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NOTES FROM THE
MUNICIPAL SECRETARY-TREASURER
In an attempt to
make it easier for our residents to obtain the information they are
seeking, I will address some of the most frequently asked questions
below.
Ø
All tax questions should be addressed to the Bethel Township Tax Collector, Michelle Scherer at 610-715-1232. If she is
unavailable you should contact the Tax Claim Bureau at the Delaware
County Courthouse, 610-891-4288. I do not have access to any
Bethel, County or School Tax information and as such I am unable to
assist you with your taxes.
Ø
You cannot pay your taxes at the Bethel Township
office. You need to pay them directly to the Tax Collector. In the
alternative, you may pay your county and school taxes at Commerce
Bank.
Ø
The Tax Collector, Michelle Scherer, has an office in the new Township Building.
Ø
You must contact Republic Services at 610-265-6337
for any bulk trash pickup.
Ø
All home sales, whether a new home or a resale, require a Use & Occupancy Permit. For information on obtaining a U&O Permit please contact Glenn Holt, Building Code Official at 610-459-5565.
Ø
Each resident is entitled to ONE blue recycling
can. If you are new to the area and need a blue recycling bin
please stop by my office and I will be happy to provide you with
one.
Ø
We do have a Franchise Agreement with
Verizon Fios. Verizon Fios will be made available to all residents
at some point. If you have questions about when your neighborhood
will be eligible please contact Verizon Fios at 1-888-GET FIOS or go
to their website at
www.verizon.com/fios and put in your address. This link will
inform you if Fios is available and how to order it. It will also
tell you if Fios is not available and when you can expect it to
become available.
Ø
You cannot register to vote at the Bethel Township
Office. However, you may pick up a Voter’s Registration Form at the
Township Office which you will need to complete and return to the
Voters’ Registration Office.
Please send me
your suggestions, via email at
betheltwp@comcast.net, for information you would like to see
printed in our future newsletters or on our website. Thank you!
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BETHEL TOWNSHIP HOSE CO. #1
The Bethel
Township Hose Company #1 has been awarded a joint grant from F.E.M.A.
to purchase M.D.T. (Mobile data terminal) computers. The M.D.T.’s
will be used for Mapping, Hydrant locations, HAZ-MAT info, and Aided
Dispatch. Accompanying Bethel in the joint grant worth 130,000
dollars is the Chester Heights Fire Co., Edgemont Fire Co., and
Concordville Fire Co. Chief Larry Ward of the Chester Heights Fire
Co. will be handling the acquisition and disbursement of the M.D.T.s.
The Bethel
Township Hose Company #1 has also been awarded a P.E.M.A. Grant
worth 19,000 dollars for Rescue Air Packs and Radios for
communicating with New Castle County, Delaware fire companies.
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ZONING OFFICER
As warm weather
approaches and thoughts of yard work and summer projects begin to
dance through our heads, I’d like to remind all residents of several
Codes, which are consistently questioned.
- All trash
and recyclables must be stored behind the front of the dwelling
and put curbside 24 hours prior to pickup and no sooner. This
includes grass clippings.
- All
swimming pools must be enclosed with a 4’ high fence containing
a self-closing and self-locking gate.
- Sheds may
NOT be located along the side of the House.
- Directional
real estate signs pertaining to Open Houses may be placed
ONE-HALF hour prior to the open house and must be removed
ONE-HALF hour after the open house.
- Permits are
required for Sheds, patios (including paver blocks) and decks.
This includes increasing the size of an existing patio or deck.
- Porches,
open or enclosed, require permits.
The Bethel
Township Ordinances are available for viewing or copying on the
Township web site,
www.twp.bethel.pa.us click on “Ordinances”. The Zoning
map is also available on the web site, click on “Permits” and
scroll to the bottom. If you have specific questions I can be
reached through the Township Code Enforcement Office. Thank you and
enjoy a safe summer season.
STEPHEN
WASYLYSZYN, Zoning Officer
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PLANNING COMMISSION
The Bethel
Township Planning Commission serves the Township by providing
comprehensive planning and recommendations to the Board of
Supervisors in order to shape a vision for the future growth of
Bethel Township. The board promotes and coordinates long-range
planning, growth-management, transportation, and environmental
protection, as it makes its recommendations.
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PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Did you know this year Bethel Township will celebrate its 325th
anniversary?
The Bethel Township Preservation
Society will present the 11th annual Founders Day
Festival this year on Saturday September 27th at the Bethel Hose Co
No.1 firehouse on 3737 Foulk Road. Admission is free and the
festival will be held rain or shine. The Festival will be from 11am
until 4pm. House tours will be from 3pm until 6pm and tickets
may be purchased at the festival. Let us know if you are interested
in helping us celebrate 325 years.
