Morrisville Borough Council member Nancy Sherlock resigns as president
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com
Dave Rivella receives the Morrisville Borough Council gavel from now former president Nancy Sherlock. (Photo by Petra Chesner Schlatter)
MORRISVILLE - Nancy Sherlock has resigned as president of Morrisville Borough Council. Councilman Dave Rivella has been named as her successor.
Sherlock made the announcement Jan. 11 when the agenda for the Jan. 17 meeting was set.
“It is my pleasure to serve as council president for the last few years here,” the longtime council member said. She thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve as council president.
“At this time you have a competent council person who would perform the duties professionally and enthusiastically," Sherlock said. "I would like to ask my colleagues that they would support this person I’m going to nominate but I have to hand over the gavel.”
She did not give a reason for her decision to step down as president, but she will remain on council, according to Dave Rivella.
Sherlock nominated Dave Rivella to serve as council president. Council Member Vic Cicero seconded the motion with the notation that council members were accepting Sherlock’s decision “to step down as council president and turn her chair over to Mr. Rivella.”
Council members voted 4-2 to appoint Rivella as president. Voting in favor of Rivella for the vacant presidential seat were Fred Kerner, Vic Cicero and Nancy Sherlock. Rivella voted for himself. Voting no were Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford.
Vice President Kathryn Panzitta and Council Member Rhonda Davis were absent.
Mayor Rita Ledger, who typically doesn't vote unless there is a tie, was not present.
Sherlock then handed the gavel over to Rivella.
“I can’t say enough what an honor it is to be the one named by Nancy,” Rivella said. “I certainly have been mentored...
“Even though I wear a size 13 boot, I don’t know if I can fill her shoes, but I’ll do my best for the community,” he jokingly said. “The people who have known me for a few years up here know that my heart’s in helping the community.”
Rivella continued by saying, “I will put partisan politics aside when I sit up here. I want to do what I feel is right for the entire betterment of the borough. And that’s exactly what I intend to do.
“As president, I will do my best,” he continued. “Thank you to those who just supported me. I look forward to working with everyone.”
Sherlock serves in the second ward, which includes Bridge Street. Rivella serves in the fourth ward which includes Grandview Estates near Snipes Farm.
Before stepping down as president, she told BucksLocalNews.com about projects for 2011, noting that the council looks forward to finishing the Bridge Street project with the banners and the streetlights.
According to Sherlock, the borough council’s goals for 2011 would be:
- to continue to beautify the downtown and hopefully clear up the finances of the pool;
- to move to stage two of the Riverfront Preserve Project;
- to see some development in the area known as the Cloverleaf;
- for construction to begin at the Stockham building this year; and
- to start on an LED pilot program.
Sherlock serves in the second ward, which includes Bridge Street. Rivella serves in the fourth ward which includes Grandview Estates near Snipes Farm.
Showing posts with label Sherlock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sherlock. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Historical society wants tapes of meetings
Really? Are our officials really quivering over videotapes. This is a classic case of neither side giving in no matter how trivial the issue. Personally, we feel the tapes should be put in some sort of digital format and preserved. Whether of not the historical society has any business having control over them is a completely different matter. The paper has quoted a "Bill Mander". We believe this is actually Bill Minder.
Historic society seeks videotapes of meetings
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville residents would like borough officials to give old meeting tapes to the historical society instead of destroying them.
But that's unlikely to happen.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, would like to obtain videotapes of council meetings, some as old as 15 years. She argues that those tapes contain borough history. For instance, community awards have been given to local groups such as Little League and Eagle Scouts at council meetings, and those people might someday want a copy of those moments, she said.
Council President Nancy Sherlock on Friday said she wants the hundreds of videos kept in storage destroyed to preserve the "integrity of the tapes." She said council minutes are the official records and kept at borough hall for public viewing, so the tapes aren't needed.
Resident Bill Mander said the borough should consider giving the tapes to the historical society.
"If they don't want (them), then get rid of them," he said.
For now, the tapes will continue to be stored because the mayor refuses to sign the resolution approved earlier this month allowing the tape's disposal.
Mayor Rita Ledger on Friday said she won't sign it because she feels she has a conflict of interest. Ledger sits on the Historic Morrisville Society Board of Directors and has requested copies of 19 videotapes this past winter and summer and has yet to receive them.
