After a Bucks County bank settlement, McGrath Homes may resume work on an "abandoned development" at The Villas at Linfield.
. The following clip comes from Frank Otto of The Pottstown Mercury: LIMERICK — The half-finished development that many were calling “abandoned” may not be so much longer, according to Limerick officials. The developer, McGrath Homes, recently settled with a bank in Bucks County that was holding its money, according to Township Solicitor Joseph J. McGrory Jr., and as such, McGrath now has some cash to possibly continue working on the unfinished homes in the Villas at Linfield. Additionally, McGrath has reportedly been in contact with the township inquiring about building permits for the resumed construction. “He’s returning our calls now, which is a good sign,” McGrory said at the supervisors’ public meeting Tuesday evening. On top of that…
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The head of the county's Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program was suspended in April.
According to The Times Herald, Karen Ricca, the assistant district attorney who was inexplicably suspended on April 27, was fired today during a county salary board meeting. Ricca and District Attorney Risa Ferman declined to comment on the cause of the original suspension at the time and today, Ferman would only say that an investigation revealed Ricca's conduct "was entirely inconsistent with the high standards we have tried to maintain. She has therefore been terminated, effective immediately." "I will not comment on the specifics of this matter because it remains under investigation," Ferman told the Herald. Ricca led – and decided whether applicants qualified for – the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition (ARD) program. The…
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School district expected to vote soon on 2012-13 budget
A new report by the PA Independent has ranked the Spring-Ford Area School District 37th in the state in terms of its uncommitted general fund balance, which stood at about $15.51 million last June 30, when the numbers were compiled. Across Pennsylvania, the PA Independent estimates that school districts are sitting on about $3.2 billion in savings. Declining property values have pinched school district finances across the country over the past few years. Even after expenses are cut, many districts are forced to choose between hiking property taxes and dipping into savings. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association advises districts to only dip into cash reserves for one-time expenditures. Pulling more than 10 percent out of savings in a …
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Limerick Police Department recognizes area resident for tip that led to arrests
Chief William Albany of the Limerick Police Department recognized Collegeville resident Ken Leflar at Tuesday night's Board of Supervisor's meeting, presenting him with a Citizen's Commendation. Leflar called the police in February 2012 to report two suspicious men buying items with multiple credit cards at the Sunoco convenience store on Ridge Pike. Leflar had noticed the same two men earlier in the evening, also purchasing items with multiple cards, at a Wawa store in Collegeville. When Limerick officers stopped the two men, they found fraudulent cards, cigarettes and gift cards in the car. They were arrested and charged with fraud. Albany said that the arrests led to the discovery of an international fraud ring. The two suspects had …
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The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a quarterly inspection report for the generating station.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in March completed an inspection at Exelon's Limerick nuclear generating station, which included a review of the plant's activities, procedures, records and an interview of personnel. The inspection examined the plant's activities related to safety and compliance with the NRC's rules, regulations and conditions of the facility's license. The inspection also reviewed the plant's identification of an unattended locked high radiation area on April 14 that prompted NRC officials on April 25 to determine whether a contract radiation protection technician serving as a guard intentionally left the locked area unattended. "Based on testimonial and documentary evidence gathered during the investigation, the …
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Two decades into her job, Assistant District Attorney Karen G. Ricca was suspended without pay on April 27.
"Shocked." That's how Attorney Theodore H. Swan Jr. described his reaction when he learned Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Karen Ricca was suspended from her job without pay. Other local lawyers are also stunned over the news, he said. Ricca led -- and decided whether applicants qualified for -- the county's Accelerated Rehabilitation Disposition program. The pretrial measure for first-time offenders of nonviolent crimes can prevent them from getting a criminal record. Ricca, who earned about $75,000 a year, was suspended without pay on April 27. She could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. "In the small world of criminal defense ... we all know each other," Swan said on Wednesday. "Karen's been doing (ARD) for years …
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7:45 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
This is puzzling. From all accounts, this woman did a great job in her position, running the department efficiently and fairly. What are the charges against her? Does she not have the right to due process? Is this a move because of politics? Sad. more ›
President Obama made his historic pronouncement during an interview with ABC News.
President Barack Obama has publicly come out in support of gay marriage, the first time in history that a sitting U.S. President has ever done so. Obama, who during the last presidential election stated that he opposed gay marriage, gave the news to ABC News' Robin Roberts in an interview that will air on ABC's “Good Morning America" on Thursday. "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together, when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, …
12:49 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wow, @ JIm, I can't believe you are still going on and on. Hemmingway ran out of stories to tell and he killed himself, you just keep going and going. I once thought you were just an idiot who had nothing but time and the internet to piss people off. But the more I read your comments, I see that you are a broken man, with no hopes for a brighter future, you have no friends and what family you … more ›
A recap of Tuesday's borough council meeting in Royersford.
The Royersford Borough Council met for its first May meeting on Tuesday night and approved the resolution to file paperwork for the new police car that the department has purchased. Borough Manager Mike Leonard reported the vehicle will arrive next week. The department, according to Police Chief Kevin Schurr at the September 2011 budget meeting, had not purchased a new vehicle since 2007. The new car is a 2013 Ford Utility Police Interceptor with a lighting and siren package. The total price for the vehicle is $40,233.81, which would be broken up into a three-year payment plan of roughly $13,411.27 per year. The purchase was made from Co-Star. The board approved this purchase unanimously in October 2011. Leonard also explained to council …
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A recap of the Spring City Borough Council meeting for the month of May
The Spring City Borough Council voted 6-1 to abolish the Civil Service Commission on Monday night at its monthly meeting. Councilman Mike Hays was the sole nay in the voting process. Council had previous discussions about the abolishment in the April meeting. The civil service commission provides its own grievance system for officers who think they were unjustly terminated, as well as aids in the hiring process of new officers. In previous talks, Borough Manager Dennis Rittenhouse explained he contacted the solicitor of the local commission, who said it is not required that the borough utilize the commission, since historically the borough operates with three or less full-time officers at one time. Abolishing the commission also saves the …
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Board discusses home-business approval for local company, budget information
Limerick's Board of Supervisors gave the go-ahead to Sweet Ashley's Chocolate to move their production from Spring City to a home on Lewis Road at Tuesday's meeting. Sweet Ashley's owners Connie and Robert Lawson came before the board during a public hearing. The Lawsons plan on purchasing a home on Lewis Road and moving production there. Nothing will change with respect to their storefront location on Main Street in Royersford. Previously, the home was a photography studio, and the Lawsons will convert the studio space into a kitchen. There was a list of conditions attached to the agreement, including conditions preventing the Lawsons from using the home as a retail shop or placing signage on the property. However, board members Thomas …
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Mike Hays
11:28 am on Sunday, May 20, 2012
Bruce, I looked into the Independent a few months ago. They used to be funded by the Commonwealth Foundation, a libertarian think tank. However, I don't think they are very independent. When I called the phone listed on the Independent website, someone at the Commonwealth Foundation picked up and gave me the reporter's cell phone number. They have an agenda. more ›