reportedly was injured in one of the robberies. Two suspects in a dark red Honda used a gun to rob a person who was walking home on Dorset Drive and Arbor Road around 10:30 p.m. June 13. A week earlier, a woman reported that she had been pistol-whipped after being approached by two men in a dark car while she was walking near Dorset and Grandview avenues, police said. Another individual was robbed of $20 at knife point at the Bank of America ATM in the first unit block of East Trenton Avenue at North Pennsylvania avenue on June 14, police said.
What's going on with police investigation, mayor Ledger (first female) lawsuit and other things boro? Hellman (he's a CPA you know) still not payiing his garbage bills and taking documents out of boro hall to his home office? Hopefully there are good things happening too.
I wonder if Marlys Mihok, the former timekeeper and rules pit bull for the school board would have allowed Marlys Mihok, non-address-identifying citizen, to speak.
No, I don't wonder. I know. NO!
Let's use the same advise John Oliver gave on Sarah Palin's return to Faux News...Just ‘F*cking Ignore Her’
With one lieutenant governor from Bucks County currently in office, might the politically critical piece of geography make it two in a row?
There’s talk that state Rep. John Galloway, D-140, is being recruited by the moderate, Gov. Bob Casey-wing of the Democratic Party to consider a run for the office.
The feeling is the current field of governor and lieutenant governor candidates are liberals and Galloway, a more centrist Democrat with a strong labor background, from voter-rich Bucks County, could balance the ticket and make it more formidable.
Galloway has said the “Nancy Pelosi-wing” of the Democratic Party is “overrepresented” and has touted his beliefs that a model more representative of former Gov. Casey and Bill and Hillary Clinton is where Pennsylvania Democrats should be.
Those in agreement have asked him to run.
“I’m going to travel the state, and I’m going to talk to people to see who out there believes the same as I do,” Galloway said Tuesday. “I’m going to try and create a coalition.”
Galloway said Casey was his “political inspiration” to run for office. “He not only was a great politician, but a great man. I share his passion for the middle class working families of our state.”
Galloway, a four-term representative, certainly has his bona fides in the way he has gone after Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. He also has a reputation for being able to work across the aisle, and cut deals with the GOP, as exemplified by his 2012 EVERIFY legislation on illegal immigration.
“I do think we need to find ways to compromise, and get something accomplished in Pennsylvania,” he said. “Under Tom Corbett, we’ve gone from seventh in job creation to 49th. Our economy has contracted, unlike New Jersey, New York and Ohio. And we’ve lost revenue because of it.”
Jim Cawley, the former Bucks County commissioner, is the current LG. But his boss hasn’t been doing too well in the polls, and has been panned for not getting any of his priority legislation passed.
Galloway, a legislative moderate with a propensity to attack Corbett, may offer needed balance for the 2014 Democratic ticket.
“There are a lot of issues out there right now that make sense if you take the middle ground,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. I firmly believe we’re the silent majority.”
‘Unfair’ school funding
Though the Legislature won’t agree to it, state Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151, wants the school-funding formula changed.
He called it “blatantly unfair” that schools in his district receive only about 16 percent of their funding from the state while other districts receive more than 70 percent.
“The children in my schools are worth just as much as other children across the state of Pennsylvania and deserve an equitable school-funding formula,” he said.
Under the formula, the Abington, Hatboro-Horsham, North Penn, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon school districts will receive a state subsidy of between $600 and $900 per student, while the average state subsidy is $3,200.
The funding formula is why homeowners in Bucks and Montgomery counties pay higher property taxes than those in other parts of the state.
Heard that at least one kid was caught over at Manor Park spray-painting the doors to the building. Teens are hanging out over there and scaring the younger kids away from the playground. Really hope it doesn't just continue to sit vacant. It was at least kept nice when Head Start was still there!
Just stop naming all those "Stop Everything" morons, both on the school board and the boro council. It accomplishes nothing. THE SAME MINDLESS VOTERS KEEP ELECTING THESE MINDLESS IDIOTS AND NOTHING EVER CHANGES. Council and school board are codependent on each other for maintaining the poverty of Morrisville. Poverty of thought, poverty of money, poverty of ambition, and poverty of self worth. Get out while your home still has some value.
Oh, and did the boro council members expect that we could wait while they fiddle and diddle and delay on dealing with the police department and not notice?
I submit that it does accomplish something. They have been occcasionally defeated in elections. Like a bad case of hemorrhoids, they keep flare up over and over again. For some reason, people need to be reminded that another flare-up of hemorrhoids is not a good thing. Preparations A-G were complete failures, but Preparation H feels good on the whole.
Besides, they seem to crave the attention that they must have been denied during critical formative years in their psychological development.