If Ledger doesn't sign the resolution before the next council meeting, Sherlock said she will bring up the issue at the November meeting.
In the meantime, Hughes has volunteered to make copies for the public before the tapes are destroyed.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
October 24, 2010 02:30 AM
Historic society seeks videotapes of meetings
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville residents would like borough officials to give old meeting tapes to the historical society instead of destroying them.
But that's unlikely to happen.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, would like to obtain videotapes of council meetings, some as old as 15 years. She argues that those tapes contain borough history. For instance, community awards have been given to local groups such as Little League and Eagle Scouts at council meetings, and those people might someday want a copy of those moments, she said.
Council President Nancy Sherlock on Friday said she wants the hundreds of videos kept in storage destroyed to preserve the "integrity of the tapes." She said council minutes are the official records and kept at borough hall for public viewing, so the tapes aren't needed.
Resident Bill Mander said the borough should consider giving the tapes to the historical society.
"If they don't want (them), then get rid of them," he said.
For now, the tapes will continue to be stored because the mayor refuses to sign the resolution approved earlier this month allowing the tape's disposal.
Mayor Rita Ledger on Friday said she won't sign it because she feels she has a conflict of interest. Ledger sits on the Historic Morrisville Society Board of Directors and has requested copies of 19 videotapes this past winter and summer and has yet to receive them.
If Ledger doesn't sign the resolution before the next council meeting, Sherlock said she will bring up the issue at the November meeting.
In the meantime, Hughes has volunteered to make copies for the public before the tapes are destroyed.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
October 24, 2010 02:30 AM
Monday, October 18, 2010
New Boro manager starts today
Bates starts as Boro manager today
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville has a new borough manager after more than a year without one.
Tom Bates Jr. starts his new part-time gig today.
Bates' salary will be voted on at today's council meeting, council President Nancy Sherlock said Friday. The council hired Bates during last week's work session with a 5-2 vote. Council members Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford voted against the hire.
George Mount III, the borough's former manager, retired from the part-time, $41,000-a-year manager's post June 2009 after serving 12 years.
After Mount's retirement, the council agreed to an acting borough manager for a year, Sherlock said. Dorothy Gaydula, the borough's assistant secretary and treasurer, was appointed to the position. Appointed to help Gaydula was Robert Seward, who was named acting assistant borough manager. He also is Morrisville's code enforcement officer and fire marshal.
Sherlock said the borough moved fast to hire a borough manager because Gaydula gave the council notice about three weeks ago that the one-year deadline was up and she no longer wanted to continue as acting manager. Gaydula will resume her secretarial job duties at borough hall, Sherlock said.
Morrisville advertised the manager position on the borough's website, channel and at borough hall, Sherlock said. The borough received two applications and interviewed both, she added. For Sherlock, Bates has the financial background Morrisville needs and she liked his demeanor, she said.
In other news, Councilman Victor Cicero rescinded resignation comment at the work session. In September, a frustrated Cicero abruptly resigned and left the council meeting after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings.
The council didn't vote on accepting his verbal resignation in September. And Cicero didn't provide his resignation to the council in writing. All resignations must be officially submitted in writing and formally accepted.
At that time Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella were in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
At Tuesday's work session, the council voted 4-3 to dispose of the meeting tapes. Opposing the disposal were council members Eileen Dreisbach, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
morrisville
Morrisville has a new borough manager after more than a year without one.
Tom Bates Jr. starts his new part-time gig today.
Bates' salary will be voted on at today's council meeting, council President Nancy Sherlock said Friday. The council hired Bates during last week's work session with a 5-2 vote. Council members Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford voted against the hire.
George Mount III, the borough's former manager, retired from the part-time, $41,000-a-year manager's post June 2009 after serving 12 years.
After Mount's retirement, the council agreed to an acting borough manager for a year, Sherlock said. Dorothy Gaydula, the borough's assistant secretary and treasurer, was appointed to the position. Appointed to help Gaydula was Robert Seward, who was named acting assistant borough manager. He also is Morrisville's code enforcement officer and fire marshal.
