RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 1
RICHLAND
Township Times
FALL 2015
I Support Our Police – Do You?
Inside
Article
Page
Snow Removal Tips
2
Richland is Holding
Up Well
3
Richland Townships of PA 5
Let’s Talk About Fraud 6
Ritter Leads Joint
Traffic Initiative
8
Pennsylvania Budget
Update
9
Community Day
10
Recognizing Veterans
12
Way To Go
Senator Mensch
12
Making a Difference
With Our Youth
15
Stepanoff Recognized
for Leadership
19
New Way to Dispose
of CFLs
19
Richland’s Agricultural
Security Areas
20
Protect Your Investment
in Your Septic System
23
QCSD is Turning Around
24
Farmland Preservation
25
Neighborhood Safety:
A Parent’s Guide
29
by Supervisor Tim Arnold
According to the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund,
on average, one law enforcement officer
is killed in the line of duty somewhere
in the United States every 60 hours.
Since the first known line-of-duty death
in 1791, more than 20,000 U.S. law
enforcement officers have made the
ultimate sacrifice. These numbers are
staggering
Well, you can call me a cop groupie but
I support our police,
not just Richland
Township’s finest,
but all the men and
women in blue who
risk their lives so
that we can live in a
safe community in
which we can raise
our families.
I know as an
elected official that
I put myself in a position of criticism,
but I get very upset when I hear people
criticizing our police officers using words
such as “ inept” or ”incompetent” or
that they are “not focused on the drug
issue that faces our community.” These
words typically come from individuals
who have an agenda for making this
statement, or do not do their homework,
or had a negative experience with a
police officer because they had broken
the law. The Richland Township Police
Department has and will continue to
battle all crimes in our Township, and,
as a Richland Township Supervisor,
I will continue to provide them with
the resources to do their job safely and
properly.
Let’s go back to the 20,000 US law
enforcement officers that have given
their lives while serving and protecting
their communities. Let’s think about the
families who lost their husbands, wives,
fathers, mothers, daughters, sons or other
loved ones. A wife of an officer once told
me, “It’s hard not to think about it, but
when I give my husband a kiss goodbye
when he goes off to
work, I know that
there are people out
there who would love
to put a bullet in him.”
After we concluded
our conversation and
she walked away,
pushing the stroller
that held her little boy,
it really put things in
perspective.
So next time you see a Police Officer
and you reach out to shake their hand
and thank them for their services, be sure
that you ask the Officer to extend a big
thank you to his or her family.
Another way to show your support is
to put a sign in your front yard (pictured
above). The “Support Our Police” signs
are free and can be picked up at either
the Richland Township Building or at the
Richland Township Police Department.
Let’s get our community covered
with these signs and show our police
officers and their families how much we
appreciate them!!!
All articles submitted by elected supervisors and contributing writers may or may not reflect the official policy of Richland Township.
PAGE 2
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Township Personnel
Supervisors:
Richard Orloff, Chairman
Tim Arnold, Vice Chairman
Tim Ritter
Township Manager:
Stephen Sechriest
Assistant Manager/
Zoning Officer:
Richard Brittingham
Administrative Assistant:
Laura Held
Treasurer:
Charles Botson
Assistant Treasurer:
April Hillaert
Receptionist:
Tracey Virnelson
Code Enforcement Officer: Ray Constable
Solicitor:
B. Lincoln Treadwell, Jr.
Road Department:
Thomas Roeder, Public Works Director
James Benner, Michael Schmell
Scott Ambrone
RTWA: Dianne McLane, Office Manager
Tim Gluck, Operations
Engineering Department:
Mike Schwartz, Amy Kaminski
Gilmore & Associates
David Jones, Judy Stern Goldstein
Boucher & James
Police Department:
Chief Richard J. Ficco, Sr.
Rosemary Wheatley, Admin. Asst.
Nancy Benfield, Receptionist
Sergeant Michael Kisthardt
Det. Sergeant Ray Aleman
Matt Mergen • John Burke
James Hohenwarter • Steven Bauman
Matthew Lawhead • Thomas Murphy
Brian Hendrzak • Zachary Herb
Ronald Rosenberg • Michael Colahan
Auditors:
Samuel Quier, Chairman
Bill Spanier • Randall Disert
Snow Removal Tips for Residents
from the Public Works Department
While we are enjoying this beautiful
time of year, we should remember that
snow season is just around the corner.
When the road crew removes snow
from the street, we must push the
snow to the outside of the roadway.
The plow operators do their best to
make sure nobody gets more than
their “fair share” of snow, but the
snow must go somewhere, and some
of it goes in front of driveways.
Here are some tips for residents to
make it easier on everyone:
• Wait until the trucks are finished
plowing to shovel your driveway, if
possible.
• As you are standing in your
driveway facing the street, shovel
snow to the right of the driveway,
otherwise the plow will push the pile
into your driveway on the next pass.
• Depositing snow in the street
is a violation of local law. Why not
place the snow on the yard behind the
sidewalk?
• Park off the street whenever
possible. When plows have to
negotiate around parked cars, it takes
us longer, and snow will get packed
tightly around your car making
shoveling more difficult for you.
• Observe and obey Snow
Emergency Routes. Our police spend
valuable time getting residents to
move vehicles off Snow Emergency
Routes. Whenever snow is deep
enough to plow, move your vehicles to
clear the snow routes.
• Make sure your mailbox is sturdy
and placed as far off the roadway as
practical. If the mailbox is on the road
right-of-way and is damaged by snow,
the township is not responsible for
damage. If the mailbox is actually hit
by the plow we will take responsibility
for repair. It is rare that a plow
actually hits a mailbox. Most damage
is done by the weight of the snow
coming off the plow.
• Move basketball nets far away
from the street and curb. Nets hanging
out past the curb are still in the way.
Snow plow operators are doing a
difficult job under adverse conditions.
They are not trying to make life
difficult for you, they are doing their
best to make traveling safe for you and
emergency vehicles.
Richland Township
Committees
Agricultural Security Area
Advisory Committee (ASAAC)
Tim Arnold, Chairman
Dale Henninger • Robert Gerstenberg
John Keller • Thomas Stoneback
Robin Davidheiser
Community/Police Liaison Board
Jim Sulger, Chairman
William Rosson • James Smith
Andrew Maseloff • Barbara Werner
Wayne Rubic • Frank Hilt
Steve Cardell • Jonathan Taylor
Leanna McGuigan • David Galione
Facilities Committee
Richard Stoneback, Chairman
Mike McGee • Mark Fournier
Patricia Keller • Steaven Klein
Chris Fennell • Richard Petovic
Matthew Walsh
Ordinance Review Committee
Richard Keller • James Stiteler
Larry Jalowiec • George Schwartz
Park & Recreation Board /
Trails Committee
Cynthia Rosson, Chairman
Tom Marino • Gregg Pambianco
Keith Robinson • Michelle Loux
Richard Staudenmeier
Planning Commission
Scott Guidos, Chairman
Chris Fennell • Timothy Ritter
Robert Bonomo • Mary Sulger
Cathy Woods • Gwen Simek
Preservation Board
Kathleen Fedorocsko, Chairman
Dale Henninger
Douglas Godshall • Richard Sadler
Joe Geib • Neil Erkert
Water Authority
Ken Mitchell, Chairman
Chris Vanelli • Zane Stauffer
Bruce Jones • William Rosson
Tim Arnold, Executive Director
Mark Bahnick, Engineer
Stephen Shelly, Solicitor
Zoning Hearing Board
Thomas Steinfort
Todd Koch • Emery Ashton
Al McCrea Jr., Alternate
Kok Keng Yong, Alternate
Richard Brown, Solicitor
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 3
From the Chair
Richland is Holding Up Well!
by Rick Orloff
Having written a number of
articles for the Township Times
since 1998, I went back and
looked at my past messages.
Until the 2008 meltdown, my
messages were pretty upbeat
and ebullient, and at times
candid and direct when called
for.
In 2015, I regret to report that we’re “holding up
well.” In contemplating my fall 2015 article, those
were the first words that came to mind. But that’s
really defensive, and underscores a certain pessimism
many have felt since 2008. Yet our services have
expanded since 2008, mostly with Police and added
Park and Recreation activities. The two tax increases
we had all went to expanded Police Services including
attainment of 24-7 coverage. Fiscally, we rank tops in
Pennsylvania in overall fiscal strength. Our staffing
was always lean compared to other comparably
scaled municipalities (we periodically benchmark
ourselves). And with some retirements, we’re working
on becoming “leaner.” Our Pensions are fully funded
and debt is getting paid down at an accelerated rate.
After a couple years of contracting financial reserves,
the past several year’s reserves have grown – but
mostly from “one time” windfalls. We ARE “holding
up well.”