I wish you well. My closing is in 11 days. Crime and taxes are rising because we elected these fools and I'm gone. I voted for the Hellman school board group twice because I thought I knew what they were doing. Now I know how bad they are. I've lost so much home value because of them.
I wish you well too. At least you learned from your mistakes. Sorry it took so long. The Hellmann crew does not learn from its mistakes. In their world, they don't make mistakes. They think everything they do is right. They lie, deny, and blame others for their own obvious failures. There are Hellmann crews everywhere, in every village and town. They may look, dress, and talk differently but rest assured they are there. Watch out for them. They don't have 'I'm a Bad Person and a Scourge in Your Town' tattooed on their foreheads, which makes identification more difficult. A few minutes, perhaps 3, of watching them in action is usually enough, but for some people it takes longer. May you gain tenfold in insight what you lost in home value.
We all know that Dave Rivella reads this blog and that Kitty Westrope should. They don't need to answer here but what are either of them doing to fix the police department and reduce crime? Maybe in November we should write in a strong mayor candidate who can let Dave stay on council.
Kitty may have even posted the comment up a few about "letting" Dave stay on council in an effort of beginning a buzz about getting a write in for council to split Rivella's votes because she won't be able to beat him without it.
If this Kitty's campaign strategy carried out on this silly blog it sucks to the point where I would encourage her to continue if I were Rivella.I don't believe its her.
No disrespect but how is Rivella dropping the ball with the police? He's a 4th ward councilman, he's not in charge of the police. Why are the police dropping the ballwith the police? They don't know how to conduct themselves and need a civilian who happened to win an election in 1/4 of Morrisville to tell them how to do their jobs? The need the first female mayor who knows diddly squat about law enforcement to command them to the donut shop?
Who from council is on the chief search committee? Why is the search for a new chief taking six months? Why do we have all this new crime? Why is the mayor suing the boro over police related activity?
There is no if. How is it his ball to drop. I don't care for the guy will prob will vote against him. I don't want to defend him. You could rip him for many things but this? I don't think so.
Is crime really up? There have been some high publicity armed robberies and even a murder and that can definitely create a feeling that crime is up but is it really?
They put their lives on the line every day. I am not qualified to comment on police tactics. Wouldn't it be great though if they could develop a PreCrime police force that uses visions of the future generated by three "precogs", mutated humans with precognitive abilities, to stop crime before it happens? Just sayin'.
I'd be happy with some overt strategies to minimize the appearance of town as a place to come commit crime and run back over the bridge. As far as placing their lives on the line everyday, I think you watch too many cop shows. Picking up the dopers at the 7-11 and the dollar store shoplifters doesn't rise to risking your life for me, but hey, maybe that's just me, YRMV.
A Bensalem teen from the Bucks County Technical High School in Fairless Hills has won first place at a national competition of technical and vocational school students.
The Bristol Township tech school sent 18 students to the SkillsUSA National Conference in late June in Kansas City, Mo. Four of the 18 competitors came home with medals.
Stephen Wajda won first place in Outdoor Power Equipment. Keri Davids, Stephanie Secoda and John Vega won second place in the Career Pathways Showcase-Health Services.
“Stephen Wajda made it to the national conference last year and placed sixth, so he knew going into this year he wanted to make it to first place,” said Shannon Seratch, a tech school teacher and SkillsUSA adviser. “... I could not be more proud of him. He had to compete at the district and state level before making it to nationals.”
In the past five years, Bucks County Technical High School has had three first-place winners at the national level, Secoda said.
“It is the hard work and dedication not only from our students, but also our staff that has made these successes possible,” the adviser said.
Anonymous said... I'd be happy with some overt strategies to minimize the appearance of town as a place to come commit crime and run back over the bridge. As far as placing their lives on the line everyday, I think you watch too many cop shows. Picking up the dopers at the 7-11 and the dollar store shoplifters doesn't rise to risking your life for me, but hey, maybe that's just me, YRMV.
REALLY? DONT RISK THEIR LIFE? EVERY DAY YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK HOME RISKING THEIR LIFE TO KEEP ME SAFE EVEN AT THE 7-11 WHERE PERPS GO IN AND OUT OF AND THOSE SAME SHOPLIFTERS AND DRUGGIES COULD BE THE SAME ONES BREAKING INTO YOUR BACK DOOR OR FIRING ON ONE OF OUR OFFICERS ANY DAY. GOTTA START SOMEWHERE IF THEY WERENT BUSING THOSE YOU WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT
Between the perps with guns and the vigilante justice cop wannabees, everyone puts their lives on the line every day, but especially cops.
5/23/2013
Morrisville police: Man pointed loaded gun at couple out for a walk
By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia
A couple walking near a Morrisville park told police that a man aimed his loaded handgun at them Monday night and ordered them to leave his neighborhood.