Sherlock said the borough moved fast to hire a borough manager because Gaydula gave the council notice about three weeks ago that the one-year deadline was up and she no longer wanted to continue as acting manager. Gaydula will resume her secretarial job duties at borough hall, Sherlock said.
Morrisville advertised the manager position on the borough's website, channel and at borough hall, Sherlock said. The borough received two applications and interviewed both, she added. For Sherlock, Bates has the financial background Morrisville needs and she liked his demeanor, she said.
In other news, Councilman Victor Cicero rescinded resignation comment at the work session. In September, a frustrated Cicero abruptly resigned and left the council meeting after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings.
The council didn't vote on accepting his verbal resignation in September. And Cicero didn't provide his resignation to the council in writing. All resignations must be officially submitted in writing and formally accepted.
At that time Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella were in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
At Tuesday's work session, the council voted 4-3 to dispose of the meeting tapes. Opposing the disposal were council members Eileen Dreisbach, Fred Kerner and Todd Sanford.
Gema Maria Duarte can be reached at 215-949-4195 or gduarte@phillyBurbs.com.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Bucks Local News version
And now the Bucks Local News version
Victor Cicero abruptly resigns from Morrisville Council over issue of destroying meeting tapes
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com
MORRISVILLE -- Morrisville Borough Councilman Victor Cicero abruptly announced his resignation last night after council voted to table a motion to dispose of video recordings of public meetings, while also allowing Mayor Rita Ledger access to previously requested videos.
Immediately after the matter was tabled by a 4-3 vote, Cicero stood up and announced, "I'm resigning!"
Cicero, who had made the motion to destroy the tapes, said, "Good night. I don't know why I got involved. What are you afraid of? What a bunch of fools. I've never seen anything like this in my life."
When asked by phone Tuesday morning if he was indeed resigning, he would only say "I will not be at the next meeting."
Ledger said she had been asking for tapes from 2009 -- particularly November and December -- but hadn't been able to gain access to them despite several requests.
"I still haven't gotten any copies," she said at the meeting. "How can they be destroyed before copies have been given to somebody who has requested this twice?"
Borough Solicitor Todd Eisenberg said the recordings would be available to her before they are destroyed.
Eisenberg discussed the legality of disposing of recordings. He said the state publishes a document every couple of years, which outlines how borough records can be disposed of.
"One of the regulations is that video tapes of meetings can be disposed of after the minutes are approved unless the council finds there is a historical significance in keeping them," he said. "Most of the municipalities that I know destroy them after the minutes are approved."
Eisenberg said, "If a person, not just the mayor, wants them right away and we do not have the ability to make the copies we can send them out and have the copies made."
Ledger said those who request a copy should not have to pay if the borough sends the recordings out for a copy to be made.
Before his resignation, Cicero asked if the borough has the legal right to charge for a copy and Eisenberg said, "Absolutely."
Eisenberg said he would provide more information on the history of the disposal of recordings "so everyone will have a better feel. You have the right to get rid of these tapes. It's just an issue of, 'Do you want to?'"
Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said prior administrations had conversations on this matter.
"There's no reason to have six, seven or eight boxes of all these tapes," she said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been videotaping council meetings since she was told the borough's recording equipment was not working. She has volunteered to broadcast and record meetings for years.
"Why are you afraid? What is the word up there, we might be sued? Somebody's asking for tapes now and all of a sudden we have to have them destroyed? They've been sitting there for 14 years," said Hughes.
"They are a historic record of what this board has done...They are the history of this town. They are the history of this borough," she continued.
Hughes challenged the idea that Morrisville should be like other municipalities and destroy the recordings right away.
"Somebody wants records and other people up there don't want them to have them," she said, stressing that a decision should not be made quickly.
"It's not the right thing to do in my opinion," she said.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Mayor Ledger said she wanted the tapes for prosperity's sake.
"I'm the first woman mayor," she said. "I would like to keep the tapes of meetings that I preside over. It would be great for future generations of your family to see it ... and it is a way of making everyone accountable for their actions."
She would not offer comment on Cicero's resignation.
Sherlock said the issue would be discussed at council's Tuesday, Oct. 12 meeting.