What’s missing is “growth”! Earned Income Tax
receipts (an indication of household income) are
only just beginning to show some signs of growth
in 2015. Since 2008, the EIT has gone up a little and
down a little. Recent stock markets have declined,
making 2016 doubtful. US Cold Storage has been the
only substantive private investment into our township since
2008. The past several years have been tough for sure, but your
municipal government is indeed “holding up well.” That’s not
good enough, for me at least.
To be sure, as only one of 2,500 Pennsylvania municipalities,
it’s hard for Richland to affect the economic malaise at state and
federal levels. But we are business friendly and do what we can
to encourage business (and targeted residential) development.
Broadly speaking, our zoning is inviting to business, our
administration applies the codes evenly and fairly and we
have always taken a position of helping business folks succeed.
And while not seeing solid growth, we are not contracting into
negative growth (as are two of my municipal clients).
“Holding up well” is not enough for pressing forward
with value added projects – park & rec, traffic and roads, and
a desired mixed administrative community facility at the
government services site on California Road. We need growth
to fund projects as those that happened in the mid 90’s to about
2005 (Veterans Park, building our Police and a number of other
successful projects).
So, at the moment, that’s where we stand. Richland’s
leadership will do whatever we can to encourage growth and
get beyond “holding our own.”
FEEL THE SPIRIT!
Give the gift of McCoole’s
this holiday!
BUY A $100
GIFT CERTIFICATE,
GET A $20
GIFT CERTIFICATE...
FREE!
Joseph M. Hafich
President of Operations
joe.hafich@emergencysystems-inc.com
401 O’Neill Drive / Quakertown, PA 18951-4227
Phone: 215.536.4973 Fax: 215.536.6676
www.emergencysystems-inc.com
Book your holiday
parties now!
Great Food! Great Prices! Great Times!
WEEKLY SPECIALS AND ENTERTAINMENT | DAILY HAPPY HOURS | ONLINE RESERVATIONS
MONTHLY FEATURED WINES | TRY A DRAFT FROM OUR RED LION MICROBREWERY
BROAD & MAIN STREETS, QUAKERTOWN 215.538.1776 www.McCoolesRedLionInn.com
PAGE 4
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Pictures from Creative Arts Camp
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 5
The Richland Townships of Pennsylvania
by Stephen Sechriest
Although we were the first
Richland Township in Pennsylvania,
we are not the only one. There
are more than 1,400 townships
in Pennsylvania and many share
their names with townships in
other counties in the State. The
only requirement is that only
one township in a county can
use a name. To be technically
correct when using the name of a
Pennsylvania township, you need
to identify the county where it is
located.
We are Richland Township of
Bucks County, Pennsylvania. There
are four other Richland Townships
in Pennsylvania, but they are all in
the western portion of the State.
Our Richland Township was
formed in 1703 when William Penn
directed surveyors to lay out a tract
of 10,000 acres to be called the Manor
of Richland. The name came from
the fact that it had been previously
cultivated by local Indians who found
the land to be very fertile and called it
“Rich Lands.” Later, in 1734, Richland
was formally incorporated.
received emails from the offices of
congressmen and legislators thinking
they are contacting the Richland
Township in their district, and have
received invitations to various events
taking place in the western part of
the State by confused people.
The other Richland Townships are
located in Allegheny County near
Pittsburgh, Cambria County near
Johnstown, Clarion County, and
Venango County.
One factor affecting this is
that when you Google Richland
Township, the information for our
Richland Township comes up first.
Also adding to this confusion is that
we have Richlandtown Borough
located nearby that some people
confuse with us. We have also been
confused with Richland Borough,
which is located in Lebanon County.
The reuse of township names in
Pennsylvania often creates confusion.
We are contacted numerous times
every year by phone and by email
by people trying to contact one of
the other Richland Townships. Some
of the more humorous events are
when their residents contact us with
complaints and we have no idea
what they are talking about. I have
Of course, it could be worse, there
are 22 Washington Townships in
Pennsylvania, 18 Union and Jackson
Townships, 11 Penn Townships, and
9 Jefferson Townships.
PAGE 6
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Let’s Talk About Fraud
by Richard J. Ficco, Sr., Chief of Police
Frauds and scams are becoming big business. The
Richland Township Police Department has handled
approximately 20 Fraud cases, not including identity theft,
since the beginning of the year.
Often times, there is no way to recover the money that
is lost. Many of these scams and frauds are perpetrated
by organizations that are out of the country. Many of
these organizations have the ability to “spoof” a phone
number, so it looks like they are calling from somewhere
local. Do not be fooled by technology. That even goes for
telemarketers. The bottom line is “if it sounds too good to
be true, it is.”
What is most troubling is the offender targets our senior
citizens. If you are not a senior citizen, you probably have
some in your family, so have a conversation with them
about this issue. I strongly suggest visiting the following
website for more information on the many different types
of fraud that are being perpetrated: https://www.fbi.gov/
scams-safety/fraud.
Just a few warnings on the biggest scams and frauds
now. The one that sticks in my head the
out there right
most is the call from “Windows Service Center” and they
“are calling about my Windows operating system” for my
computer. I have personally received this call no less than 5
times in the last month. I tell them I don’t have a computer,
and they hang up. The caller ID shows they are calling
from the Seattle area, to make it look legitimate.
If you get a call from someone stating they are in a
foreign country with your grandchild and they are in
trouble, do not send money! You should be aware that your
grandchild was traveling to another country.
If you have been told you won a prize or lottery, but
you need to send them money to get your prize, do not
send them money! No legitimate lottery is awarded on the
pretense that you send them money to claim your prize.
Also, how can you win a lottery that you didn’t play? The
Powerball and Mega Millions are not going to call you to
tell you that you won. They do not know who has what
ticket numbers.
Many of these scams and frauds pray on confusion, so
the best thing to do is to hang up and call someone in your
family or the police, even if the caller tells you not to call
your family or the police.
If you have any questions about these scams or frauds,
please call the police department at 215-536-9500 and we
will try to help or direct you in the best direction.
INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING Proud to serve as
Richland Township
Planning Consultant
and Inspection Engineer
Doylestown
215-345-9400
Lehigh Valley
610-419-9407
Consulting Engineers
www.bjengineers.com
An Employee Owned Company Stroudsburg
570-629-0300
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 7
Richland’s Four
Voting Precincts
If you are unsure of where to vote,
here is a brief description of each voting
precinct. (See the attached map.)
Richland 1
If you live south of Raub Road and east
of Route 309, you will cast your ballots at
the Richland Elementary School just off
Route 313.
Richland 2
If you live in the northeast section of
the township, north of Raub Road and
east of the Railroad Tracks, you will cast
your ballot at the Richland Township
Municipal building located on California
Road.
Richland 3
If you live in the northwest section,
west of the railroad tracks and north of
Cemetary Road and Milford Square Pike,
you will cast your ballot at Grace Bible
Fellowship Church on Old Bethlehem
Pike near Stonegate Road.
Richland 4
If you live in the southwest portion of
the township, south of Mill Road and
west of Route 309, you will cast your
ballot at First Church of the Brethren, 455
Trumbauersville Road.
DON’T FORGET
TO VOTE!
Election Day
November 3, 2015
Polls Open 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM
POLLING PLACES
Richland 1: Richland Elementary School
Fairview Avenue
Richland 2: Municipal Building
California Road
Richland 3: Grace Bible Fellowship Church
Old Bethlehem Pike
Richland 4: First Church of the Brethren
Trumbauersville Road
Phone: 215-536-3343
Fax: 215-536-2250
www.janauglefcs.com
email: info@janauglefcs.com
Jeffery A.
Funeral and Cremation Service
... where Memories are Shared
135 W. PUMPING STATION RD.
QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951
JEFFREY A. NAUGLE
FUNERAL DIRECTOR/OWNER
PAGE 8
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Supervisor Ritter Leads Joint
Milford/Richland Traffic Improvement Initiative
When it comes to traffic and
transportation problems, for some
people it’s personal. Think Supervisor
Tim Ritter. He’s a CDL driver for
Shelly Lumber and deals with traffic
and road problems every day. Well,
Ritter is using his position on the BOS
to try to mitigate local traffic issues in
Richland - AND BEYOND!
Creatively, he reached out to
Milford Supervisor Tom Courduff to
work on solutions to our joint traffic
issues. Perceptively, both Supervisors
realized that state and federal grants
tend to be awarded to regionally
cooperative efforts as opposed to
single municipalities. Richland’s
and Milford’s Boards have adopted
resolutions supporting this joint
effort and have backed it up with
engineering support.
Out of the gate, they are making
efforts to fix a truly joint Milford/
Richland problem: the intersection at
Erie
Insurance
Supervisor Tim Ritter (left) with Milford Supervisor Tom Courduff (right)
Portzer Road and Old Bethlehem Pike.