Morrisville police say it was not the first time that Mark Widmann, 57, of Park Avenue has been warned about his behavior toward people walking or parked on his street.
The couple said Widmann confronted them about 8:30 p.m. as they walked along Park Avenue from Williamson Park. The woman told police Widmann appeared on a second-floor balcony with what appeared to be a black handgun and ordered them to leave.
“Widmann was calling (the couple) ‘druggies and drug addicts’ and said, ‘I’m going to shoot you if you don’t leave,’ and ‘I have a permit for this and I know how to use it,’ ” according to a probable cause affidavit.
The woman told police that Widmann aimed the gun at her and her boyfriend, moving it back and forth. He continued pointing his gun at them after they entered their car, police said.
Police said Widmann admitted ordering the couple to leave, but didn’t mention a gun until he was asked about it. Widmann said the couple was not on his property when he allegedly threatened them, police said.
Police said they confiscated a loaded semi-automatic Beretta from a couch in Widmann’s home.
Widmann was arraigned Tuesday morning before Bristol District Judge Frank Peranteau Sr. on multiple counts of terroristic threats, possession of a weapon, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $40,000 bail.
REALLY? DONT RISK THEIR LIFE? EVERY DAY YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK HOME RISKING THEIR LIFE TO KEEP ME SAFE EVEN AT THE 7-11 WHERE PERPS GO IN AND OUT OF AND THOSE SAME SHOPLIFTERS AND DRUGGIES COULD BE THE SAME ONES BREAKING INTO YOUR BACK DOOR OR FIRING ON ONE OF OUR OFFICERS ANY DAY. GOTTA START SOMEWHERE IF THEY WERENT BUSING THOSE YOU WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.
First-Stop Yelling!
Second, No one made any of them become a cop. They chose this life, so save the drama. I am glad our cops handle the nuisance crimes, but it doesn't seem like they manage much else. That's not good enough. Until they start to address the other growing crie problems, they deserve to be criticized. If you didn't get your job done well enough, I'm sure your boss would be on your ass too. Why should a blue unifiorm and a badge make them any different? If anything, they should be held to a higher standard.
81 comments:
Pot luck?
Is that what the folks listed in the Mville police blotter appear to not have?
Taxes are going up, but I did enjoy the nice little dig the BCCT managed to include regarding the depletion of the fund balance.
Hey, SOC-SOT! You SUCK!!! All of you!! You suck rotten eggs!!
"“The tax increase which is a 1.7 percent increase in the prior millage rate is $175,763 of additional local revenue to help balance the budget,” Paul DeAngelo, the district’s business manager, said."
The Head Start lawsuit could cost double that.
And the piggy bank was depleted to avoid tax increases to balance budgets.
Yes, SOC-SOT does indeed SUCK.
We had 4 years of lowest common denominator Bush Administration here. Cut taxes, blow the surplus, don't follow rules, engage in costly wars and other misadventures, extract vengence on political opponents, leave it to their successors and taxpayers to deal with the terrible consequences of their crappy reign.
.....then complain about taxes and spending....
SOT_SOC's "leadreship" has been exposed and discredited.
Americans don't care too much for beauty
they'll shit in a river, dump battery acid in a stream
They'll watch dead rats wash up on the beach
and complain if they can't swim
You all need to THANK GOD for those brave people like Bill Hellmann and Marlys Mihok and Al Radosti. They did the job and kept the taxes low like they promised. Just like we all knew would happen the Morrisville Matters people are now raising taxes.
I give you a one out of ten for that troll. It was weak and obvious, but you might hook a few noobs.
If you really want to ignite the flames, you'll need to do better.
Don't worry, it's been proven that they can't do better.
Yeah, THANK GOD for the brave people who did everything they could to destroy the Morrisville SD. Now your students will be offered less options for more money.
It obvious the decisions made by most of the previous board members, and the few remaining SOC stragglers, plus the current administration are directly responsible for this mess.
Keeping taxes low should NOT be the only priority for a SB member.
Don't feed the trolls.
So how much more are we paying?
$54 for the average assessed home.
A 1.7% increase. First increase in 6 years. Grab your pitchforks and torches! Storm the LGI!!!!!!!!
less than a coffee a month, i think thats worth maintaining the district and keeping young families here or coming in.
when the prior board drains your account to zilch how else do you cover expenses i paid more to help the pool debt im pretty sure nobody will lose a home over this and if they do they were losing it before the 54
You last 2 posters make too much sense. You must be stopped.
My torch has a pilot light that's always on, for just such an occasion.
Great Job School Board, 1st step in getting this District back on Track.
Something I want to note from last night’s Board meeting while it's fresh in my mind.