"In Febuary 2009, council approved a motion declaring its intention to follow the schedule and procedures for disposition of records as set forth in the municipal records manual that that was approved on Dec. 16, 2008," Sherlock said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Since the resolution has been passed it is our duty to follow the guidelines ... We are not able to dispose of anything the commission deems historic or necessary to keep."
In other news, Ledger reported that she and former Mayor Lee Rockafellow met recently with the Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department about the future of the Morrisville Swimming Pool. They did a walkthrough of what was once a thriving facility, but is now a crippled community hub following a major flood. The community pool has been closed ever since.
Ledger said she will find out whether the county will work with the borough on getting the facility back in shape and open to the public.
The council also:
Awarded the 2010 Emergency Generator Bid to the low bidder, A.C. Scott Electric & Testing Co. for $80,000.
Appointed V.K. Macivana to the Morrisville Economic Development Authority.
Re-appointed John Eperjesi, Patricia Wilcox, Patricia Brofman and Lillian Piscopo for two-year terms to the Recreation Advisory Board.
Victor Cicero abruptly resigns from Morrisville Council over issue of destroying meeting tapes
By Petra Chesner Schlatter
BucksLocalNews.com
MORRISVILLE -- Morrisville Borough Councilman Victor Cicero abruptly announced his resignation last night after council voted to table a motion to dispose of video recordings of public meetings, while also allowing Mayor Rita Ledger access to previously requested videos.
Immediately after the matter was tabled by a 4-3 vote, Cicero stood up and announced, "I'm resigning!"
Cicero, who had made the motion to destroy the tapes, said, "Good night. I don't know why I got involved. What are you afraid of? What a bunch of fools. I've never seen anything like this in my life."
When asked by phone Tuesday morning if he was indeed resigning, he would only say "I will not be at the next meeting."
Ledger said she had been asking for tapes from 2009 -- particularly November and December -- but hadn't been able to gain access to them despite several requests.
"I still haven't gotten any copies," she said at the meeting. "How can they be destroyed before copies have been given to somebody who has requested this twice?"
Borough Solicitor Todd Eisenberg said the recordings would be available to her before they are destroyed.
Eisenberg discussed the legality of disposing of recordings. He said the state publishes a document every couple of years, which outlines how borough records can be disposed of.
"One of the regulations is that video tapes of meetings can be disposed of after the minutes are approved unless the council finds there is a historical significance in keeping them," he said. "Most of the municipalities that I know destroy them after the minutes are approved."
Eisenberg said, "If a person, not just the mayor, wants them right away and we do not have the ability to make the copies we can send them out and have the copies made."
Ledger said those who request a copy should not have to pay if the borough sends the recordings out for a copy to be made.
Before his resignation, Cicero asked if the borough has the legal right to charge for a copy and Eisenberg said, "Absolutely."
Eisenberg said he would provide more information on the history of the disposal of recordings "so everyone will have a better feel. You have the right to get rid of these tapes. It's just an issue of, 'Do you want to?'"
Borough Council President Nancy Sherlock said prior administrations had conversations on this matter.
"There's no reason to have six, seven or eight boxes of all these tapes," she said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been videotaping council meetings since she was told the borough's recording equipment was not working. She has volunteered to broadcast and record meetings for years.
"Why are you afraid? What is the word up there, we might be sued? Somebody's asking for tapes now and all of a sudden we have to have them destroyed? They've been sitting there for 14 years," said Hughes.
"They are a historic record of what this board has done...They are the history of this town. They are the history of this borough," she continued.
Hughes challenged the idea that Morrisville should be like other municipalities and destroy the recordings right away.
"Somebody wants records and other people up there don't want them to have them," she said, stressing that a decision should not be made quickly.
"It's not the right thing to do in my opinion," she said.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Mayor Ledger said she wanted the tapes for prosperity's sake.
"I'm the first woman mayor," she said. "I would like to keep the tapes of meetings that I preside over. It would be great for future generations of your family to see it ... and it is a way of making everyone accountable for their actions."
She would not offer comment on Cicero's resignation.
Sherlock said the issue would be discussed at council's Tuesday, Oct. 12 meeting.
"In Febuary 2009, council approved a motion declaring its intention to follow the schedule and procedures for disposition of records as set forth in the municipal records manual that that was approved on Dec. 16, 2008," Sherlock said in a phone interview Tuesday. "Since the resolution has been passed it is our duty to follow the guidelines ... We are not able to dispose of anything the commission deems historic or necessary to keep."