Entreaties have and are being made to
State Rep. Craig Staats, State Senator
Robert Mensch, U.S. Rep. Michael
Fitzpatrick, the US Army Corps of
Engineers and officials at PennDOT
for starters. Let’s hope this novel
approach yields fruit. Kudos to Tim
Ritter for initiating this effort. And as
a freshman Supervisor!
®
VIRGINIA D. REISS
COWAN ASSOCIATES, INC.
VIRGINIA D. REISS, Owner
Engineers, Geologists, Surveyors,
Landscape Architects, Materials Testing Lab
Auto • Home • Business • Life
244 W. BROAD STREET
QUAKERTOWN, PA 18951-1263
215-536-5600 • Fax: 215-536-5694
ReissAgency@verizon.net
Serving Business, Government and Industry Since 1958
120 Penn-Am Drive, PO Box 949
Quakertown, PA 18951 • 1-800-492-5649
PENNSYLVANIA STATE BONDED
Michael B. Schmauder
Supervisor/Owner
821 West Broad Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
Member By Invitation
Selected Independent Funeral Homes
(215) 536-6550
Fax (215) 538-7485
www.crstrunk.com
MESSENGER SERVICE
NOTARY PUBLIC
METAL TEMPORARY
TAGS ISSUED FOR
ANY TYPE VEHICLE
OR TRAILER
INSTANT TAG
RENEWALS
PHONE
215-538-1450
ROHER
COMPLETE SERVICE FOR
REGISTRATIONS
LICENSES
PERMITS
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
ON-LINE
TRANSFER
AUTO TAG SERVICE
FAX
215-538-1427
MON-FRI 11-8 • SAT 10-2
1392 S. West End Blvd. • Rt. 309 • Quakertown, PA 18951
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 9
Pennsylvania’s Budget:
Where We Currently Stand
by Rep. Craig Staats
Dear Friends,
Thank you for allowing me to serve
you in Bucks County and represent
you in Harrisburg.
I want to take this opportunity to
talk about the biggest issue currently
facing our Commonwealth - the
budget impasse. We are now in our
fourth month without a state budget.
In Pennsylvania, the fiscal year ends
on June 30, which is the date by which
the Legislature and the governor
are required to have the next year’s
budget in place.
Allow me to take you through a
brief timeline of where we’ve been
and where we are:
Gov. Wolf released his budget
proposal in March. He called for a
$12.7 billion tax increase over the next
two fiscal years. Wolf’s budget would
raise the Personal Income Tax and the
Sales and Use Tax; this would affect
everyone. Over the next three months,
legislative leaders worked with the
administration and tried to arrive at a
compromise.
On June 1, the House voted on Gov.
Wolf’s tax plan and it received zero
votes from both parties. Next, House
Republicans sent a no-tax increase
budget to Gov. Wolf on June 30. In an
unprecedented move and just hours
after he received it, the governor
vetoed the entire budget. This budget
included 274 line items that matched
or exceeded Gov. Wolf’s proposed
budget.
Meetings between legislative
leaders and the governor continued
throughout July and August. Already,
citizens and human service agencies
across Pennsylvania were being
impacted by the budget impasse.
On Aug. 25, the House attempted
a veto override on several line items
to fund schools and human service
organizations. The veto override
required a bipartisan two-thirds vote,
and failed along party lines. This was
an effort to rescue our most vulnerable
MAKE YOUR
TO-DO LIST
A LOT MORE FUN
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE ● FREE 7TH GRADE MEMBERSHIPS
UPPER BUCKS YMCA●Quakertown●215-536-YMCA●ubymca.org
citizens, and was rejected by my
Democratic colleagues.
Last week, the House tried, for
a second time, to provide critical
funding to schools and human service
providers. This emergency funding
bill would have disbursed funds to
school districts and other groups that
are now being forced to take out loans
in order to continue their operations.
On Tuesday, Gov. Wolf vetoed
our emergency funding bill. I do not
think Pennsylvanians should suffer
for the governor’s unwillingness to
compromise. However, this is our
reality. Gov. Wolf is using children,
veterans and those most in need as
political leverage. Shortly after he
vetoed the emergency funding bill,
Gov. Wolf said, “I want a fight.”
I want to work with the governor
and his administration. That said,
I promised to represent you in
Harrisburg and I am doing my best
to keep your interests at the forefront.
I’m hoping that by the time you’re
reading this we have an agreed-upon
budget.
If you have any state related
questions or concerns, please do not
hesitate to contact me at (215) 536-1434
or visit my website www.RepStaats.
net.
See you around town!
Craig
FREE
ESTIMATES
AFFORDABLE
RATES
Water Treatment and Well Pump Services
Water Testing
In-Home Drinking
Water Systems
Conditioners/Neutralizers
Ultraviolet Sterilizers
Water Softeners
Reverse Osmosis
Service Existing Systems
www.blumwatersolutions.com
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
INDUSTRIAL
Well Pumps
Water Tanks
Well Casing Repairs
Well Pipe Replacements
215-721-6160
TELFORD, PA
PAGE 10
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Organizers of the event included (from left): Melissa Rosson, Supervisor Tim Arnold,
Sami Arnold, Cindy Rosson, Ian Rosson, Rich Staudenmeier and Tom Marino.
Community Day 2015
Richland Township’s 19th Annual Community Day
was held on September 26, 2015.
The Park and Recreation Board would like to thank
the following for their support:
Sponsors
Boucher & James................................................ Musical Entertainment
Al Marwa LLC......................................................Sleepy Hollow Farms
Brunner Insurance Inc............................ Tootsie the Clown & Friends
Kwik Goal...................................................................... Children’s Rides
First Savings Bank of Perkasie............................Sleepy Hollow Farms
Jeffrey Naugle Funeral Home.............................Sleepy Hollow Farms
McCoole’s.................................................................Creative Arts Camp
Donations
G&S Fastening Systems
QNB
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 11
Richland Leadership to Participate in
Conference about Drug Addiction
by Rick Orloff
Supervisors Tim Ritter and
Tim Arnold, along with Richland
Township Police Chief Rich Ficco,
are participating in an area wide
Town Hall Meeting sponsored by
Morningstar Fellowship Church. The
subject will be combating a growing
community problem: “Addiction to
Heroin & Opiates.”
Sadly, substance abuse has become
epidemic in our society, especially in
the past half century. And worse, it
has at times been glorified in music
and entertainment. Within the world of substance
abuse, the niche of heroin addiction
locally is growing at an alarming
rate. No family is immune; GOP
Presidential candidate and former
Hewlett Packard Chairman, Carly
Fiorina, lost a son to drug addiction.
This is a town hall meeting to take
testimony and explore ideas to combat
the spread of heroin and help treat
those addicted in our community.
Morningstar is located at 429 South
9th Street in Quakertown Borough. The meeting will be held Monday,
October 26, from 5:30 to 8:00 PM. Complimentary pizza and soft drinks
will be served. The meeting is open to
the public.
Vendors
Richland Township Police
Bucks County SPCA
Harley’s Haven Dog Rescue
St Luke’s Hospital Quakertown
Richlandtown Lions Club
Progressive Propane
Brunner Insurance Inc.
Genpro Power Systems
First Savings Bank
Hair Cuttery
United Tire Quakertown
Quakertown Fire Department
Salem Mennonite Church
Upper Tohickon Watershed Assoc.
Richland Township Fire and Rescue
Richland Preservation Board
Richland Township Community/
Police Liaison Board
Good Shepherd
Richlandtown Fire Company
Primerica Financial Services
Senator Bob Mensch
Dunkin Donuts Community Cruiser
Kim’s Black Belt Academy
Trumbauersville Fire Co.
State Rep. Craig Staats
Park & Recreation News
Purchase Ski
Tickets Here
The Township will again offer
discount tickets for the following local
ski resorts:
• Bear Creek
• Big Boulder
• Blue Mountain
• Camelback
• Shawnee Mountain
We have tickets for Adventure
Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium,
Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, Sea
World, Elmwood Zoo, and the
Philadelphia Zoo until December
31, 2015. Hershey Park tickets are
available for Hershey Park in the Dark
until November 1, and Christmas
Candylane until December 31, 2015.
Remember, we always
have discount movie tickets
for Regal Cinema for $9.50.
These make nice Christmas
gifts!
The township accepts MasterCard
VISA, and Discover credit cards as
well as cash. Personal checks will be
accepted from township residents
only.
PAGE 12
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Way to Go
Senator
Mensch!
by Supervisor Rick Orloff
Recognizing Veterans
by Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick
Presenting military honors to
veterans from across the district is
truly one of the most rewarding parts
of my job as your Congressional
representative.
This summer, I recognized nearly
a dozen veterans and their families
for their service to our nation by
presenting them service medals
earned during World War II, the
Korean War, the Vietnam War and
Operation Iraqi Freedom – from
World War II Victory Medals to Purple
Hearts.