Steve Worob suddenly perked up and started complaining about legal fees being charged by Hill Wallack LLP, the firm of the Board’s Solicitor, David Truelove.
Jack Buckman joined in, expressing his feelings that the usage of Hill Wallack was not being managed well. I don’t trust his or Steve Worob’s judgments on these sorts of things, but hey, I listened. I heard what they had to say.
In Public Session #2, I echoed the sentiments of some other Board members who said "you get what you pay for". I mentioned that you also get what you DON'T pay for. I meant that seeking, heeding, and paying for, a little good legal advice might have gone a long way in avoiding some legal entanglements the “Prior Board” brought on.
I mentioned the Tech School lawsuit and the Head Start/Manor Park lawsuit as examples.
I don’t know how much the Tech School debacle cost in legal fees and other expenses, but we ended up settling and paying all of the funds the Prior Board withheld.
With Head Start, we’re on the hook for $325,000+, and we gave up $200,000+ in rental income through 2018.
My remarks seemed to get Jack Buckman fired up. He said the Prior Board terminated the lease to keep the Manor Park building. Jack Buckman thinks Head Start was getting too good a deal on it. OK. That’s debatable in and of itself.
But here’s the thing: The Prior Board reneged on paying the costs associated with terminating the lease. The lease clearly states that Head Start must be paid for certain things if the lease is terminated. Namely, the things they’re asking to be paid back for in the lawsuit they filed. Can you imagine?
The Prior Board ended the lease, but ignored or refused to honor the contractual obligations to pay. It’s not rocket science.
It's not the first time the Prior Board has refused to honor contracts either. That’s the troubling part.
OK, Jack. You wanted to keep the building. A building that:
1. Sits vacant now, for going on 3 years;
2. We (Morrisville taxpayers) have to take care of while it sits vacant (when Head Start was there, they were responsible for taking care of it);
3. We gave up $200,000+ in rental income on from Head Start through 2018;
4. Would take a lot of money to bring up to code for anyone to use;
5. Has us enbroiled in a losable lawsuit that could costs us $325,000+.
Yeah, we own it all right. Please tell me how that’s such a good deal for the taxpayers of Morrisville?
One other thing.
After I spoke, Ron Stout made a remark implying that I get fed information from people I know on the Board.
That is absolutely false. It has never happened. Ever. On any topic. The people I know, like, and respect on the Board wouldn’t do that. And I wouldn’t ask. They take their positions and responsibilities seriously, and I do too. We know where the line is, and we respect it.
I wish I could say I believe the same about him and some of his friends on and off the Board, but I can’t.
Everything I learned about the Tech School and Head Start lawsuits is public information that I learned on my own.
It’s called using your brain.
How much will Manor Park have to sell for to recoup the money tax payers will loose in the settlement and legal fees for the Head Start Lawsuit?
It better be upwards of $750,000 or we own an albatross. Has it been appraised lately?
Why are the SOCs collecting broken buildings like Pokemon?
Theory: they are misguided, dim bulb jerkweeds.
Evidence: just about everything they say and do.
"It better be upwards of $750,000 or we own an albatross. Has it been appraised lately?"
Person Two choc-ices please.
Man I haven't got choc-ices. I only got the albatross. Albatross!
Person What flavour is it?
Man It's a bird, innit? It's a bloody sea bird . .. it's not any bloody flavour. Albatross!
Person Do you get wafers with it?
Man Course you don't get bloody wafers with it. Albatross!
Person How much is it?
Man Ninepence.
Person I'll have two please.
Man Gannet on a stick.
Maryls Mihok For President of The USA.
I won't touch that one. In other, less frightening news, Bristol Twp. raised its taxes 4.23 mills to 196.4993 mills. This is the highest millage rate in Bucks County, and exceeds Morrisville's rate by 16.1853 mills.
Bristol Twp raises school taxes, enacts cuts, uses savings
The Bristol Township School Board discusses its 2013-2014 operating budget at a meeting Wednesday night.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer
Posted on June 28, 2013
Bristol Township School District will raise taxes 2.2 percent, use nearly half of its savings and enact about $2 million in cuts and cost reductions to fill a multimillion-dollar gap for 2013-14.
Under the $122.68 million spending plan approved late Thursday night, the owner of a property assessed at the township average of $18,800 will see their tax bill go up about $79 next year. The 4.23-mill tax hike brings the total millage rate to 196.4993 mills, and the tax bill for a home assessed at the district average up to $3,694.
School board members Angela Nober, Stacy Gerlach, Katherine Bachman, Frederick Black, Earl Bruck, Patricia Koszarek and Constance Moore voted to approve next year’s spending plan. James Baker Jr. voted against it. Board member Helen Cini was absent.