In other news, Ledger reported that she and former Mayor Lee Rockafellow met recently with the Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department about the future of the Morrisville Swimming Pool. They did a walkthrough of what was once a thriving facility, but is now a crippled community hub following a major flood. The community pool has been closed ever since.
Ledger said she will find out whether the county will work with the borough on getting the facility back in shape and open to the public.
The council also:
Awarded the 2010 Emergency Generator Bid to the low bidder, A.C. Scott Electric & Testing Co. for $80,000.
Appointed V.K. Macivana to the Morrisville Economic Development Authority.
Re-appointed John Eperjesi, Patricia Wilcox, Patricia Brofman and Lillian Piscopo for two-year terms to the Recreation Advisory Board.
Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignation
It's a shame that this is what make the papers. Did anything else happen at the meeting or did they bicker over VHS tapes for a couple of hours and accomplish nothing else. We're sure there was other notable business that could have been covered by the BCCT reporter.
PhillyBurbs.com: Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignationBy: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville
As of Tuesday, Morrisville Councilman Victor Cicero officially was still on the council.
But late Monday night his status was questionable after he abruptly resigned and left a council meeting.
He didn't want to comment Tuesday afternoon, noting, "I haven't decided" and "nothing is official."
A frustrated Cicero left the council chambers after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings. Some council members had concerns about getting rid of the tapes, and the issue became a tit-for-tat among council members themselves and the public. That's when Cicero got frustrated and left.
Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella, was in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
Two ordinances for tapes' disposal were up for discussion but not on the agenda because borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg provided the resolutions to the town the same day of the meeting, Sherlock said.
One resolution explained the reasons for the disposal and how the tapes would be discarded. The other resolution explained the process, Sherlock said.
Morrisville went from VHS tapes to DVD in June 2009, so Sherlock had suggested trashing the VHS tapes only and keeping the DVDs.
In February 2009 the council passed a resolution to follow the schedule of public information retention set by the state, so the resolutions were simply just following through with the 2009 resolution, Sherlock said Tuesday. The state schedule states that the meeting minutes are the official records.
"We don't need receipts from 1968," she said. "We have four or five boxes of tapes that are easy to get rid of. It's simply a procedure thing. The real records (of meetings) are the minutes, not the tapes. They are of no use to the administration."
Mayor Rita Ledger was particularly disturbed of the possibility of the tapes' destruction, saying Tuesday that she requested meeting recordings from November and December and hasn't been given the copies. Borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg assured Ledger she would get those recordings, which wouldn't be destroyed under the proposed resolution, Sherlock said.
To ease the concerned council members, Eisenberg will write a memo to the council explaining the process, Sherlock said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been recording the meeting for years and suggested the possibility of donating the recordings to the local library or the historical society, Ledger said.
Hughes questioned the reasoning behind the sudden need to dispose of video tapes after years of being stored.
Sherlock assured Tuesday that disposing of the tapes has nothing to do with the public's request for copies of the recordings.
Since the issue was tabled, it will be discussed at the October council meeting.
September 22, 2010 02:10 AM
PhillyBurbs.com: Councilman: 'Nothing is official' after resignationBy: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
Morrisville
As of Tuesday, Morrisville Councilman Victor Cicero officially was still on the council.
But late Monday night his status was questionable after he abruptly resigned and left a council meeting.
He didn't want to comment Tuesday afternoon, noting, "I haven't decided" and "nothing is official."
A frustrated Cicero left the council chambers after members voted 5-3 to table a discussion on the disposal of videotapes of old council meetings. Some council members had concerns about getting rid of the tapes, and the issue became a tit-for-tat among council members themselves and the public. That's when Cicero got frustrated and left.
Cicero, along with council President Nancy Sherlock and Councilman David Rivella, was in favor of getting rid of the tapes, some of which are as old as 15 years.
Two ordinances for tapes' disposal were up for discussion but not on the agenda because borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg provided the resolutions to the town the same day of the meeting, Sherlock said.
One resolution explained the reasons for the disposal and how the tapes would be discarded. The other resolution explained the process, Sherlock said.
