Northampton Twp Supervisors Majority Disservice CRUSA, Disrespect Public

Council Rock United Soccer Association (CRUSA), a private "not for profit", has been around for 35+ years.  The Northampton Supervisors Board Majority has clearly done them a disservice when at the meeting on May 22, 2013, Kim Rose introduced a motion to allow lights on soccer fields at the Northampton Municipal Park on Hatboro Rd.

Rose, Cunningham and of course, Rothermel fell in lock-step to approve the motion despite the objections of Supervisors Silver and Komelasky, as well as numerous outraged citizens who voiced their displeasure.  The issue is that the Supervisor Majority once again has failed to be transparent in their dealings with issues that impact the Public.  They did the same thing a year ago involving cell towers in the Township. 

Residents and the dissenting Supervisors made it clear that they are not "anti-kids" nor "anti-sport", but absolutely appalled by the failure of this Board Majority to follow appropriate protocol.  It seems that Rothermel-Cunningham-Rose have a habit of introducing items for approval during their "Liaison Reports" at the end of the meeting when most residents have left the meeting.

Lighting of the Fields was NOT on the agenda, not advertised, and the impacted neighbors were not notified of the plan.  It should be noted that the Northampton Municipal Park was established as a "dawn-to-dusk" facility when the property was obtained from the Federal Government as part of the decommissioning of the former Johnsville/NADC facility, a process that took several years (1991-1993).

Northampton Township resident perhaps said it best: "Have you people learned nothing" from the cell tower fiasco? 

CRUSA representatives stated that "about 75-80% of the participants" in their programs are Northampton Residents.  They are seeking additional lighted facilities 6:00PM-9:30PM September 15 through November 15 to accommodate their expansion of programs.  Assuming that CRUSA's statements are accurate, the existing facilities are more than sufficient to support the needs of Northampton Twonship Residents.

In the end, CRUSA's Executive Director pleaded with the Supervisors to withdrawal the motion. "I am uncomfortable. We are good neighbors and have been around for 35 years."  He understood the issue and should be praised for taking the action!  What a shame that Rose-Rothermel-Cunningham did not.   The issue will allegedly be on the Agenda for June 26, 2013 and impacted residents are to be notified by mail, the process that should have been followed int he first place. 

Supervisor Rose's comments at the end of the meeting best state the position of the Supervisor Majority: "There may have been an agreement, but times change... and we have to change."  In other words, agreements, contracts and court orders mean nothing, this group will do as it pleases.

For the record: last year, at the direction of Supervisor Rothermel, these three Supervisors initiated action to allow a private property owner to violate the terms of a land acquisition agreement, the PA and County Open Space rules, and in violation of a PA Superior Court order. 

It seems that the attitude remains, "Public Be Damned" when it comes to their friends and contributors. Rothermel-Cunningham-Rose have no shame... they need to go.