The board chose not to raise taxes as high as it could have; the district was given certain exceptions from Act 1 which, if enacted, could have pushed next year’s tax bill even higher.
The board was tasked with closing a $6.5 million budget shortfall. The tax hike generates about $1.57 million in revenue and the district will use $3.2 million of its $7 million in savings.
Additionally, the board approved a series of cuts and cost reductions outlined by district administrators. They include the following eliminations: English as a second language teacher (saving $94,000); special education teacher ($93,000); assistant transportation coordinator ($82,800); federal program secretary ($63,400); medical access secretary ($62,500); an assistant principal position through attrition ($140,000); and three teachers assistants ($150,000).
The district also will convert eight teaching assistants to 16 inclusion specialist positions (saving $181,136); convert two eight-hour custodians to four four-hour custodians ($38,900); save a net of $73,600 with the retirement of its grant writer/public relations person and contracting out the position; and reduce student worker program expenses by $45,800.
Additionally, the cuts include reduced overtime and budget reductions for elementary curriculum budget ($47,000), athletics ($132,000) and technology ($205,500). Bristol Township will save $13,600 through a new hire at the special education supervisor level.
As with other districts, increased costs and reduced revenues over the last handful of years have fueled budgetary woes.
About 60 people attended Thursday’s meeting. Among them was Fairless Hills resident Al Angelini, who said that previous school boards “created contracts we cannot sustain. There’s just not enough money. You’re going to run out of money. It is inevitable.”
Another was Catherine Gudknecht, 80, who works part time and lives off Social Security.
“With the school taxes, I’m so afraid,” she told the board. “I really don’t know where I’m going to go if I have to give my house up. I try to do it on my own, but it’s getting hard.”
Baker, the school board member who voted against the budget, said he has heard the same stories from residents many times and that the board must do more to get the budget in check.
“I know we compromise on a lot of things to get this budget to where it is. I appreciate everyone’s hard work, however, looking into next year and the following year, we’re going to be in the same boat.”
Contract negotiations will play a huge role in next year’s budget discussions, as the district will negotiate new contracts with four bargaining units, officials said.
Hey their taxes went up 79 vs our 54 but they didn't get HIT. And we enacted cuts and DIDN'T use savings. Does somebody over in BT have pictures of BCCT editors in compromising positions???
Anyone know who will be in charge of facilities now that Tim Lastichen has been let go? I hope our buildings are maintained properly and in a timely manner. Can't let them fall apart again.
Good question. Someone from within the ranks will have to step up?
Wasn't SOC was pushing Al Radosti for a facilities job at one time?
If SOC had won the last election I dare say he would've gotten it and more programs would've been cut to keep him in it.
What? will he simply scowl everything in order? How could anyone suppose that would be a proper appointment? There are qualifications for such a posting, and I don't think a retired cop has such. This sounds more like rumor-mongering, but since the SOC-SOT gang is no longer running things into the ground, it really doesn't matter.
I heard that rumor. I hope that's all it was. Thank GOD it didn't happen.
W!T!F!
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/morrisville-people-robbed-at-gunpoint-on-the-same-night-last/article_5f7776d5-805b-535e-b36a-e3be0752b7ec.html
Morrisville: 7 people robbed at gunpoint on the same night last week
MORRISVILLE — Seven people were robbed at gunpoint in two incidents on the same night last week, the latest in a recent rash of armed robberies on borough streets, police said.
Borough police reported three people were robbed at gunpoint while walking along the Delaware River path shortly after 10:30 p.m. June 24. The suspects disappeared on Park Avenue into Williamson Park, police said, offering no other information.
The second robbery occurred less than 10 minutes later. Four people were robbed at gunpoint while walking through the Giant Plaza parking lot on West Trenton Avenue.
Those suspects got into a car, which was parked on Plaza Boulevard, and fled, police said, again offering no further information.
The latest incidents bring the total number of armed robberies to at least five in June. All but one involved suspects with guns. One person reportedly was injured in one of the robberies.
Two suspects in a dark red Honda used a gun to rob a person who was walking home on Dorset Drive and Arbor Road around 10:30 p.m. June 13. A week earlier, a woman reported that she had been pistol-whipped after being approached by two men in a dark car while she was walking near Dorset and Grandview avenues, police said.
Another individual was robbed of $20 at knife point at the Bank of America ATM in the first unit block of East Trenton Avenue at North Pennsylvania avenue on June 14, police said.
You got that right.
Hey, but did you see all the people in the police blotter they arrested for petty crap? The boys in blue are on the job!!
What's going on with police investigation, mayor Ledger (first female) lawsuit and other things boro? Hellman (he's a CPA you know) still not payiing his garbage bills and taking documents out of boro hall to his home office? Hopefully there are good things happening too.
