Dan Siegel's PhotoHaverford Township                      March 21, 2011
4th Ward Commissioner
Dan Siegel
4th Ward Newsletter
Upcoming Commissioner Meetings

April 4, 2011, 7:00 p.m. (Monthly Work Session)
April 11, 2011, 7:30 p.m. (Regular Meeting)
In This Newsletter
Constituent Meeting March 30th
Yard Waste/Composting
Bubble Gum Factory
In Memoriam - Mike Bortnicker
Crime Mapping Website
Billboard Fight Continues
Haverford Township Information Center
Contact Dan Siegel
MeetingConstituent Meeting Scheduled for March 30th

Speak OutMy semi-annual Constituent Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the Quatrani Building located behind the Township Building at 2325 Darby Road in Havertown. As in the past, this is your opportunity to ask questions, voice your concerns, and to speak directly with Township officials. Township Manager Larry Gentile, Assistant Township Manager Lori Hanlon-Widdop, Police Chief Carmen Pettine and District Justice Elisa Lacianca are expected to attend. I have also invited other Township officials, who have not yet confirmed their availability to attend.
SnowYard Waste Collection Resumes:
Free Compost for Residents
 
The Township's Leaf and Yard Waste Recycling Program has resumed, with curbside collection on most Wednesdays through late October. Rather than transport materials to the dump, the Township composts the materials, and makes the resulting compost available to residents for free. The program, which complies with the new Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requirements, has already saved Haverford Taxpayers over $100,000.00.

 

All yard waste must be in brown biodegradable bags or trash cans that can be easily lifted (less than 40 pounds). Plastic bags cannot be used and WILL NOT be collected. Yard waste must be at your collection point by 6:30 a.m. In addition, the Township will collect brush, leaves, and branches that are less than 1-1/2 inches in diameter and less than 3 feet long. These items must be tied together, and bundled securely with twine or rope. Do not use wire.

 

The following materials are unacceptable and will not be collected: 

  • Litter/Trash/Garbage
  • Grass Clippings
  • Kitty Litter/Pet Manure
  • Plastic bags
  • Containers weighing more than 40 pounds
  • Branches over 3 feet in length
  • Branches over 1-1/2 inches in diameter

The final composted/mulched material is now available for FREE to township residents.

 

Residents can pick up the material at the recycling yard (located at the end of Hilltop Road, off of Old West Chester Pike) or any of the locations below, or pay a nominal delivery fee of $40.00 for up to one truckload of material. Additional information and directions are available from the Public Works Department at (610) 446-1000, extension 263.

 

Additional Composting Pick-up Locations:

  • Merry Place Parking Lot
  • Polo Field Parking Lot
  • Paddock Parking Lot
  • Steel Field Parking Lot
  • Nitre Hall Parking Lot
  • Veterans Field Parking Lot
TV About the Bubble Gum Factory/Board of View 

As you know, the Township acquired the abandoned bubble gum factory, and now owns the property. The process by which the property was acquired -- called "eminent domain" -- requires the Township to pay the owners of the property for its fair market value.

The Township paid $1.26 million to the property owners, who once argued that the property was worthless because it was located on the Superfund site. The owners challenged the payment, arguing that the property was worth considerably more. Earlier this month, a Board of View agreed with the owners and valued the property at $6,000,000.00. This was a preliminary ruling with which the Township disagrees, and will be appealing.

Much has been said in the press about the finding. While I cannot address many of the issues, because the matter is in litigation, please be aware of the following:
  • The Township's appeal means that the case begins anew in the Court of Common Pleas -- which both parties most likely anticipated.
  • The Township does not have to pay the Board of View's ruling.
  • The case will now be decided by a judge or a jury, depending upon the parties' requests.
  • The Township continues to believe that it has paid a fair value for the property. 

I certainly understand your concerns because, as a taxpayer, I am as concerned as any other resident. I continue to have confidence in our attorneys and believe that the Township will ultimately prevail. I merely ask that you review all of the facts before believing everything you read in the newspapers.

MikeIn Memoriam - Mike Bortnicker


The Township has learned that former 4th Ward Commissioner Mike Bortnicker passed away this morning. Mike was devoted to the Township, and often provided words of guidance to me about ways to make Haverford a better place for all residents. On behalf of the Township and his many friends in the 4th Ward, I offer my condolences to Mike's wife Flip and their entire family. Funeral and shiva information are not available at this time.

WebsitePolice Join Crime Mapping Website

The Haverford Township Police Department has unveiled its latest community information program, an Internet-based public access crime mapping website - www.crimereports.com - which compiles data from calls for service and police incidents and plots them on a map for all to see. The website can be accessed free of charge from any computer or mobile device. 

 

You can use the site to search for multiple categories of incidents across the Township or to see what reports have occurred on a specific block. You can also use the site to search a specific date or look back over a selected period of time for all categories or narrow your search to just one, such as burglaries or theft. Links to the website have been added to the Township website and my website at www.4haverford.com/haverford_police_crime_mapping.html.The program also allows you to view crime trends within a specific area and date range. Archived data up to six months prior to the date of the query is also available.

 

OrdinanceBillboard Fight Continues

The next Zoning Board hearing on the challenge to the Township's ordinance prohibiting billboards is scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the Quatrani Building adjacent to the Township Building at 2325 Darby Road, Havertown.

 

As you know, the Bartkowski Investment Group (otherwise known as "BIG") has proposed erecting mammoth billboards at properties along West  Chester Pike and Lancaster Avenue. Because these billboards are not permitted under the Township Zoning Code, BIG has filed a challenge to the constitutionality of the Township ordinance, which will be decided by the Zoning Hearing Board, a separate body from the Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners has unanimously agreed to retain our Township Solicitor to attend the ZHB hearings and to vigorously oppose BIG's efforts.

OrdinanceCommissioner Siegel Unable to Attend April 11 Commissioner Meeting

Because I will be out-of-town, I will be unable to attend the April 11, 2011 Board of Commissioners meeting. I will be attending an American Bar Association meeting and lecturing on a variety of topics, including my recent book, The Lawyer's Guide to LexisNexis CaseMap. I regret the conflict.

WebsiteVisit the Haverford Township Information Center

Created by Commissioner Dan Siegel

When you have a question about the Township, please visit the Haverford Township Information Center at www.4haverford.com. The site, created by Commissioner Siegel, is updated regularly and features copies of various documents, including meeting agendas, police/crime reports, and other information. The site also has links to other websites of interest to residents, including the Haverford Township website at www.haverfordtownship.com.

contactHow to Contact  4th Ward Commissioner Dan Siegel
By Email: dansiegel@4haverford.com
 
By Mail:Contact Dan Siegel
1705 Marilyn Drive
Havertown, PA 19083
 
By Phone:
(610) 446-1117 (Constituent Phone Line)
(610) 446-3457 (Office)