BOROUGH NEWS

Borough Newsletter

The Fall 2011 issue of the Borough Newsletter includes articles on the Borough's Property Maintenance Code, the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, FEMA's new flood maps, the Tile Mural Project at the Community Center, the protection of private wells and more. If you did not receive a copy in the mail, please stop by 123 New Street to pick one up at the front desk, or click here.

Change of Polling Place in New Hope

On October 11, 2011, the Bucks County Board of Elections voted to relocate the polling place in New Hope Borough to the New Hope Community Room, which is located at 125 New Street at the old St. Martin of Tours Church. This change is effective immediately and will start with the November 8, 2011 municipal election. The new polling place will be open from 7 am to 8 pm on election day. There will be no charge for parking at 125 New Street on election day.

FEMA Flood Map Modernization

A multi-year Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) project to re-examine flood zones and develop detailed, digital flood hazard maps is nearing completion. The new maps reflect current flood risks and areas of recent growth, replacing maps that are up to eleven years old. As a result, property owners throughout New Hope Borough will have up-to-date, reliable, Internet-accessible information about their flood risk — on a property-by-property basis. Some property owners may learn that their risks are higher, or lower, than they thought. You should be aware of how the maps are changing and why — and how the changes will affect your property.

Flood hazard maps, also known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), are important tools in the effort to protect lives and properties in New Hope. By showing the extent to which areas of the Borough — and individual properties — are at risk for flooding, flood maps help business and property owners make better financial decisions about protecting their properties. These maps also allow community planners, local officials, engineers, builders and others to make important determinations about where and how new structures and developments should be built.

New digital mapping techniques will provide more detailed, reliable and current data on Borough flood hazards. The result: a better picture of the areas most likely to be impacted by flooding and a better foundation from which to make key decisions.

To ensure that everyone within the Borough has access to the most accurate and up-to-date information about flood hazards, the new map is being made available to the public at Borough Hall, located at 123 New Street. Contact the Zoning Officer, Robert Larason, at 215 862 3347 to make an appointment to inspect the new FEMA map. You may also view the new map here or on-line at www.rampp-team.com/pa.htm.

In addition, the Borough Engineer has prepared an overlay map showing FEMA's current and newly proposed floodplain boundaries. This map may be used to determine the impact of the newly proposed floodplain map on individual properties within the Borough. This map is available here.

After publication in the Federal Register and the second of two public notices appears in the paper, there will be a 90-day public comment period so that property owners can file appeals and protest. An individual who files an appeal is required to submit scientific and technical information to substantiate the appeal.

After the completion of the 90-day appeal period, FEMA will issue a Letter of Final Determination that will direct the Borough to adopt the new map within a 180-day compliance period as part of an updated floodplain management ordinance Although not a firm date at this time, FEMA is targeting an effective date of November 2012 for local government adoption and implementation of ordinance and map revisions.

More information is available online at: www.fema.gov/plan/prevent/fhm/fq_genhm.shtm.

For questions specifically concerning insurance, please call 1-800-427-4661 or visit www.floodsmart.gov.

Change of Address

The Borough's administrative offices relocated to 123 New Street on Friday, June 4, 2010. These offices include the Treasurer/Assistant Manager, Zoning Officer, Code Official, Fire Marshal, Administrative Assistant, and Borough Manager.

The Police Department and its administrative staff moved to 125 New Street on September 29, 2010.

All Borough services are now offered at the Borough's New Street facilities.

Public meetings of all boards and commissions are held at the Borough's New Street facilities. See the "Notices/Meetings" page of this web site for additional public meeting information and schedules.

123 and 125 New Street are conveniently located on the west side of New Street between Riverwoods Drive and West  Mechanic Street in downtown New Hope. 123 New Street is the old rectory building for St. Martin of Tours. 125 New Street is the old church building for St. Martin of Tours.

New Hope Borough Hall Tile Mural Project

Preston and Sharon Harrison of Sharrison Studios are creating a tile mural for the New Hope Borough Hall, located on Mechanic Street/New Street. The mural will consist of scenes reflecting New Hope's past and present, the many personalities and groups that make New Hope a vibrant community, and the numerous activities that draw people to this river town year after year. The tile mural will be installed on the back wall of the new community center/public meeting room at the New Street facility.The mural size will be 34’ (w) by 5’ (h), consisting of 600+, 6”square tiles at a cost of $100 each. Sponsors can have their names (or a name of their choice) appear on each tile that they purchase. The names will be worked into the design of each tile. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, click here for additional information.

Local students have produced a video promoting New Hope's Mural Tile Project. The video may be viewed by clicking here.

Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture maintains a list of hypersensitive individuals who have requested to have their homes, places of employment, schools (if a student), and vacation homes placed in the Registry.  The Registry is distributed to all commercial and public pesticide businesses 4 times per year.  The pesticide application businesses are required to notify any person in the most recent registry if they will be making an application to an attached structure or an outdoor above ground pesticide application within 500 feet of any listed location. The notification may be made by speaking to an adult through personal contact, by telephone contact, leaving a message on an answering device, by certified mail, by posting a notice on the front door at the listed location or speaking to an adult at the alternate phone number listed in the Registry.

The business must provide: business name, address, telephone number, the pesticide brand name and common name (if available), EPA Registration number of the pesticide, the location of the application and the proposed date and time of the application.  The proposed application time may not exceed a 24-hour period.  A listing in the Registry does not prevent the pesticide application from being made.

