Solebury Township Achievement Summary – 2019

During 2019, the Solebury Board of Supervisors addressed over 160 issues. Many of these topics required extensive meetings and analysis. In addition, all Supervisors are liaison to one or more Township Committees which in total meet at least 60 times a year. Lastly, the Township Administration provides the valuable service of addressing many community matters daily as well as coordinating the decisions made by the Board of Supervisors.

The following list is a highlight of these activities for 2019.

• New Hope Crushed Stone quarry—Mining has ceased. Reclamation is continuing in areas regarding the water inlet and outlet of the raising lake, berms are being sloped and foliage is being planted. Primrose Creek restoration is nearing completion. Eventual lake water level is to be determined.
• Farming Forum—The Solebury Farm Committee developed “Cultivating a Sustainable Community: Agriculture’s Role in Achieving Solebury Township’s Community Goals” forum. Local farmers, as well as other farm experts presented and coordinated a discussion regarding this important topic.
• Farms—Through the Farm Committee, the Township continues to review approaches to support farms in the community including streamlining the process to review the appropriateness of passive green houses on farms. An ongoing project is to develop a program to introduce farmers to land owners interested to have a portion of their acreage farmed.
• Plastics—The Township through the Environmental Advisory Council has continued to review the use of single use plastics in the community. Their analysis and extensive community communications addressed a variety of issues including the temporary State ban on regulating such activity. The BOS has encouraged state representatives to be involved with this issue. The Township will continue to evaluate options regarding this matter.
• Roads—The Township continued the roadway upgrade schedule, For 2019 the following roads were repaved: Sugan Road from Mechanicsville Road to Kitchens Lane, Shetland Road , Sheffield Road , High Ridge Circle. This amounts to 3 miles of improved roadways. One of our Supervisors, our Township manager, State Rep. Wendi Thomas and representatives from State Sen. Steve Santarsiero's office met with several PennDOT officials to discuss improving the condition of State roads in Solebury. This has resulted in expedited repairs on Route 202.
• Land Preservation Forum—The Township hosted a community meeting where land preservation issues/information were presented by experts. Additionally through a lengthy Q&A session this was an opportunity for the Township government to obtain resident feedback concerning this topic. The Land Preservation Committee coordinated this event.
• Land Preservation Referendum—After exhausting all funds authorized by our last open space referendum (in 2005), the Township conducted a referendum concerning the authorization of the Township to spend an additional $12mil toward preserving acreage over the coming years. The referendum was approved by 75% of the voters.
• Land Preservation—Sixty additional acres have been accepted into the land preservation program. This increases total Solebury Township preserved land to 39% of total Township acreage. Solebury Township continues to be a leader in preserved land, an issue the community has prioritized.
• E-Waste Event—The Township hosted an E-Waste Event on June 22, where residents were able to recycle electronic devices. Approximately 34,100 lbs of electronics and metal waste was recycled from the Township event.
• Solebury Park & Recreation Dept.—The following activities were coordinated with the significant assistance of volunteers: Baseball/Softball - 230 participants / 74 vols. Basketball - 254 participants / 68 vols., Soccer - 263 participants / 54 vols., Lacrosse - 88 participants / 8 vols., Wrestling - 34 participants / 10 vols. and Summer camp - 200 participants. In addition, the annual winter Festival with 3,000-4,000 attendees was conducted by Solebury, New Hope, and Lambertville P&R depts. The Solebury profit of $9,000 was to benefit the Parks and Rec. dept and other local charities. Solebury P&R sponsors and volunteers at the annual St Baldrick's community event to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Research.
• Police Dept.—To address staff turnover and Solebury Police Dept. improvement, Officers Gina Ferzetti, Megan Klosterman, Brendan Murphy and Patrick Dorsey were sworn in as Solebury Police Officers. This was the first hiring of full-time female officers in Solebury. This represents a net increase of 2 officers to the Solebury Police Dept. The increased forces allow for improved staffing per shift . They also allow for increased routine patrols of neighborhoods and businesses. One of the officers is bilingual which enhances the department ability to interact with the Hispanic community. Lastly, the Solebury Police Department established a canine dept. The first member is “Blitz”. His handler is Officer Mat Rice.
• 2020 Budget—The BOS approved the 2020 budget which maintains a balanced budget at the current tax level.
• 202 Corridor Review—Coordinated community discussions and email exchanges as to the preference for the future for the route 202 corridor zoned as TNC/Traditional Neighborhood Commercial .District. The clear feedback received was community concern for over development.
• TNC Zone/202 Corridor Development Proposal—Coordinated discussions with the Planning Commission with the developers of a proposed emergency care and assisted living project to be in the 202 Corridor/TNC zone. Since only a sketch plan was provided to start discussions for the project, a formal application will be required to proceed through the formal process.
• Comprehensive Nondiscrimination Legislation—A resolution was approved in support of statewide and federal nondiscrimination legislation.
• Bond Rating Upgrade—Moody's Investor Services has upgraded Solebury Township's rating to Aa1. "The Township's fiscal management is strong," Moody's analysts wrote in the agency's credit opinion, "as illustrated by its history of conservative budgeting and careful management of expenditures, which often result in positive budget-to-actual results." This provided immediate benefits to the Township, as we successfully refinanced $6.1 million of existing debt and established $1.3 million of new borrowing at 1.59%. the restructured debts will save our residents upwards of $200,000 in interest payments.
• Diseased Ash Trees—Over 1,000 diseased ash trees have been removed from Aquetong Spring Park. Replanting is scheduled to begin in 2020. (See below)
• Grants—Implementing the Aquetong Spring Park projects funded by grants amounting to $610,000. This includes developing the plan to plant $110,000 worth of trees in 2020, most of which will be in Aquetong Spring park to replace the removed diseased Ash trees. Another portion of these funds involve the work to create trails for the Park.
• Deer Management—Nate Spence has been hired from the US Department of Agriculture to coordinate our deer management program. We expect this hiring to result in greater participation in our deer management program by landowners and hunters alike.
• Malcolm Crooks—The Township honored Malcolm Crooks with words of remembrance, accepting a donated painting, "HOW TO MAKE A HAYROLL” and rededicating the pedestrian bridge at Canal Park.
• Racism—The Township BOS renewed the Township’s concern for the issue of racism and inclusion. A resolution was endorsed and a copy was sent to state and federal representatives as encouragement to be involved with this important issue.
• Recycle Forum—Industry as well as county representatives presented a variety of rapidly changing recycling issues. The EAC coordinated this informative event.