MAYOR FENTON REPORT FOR 10/21/04

STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY MELIO:

ON BEHALF OF COUNCIL AND MYSELF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR NEVER ENDING SUPPORT OF BRISTOL TOWNSHIP. I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATIVE TONY MELIO’S SUPPORT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITYAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (DCED) JUST IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE FOLLOWING GRANTS:

EQUIPMENT STORAGE BUILDING FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY, $18,000

BRISTOL TOWNSHIP FOOTBALL FIELDHOUSE, $10,000.

SOFTWARE FOR OUR L&I DEPARTMENT, $23,000.

TACTICAL EQUIPMENT FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, $13,000.

GARAGE FOR OUR NARCOTICS DIVISION, $15,000.

POLICE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, $11,784.

PUBLIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT, $10,000.

EMERGENCY SERVICES, $35,000.

SALT SHED, $30,000.

TRAFFIC LIGHT AT GRUNDY SENIOR HOUSING, $52,500.

BLEACHERS FOR MUNICIPAL FOOTBALL FIELD, $47,500.

BLEACHERS FOR MUNICIPAL BALL FIELD, $25,000.

WEED AND SEED PROGRAM, $25,000.

FOR A TOTAL OF $297,784.

AGAIN, REPRESENTATIVE MELIO WE THANK YOU.

APPOINTMENT

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST COUNCIL’S APPROVAL OF HARRY PRASCH TO THE BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

APPROVAL –

LERTA

EARLIER THIS WEEK THE BRISTOL TOWNSHIP SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE THE TOWNSHIP’S REQUEST TO IMPLIMENT LERTA (THE LOCAL ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM). THIS PROGRAM IS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL FOR US TO USE IN OUR REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS. THIS INCENTIVE, ALONG WITH THE REVITALIZATION OF OUR GATEWAYS, ROUTE 13 AND ROUTE 413, GIVES BUSUNESSES THE FOUNDATION THEY NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

FOR TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS THIS MEANS A LARGER TAX BASE AND A SHIFT IN THEIR TAX BURDEN. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED HARD TO PASS THE PROGRAM. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE TOWNSHIP CAN WORK TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

ALSO, I WILL REPORT MORE ON THE “BRISTOL TOWNSHIP BETTER BUSINESS COMMITTEE” AND THE LITERATURE THEY WILL BE PRESENTING IN THE FORM OF BRISTOL TOWNSHIP ECONOMIC INFORMATIONAL PAMPHLETS AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.

PUBLIC SAFETY

THE SECOND GANG AWARENESS SEMINAR WAS CONDUCTED YESTERDAY HERE AT THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING. IN ATTENDANCE WERE SCHOOL DISRTICT PERSONNEL, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM BRISTOL TOWNSHIP AND NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND MEMBERS OF THE WEED AND SEED COMMITTEE. THE PROGRAM IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE FOR ADDRESSING ISSUES IMPORTANT TO OUR YOUTH AND FAMILIES. I WANT TO THANK OFFICER JOHN ANTINORO AND OFFICER RON HOLVEY, SPECIAL INVESTIGATION DIVISON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS STATE OF NEW JERSEY, FOR CONDUCTING THE PROGRAM. WE WILL HOLD ONE ADDITIONAL PROGRAM IN THE NEAR FUTURE. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE EDUCATED AND AWARE OF THESE ISSUES IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST COUNCIL TO PLACE AN ADDITIONAL LIGHT FIXTURE ON THE WOODEN POLE AT THE END OF MITCHELL ROAD INSIDE HUMPHRIES PARK. THE BLOOMSDALE/FLEETWING IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE REQUEST THE NEW FIXTURE BE PLACED JUST AS HIGH AND WITH THE LIGHT DITRECTION FACING THE TRAILER. THIS WOULD GIVE THEM LIGHTING AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRAILER. THIS IS ALSO NEEDED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THE TOWNSHIP WOULD PAY FOR THE FIXTURE AND INSTALLATION AND THE COMMUNITY GROUP WILL PAY FOR ALL ELECTRIC USE.

APPROVAL –

REQUEST OF THE BRISTOL TOWNSHIP FIRE POLICE, PRESIDENT HOWARD MCGOLDRICK – LETTER ATTACHED. THE REQUEST IS FOR THE INSURING AND FUELING OF A DONATED FIRE POLICE VEHICLE TO BE HOUSED IN THE POLE BARN NEXT TO THE BUS. THIS VEHICLE WOULD BE OWNED BY BRISTOL TOWNSHIP AND COULD BE ADDED TO OUR FLEET INSURANCE TO BE PAID OUT OF THE EMERGENCY FUND. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY BE USED ON CALL OF MAJOR FIRES AND ON POLICE CALLS. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE DRIVEN BY ANY BRISTOL TOWNSHIP FIRE POLICEPERSON WHO IS LICENSED TO DRIVE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

APPROVAL –

RECREATION

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A FIELD HOUSE UPDATE. BECAUSE THE ESTIMATES FOR THE FIELD HOUSE EXCEED THE PROJECT BUDGET, THE PLANS HAVE BEEN REVISED AS FOLLOWS:

25’ X 45’, ON SLAB, TWO STORY AND NO BASEMENT.

PRELIMINARY ESTIMATES INDICATE THAT THE PROJECT AS CURRENTLY PROPOSED WILL FALL WELL UNDER THE $120,000 PROJECT BUDGET. I WILL FORWARD TO YOU SPECIFIC COST DETAILS ON THIS MATTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND KEEP COUNCIL UPDATED ON OUR PROGRESS.

WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE BRISTOL TOWNSHIP GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, PRESIDENT GLENN BALENT. THEY WOULD LIKE TO NAME THE FIELD LOCATED AT OXFORD VALLEY ROAD AND MILL DR. THE “VFW MEMORIAL FIELD” AND THE JOHN BILLINGTON POST 6495 HAS DONATED THE MONEY FOR THE PURCHASE OF A SCOREBOARD WHICH WILL HAVE THEIR NAME ON IT. THE TOWNSHIP HAS APPLIED FOR A DCED GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $66,246 FOR THE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AND UPGRADE OF THE LIGHTING FOR THIS FIELD. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND THE OFFICERS, PARENTS, AND GIRLS ON THEIR MAINTENANCE OF THE OXFORD VALLEY FIELD WHICH I AM PROUD TO SAY IS HOME OF THE BRISTOL TOWNSHIP GIRLS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, THE OLDEST ORGANIZED SOFTBALL LEAGUE IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

WITH COUNCIL’S APPROVAL I WOULD LIKE TO INSTALL A TOWNSHIP SIGN WITH “VFW MEMORIAL FIELD.”

COMMUNITY NEWS

THERE WILL BE AN EMERGENCY HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DROP-OFF EVENT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2004 FROM 9:00AM TO 3:00PM AT THE UPPER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING ON EAGLE ROAD. SEVERAL COMMUNITIES IN BUCKS COUNTY WERE IMPACTED BY THE RECENT FLOODING DUE TO HURRICANE IVAN. IF ANY BRISTOL TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS PLAN TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE CONTACT THE TOWNSHIP AT 215-785-0500 TO REGISTER.

HIRING POLICE

TO CONCLUDE MY REPORT I WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY STAFF HAS PREPARED THE NECESSARY MOTIONS AND PAPERWORK TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE HIRING OF THREE NEW POLICE OFFICERS. I AM REQUESTING THAT THE COUNCIL AUTHORIZES THESE NEW HIRES UTILIZING THE RULES OF THREE.