One of the goals of the preservation society is to save old homes
in Bethel from demolition so they can be restored to their original
splendor. This home is one example of our success. If we are going
to preserve old homes we must first document them. We currently have
a survey done in 1983 and would like to update it. We would add
additional homes as well as add information about homes already in
the survey. We need your help, if you have an old home or your
neighbor does please let us know about it.
Please call – Darree Clark 610-485-5097 or
e-mail
darreeclark@gmail.com
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BETHEL TOWNSHIP SEWER AUTHORITY
Any problems
concerning sanitary sewer manholes, lines or pumping stations should
be reported immediately to the Bethel Township Sewer Authority at
610-358-5893. After hours, report problems to Aqua Wastewater
Management, Inc. at 610-645-1034. PLEASE NOTE, if there is a
problem with your plumbing or the sewer system in your yard, please
contact your plumber first.
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CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICE
Spring is upon us
and our thoughts turn to outside activities. There have been a few
changes for required permits. A Building Permit is now required for
all decks regardless of size, sheds over 200 square feet and to
re-finish basements to name a few. These changes were necessary to
assure safe construction. If you listen to news report you know the
amount of decks that collapse during the summer and basements need
proper light and ventilation. The shed requirements match up with
Zoning. There are a few more requirements that deal with driveways,
pool aprons and roofs. If you have any questions please do not
hesitate to call the office 610-459-1529 or my cell 484-723-8201.
The Code Enforcement Office wish’s everyone a safe and happy
summer. GLENN HOLT CODE ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATOR
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COMCAST
SUBSCRIBERS CAN WATCH FOR TOWNSHIP INFORMATION ON THE
BETHEL
TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY ACCESS CHANNEL 10
VERIZON
FIOS SUBSCRIBERS CAN WATCH FOR TOWNSHIP INFORMATION ON THE
BETHEL
TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY ACCESS CHANNEL 42
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POLICE REPORT
PLEASE REPORT ANY
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY BY CALLING 911
The Bethel
Township Police are on duty 24/7. Please keep in mind that the
Police Officers are usually out on patrol and not in the office to
answer telephone calls. If you need to speak to a police officer
please call 911 and the officer on duty will be dispatched to your
home. In the alternative you may leave a message on the police
department’s voicemail and an Officer will return your call.
POLICE CHIEF
JOHN CAIRO
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CROZER EMS INFORMATION

·
Crozer EMS was the first and is the oldest
Advanced Life Support service in Delaware County. We started in
1974 with Nurse/Paramedics from Crozer Chester Medical Center
working with EMTs from the Chester Fire Department mainly in
Chester City.
·
The department has steadily grown throughout the
years, including our most recent expansion into Bethel
Township. We now have 85 paramedics covering 15 municipalities
24 hours a day, everyday with 12 Advanced Life Support units.
We are the largest EMS department in Delaware County.
·
Our coverage area generally includes from the
Delaware State line to the Philadelphia City line along the
Delaware River, West to Bethel Township, and East to Glenolden
Borough. We handle about 18,000 calls annually.
·
We are the only department with full time
supervision from a seasoned paramedic dedicated only to EMS
management. Our supervisors average 25 years of service each,
with a total of over 200 years of service between all of our
officers.
·
We are the only department in Delaware County with
a 24/7 Critical Care Transport Team, certified to handle
transports of critically ill or injured patients from ICU to
ICU.
·
Our paramedics are all certified in Advanced
Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support, and
most are certified in Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support and
Advanced Burn Life Support.
·
All of our units are equipped with state of the
art Advanced Life Support equipment, including 12 lead EKG
equipment capable of transmitting a patient’s diagnostic EKG to
a medical command physician who can activate the cardiac
catheterization laboratory team even before the arrival of the
patient to the ER. This is an exciting new aspect of
pre-hospital care.
·
We respond to all calls for assistance per
Pennsylvania State Law. We both provide and request mutual aid
assistance with any agency and/or municipality that is near our
local. We call for the next closest unit during all instances.
·
We will transport our patients during emergency
situations to any reasonably close medical facility. We will
transport to reasonably distant facilities when medically
necessary and approved by a medical command physician.
Critically ill patients are transported to the closest
appropriate facility in accordance with protocol.
* If you need us during an emergency just
call 911!
Our Bethel Unit is
currently stationed at the Bethel Fire Station on Foulk Road.
We will be moving to our new station behind the Bethel Municipal
Building in February 2008.
If you have a non-emergency
question or concern we can be contacted through the Bethel
Township Municipal Office Secretary/Treasurer Mike George @
610-459-1529 or at our Administrative Offices at Crozer to Chief
Robert Reeder @ 610-447-2407.
CROZER EMS MEDIC 66-7