Having a Listing Added to the Hypersensitivity Registry: Complete the Registry of Pesticide Hypersensitive Individuals Application or it can be obtained through your local pesticide businesses, or by contacting any PA Department of Agriculture Regional Office.  Individuals will be required to make arrangements with someone to be an alternate contact; this person must be willing to receive calls and forward the information on to you when applicators cannot contact you directly.  Complete the application using your legal address as your primary residence, daytime, nighttime and alternate telephone numbers.  You must complete all required blocks or the application will be returned.

See your Pennsylvania licensed physician to have Part II of the form completed and signed.   Review your application for completeness and return it to:

PA Department of Agriculture

Bureau of Plant Industry

2301 N. Cameron St.

Harrisburg, PA  17110-9408.

Publication and Online Posting: Because the Registry is a public document, the information you provide is considered public information.  By submitting the application for publication you are granting the Department the right to publish your information in printed form and have it posted to the Department's access controlled PaPlants website.

Contact

Joe Uram

Pesticide Case Enforcement

Pesticide Hypersensitivity Registry

Worker Protection

Pesticide Complaints

(717) 772-5212

Call 811 Before You Dig

Pennsylvania Act 287 of 1974, as amended by PA Act 181 of 2006, requires contractors and homeowners to call Pennsylvania's One Call 811 number at least three working days before digging or excavating. The importance of safe digging cannot be emphasized enough. Careless digging causes far-reaching consequences, from serious personal injury and environmental damage to costly delays. For additional information, call PA One Call System, Inc. at 1 800 242 1776.

Eagle Fire Company Seeks Volunteers

The Eagle Fire Company is seeking volunteers who want to make a difference in their community. Joining the fire company family offers a whole new realm of possibilities that will add value to your life and the lives of those you serve within our community. The skills and training available in the fire company can advance your career, brighten your resume and build valuable and long lasting relationships. We are seeking dedicated individuals to serve as members of our firefighting and volunteer community. There is a place for everyone in the fire company. You can give a little time or a lot of time. We are a community of extraordinary people living an extraordinary life, committed to making a difference. Please consider the possibility of becoming a member of our family if you are 14 years or older. Call 215-862-2692, or email tark@pil.net, or feel free to stop by the station at 46 N. Sugan Road any Tuesday evening.

The Eagle Fire Company district encompasses 12 square miles and more than 10,000 residents in New Hope Borough and Solebury Township. The company operates out of two stations and provides fire protection, vehicle rescue, water/land search/rescue, and primary hazardous materials response.

Lower Delaware River Wild & Scenic Management Committee

The Lower Delaware River Wild & Scenic Management Committee is the public body of representatives from the 2 States, 5 Counties, 26 Municipalities, and Non-Profit Organizations within the Wild & Scenic River Corridor (the Delaware Water Gap to Washington Crossing) that have resolved or entered into a Memorandum of Understanding supporting the Lower Delaware River Management Plan. Each supporting entity appoints a delegate and an alternate to serve as a voting member of the Committee.

New Hope Borough is seeking an interested resident to serve on the Committee as New Hope's alternate delegate. If you are interested, please contact the Borough at 215 862 3347 or newhopeborough@comcast.net

Aquetong Watershed Association

The newly formed Aquetong Watershed Association (AWA) is seeking New Hope residents to join in its efforts to promote and preserve the natural environment and diverse community that is within the Aquetong Watershed. The Watershed has a drainage area of 8.39 square miles and contains approximately 23 miles of stream. About 30% of the watershed, primarily in the upper reaches of Solebury Township, is protected by conservation easements. There are about 3,000 residences and businesses in the Aquetong Watershed.

The Aquetong Watershed Association seeks to:
• Protect natural resources, restore damaged areas, and promote the preservation of open space within the watershed;
• Encourage the participation of individuals, businesses, and governments in decisions affecting the watershed; and
• Provide the community with a greater sense of appreciation for the watershed and the importance of sustainable ecological management.

Anyone wishing to join this effort or learn more can visit www.aquetongwatershed.org.

Primrose Creek Watershed Association

Learn more about the Primrose Creek Watershed Association by accessing

primrosecreek.org. PCWA has classes, nature walks and events scheduled throughout the year. Contact the Association to be placed on its e-mail or regular mail distribution list.

Delaware River Basin Commission (DRCB)
Flood Mitigation Task Force

The final report of the Delaware River Basin Flood Mitigation Task Force is available at the DRBC web site. The DRBC web site also lists ongoing and completed flood studies and projects.

Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority
Emergency Notification System

For water and sewer emergencies, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Authority customers may call 1-800-222-2068 or 1-215-343-2538. To report emergencies during non business hours, weekends, and holidays, customers may call

1-215-343-3946.

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

Maintenance problems on state highways should be reported to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) by using its toll-free Roadway Maintenance Hotline at 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623). Dial 9-1-1 to report accidents, disabled vehicles, or other emergencies.

You can also report higway safety concerns, such as potholes, drainage issues or deer carcass removal, to PennDOT's Customer Care Center by clicking here. A concern should not be submitted for immediate needs or issues that could create safety hazards, like missing signs or roadway hazards. If the concern requires immediate attention, please call 1-800-FIX-ROAD to be connected directly to the county maintenance office in your area.

Motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by calling 511 or by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban interstates and access to more than 500 traffic cameras.