Morrisville went from VHS tapes to DVD in June 2009, so Sherlock had suggested trashing the VHS tapes only and keeping the DVDs.
In February 2009 the council passed a resolution to follow the schedule of public information retention set by the state, so the resolutions were simply just following through with the 2009 resolution, Sherlock said Tuesday. The state schedule states that the meeting minutes are the official records.
"We don't need receipts from 1968," she said. "We have four or five boxes of tapes that are easy to get rid of. It's simply a procedure thing. The real records (of meetings) are the minutes, not the tapes. They are of no use to the administration."
Mayor Rita Ledger was particularly disturbed of the possibility of the tapes' destruction, saying Tuesday that she requested meeting recordings from November and December and hasn't been given the copies. Borough solicitor Todd Eisenberg assured Ledger she would get those recordings, which wouldn't be destroyed under the proposed resolution, Sherlock said.
To ease the concerned council members, Eisenberg will write a memo to the council explaining the process, Sherlock said.
Sharon Hughes, president of the Historic Morrisville Society, has been recording the meeting for years and suggested the possibility of donating the recordings to the local library or the historical society, Ledger said.
Hughes questioned the reasoning behind the sudden need to dispose of video tapes after years of being stored.
Sherlock assured Tuesday that disposing of the tapes has nothing to do with the public's request for copies of the recordings.
Since the issue was tabled, it will be discussed at the October council meeting.
September 22, 2010 02:10 AM
Friday, August 20, 2010
File this one under.." Sorry Sharon"
For those that don't already know, Sharon Hughes also video tapes the school board meetings. It is also not known what she does with the tapes.
from the BCCT:
Plan to record meetings hits a snag
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE - Morrisville is having some technical difficulties.
The borough purchased new video recording equipment including a new monitor for the system used to record council meetings. The new equipment was supposed to be hooked up for this week's meeting, but it didn't turn out that way. The new pieces weren't compatible to the 15-year-old recording setup.
Council President Nancy Sherlock said the borough will fix the problem in the next few weeks and hopes to be able to start recording again in September with the help of volunteers.
The issue came up after Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach was concerned that future meetings weren't going to be recorded. Dreisbach's concern was raised because letters were sent to volunteers who monitor the recording system informing them that their services weren't needed this month. The letter didn't go into detail nor did it mention a date that recording would resume, leading Dreisbach to think recordings of meetings had been suspended permanently.
But Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta said there wasn't any indication in the letters that meetings weren't going to be recorded anymore.
Volunteer Sharon Hughes, who records the council meetings from inside a booth, sat in the audience recording the meeting with a hand-held camera. It was unknown Thursday what Hughes is going to do with the recording.
from the BCCT:
Plan to record meetings hits a snag
By: GEMA MARIA DUARTE
Bucks County Courier Times
MORRISVILLE - Morrisville is having some technical difficulties.
The borough purchased new video recording equipment including a new monitor for the system used to record council meetings. The new equipment was supposed to be hooked up for this week's meeting, but it didn't turn out that way. The new pieces weren't compatible to the 15-year-old recording setup.
Council President Nancy Sherlock said the borough will fix the problem in the next few weeks and hopes to be able to start recording again in September with the help of volunteers.
The issue came up after Councilwoman Eileen Dreisbach was concerned that future meetings weren't going to be recorded. Dreisbach's concern was raised because letters were sent to volunteers who monitor the recording system informing them that their services weren't needed this month. The letter didn't go into detail nor did it mention a date that recording would resume, leading Dreisbach to think recordings of meetings had been suspended permanently.
But Councilwoman Kathryn Panzitta said there wasn't any indication in the letters that meetings weren't going to be recorded anymore.
Volunteer Sharon Hughes, who records the council meetings from inside a booth, sat in the audience recording the meeting with a hand-held camera. It was unknown Thursday what Hughes is going to do with the recording.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Traffic again to the forefront in Morrisville
This really isn't anything new at all. During the recent joint council/school board meeting(you know the one where the SB came off as looking really childish), this was all discussed, or was attempted to be discussed. Why it is appearing in the paper weeks after the meeting is beyond us.
From the BCCT:
Morrisville seeks answers to school traffic problems
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The traffic situation has become so snarled that one parent set up a Facebook site to collect complaints.