Every military member and
veteran deserves to have their service
recognized and appreciated. While
their service came during different
conflicts in our nation’s history and
their stories differ, what remains
constant is their love of country and
commitment to its defense. This
ceremony provided a chance to give
each veteran the distinction they
earned but were lost or not received.
My Langhorne District Office
includes Military and Veteran’s Affairs
caseworkers who are available to
assist Bucks and Montgomery county
veterans and families with military
records, federal agencies requests, VA
benefits and more. If you, or anyone
you know, are in need of assistance
with any federal agency, please don’t
hesitate to contact my staff at 1717
Langhorne-Newtown Rd., Suite 400,
Langhorne or by phone at 215-5798102.
“A leader is one who knows the way, goes
the way, and shows the way.”
~ John C. Maxwell
Briefly, about five or six
years ago, Senator Mensch was
a “Winston Churchill in the
wilderness” in the state Senate; he
was calling out the PSERS Pension
Crisis before it became acute.
The response? His colleagues
on both sides of the aisle pretty
much dismissed him as did two
Governors, and that assumes they
even took a moment to listen.
The entire Bucks County
legislative delegation in office from
2000 through 2014 was culpable
(Bucks was not unique) in the $70
BILLION debacle Pennsylvania
now faces.
Americans often beat up their
elected representatives and with
good reason. Senator Mensch has
ably led on the Pennsylvania issue
of our generation – the canary in the
mine. Had timely action been taken,
solutions would be less painful.
Think of it this way: the entirety
of the QCSD tax increases the past
two or three years has gone to pay
for pensions - not education, but
pensions. Also, S&P and Moody’s
are now contemplating the third
downgrade of Pennsylvania’s
creditworthiness in the past five or
six years.
Please take a moment to send Sen.
Mensch an email or note thanking
him. He truly is looking out for you.
“Respect is given, then earned;
talk to everyone as your equal.”
~ Kevin Green, Dell Ex. Dir. of Marketing
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
Richland Township Accepts
Online Payments
As a convenience to our residents,
Richland Township accepts
online payments by credit card
(Mastercard, Discover, Visa) and by
check.
The following can be paid online
through the link on our website at
www.richlandtownship.org.
General Municipal Office
Building and Zoning Permits
Pavilion Rentals
Newsletter Ads
Publications (ex: zoning book)
Park and Recreation Fees
Community Day Fees/Donations
Camp Registrations
Golf Outing Fees
Community Garden Fees
Police Department
Parking Tickets
Accident Report Fees
Self-employed LST
Police Department Donations
PAGE 13
Shop With a Cop Donations
The annual Shop with a Cop
program will occur in December of
this year. This program was designed
to help disadvantaged children
have a good Christmas. The officers
donate their time for this event and it
is solely funded by the donations of
individuals and companies.
Officer Matt Lawhead of
the Richland Township Police
Department and Officer Bob Lee of the
Quakertown Police Department are
the lead officers for this year’s event.
If you are interested in donating to
the program, Quakertown Borough
has created a nonprofit tax exempt
account where you can donate over
the phone, in person, or by mail.
Please mail payments to:
ATTN: Shop with a Cop
Borough of Quakertown
35 North 3rd Street
Quakertown, PA 18951
Your support is greatly appreciated!
If you have any questions please
contact Officer Lee at 215-536-5002,
ext. 5817, or email him at blee@
quakertown.org.
Looking for Carpeting?
CHECK OUT OUR NEW LINE OF
SOLUTION DYED CARPET.
Brand new mill in USA at sensible prices!!
Stop in today to see these samples.
Finish Your New Look With
Coordinating Window Treatments!
Fire Code Enforcement Fees
Fire Inspection Permits
Developer Escrow Developer payments on account
There is a convenience fee charged
for each transaction. On credit
card payments, the fee is 2.45%
of the transaction amount with a
minimum of $3.00. For payments
by check online, the fee is $1.50 per
transaction. This convenience fee goes to the
processor and allows this service
to be offered without cost to the
Township. 609-4 S. WeSt end Blvd.
(Rt. 309) QuakeRtoWn
215-536-3131
viSa, MaSteRcaRd, diScoveR
HOURS:
Monday thru Friday
7:30 aM - 6:00 pM
Saturday
8:00 aM - 4:30 pM
Closed Sunday
PAGE 14
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Richland Township’s
Memorial Garden at Veterans Park
COMMEMORATIVE BRICK PAVER PROGRAM
The Richland Township Park & Recreation Board is selling commemorative bricks to be placed
in the walkway to the Veteran’s Memorial Garden. The 4”x8” gray paver can be imprinted with
three lines of up to thirteen characters on each line (including spaces and punctuation).
Bricks will be placed randomly. Corporate/group donations may be accommodated.
The cost is $50.00 for the first two lines and an additional $10.00 for the third line, per brick.
PERSONALIZED BRICK ORDER FORM
Name_________________________________________________________________________________________
Address_______________________________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________________ State _______ Zip ______________________________
Phone _____________________________ Email _____________________________________________________
Fax _______________________________
My gift donation: $________________
(Make checks payable to: Richland Township Parks & Rec)
PLEASE PRINT YOUR MESSAGE IN THE BOXES BELOW:
FOR MULTIPLE BRICK ORDERS, PLEASE REQUEST EXTRA FORMS. THANK YOU!
Mail form and payment to:
Richland Township
1328 California Road, Suite A
Quakertown, PA 18951
All proceeds will benefit Richland Township’s
Memorial Garden at Veterans Park.
For more information, call 215-536-4066.
Richland Township reserves the right to approve, deny, or change all messages.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 15
Making a Difference With Our Youth
by Supervisor Tim Arnold
We are fortunate in our community to have so many
great youth organizations for our children to participate
in, whether it’s the Quakertown Soccer Club, Quakertown
Youth Baseball, Quakertown Midget Football Association,
Richland Area Softball Association, Catholic Youth
Organization, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the list could
go on. I would feel comfortable in saying that these
organizations draw several hundred of our children away
from the television and other electronic devices and gets
them involved in group activities.
Although I appreciate all of these organizations and
am happy that our children want to be involved in these
organizations, most of my article is going to be directed to
the volunteers who take the time and effort in making these
organizations happen. Sometimes we take these volunteers
for granted; they are the foundation of these organizations.
Could you imagine getting a phone call and being
informed that your child cannot play sports or be involved
with the scouts because nobody chose to volunteer their
time to coach or become a scout leader?
Did you ever think why they do this? Sacrificing many
hours of their time listening to parents complain about
their child not playing enough, or because the scout
meetings are too late at night? No, I don’t think so. They do
it because they care; yes, I said care. Not necessarily caring
about our child learning how to tie a knot or how to catch
a fly ball, but caring that the lessons that our children learn
will be a life-learned lesson. Besides teaching our children
to win, they also teach our children how to keep their head
high after losing and most importantly, letting the children
have fun.
Eight years ago, one of the best decisions that I ever made
was agreeing to coach for my daughter Sami’s soccer team.
I remember my first year coaching the 7 year old girls’
team, and as I was calling parents and introducing myself,
I had a parent tell me, “I just wanted to let you know that
my child will spend more time picking flowers and chasing
butterflies than she will be playing soccer.” Well you know
what, that parent was correct. Her child did spend more
time picking flowers and chasing butterflies, and as I was
walking back to my car, that same parent walked up to me
and said, “I told you!” I just laughed and replied, “Yeah, I
know, but she was smiling the entire time.” That’s why we
do it!!
Also, next time you go to the grocery store and you see
these children standing out front with a bucket in their
hand, forget about that second cup of fancy coffee and
throw a buck or two into the basket or attend a fundraising
event. It’s getting harder and harder for these organizations
to run without contributions and fundraisers. There are
many youth organizations that had to dissolve because
they lack the funds to operate. Earlier in my article, I
talked about getting a call from an organization informing
a parent that they didn’t have a volunteer to help. Now
imagine not having these organizations at all. I hope that
never happens in our community.
A big shout out to all of these organizations and the
many volunteers from these organizations for making our
community a better place!
Yesterday.
Today.
Tomorrow.
www.grimlaw.com
Perkasie 215.257.6811 Quakertown 215.536.1200 Doylestown 215.348.2199 Call: 215-538-5600 Click: www.qnbbank.com
Visit: Any of our 11 convenient offices in Colmar,
Coopersburg, Dublin, Pennsburg, Perkasie,
Quakertown, Souderton, Warminster & Wescosville
PAGE 16
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Richland Township Golf
Outing Special Thanks...
Golf Carts
Lunch
Boucher & James, Inc.
Gilmore & Associates, Inc.
