Local News

Mensch Only Senate Candidate at Forum

Written by Larry Roeder, Editor Wednesday, 23 September 2009 12:48

With the special election to choose a new Senator for the 24th District scheduled for Tuesday, September 29, the Upper Bucks County and Upper Perkiomen Valley Chambers of Commerce wanted to provide a local forum for the candidates to present their views in front of the voters.

The event, held Monday night, lacked two of three things needed for a comprehensive presentation and exchange of legislative views and positions of a variety of issues – the Democratic and Libertarian candidates.

Libertarian candidate Barbara Steever was a last minute cancellation due to a bout with the flu. According to WNPV radio host Darryl Berger, who served as moderator for the event, campaign staff for Democratic candidate Anne Scheuring decided that the forum was “not a priority.”

With the absence, Mensch used the opportunity to speak to about 40 people in attendance and field a variety of questions from Berger and about a dozen of the attendees.

In his opening comments, Mensch comment that it was unfortunate that neither of his opponents could be present to share their positions on the issues with lo cal residents. “Because this campaign has been compressed into six weeks, I think it is the duty and responsibility of the candidates to take part in as many of these forums and issue debates as possible.”

During the forum Mensch laid out his position on a wide-range of issues facing the state of Pennsylvania and residents of the 24th Senate District.

On the issue of education, Mensch spelled out his opposition to a proposal by Governor Ed Rendell to eliminate a number of school districts throughout the state through the consolidation of existing school districts. He also discussed his belief in maximizing education dollars reaching the classroom, for smaller class sizes in grades 1 through 3, and his backing of full day kindergarten programs.

Sewer Authority Operation Under Investigation

Written by Larry Roeder, Editor Wednesday, 23 September 2009 12:28

Problems in the operation of the sewer plant of the Green Lane Marlborough Joint Authority (GLMJA) have led to the dismissal of two employees.

At last Wednesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Marlborough Township Supervisor’s vice-chairman Carl Ascoli read a letter that was sent to Township solicitor, Frank R. Bartle. GLMJA Authority solicitor Jill Zimmerman sent the letter, dated September 11, 2009. In it, she cited serious violations in plant operations.

At the time the plant had two employees: Michael Martin, plant operator, and Frank Buza, assistant plant operator. Both employees were terminated at the monthly meeting of the GLMJA held on September 21.

GLMJA operates a sewage treatment plant just off Gravel Pike (Route 29) near Lumber Street in Green Lane. GLMJA has a permit to discharge treated sewage effluent from the plant into the Perkiomen Creek.

The lapse in plant operation procedures was addressed at an emergency meeting of the GLMJA on September 1, 2009, attended by plant employees, Al McCrae, GLMJA chairman, Alan Breyer, GLMJA vice-chairman, three representatives of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Zimmerman.

About that same time, DEP officials confiscated computers and other records from the plant office.