Maryls Mahock for Mayor of Trenton
Did she move out of Morrisville?
We don't know if she moved. She will not state her address at the Board Meetings.
The on-line comments on that W!T!F! article are something else.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/morrisville-people-robbed-at-gunpoint-on-the-same-night-last/article_5f7776d5-805b-535e-b36a-e3be0752b7ec.html
The Courier Times reports the two dudes who did the robberies are already in jail in New Jersey.
They created a map with crime reports from June. Morrisville has a lot of entries.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/courier_times_news/breaking_news/map-of-criminal-activity-reported-in-lower-bucks-in-june/html_ac560b0f-335b-505c-950e-433b3e9184ae.html
I wonder if Marlys Mihok, the former timekeeper and rules pit bull for the school board would have allowed Marlys Mihok, non-address-identifying citizen, to speak.
No, I don't wonder. I know. NO!
Let's use the same advise John Oliver gave on Sarah Palin's return to Faux News...Just ‘F*cking Ignore Her’
Just ‘F*cking Ignore Her’? I'm in. Anything her ex-husband and his new girlfriend can do, I can do better.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/crime/morrisville-files-arrest-warrants-for-nj-suspects-in-recent-gunpoint/article_dae02d69-273f-567d-9510-9cb90c82e508.html
Galloway considers run for lieutenant governor
July 3, 2013
by Gary Weckselblatt
With one lieutenant governor from Bucks County currently in office, might the politically critical piece of geography make it two in a row?
There’s talk that state Rep. John Galloway, D-140, is being recruited by the moderate, Gov. Bob Casey-wing of the Democratic Party to consider a run for the office.
The feeling is the current field of governor and lieutenant governor candidates are liberals and Galloway, a more centrist Democrat with a strong labor background, from voter-rich Bucks County, could balance the ticket and make it more formidable.
Galloway has said the “Nancy Pelosi-wing” of the Democratic Party is “overrepresented” and has touted his beliefs that a model more representative of former Gov. Casey and Bill and Hillary Clinton is where Pennsylvania Democrats should be.
Those in agreement have asked him to run.
“I’m going to travel the state, and I’m going to talk to people to see who out there believes the same as I do,” Galloway said Tuesday. “I’m going to try and create a coalition.”
Galloway said Casey was his “political inspiration” to run for office. “He not only was a great politician, but a great man. I share his passion for the middle class working families of our state.”
Galloway, a four-term representative, certainly has his bona fides in the way he has gone after Republican Gov. Tom Corbett. He also has a reputation for being able to work across the aisle, and cut deals with the GOP, as exemplified by his 2012 EVERIFY legislation on illegal immigration.
“I do think we need to find ways to compromise, and get something accomplished in Pennsylvania,” he said. “Under Tom Corbett, we’ve gone from seventh in job creation to 49th. Our economy has contracted, unlike New Jersey, New York and Ohio. And we’ve lost revenue because of it.”
Jim Cawley, the former Bucks County commissioner, is the current LG. But his boss hasn’t been doing too well in the polls, and has been panned for not getting any of his priority legislation passed.
Galloway, a legislative moderate with a propensity to attack Corbett, may offer needed balance for the 2014 Democratic ticket.
“There are a lot of issues out there right now that make sense if you take the middle ground,” he said. “That’s where I’m at. I firmly believe we’re the silent majority.”
‘Unfair’ school funding
Though the Legislature won’t agree to it, state Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151, wants the school-funding formula changed.
He called it “blatantly unfair” that schools in his district receive only about 16 percent of their funding from the state while other districts receive more than 70 percent.
“The children in my schools are worth just as much as other children across the state of Pennsylvania and deserve an equitable school-funding formula,” he said.
Under the formula, the Abington, Hatboro-Horsham, North Penn, Upper Dublin and Wissahickon school districts will receive a state subsidy of between $600 and $900 per student, while the average state subsidy is $3,200.
The funding formula is why homeowners in Bucks and Montgomery counties pay higher property taxes than those in other parts of the state.
Maryls Mihok for Leader of North Korea.
Haven't the North Koreans suffered enough?
Heard that at least one kid was caught over at Manor Park spray-painting the doors to the building. Teens are hanging out over there and scaring the younger kids away from the playground. Really hope it doesn't just continue to sit vacant. It was at least kept nice when Head Start was still there!
Thank them for the vacancy:
Ron Stout
Bill Hellmann (C.P.A.)
Marlys Mihok
Al Radosti
Jack Buckman
John DeWilde
.......and the lawsuit
Just stop naming all those "Stop Everything" morons, both on the school board and the boro council. It accomplishes nothing. THE SAME MINDLESS VOTERS KEEP ELECTING THESE MINDLESS IDIOTS AND NOTHING EVER CHANGES. Council and school board are codependent on each other for maintaining the poverty of Morrisville. Poverty of thought, poverty of money, poverty of ambition, and poverty of self worth. Get out while your home still has some value.
