Taking a break

When we started Residents Who Care in 2006, we had some lofty goals. Chief among them was trying to raise public awareness of issues happening within the township that had a direct impact on the lives of the citizens. This ran the gamut from basic issues to much more serious matters.

We were the first, and so far the only civic organization to formally challenge the Board of Supervisors on a wrong, and tremendously unpopular zoning decision that still sits in the hands of the court, and will have a very severe and detrimental impact on our community if we ultimately lose the battle.

While we are extremely proud of this, very frankly, we failed to inspire 99.9% of the population of Forks Township to get involved, except on very specific issues and for a very short period of time.

Sadly, the same fiscal irresponsibility, cronyism and bad management that occurred before our formation still exists today, and in some cases, it is even worse.

Perhaps we should have known better. Some of us were former founders of the Forks Township Concerned Citizens (FTCC) as well as the Forks Action Committee (FAC). For all intense purposes, FAC has become an adjunct to the Board of Supervisors.

We saw the same apathy at FTCC and FAC and we thought that we could reverse this trend with a new group and a much simpler mission.

We had hopes that the newest Board of Supervisor members (Egolf and Chuss) would be different and better than Hoff and Ackerman. We were wrong. Frankly, it is just more of the same.

Where do we go from here? We will-

1. Continue to see our challenge to zoning ordinance 298 through the court system and take it as far as our attorney recommends.
2. Keep this blog active as a reference source and in case some how, some way the citizens of Forks Township decide to regularly engage in the decisions and actions that have a direct correlation to their own welfare as well as of them their families, friends and neighbors.

Where do you now go to get the other side of the story? Regrettably, nowhere. The Express-Times, Morning Call and WFMZ (Channel 69) will continue to devote limited resources to Forks Township. The Forks Action Committee (FAC) will most likely persist in offering a sanitized and non-controversial recap of township meetings and decisions. Unless the Board of Supervisors decides to broadcast their meetings, you will only be given the “feel-good” minimal information that they choose to share with you.

Many will relish us going on hiatus, some will even celebrate. In the end however, we remain very proud of what we did manage to accomplish and recognize that our respite is not a defeat to us personally, but a loss to every man, woman and child who resides in Forks Township Pennsylvania.

Another Howell FUBAR

Great letter to the editor by Officer James Rowden in response to a story that appeared in the Express-Times on January 11th.

Though Mr. Howell just "assumed" the position of Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, he has been on the Board long enough to know better in making irresponsible comments, which may cost us, the taxpayers, significant money towards a setttlement for Officer Fimiano.

The remarks made by C. David Howell have made it crystal clear that he is no fan of the Forks Township Police Department.

Forks EMS, decide

When most of us see an injured or sick animal we do everything in our power to see that it is healed. When this is not possible, we painfully agree to make certain that the creature is destroyed humanely.

If we do this for animals, why aren't we doing this for the Forks Township EMS? The Township has put their $20,000.00 budget money on hold. This move is debilitating to this troubled organization.

While we are not saying that the Board of Supervisors actions are not justified, it seems to us that it is time for the Board to either fully, and unquestionably support Forks EMS, or, discontinue their association with Forks Township completely.

When Stockertown Fire Department got in trouble, we rushed in. We are their fire department and even though they pay us a stipend, we taxpayers are bearing the brunt of the expense associated with this. The Board of Supervisors has a fiduciary responsibility to us, the citizens of Forks Township to make sure that we have a well trained and financially secure emergency medical service.

Forks EMS has gone through some tough times. Whether they can fully recover or not is still up for debate. What should not be up for discussion however is the health and welfare of those who live, work and travel through our town.