Golf Course
Treadwell Law Offices PC
Golf Balls
Richland Township Water Authority
Kwik Goal
First Savings Bank
Cocktail Hour
Casey’s Place
Dinner
McCoole’s
Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority
Clubhouse
Carroll Engineering
Hole Sponsors
Michael E. Orlic Real Estate
Quakertown Famers Market
Brown, Kerdock & Lynch P.C.
Moyer Indoor Outdoor
QNB
Select Properties
Brown & Brown of the LV
LB Water Service, Inc.
Brunner Insurance, Inc.
The Minnis Group
Eles, Inc.
Asphalt Maintenance Solutions
Penn Stainless Products, Inc.
Select Properties
Charles Shoemaker
Door Prize Contributors
Duane Hair Design and Salon
Putt U Miniature Golf
Philadelphia Art Museum
Allentown Art Museum of the
Lehigh Valley
Rodizio Grill
The Market at DelVal
Upper Bucks YMCA
Hand & Stone
Link Beverage
Copperhead Grille
Casa Tora Mexican Grill
Philadelphia Eagles
Arnolds Family Fun Center
Club EZ Fit
Lehigh Valley Zoo
National Constitution Center
James Michner Museum
Grand Theater
Tennis Zone
County Theater
Pines Dinner Theater
Longwood Gardens
EZ Wash Autospa
Lost River Caverns
Azzatori Chiropractic
Valley Forge Casino
Hair Cuttery
Sesame Place
Target Marketing Group
Philadelphia Flyers
Volunteers
Laura Held
Rich Ficco
Jim Sulger
Rick Orloff
Chuck Botson
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 17
Golf Outing Winners
Other Prize Winners:
FIRST PLACE
McCoole’s: Chad Springer, Rich Roberts, Dick Seibler, Bob Vitko
Longest Drive Women:
Dianne McLane
Longest Drive Men:
Linc Treadwell
Closest to Pin Men:
Dick Seibler
SECOND PLACE
Van Cleef: Sam Costanzo, Tim Arnold, Ken Mitchell, Mark Bahnick
PAGE 18
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Garden Plots Available in Spring
by Supervisor Tim Arnold
If you want a garden but do not have the space, we have
the answer for you. Several years ago, the Township started
a community garden located on Station Road. There are
currently 22 lots available.
It’s so simple to get started - all you need to do is call the
Township building at 215-536-4066 after March 1, 2016.
Plots are rented on a first-come first-served basis. We will
assign you a lot and stake it out for you, and then the rest
of the fun of growing your own fruits and vegetables can
begin.
The fee for a 12’ x 20’ plot is $10.00. Reservation forms
are available on our website at www.richlandtownship.org,
click on FYI.
No fertilizer or commercial pesticides are permitted.
No shade producing plants over 4’ tall are permitted
NO CORN IS PERMITTED!
No metal stakes, fencing or plant supports are permitted,
as it may damage the tilling equipment. All metal materials
used will be removed by the Township.
No permanent structures or fencing is permitted.
Tools, supplies, and related gardening equipment left at a
garden plot site are left at your own risk and must be left in
a tidy manner and within your plot limits.
Please clean up after yourself. Richland Township will
not provide trash services.
Plot Maintenance:
Please do not block garden paths with vehicles,
equipment, or debris.
Highly invasive plants are not allowed.
At no time should you build a structure or plant anything
that will shade or interfere with another plot.
There is no water at the site, so each gardener is
responsible for making his/her own accommodations.
All gardeners are to maintain their plots in a reasonable
manner. Weeds and garden debris can serve as cover and
food for undesirable insects, rodents, and other vermin.
Lots that are not maintained will be considered abandoned.
Gardening is permitted from dawn to dusk.
Your Responsibility to Fellow Gardeners:
End of Year Responsibilities:
Remove all non-organic materials including fencing,
stakes, and rain barrels.
OPENING THIS FALL! NO ENTRANCE FEES!
Call now
to reserve
your spot!
MEADOW GLEN
COMMISSION NO. 13104.00
The region’s newest choice for older adults!
Personal care is the perfect option for older adults who wish to live independently, but need
assistance for activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and taking medication.
Learn more at Phoebe.org/meadowglen or by calling 267-371-4512
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 19
Board of Supervisors Recognizes
QCSD Board President for Leadership
by Rick Orloff
At our 2014 Annual Christmas and
Volunteer/Staff Recognition Dinner,
the Board of Supervisors unanimously
paid tribute to QCSD Board President,
Paul Stepanoff.
Paul was warning about serious
shortcomings in QCSD as early as
2004. In spite of harsh criticisms, Paul
never wavered. Our community has a
greater awareness of the management,
fiscal and academic shortcomings
in the district, and how important a
good school district is to the life of
any community. While we are still
dealing with the “echo effect” of the
past (and will be for several years),
the new direction is earning wide
community support and beginning
to yield benefits. This was in no
small part to Paul’s steadfastness
and leadership. Paul ascended to
board President almost two years
ago. The improvements, such as
ending SBG and restoring a more
traditional academic approach, Full
Day Kindergarten and two budgets
under “ACT One” spending limits, are
palpable and beginning to take root.
Paul Stepanoff receives an award from Supervisors Tim Titter, Tim Arnold, and Rick Orloff.
It is altogether fitting and proper
that the Richland Board of Supervisors
recognized Paul for sacrificial and
voluntary service on behalf of the
people of Richland Township and the
entire QCSD. If you run into Paul, take
a moment to thank him for his selfless
service.
A New Way to Dispose of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
by Stephen Sechriest
In last fall’s issue of the Richland
Township Times, I reported that
you could take used compact
fluorescent light bulbs (CFL’s) to
Home Depot and Lowe’s stores for
recycling.
Other places that accept the bulbs
are AERC Recycling Solutions at
2591 Mitchell Avenue in Allentown
(610-797-7608) and Bethlehem Lamp
Recycling at 935 Bethlehem Drive in
Bethlehem (610-838-7034).
Now you have another alternative
- you may bring your used CFL’s to
the Richland Township Municipal
Building at 1328 California Road,
or to the Richland Township Police
Building at 229 California Road. PPL
Electric Utilities has provided the
Township with collection buckets for
used CFL’s, which are available in
the lobbies of both buildings during
normal business hours. Both lobbies
are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM,
Monday through Friday, except on
holidays.
We encourage you to recycle your
used compact fluorescent light bulbs
rather than disposing of them in the
trash because each bulb contains
small amounts of mercury, which
can be poisonous to humans and
animals.
PAGE 20
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Agricultural Security Areas and Richland Township
by Kathy Fedorocsko, Chairwoman, Preservation Board
In the midst of the resurgence of development in
Richland Township stands surviving farmland, and much
of it contains exceptional soils for growing crops. Some of
these farms have been preserved by different programs by
the township and/or state and some have not.
In 2010, a committee of township professionals and
volunteers updated the township’s Comprehensive Plan
with the intent of keeping development in the area of
existing utilities, which basically drew a line in Richland
Township for where development would continue. This
helped to keep rural areas rural and in essence helped
preserve more farmland.
A tool to help farmers continue to farm is to join an
Agricultural Security Area (ASA). The ASA is a statewide
program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture’s Bureau of Farmland Preservation. The ASA
in Richland Township was created seven years ago through
the perseverance of the township volunteers belonging
to the Land Preservation Board with the help of Heritage
Conservancy, an accredited not-for-profit conservation
organization, which, among other things, specializes in
open space and farmland preservation.
GRACE BIBLE
FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
1811 Old Bethlehem Pike N.
Quakertown, PA 18951
www.quakertownbfc.org
215-536-6096
ASAs are found all across the commonwealth of
Pennsylvania. They have been created to strengthen
farming in the state and to protect exceptional agricultural
land from the threat of development. There is also special
consideration given in certain cases involving eminent
domain condemnation. Furthermore, being a member
of the ASA gives farmers protection from local nuisance
ordinances related to farming activities, concerning
things like noise and odor. Lastly, being in an ASA is
a requirement for applying to the County Farmland
Preservation program.
Briefly, to be included in the ASA, the property must be
used for agricultural purposes and at least one half of the
soils must be in Classes I-IV. The farms within the ASA are
reviewed every seven years to make sure they are actively
farmed. There are currently over 1,000 acres of farmland in
Richland Township’s ASA. (See map on next page.)
The next meeting of the Richland Township ASA
will consider the applications of three new farms to be
admitted, with a total of around 130 more acres. This
meeting will be held before the end of the year. For more
information about ASAs, and applying to join Richland’s
ASA, contact Rich Brittingham at 215-536-4066.