Parents have complained for more than a year.
And now, the borough and the Morrisville School Board are closer to finding fixes for school traffic safety concerns.
"This issue encompasses something we can mutually solve," borough council President Nancy Sherlock said recently.
Making the roads more secure for the district's roughly 1,000 students has been an ongoing topic of discussion, but new problems came to the forefront after M.R. Reiter Elementary School closed after a December 2008 furnace explosion.
Now Reiter students in grades four and five attend classes at Morrisville Middle/High School and the younger children all attend Grandview, increasing both vehicular and pedestrian traffic during school start and dismissal times.
Outside Grandview, the one-way street can get chaotic as parents and children in pre-kindergarten through third grade vie for space with vehicles.
The situation became so frustrating that parent Wanda Kartal started a "Petition for Safety" Facebook group last year to call attention to the problem of "near misses" she said she saw frequently from her home near the elementary school. The group has 77 members.
One member says she can't get out of her driveway sometimes and that traffic hardly moves down Melvin Avenue near the school. Another says, "We have a child of our very own at Grandview and I also pick up a friend's child who attends the IntermediateMiddleSenior High School. I can confirm that since the reconfiguration of grades after the MR Reiter explosion, (starting last spring), the traffic and safety issues have dramatically worsened."
Grades four and five enter and exit by the back door of the high school, near the administrative offices, but many children and adults still have to cross busy Palmer Avenue in front of the building, where cars clog the road every morning and afternoon.
Existing safety measures haven't been enough to alleviate traffic congestion and careless driving, say some parents.
Grandview parent Christine Phillips sees cars driving in the correct direction on the one-way road outside the elementary school, but many are still going too fast, she said Wednesday.
"People who aren't stopping to pick up kids aren't following 15 mile per hour rules. Sometimes, I come out of the school with my kids and see cars zipping up the street," she said.
The board would like to see the following additional solutions put in place, said board member Marlys Mihok:
n Flashing yellow lights to indicate a school zone in front of Morrisville High School.
n Reflective lines or flashing lights to send people in the correct direction out of Grandview Elementary School.
n More crossing guards at both schools.
Other options may include no parking on one side of the Melvin Avenue and Grandview Avenue intersection, to give the Grandview Elementary crossing guard better visibility, said Sherlock.
Paul DeAngelo, the school district's business administrator, is researching options for safety solutions, including cost estimates for the flashing school zone sign and options such as using a cheaper solar-powered sign.
"We'd work with the borough to make sure they're OK with whatever we pursue," he said.
From the BCCT:
Morrisville seeks answers to school traffic problems
By: MANASEE WAGH
Bucks County Courier Times
The traffic situation has become so snarled that one parent set up a Facebook site to collect complaints.
Parents have complained for more than a year.
And now, the borough and the Morrisville School Board are closer to finding fixes for school traffic safety concerns.
"This issue encompasses something we can mutually solve," borough council President Nancy Sherlock said recently.
Making the roads more secure for the district's roughly 1,000 students has been an ongoing topic of discussion, but new problems came to the forefront after M.R. Reiter Elementary School closed after a December 2008 furnace explosion.
Now Reiter students in grades four and five attend classes at Morrisville Middle/High School and the younger children all attend Grandview, increasing both vehicular and pedestrian traffic during school start and dismissal times.
Outside Grandview, the one-way street can get chaotic as parents and children in pre-kindergarten through third grade vie for space with vehicles.
The situation became so frustrating that parent Wanda Kartal started a "Petition for Safety" Facebook group last year to call attention to the problem of "near misses" she said she saw frequently from her home near the elementary school. The group has 77 members.
One member says she can't get out of her driveway sometimes and that traffic hardly moves down Melvin Avenue near the school. Another says, "We have a child of our very own at Grandview and I also pick up a friend's child who attends the IntermediateMiddleSenior High School. I can confirm that since the reconfiguration of grades after the MR Reiter explosion, (starting last spring), the traffic and safety issues have dramatically worsened."
Grades four and five enter and exit by the back door of the high school, near the administrative offices, but many children and adults still have to cross busy Palmer Avenue in front of the building, where cars clog the road every morning and afternoon.