Oh, and did the boro council members expect that we could wait while they fiddle and diddle and delay on dealing with the police department and not notice?
I submit that it does accomplish something. They have been occcasionally defeated in elections. Like a bad case of hemorrhoids, they keep flare up over and over again. For some reason, people need to be reminded that another flare-up of hemorrhoids is not a good thing. Preparations A-G were complete failures, but Preparation H feels good on the whole.
Besides, they seem to crave the attention that they must have been denied during critical formative years in their psychological development.
I wish you well. My closing is in 11 days. Crime and taxes are rising because we elected these fools and I'm gone. I voted for the Hellman school board group twice because I thought I knew what they were doing. Now I know how bad they are. I've lost so much home value because of them.
I wish you well too. At least you learned from your mistakes. Sorry it took so long. The Hellmann crew does not learn from its mistakes. In their world, they don't make mistakes. They think everything they do is right. They lie, deny, and blame others for their own obvious failures. There are Hellmann crews everywhere, in every village and town. They may look, dress, and talk differently but rest assured they are there. Watch out for them. They don't have 'I'm a Bad Person and a Scourge in Your Town' tattooed on their foreheads, which makes identification more difficult. A few minutes, perhaps 3, of watching them in action is usually enough, but for some people it takes longer. May you gain tenfold in insight what you lost in home value.
SOT-Stay on Track
SOT-Scourge of Town
Coincidence?
I think not!
We all know that Dave Rivella reads this blog and that Kitty Westrope should. They don't need to answer here but what are either of them doing to fix the police department and reduce crime? Maybe in November we should write in a strong mayor candidate who can let Dave stay on council.
Westrope should not be doing anything. She doesn't hold any office and has no authority.
It's annoying when uninformed people who have no idea what they're talking about seem to have all the answers.
Mr. Rivella has been a council person who has worked positively for Morrisville. I have no doubt he will do this as mayor as well.
I believe that Kitty reads this blog. I believe that she has posted on this blog anonymously several times.
Kitty may have even posted the comment up a few about "letting" Dave stay on council in an effort of beginning a buzz about getting a write in for council to split Rivella's votes because she won't be able to beat him without it.
Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!
If this Kitty's campaign strategy carried out on this silly blog it sucks to the point where I would encourage her to continue if I were Rivella.I don't believe its her.
Dave Rivella has done a lot for Morrisville but if he's dropping the ball now on the police thats a serious prob for a possible mayor.
No disrespect but how is Rivella dropping the ball with the police? He's a 4th ward councilman, he's not in charge of the police. Why are the police dropping the ballwith the police? They don't know how to conduct themselves and need a civilian who happened to win an election in 1/4 of Morrisville to tell them how to do their jobs? The need the first female mayor who knows diddly squat about law enforcement to command them to the donut shop?
Who from council is on the chief search committee?
Why is the search for a new chief taking six months?
Why do we have all this new crime?
Why is the mayor suing the boro over police related activity?
The poster didn't say Dave was dropping the ball. They said if. You jumping to his defense automatically makes me think he is dropping the ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLyz_JWJCJI
There is no if. How is it his ball to drop. I don't care for the guy will prob will vote against him. I don't want to defend him. You could rip him for many things but this? I don't think so.
Is crime really up? There have been some high publicity armed robberies and even a murder and that can definitely create a feeling that crime is up but is it really?
Well, I'm not even sure that's a crime anymore.
There've been a lot of changes in the law.
I'm calling the cops.
If you want to find all the cops
They're hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs cruise down the block
They put their lives on the line every day. I am not qualified to comment on police tactics. Wouldn't it be great though if they could develop a PreCrime police force that uses visions of the future generated by three "precogs", mutated humans with precognitive abilities, to stop crime before it happens? Just sayin'.
I'd be happy with some overt strategies to minimize the appearance of town as a place to come commit crime and run back over the bridge. As far as placing their lives on the line everyday, I think you watch too many cop shows. Picking up the dopers at the 7-11 and the dollar store shoplifters doesn't rise to risking your life for me, but hey, maybe that's just me, YRMV.
Any suggestions?
Close the bridges?
Convert the bridges to remote controlled drawbridges that flip up when perps try to head for the border?
Stock the canal with crime fighting alligators?
Hire scores of additional officers and have them avoid the 7-11 and the shopping center?
Install HD video cameras throughout the boro with fully staffed command centers to review real time video 24-7?
Implement Maricopa County AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio style profiling at the bridges?
Boro issued bullet proof vests and sidearms for everyone?