Ronald L. Kohl, Senior Pastor
David Watkins,
Pastor of Congregational Care
Michael Roberts, Assist. Pastor
Timothy Radcliff,
Minister of Youth & Family
Email:
grace@quakertownbfc.org
Call for a tour of our facility
Keystone STAR 4 site offering Preschool, Child Care & Early Intervention
SUNDAY HOURS: SEPTEMBER - MAY
9:00 am
10:10 am
6:30 pm
6:30 pm
Sunday School for all ages
Worship Service
Evening Worship (except 2nd & 4th Sundays)
Small Group Fellowships (2nd & 4th Sundays)
215.536.7800 ~ 995 Doylestown Pike, Quakertown
CDP_Office@cdpchildren.org ~ www.cdpchildren.org
Carroll Engineering
Corporation
WEDNESDAYS: SEPTEMBER - MAY
6:30 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
Awana for children
Teens for Christ (7th - 12th grade)
Adult Bible Study & Prayer
SPECIAL MINISTRIES
u Grace music - Adult Choir and Choral Ensembles (men and women)
u Special Music
u Men’s Small Group Bible Studies & Periodic Breakfast & Speakers
u Tuesday Morning & Evening Ladies’ Bible Study (Sept. - May)
u Vacation Bible Camp for Children in Summer
u “Keenagers”: Senior Adults’ Monthly Luncheon
Water Facilities Engineering - Wastewater Engineering Municipal Engineering - Civil Engineering - Planning & Site
Design - Traffic & Transportation Engineering -Structural
Engineering - Environmental Engineering - Landscape
Architecture - Surveying - Geographic Information
Systems - Construction Management
Warrington, PA
215.343.5700
King of Prussia, PA
610.489.5100
Malvern, PA
484.875.3075
www.carrollengineering.com
Hillsborough, NJ
908.874.7500
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 21
PAGE 22
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
BCWSA is offering the $afeGuard Water & Sewer Maintenance Program for Residential and
Commercial properties. This program is designed to help customers offset the cost of repairing the
water service line and the sewer lateral that run from the outside of your home/building to the curb,
which can typically cost up to $5,000 for residential and up to $10,000 for a commercial property to
replace.
Under this program residential properties pay $5.00 a month per service line and commercial $10.00
a month per service line for coverage.
This program is also available to Non-BCWSA customers in Bucks County & Montgomery County
24-7 Emergency coverage with live operators to take your call in the evening or Holidays
Unlimited Service calls
Coverage two year minimum
Repairs are only performed by licensed BCWSA Professionals
Sign up today! It’s easy just go to our website at www.bcwsa.net or call 215-343-2538 Ext 140.
Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority strives to provide affordable services to our customers. Under
this program you will receive professional and prompt service with a personal touch whenever the
need arises. We look forward to serving you.
others.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 23
Protect Your Investment in Your Septic System
by Stephen Sechriest, Township Manager
Recently we have heard of a number of Township
residents who are facing significant costs due to the failure
of their onsite septic systems. When these systems fail, they
usually will need to be replaced, but residents are finding
that they will not be able to replace their system with a
similar system, but will have to spend a lot more for a
different type of system. Regulations governing these types
of systems are much stricter than they were previously and
most properties in the Township will no longer qualify for
a standard system due to pour soil quality or lots that are
too small. The result is a much greater expense.
If your property is located in the rural area of the
Township where public sewers are not available, you are
very fortunate if you still have a standard system that
works properly and should take steps to keep it in good
working condition. You should take these steps to protect
your investment:
• Have your system inspected every year, and measure
the level of sludge build-up.
• Have your septic tank pumped out at least every
3 years or more often, if called for from your annual
inspection.
• Do not connect foundation sump pumps or other
“clean water” discharges to your septic systems.
• Do not connect a garbage disposal to your system or
try to avoid using it, if you already have one.
• Do not pour old medicines or strong cleaning agents
down the drain. They will kill beneficial bacteria that
break down the waste in your system. Instead, take old
medicines to the drop off bin in the lobby of the
Township Police Building located at 229 California
“A fool and his money are soon elected.”
~ Will Rogers, American Humorist
Insurance
tailored
to you.
HOME / AUTO / BUSINESS / LIFE
19 E. Union St., Richlandtown / 215.529.7600 / brunnerinsurance.com
Road, or to one of the many specially scheduled drug
take backs when they are announced. Cleaning agents
and hazardous waste should be taken to one of the
Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Events scheduled for various locations around the
County during the spring and summer. Information
about these hazardous waste collection events are
normally listed in the spring edition of this newsletter
and on the Township’s website at www.
richlandtownship.org.
• Keep trees and shrubs at least 35 feet away from your
septic field to prevent roots from plugging or breaking
pipes.
• Route surface water drainage and snowmelt away
from your absorption field to avoid inundation of
your field.
• Locate your absorption field as far away as possible
from surface water to reduce its potential of becoming
a source of contamination. Properly maintaining your
system can prevent a common source of bacterial
pollution from reaching our local streams.
PAGE 24
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
QCSD is Turning Around
by Supervisor Tim Ritter
In recent years, my colleague, Rick
Orloff, brought to light a number
of unpleasant issues regarding
QCSD. He ably demonstrated the
link between schools and a thriving
community. In January 2014, a major
change occurred to QCSD; a new
board majority took control and
started changing the philosophical
direction of the district.
Key to that change was appointing
Dr. Bill Harner as Superintendent. I
had the privilege of sitting down with
Bill a few times and came away from
those meetings with hope for the
education services for Richland and
the neighboring municipalities.
The changed philosophical
direction? Under the direction of
the board and Dr. Harner, we’re
moving away from progressive
academic experiments like SBG
and Integrated Math to proven
traditional approaches. We’ve moved
from a philosophy of never enough
spending to living within our means.
Fiscally, costs have been flat lined in
Harner’s two budgets.
Bill Harner has initiated a number
of policy and operating changes to
enable those flat lined budgets. He’s
brought an intangible that was sorely
missing – LEADERSHIP! Think
QCSD Football: inspired leadership
had as much to do with the 2014
season as player talent. And as I
write this, QCSD has started the 2015
season with three wins.
All this makes Richland a buy, not
a sell. Good schools attract people
and businesses. For me, it’s very
personal. Our oldest daughter, a
QCSD honors student now in college,
spoke to the School Board two years
ago regarding the poor preparation
for college she had received from
QCSD under the SBG philosophy.
SBG is now gone. I also have four
younger children in the district.
We had been Home Schooling the
Supervisor Tim Ritter (center) with his family: (from bottom clockwise) wife Amalia,
daughter Sonya, son Matthias, daughter and QCSD honors grad Julissa, son Gideon
and youngest daughter Elena.
youngest, but watching and speaking
with Dr. Harner convinced us to
return our kids to QCSD, and they
are thriving!
I’ve gone from disdain for QCSD to
hope and now cautious optimism. As
a dad with kids in QCSD, I encourage
you to support this new direction –
it’s beginning to bear fruit.
By the way, we owe Supervisor
Rick Orloff some credit for this
change. Against conventional
wisdom, he took principled stands,
and led in electing the new board
that brought us the current board
majority, Bill Harner and the good
change now underway.
Registration of Tenants
All owners of property leased for either residential or commercial
occupancy must annually report the name and address of occupants to the
township according to Ordinance No. 79 adopted February 24, 1986 by the
Richland Township Board of Supervisors.
Appropriate forms are available at the township office or on our website
at www.richlandtownship.org. Send form to: Richland Township, 1328
California Road, Suite A, Quakertown, PA 18951.
All tenants ages 18 and above must be reported, even if no rent is charged
and the individual is directly related to the property owner.
For more information, please call 215-536-4066.
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 25
Farmland Preservation in Richland Township
by Kathy Fedorocsko, Chairwoman, Preservation Board
Richland Township still has many
working farms that qualify for the
County’s farmland preservation
program. Established in 1988, the
Bucks County Agricultural Land
Preservation Program is regulated
by the Pennsylvania Department of
Agriculture, Bureau of Farmland
Preservation and governed by
Pennsylvania Act 43, as well as
county program guidelines. The
program utilizes funds from state,
county, and local governments to
purchase conservation easements
on productive farmland. Farms
considered for preservation are
prioritized according to soil quality,
location, conservation practices, and
threat of development.
This year, the Land Preservation
Board contacted landowners of the
remaining working farms to see
the extent of interest there was in
possible future preservation. Almost
of the responses were positive, and
three of these landowners have had
their property evaluated by the Land
Preservation Board. All scored high
on our criteria checklist and would
provide valuable linkage to existing
open space.
Each of the three farms is over 60
acres and all have soils of exceptional
quality. Two of these are interested in
applying to the County’s Agricultural
Land Preservation program. Farms
throughout Bucks County are
included, and the applications are
accepted each year prior to December
31.
So, why is it important to preserve
farms in Richland Township and
Bucks County?