Existing safety measures haven't been enough to alleviate traffic congestion and careless driving, say some parents.
Grandview parent Christine Phillips sees cars driving in the correct direction on the one-way road outside the elementary school, but many are still going too fast, she said Wednesday.
"People who aren't stopping to pick up kids aren't following 15 mile per hour rules. Sometimes, I come out of the school with my kids and see cars zipping up the street," she said.
The board would like to see the following additional solutions put in place, said board member Marlys Mihok:
n Flashing yellow lights to indicate a school zone in front of Morrisville High School.
n Reflective lines or flashing lights to send people in the correct direction out of Grandview Elementary School.
n More crossing guards at both schools.
Other options may include no parking on one side of the Melvin Avenue and Grandview Avenue intersection, to give the Grandview Elementary crossing guard better visibility, said Sherlock.
Paul DeAngelo, the school district's business administrator, is researching options for safety solutions, including cost estimates for the flashing school zone sign and options such as using a cheaper solar-powered sign.
"We'd work with the borough to make sure they're OK with whatever we pursue," he said.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Stay on trackers select Ed Bailey for council
It's official, they did the unthinkable, stay on trackers Worob,Ledger,Burger, and Dreisbach voted to put Ed Bailey on the Boro Council. Luckily this is only till the first Monday in January when the winner of the election will take over. This charade was actually on the local TV channel apparently as a live broadcast. Comcast CH 22. and Verizon CH 38. Rita Ledger made a buffoon out of herself, and when asked if she felt someone was disenfranchised by the selection process, she said yes, even though her "guy" got the spot.
Fom the bcct:
Bailey selected for council
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
A Republican council candidate was appointed to Morrisville Council on Monday to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Edward Albertson, who resigned from council last month because he moved out of the borough.
Ed Bailey, who is running against Democrat Rhonda Davis in next month's election, was appointed by council in a 4-3 vote by council members Rita Ledger, Jane Burger, Stephen Worob and Eileen Dreisbach.
Council members Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted for Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council member Deborah Colgan, who is not running for election this year.
Davis was the third nominee for the seat, but she did not get any votes Monday.
Quickly before an executive session at the end of the meeting, Rivella told the newspaper that he, Sherlock and Panzitta voted for Colgan because she was not running in this year's election, and that Colgan had said she would hold the seat until Nov. 4, then yield to whoever won the race between Bailey and Davis.
Solicitor James Downey told the council that if Colgan had won and stepped down on Nov. 4, officials would have to go through the whole process of filling the vacancy within 30 days again.
Bailey was sworn in and took his seat at the dais after the 4-3 vote. He will fill out Albertson's 3rd Ward council term, which expires at the end of this year.
Albertson was the second councilman to resign from that seat in a year. He was appointed by council to fill the seat of Republican George Bolos, who vacated the post in September 2008 because he also moved out of the borough.
Fom the bcct:
Bailey selected for council
By: DANNY ADLER
Bucks County Courier Times
A Republican council candidate was appointed to Morrisville Council on Monday to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Edward Albertson, who resigned from council last month because he moved out of the borough.
Ed Bailey, who is running against Democrat Rhonda Davis in next month's election, was appointed by council in a 4-3 vote by council members Rita Ledger, Jane Burger, Stephen Worob and Eileen Dreisbach.
Council members Nancy Sherlock, Kathryn Panzitta and David Rivella voted for Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council member Deborah Colgan, who is not running for election this year.
Davis was the third nominee for the seat, but she did not get any votes Monday.
Quickly before an executive session at the end of the meeting, Rivella told the newspaper that he, Sherlock and Panzitta voted for Colgan because she was not running in this year's election, and that Colgan had said she would hold the seat until Nov. 4, then yield to whoever won the race between Bailey and Davis.
Solicitor James Downey told the council that if Colgan had won and stepped down on Nov. 4, officials would have to go through the whole process of filling the vacancy within 30 days again.
Bailey was sworn in and took his seat at the dais after the 4-3 vote. He will fill out Albertson's 3rd Ward council term, which expires at the end of this year.
Albertson was the second councilman to resign from that seat in a year. He was appointed by council to fill the seat of Republican George Bolos, who vacated the post in September 2008 because he also moved out of the borough.
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