Shoot first ask questions later?
Give Rita Ledger a key to the men's room?
Bucks County tech student brings home the gold
Posted: Tuesday, July 9, 2013 2:40 pm | Updated: 3:31 pm, Tue Jul 9, 2013.
By DANNY ADLER Staff writer
A Bensalem teen from the Bucks County Technical High School in Fairless Hills has won first place at a national competition of technical and vocational school students.
The Bristol Township tech school sent 18 students to the SkillsUSA National Conference in late June in Kansas City, Mo. Four of the 18 competitors came home with medals.
Stephen Wajda won first place in Outdoor Power Equipment. Keri Davids, Stephanie Secoda and John Vega won second place in the Career Pathways Showcase-Health Services.
“Stephen Wajda made it to the national conference last year and placed sixth, so he knew going into this year he wanted to make it to first place,” said Shannon Seratch, a tech school teacher and SkillsUSA adviser. “... I could not be more proud of him. He had to compete at the district and state level before making it to nationals.”
In the past five years, Bucks County Technical High School has had three first-place winners at the national level, Secoda said.
“It is the hard work and dedication not only from our students, but also our staff that has made these successes possible,” the adviser said.
Anonymous said...
I'd be happy with some overt strategies to minimize the appearance of town as a place to come commit crime and run back over the bridge. As far as placing their lives on the line everyday, I think you watch too many cop shows. Picking up the dopers at the 7-11 and the dollar store shoplifters doesn't rise to risking your life for me, but hey, maybe that's just me, YRMV.
REALLY? DONT RISK THEIR LIFE? EVERY DAY YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK HOME RISKING THEIR LIFE TO KEEP ME SAFE EVEN AT THE 7-11 WHERE PERPS GO IN AND OUT OF AND THOSE SAME SHOPLIFTERS AND DRUGGIES COULD BE THE SAME ONES BREAKING INTO YOUR BACK DOOR OR FIRING ON ONE OF OUR OFFICERS ANY DAY. GOTTA START SOMEWHERE IF THEY WERENT BUSING THOSE YOU WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT
Between the perps with guns and the vigilante justice cop wannabees, everyone puts their lives on the line every day, but especially cops.
5/23/2013
Morrisville police: Man pointed loaded gun at couple out for a walk
By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer Jo Ciavaglia: 215-949-4181; email: jciavaglia@phillyBurbs.com; Twitter: @jociavaglia
A couple walking near a Morrisville park told police that a man aimed his loaded handgun at them Monday night and ordered them to leave his neighborhood.
Morrisville police say it was not the first time that Mark Widmann, 57, of Park Avenue has been warned about his behavior toward people walking or parked on his street.
The couple said Widmann confronted them about 8:30 p.m. as they walked along Park Avenue from Williamson Park. The woman told police Widmann appeared on a second-floor balcony with what appeared to be a black handgun and ordered them to leave.
“Widmann was calling (the couple) ‘druggies and drug addicts’ and said, ‘I’m going to shoot you if you don’t leave,’ and ‘I have a permit for this and I know how to use it,’ ” according to a probable cause affidavit.
The woman told police that Widmann aimed the gun at her and her boyfriend, moving it back and forth. He continued pointing his gun at them after they entered their car, police said.
Police said Widmann admitted ordering the couple to leave, but didn’t mention a gun until he was asked about it. Widmann said the couple was not on his property when he allegedly threatened them, police said.
Police said they confiscated a loaded semi-automatic Beretta from a couch in Widmann’s home.
Widmann was arraigned Tuesday morning before Bristol District Judge Frank Peranteau Sr. on multiple counts of terroristic threats, possession of a weapon, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. He was sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $40,000 bail.
REALLY? DONT RISK THEIR LIFE? EVERY DAY YOU PUT ON THAT UNIFORM YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT BACK HOME RISKING THEIR LIFE TO KEEP ME SAFE EVEN AT THE 7-11 WHERE PERPS GO IN AND OUT OF AND THOSE SAME SHOPLIFTERS AND DRUGGIES COULD BE THE SAME ONES BREAKING INTO YOUR BACK DOOR OR FIRING ON ONE OF OUR OFFICERS ANY DAY. GOTTA START SOMEWHERE IF THEY WERENT BUSING THOSE YOU WOULD COMPLAIN ABOUT THAT.
First-Stop Yelling!
Second, No one made any of them become a cop. They chose this life, so save the drama. I am glad our cops handle the nuisance crimes, but it doesn't seem like they manage much else. That's not good enough. Until they start to address the other growing crie problems, they deserve to be criticized. If you didn't get your job done well enough, I'm sure your boss would be on your ass too. Why should a blue unifiorm and a badge make them any different? If anything, they should be held to a higher standard.
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