Farmland is disappearing at
an alarming rate and it is a nonrenewable resource. Over the last
50 years in Bucks County, 71%
of farmland has been replaced
by development. With the
housing market showing signs of
resuscitation, developers are once
again eyeing fertile farmland for their
bulldozers.
Preserving farmland preserves
Richland’s heritage. By preserving
the scenic views and open spaces,
we are helping maintain a healthy
balance of rural and urban areas in
our community.
Preserving farmland protects the
environment. Besides providing
habitat for many species of plants and
animals, farm fields provide critical
groundwater recharge areas, which
in turn protect our Upper Tohickon
watershed, your source of drinking
water. All farms that are preserved
with this program have both soil
and water resource management
programs in place.
Preserved farmland requires few
public services and is a means of
limiting urban sprawl. Residential
developments require schools, roads,
utilities, police and fire protection
services. Each residential property
owner requires more than a dollar’s
worth of services for each tax dollar
they pay, whereas each farm family
uses only 33 cents of their dollar in
public services. Sprawl also brings
exploding school tax costs.
Once farmland is lost, it can never
be replaced. Farmland preservation is
a win-win situation for both farmers
and residents of Richland Township,
and once again, it makes our
community a better place to live.
“What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.”
~ Edward Langley
PAGE 26
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Leaf Collection Schedule
October 5 - December 4
Autumn is here and that means it is
time to clean up those leaves.
Richland Township began its leaf
collection program because of the
need to keep stormwater inlets clear,
and to help our residents properly
dispose of leaves. The leaves we
collect are taken to facilities that
recycle them into compost. If you have
a composting lawn mower, you may
want to consider using it to leave the
composting leaves in place to benefit
your lawn instead of piling them up at
the road for collection.
Although we will try to meet the
following schedule, our collections
may be affected by poor weather
or other factors. If we get behind in
our schedule, we will collect leaves
as close to your collection date as
possible.
Leaf collection in developments
with roads dedicated to the
township
Residents who live in developments
with roads dedicated to the township
may place leaves for collection
beginning October 19, 2015, through
December 4, 2015. The leaf collection
vehicle will travel through the
dedicated road developments weekly.
If leaves are placed out late in the
week, they may be collected the
following week. Leaves must be on the
road surface, against the curb. Leaves
on the sidewalk or in yards will not be
collected.
Developments in this group are:
The Elms
Walnut Bank Farms (Walnut Bank
Farm Road, Farm House Lane, Red
Barn Lane and School House Lane)
Richland Mead
Hunters Crossing (including
Timberbrook Drive and Hallmark
Place)
Sweetbriar
Brayton Gardens I
Brayton Gardens II
Tollgate Landing
Richland Court
Regency Manor
Spring Meadows
Academy Place
Richland Station (including
Turntable Circle)
Heather Valley/Richland Farms
Deer Run Estates
Morgan Creek
Leaf collection in developments
with non-dedicated roads
Leaves will be collected two times
in developments with roads that are
privately maintained and not part of
the township road system: November
2 to 6, 2015, and again the week of
November 16 to 20, 2015.
Most of these developments have
parking lots or courts that cannot be
accessed with our equipment because
of space constraints and numerous
parked cars. Place the leaves on the
street, against the curb, on the main
access roads. Leaves on sidewalks,
yards and inaccesible areas will not be
collected.
Developments in this group, and the
streets where leaves may be placed:
Stonegate Village (place leaves on
Stonegate Road)
Beaver Run (place leaves on Beaver
Run Drive, Terrace Drive and Windsor
Court)
Richland Greene
Quakers Green (place leaves on
Quakers Way)
Walnut Bank Farms Condominium
Section (place leaves on Walnut Bank
Farm Road)
Renaissance at Morgan Creek (place
leaves on Memory Lane, Creekside
Lane, and Turtle Creek Lane)
Arbours at Morgan Creek
Leaf collection on rural roads
Because of the large amount of
frontage along rural roads, we must
limit collections on those roads to a
one time collection during the week
specified for your road. Leaves placed
for collection after the specified week
may not be collected.
Pile leaves on the shoulder as close
to the roadway as possible. Our
machine cannot reach farther than the
shoulder so leaves beyond that point
will not be collected.
Please use the following schedule
for a one time collection during your
specified week.
Week of October 5 to 9, 2015:
Route 309
Route 663
E. Cherry Road
Route 313
Paletown Road
Rocky Ridge Road
Thatcher Road
Union Road
Apple Road
Richlandtown Pike
Route 212
Younken Road
Pullen Station Road
Trumbauersville Road
Tollgate Road
Mill Road
N. Old Bethlehem Pike
W. Zion Hill Road
Week of October 19 to 23, 2015:
N. Mine Road
S. Mine Road
Hickon Road
Keystone Road
Gross Road
W. Cherry Road
California Road
Dickert Road
Camp Rockhill Road
Continued on next page
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
Leaf Collection Schedule
Continued from Page 26
Scholls School Road
Yankee Road
W. Rich Hill Road
Whaland Road
E. Rich Hill Road
Muskrat Road
Smoketown Road
S. Old Bethlehem Pike
Station Road
Stoneback Road
Tohickon Road
Shelly Road
Nice Road
E. Zion Hill Road
Week of November 9 to 13, 2015:
E. Rockhill Road
Raub Road
Erie Road
Axehandle Road
Meadow Road
Beck Road
E. Pumping Station Road
W. Pumping Station Road
Heller Road
Reservoir Road
Milford Square Pike
Portzer Road
Franklin Lane
Morris Road
Fairview Avenue
Hellertown Street
Perkasie Avenue
Station Avenue
Cemetery Road
Ambler Street
Woodland Avenue
Penrose Street
Walnut Street
Important information
1). Do not place any other materials
such as sticks, grass, or yard waste
with your leaves. These items clog the
vacuum hose and will not be collected.
2). Do not park vehicles on leaf
piles. We cannot collect leaves that
are under vehicles. Hot mufflers and
exhaust pipes may ignite the leaves
and cause vehicle damage or loss.
PAGE 27
Burning Prohibited in
Richland Township
All open burning is prohibited in
Richland Township. In September
2010, the Richland Township Board
of Supervisors amended the Fire
Prevention Ordinance to prohibit
open burning in the Township.
Although the burning of waste
had previously been prohibited,
there were previously two short time
periods in the spring and fall where
the Township allowed residents to
burn tree branches and brush, if the
weather permitted. This exception
has been eliminated and all burning
is prohibited.
This prohibition to open burning
does not apply to charcoal burners
and other open-flame cooking
devices, or for recreational fires
for pleasure, religious, ceremonial,
cooking, warmth or similar
purposes. However, these allowable
fires must be extinguished if the
Police Department or Code Official
finds that they are creating a
3). A leaf drop-off area is available
for all residents. You may drop them
off in the leaf bin behind the salt
storage shed at the Township Building
at 1328 California Road.
4). WE NO LONGER ACCEPT
LEAVES IN PLASTIC BAGS AT
THE DROP OFF BIN. Dump bags
out on to the pile and take the plastic
bags away. Leaves in paper bags are
accepted.
If you have any questions
concerning these matters, please
contact the Township’s Public Works
Director at 215-536-4066.
hazardous or objectionable situation.
Burning is also allowed for
training of firefighting personnel
when done under the supervision
of the Fire Chief, provided that
atmospheric conditions would not
create offensive or objectionable
smoke or odor on other premises.
Tree branches of not more than
two inches in diameter or more than
four feet in length and brush may be
dropped off anytime during the year
by the mulch pile located behind
the Township’s Municipal Building
located at 1328 California Road. The
branches should be bundled with
string or rope. Do not use wire.
Also, the Township designates one
week in May for the collection of any
yard waste. During that week, the
yard waste will be collected from the
curb or roadside by the Township’s
Public Works Department. Tree
stumps will not be accepted.
Holiday Closings
Richland Township offices
will be closed on the
following dates:
2015
Tues., Nov. 3 - Election Day
Thurs., Nov. 26, & Fri., Nov. 27
Thanksgiving
Thurs., Dec. 24, & Fri., Dec. 25
Christmas
2016
Fri., Jan. 1 - New Year’s Day
Mon., Feb. 15 - Presidents’ Day
Fri., March 25 - Good Friday
Tues., April 26 - Primary
PAGE 28
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Richland Township
Volunteer Information Application
Name_____________________________________________________ Date _____________________
Address______________________________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________ State _________ Zip __________________
Preferred Phone # ___________________________ E-mail____________________________________
Occupation ______________________________ Employer____________________________________
To volunteer on a Board, Committee, or Commission:
c Check here if you are willing to serve wherever needed
OR
Indicate your interest below by numbering the committee/event in order of preference:
_____ Park & Recreation Board (& Trails Committee) – meets fourth Wed. of the month at 7:00 pm
_____ Community Day
_____ Movie Night
_____ Preservation Board - meets second Wed. of the month at 7:00 pm
_____ Community/Police Liaison Board - meets fourth Tues. of the month at 7:00 pm at the police bldg.
_____ Planning Commission - meets third Tues. of the month at 7:00 pm
_____ Water Authority – meets second Thurs. of the month at 7:00 pm
Please list your skills and experiences relevant to the board or commission you are applying for:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Please explain why you would like to serve as an appointed volunteer on a Township board or
commission and describe your vision for Richland Township’s future:
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Please attach a resume and/or letter of interest. Thank you for volunteering your valuable time and talents!
