What's new? (Home)
Search this site
Site Overview
About Charlestown
Index to Gov't Info
General Info
Organizations
The early days
Photo Albums
Surplus & Needs
Neighborhood links
Notify me of updates
About this site
FAQ
People are saying..
Our purpose
About us
Techie stuff
Contacting us
Established June 2, 1997
by citizens for citizens
Awards
March 16, 1998
Website of the Week
Daily Local News
August 13, 1997
|
|
A beautiful part of southeastern Pennsylvania
|
Open Space Commission - Minutes 11/20/02
CHARLESTOWN OPEN SPACE COMMISSION
MINUTES: November 20, 2002
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, December 18, 2002, 7:00 PM, Great Valley Middle School
Commission Members Attending Meeting:
Andy Motel, Chair x, William Anderson x, Alexandra Coleman x, Frank Corcoran _, Aliena Gerhard _, Mary Ellen Joos _, Bob Jones x, Kevin Kuhn x, Rosemary Philips x, Bob Roggio x, Marcia Solda x, Sue Staas x.
Minutes were accepted with corrections: date of October meeting was corrected and Marcia Solda's presence was noted.
Water Resources
1. Kevin Kuhn and Alix Coleman reported on Water is a Vital Resource, sponsored by West Pikeland Land Trust. Important points included:
- Water belongs to the Commonwealth
- PA is so far behind the 8-ball on legislation to protect water sources
- 80% of the problem are with individual homeowners who have onsite sewage and use too much water.
- 60% of our water is from springs and first order streams; therefore buffering these streams to prevent runoff is critical.
2. Concern with Water Resources Bill that is up before Lame Duck Session of PA. Legislature. Alix reported that the bill gives industry broad exceptions to the limitations provided by the bill and takes away the power to adjudicate water issues from local authorities.
- Primary streams are far more important than ever realized and are not protected in this law. No environmental agency is happy and were unable to give input to the legislation.
- Vote down Senate Bill #SB10 & HB 2989 but keep the issue open for the next session. (The Legislation did not pass! And several members of the OS commission did write to our legislators per request from 10,000 Friends of PA)
- http://www.chesco.org/water has the county water resources plan posted.
3. Plan for revenue for OS from the Township:
- Kevin Kuhn reported that the Supervisors are looking at an earned income tax earmarked for Open Space discussion includes these possibilities:
- 0.5% Earned Income
- Tax would be imposed by resolution - targeted for 2004. Supervisors will target proceeds for Open Space.
- In addition, a Referendum will be held in 2003 to earmark proceeds of EI tax for Open Space. If it passes, it would mean that future Supervisors could not redirect the proceeds without another referendum.
- Local property tax will be doubled in upcoming budget to support additional service costs in the township and to offset the downturn in transfer taxes. (Local property tax currently brings in $260k)
4. Information Workshops
- Sue Staas reported that the results of Survey showed support of OS Commission's plans for (in order of preference) workshops about Wildlife, Maintaining Historic Property and Estate Planning.
- Alix, Marcia and Rosemary will work on the Historic Property Workshop, to be scheduled for early February and will bring a plan to the next meeting.
- Sue and Aliena agreed to develop a workshop about Wildlife for April at the October meeting. (however, on their ride home together, Rosemarie and Sue hatched an exciting - we think - proposal for a late April tour of the OS in Charlestown - using some vans or a mini-school bus and guides from the OS commission. We will put it on the agenda for the next meeting.)
- Still to be scheduled: the workshop on Estate Planning. Still to be decided: should we sponsor workshops on plant life and water?
The meeting adjourned about 9:30. Next meeting is scheduled for December 18, 2002
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Staas, Secretary
|
Home Site Overview Contact Us
Please report any problems with this site by clicking here.
Site development, maintenance and funding by Township resident Jacob D. Merriwether.
Hosting by PLH Worldgroup Communications, Inc.
|
|
