Report of Mayor Samuel J. Fenton
April 20, 2006

Spring Clean Up

The Third Annual Bristol Township Spring Clean-Up will be held this Saturday, April 22 in conjunction with Earth Day. Please join us in helping to keep our community beautiful.

Dumpsters will be placed at the Municipal Building for this purpose.  Township personnel and equipment will be available from 8 am to 2 pm to assist.  In addition, code enforcement personnel will be out addressing related needs.  The Readjustment Program for juvenile offenders with the cooperation of District Justice Joanne Kline and Frank Peranteau, Jr. will be involved in the clean up.  In addition, the Weed and Seed Program and the neighborhoods of Bloomsdale-Fleetwing, Norton Avenue, Pacific Avenue, and Green Lawn Park will also be out participating.  The Towns Against Graffiti Program and Anthony Hartman will be working to clean up graffiti.

For more information, please call 215-785-0500.

Fireworks Ordinance

I want to thank Mr. Bill Zukor for his input regarding the possibility of a fireworks store locating on Rt.  13.  I strongly believe that this is not the right direction for the Township.  I urge the Council to pass the proposed ordinance regarding the zoning of such establishments a next weeks meeting.  I also feel strongly that the state legislature should reconsider the bill allowing for the sale of fireworks to non-Pennsylvania residents.  This places all boarder communities at risk for serious problems.

Police Force Staffing

The Township has taken the necessary steps to hire six new police officers with plans to hire five more in July.  Even with these new hires, the force is not at full strength.  Things happen on a daily basis that neither the Chief nor I can control.  The Chief will elaborate further on the manpower situation at the conclusion of this report.  At this point we do not even have enough officers to weigh trucks.  When the slots finally arrive, supply trucks will be coming through town.  We must be prepared to monitor the situation, and do not want to miss out on potential revenues.  I am asking that you give the Chief of Police the authority to hire contingent on your approval up to the desired strength of 76 officers.