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
PAGE 29
Neighborhood Safety: A Parent’s Guide
Would your children know what to do if they got lost
at a shopping mall? Or if a nice-looking, friendly stranger
offered them a ride home after school? What if the
babysitter or a neighbor wanted to play a secret game?
vacant buildings, alleys, playgrounds, or parks with
broken equipment and litter.
• Check out your children’s school policies on absent
children - are parents called to be sure an absence is
excused?
One of the great things about children is their natural
trust in people, especially in adults. It’s sometimes hard
for parents to teach children to balance trust with caution.
But today, children need to know common-sense rules that
can help keep them safe – and build the self-confidence
they need to handle emergencies.
• Check out daycare and after-school programs - look
at certifications, staff qualifications, rules on parental
permission for field trips, reputation in the community,
parental participation, and policies on parent visits.
• Make sure children know their address and phone
number by heart and the location of their house - also
know the name of their neighborhood.
What You Can Do
• Tell your children never to accept rides or gifts from
someone they and you don’t know well.
• Teach your children that if they are being followed
to keep walking to a public place, like a library or a store.
Talk to a grown-up at that place.
• Teach your children to go to a store clerk, security
guard, or police officer for help if lost in a mall or store or
on the street.
• Your children should know how to identify
community people by badge and uniform.
• Take time to listen carefully to your children’s fears
and feelings about scary people or places. Tell them to
trust their instincts.
• Check to see if your community has a protection
program for children. Find out if they recommend
fingerprinting or videotaping children.
• Encourage your children to walk and play with
friends and to avoid places that could be dangerous -
• Be certain your children know that no adult should
ask them to keep a special secret and to tell you right away
if someone does.
• Teach your children that no one should touch the
parts of their body covered by a bathing suit.
Crime prevention tips from The National Crime Prevention Council,
Washington, DC
“I offer my opponents a bargain: if they
will stop telling lies about us,
I will stop telling the truth about them.”
~ Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952
215-536-7000
Patio Court Motel
A/C, Heat, Cable, Wi-Fi, Micro, Ref
Next to Target
720 N. West End Blvd.
Quakertown, PA 18951
PAGE 30
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
From the Zoning Office
by Rich Brittingham
Permits are required for:
1. Change of Use of Occupancy
2. Construction of a new building
3. Structural alterations or repairs
4. Signage
5. Adding new structures, additions or dwelling units
6. Sheds, fences, swimming pools, concrete patios,
paver patios, parking lots and driveways
7. Plumbing fixtures, installed or replaced
8. Well drilling
9. Moving or relocating a building
10. Demolition, razing (Ordinance #191)
Developments Under Consideration
1. Front Gate Community
13 Mid-rise buildings, 402 units (Age Qualified 55+)
46.26 acres located along Station Road behind Q-mart
2. Reserve at Woodside Creek
75 Single family
101.7 acres located on the south side of Paletown Road
& Rocky Ridge Road
3. Steeple Run
39 Single family
21.1 acres located on the north side of Paletown Road
4. Tollgate Crossing
30 Single family
65.7 acres located on the south side of Tollgate Road
5. Select Properties - Twin Lakes
107 Single family
54.3 acres located on the east side of Old Bethlehem Pike
6. Prospect Acquisitions, LP
40 Townhomes
26 acres located along Heller Road
Permits Available Online:
Permit applications are available on our website at
www.richlandtownship.org. These include: Zoning and
Building Permit; Shed, Deck and Pool Permit (also for
fences & patios); and Sign Permit.
Also available are the Subdivision & Land Development
Application, 2015 Fee Schedule, Escrow Agreement; the
Zoning Board Application, and the Conditional Use
Application.
Click on BLDG & ZONING.
11. Earth disturbance over 1,000 sq.ft. (Ordinance #210)
All applications for Building and Zoning Permits
should include the following information:
1. Plot plan including lot dimensions, building setbacks,
proposed construction location, existing structures
and easements
2. Description of the proposed construction
3. Estimated cost of construction
4. Type of occupancy (present and proposed use)
5. Name, address, and telephone number of owner,
contractor and authorized agent
Developments Under Construction
1. Renaissance at Morgan Creek
141 Single family (Age Qualified 55+)
101 acres located on the south side of Station Road
2. Arbours at Morgan Creek
134 Townhomes/multiplex units (Age Qualified 55+)
89.2 acres located on the north side of W. Paletown Road
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
Commercial/Industrial Projects
under Consideration
Pavillion at Richland
14.06 acres located at the SE corner of N. West End Blvd.
& West Pumping Station Road
Proposed multiple commercial use
Quaker Alliance, LLC
1.022 acres located on the southwest corner of
S. West End Blvd. & Tollgate Road
Proposed Multiple Commercial Use
Dunkin Donuts & California Tortilla
SW Quakertown CVS LP
2.75 acres located on the southeast corner of
S. West End Blvd. & Tollgate Road
Proposed E2 Large Retail Store (CVS Pharmacy)
Cemetery Road, LLC
3.5 acres located along California Road & Cemetery Road
Proposed D1 Office Use
Commercial/Industrial Projects
under Construction
US Cold Storage
40.415 acres located at the corner of Heller Road and
E. Pumping Station Road
Proposed G3 warehouse use
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES - FALL 2015
Richland Township Fire & Rescue
PAGE 31
64 Shelly Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-7226
www.rtfr.org
Activities & Events
Bingo
“VOLUNTEERS NEEDED”
Shelly Bingo — Tuesdays, Games start 6:45 pm Doors open 5:30 pm
Regular & Special Games. Refreshments Available. Every Tuesday.
FIRE FIGHTERS
FIRE POLICE
Fall Craft Show
JUNIOR MEMBERS
Fall Craft Show – Saturday, October 24, 2015 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Various Handmade Items. Tables available. Held indoors.
Cheese Steak Dinner
(14yrs & up)
“FUNDRAISING HELP”
Cheese Steak Dinner — Saturday, October 17, 2015 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Includes: French Fries, Applesauce or coleslaw, drink & dessert
BINGOS
BREAKFASTS
Breakfast Buffet
FUND DRIVE
2016 Breakfasts — January 10, February 14, March 13, April 10,
“All you can eat” May 8th Mother’s Day & June 19th Father’s Day
HALL RENTALS
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Hall Rentals
SPECIAL EVENTS
Hall Rentals — Aniversaries, Birthdays, Graduations, Receptions
Caterering by “Jesslemel Foods” 215-536-7226, option 4
TRUCK FUND
For More Information: www.rtfr.org or call 215-536-7226
Thank you for your support
Thank you
for your
Richland
Township
Firesupport
& Rescue
Richland Township Fire & Rescue
PAGE 32
FALL 2015 - RICHLAND TOWNSHIP TIMES
Richland Township
1328 California Road, Suite A
Quakertown, PA 18951
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL OFFICES
1328 California Road, Suite A, Quakertown, PA 18951
Phone 215-536-4066 • Fax 215-538-3020 • www.richlandtownship.org
POLICE DEPARTMENT
229 California Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-9500
WATER AUTHORITY
1328 California Road, Suite D
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-4733 • Fax 215-536-0205
EARNED INCOME TAX
Keystone Collections Group
546 Wendel Road
Irwin, PA 15642
888-519-3898
www.keystonecollects.com
REAL ESTATE TAX COLLECTOR
Walter Johnson
P.O. Box 940
Richlandtown, PA 18955
(Office located at 520 Station Road)
215-536-6603
richlandtownshiptaxcollector.webs.com
The Township building is open for business Monday through Friday
from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All minutes, financial reports, ordinances,
resolutions, contracts, agreements, sub-division plans, etc., for the
Township are available for public inspection. Copies are charged at
$.25 per page.
MEETING SCHEDULES
All meetings are open to the public. The
following meetings are held at 7:00 p.m.
in the Township Building:
Board of Supervisors
Planning Commission
Water Authority
Park and Recreation Board
Trails Committee
Preservation Board
Zoning Hearing Board
Second Monday of the month
Third Tuesday of the month
Second Thursday of the month
Fourth Wednesday of the month
Fourth Wednesday of the month
Second Wednesday of the month
As advertised when required
Community/Police Liaison Board
Fourth Tuesday of the month
7:00 p.m. at the Police Building