PBA, along with the other members of the Pennsylvania Fair Share for Clean Water Coalition, is urging a “yes” vote on a statewide referendum appearing on the Nov. 4 ballot that calls for a $400 million bond issue to fund water and sewer projects throughout the state. This additional funding could limit sewage rate increases for affected future homebuyers and tapping fees for PBA members.  Under the terms of Act 64, which authorized the referendum, PENNVEST would be responsible for funding eligible projects, including water and sewer systems, combined sewer overflows, and Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy nutrient reductions (including the purchase of nutrient credits). Other eligible projects would include stormwater management, regional systems or consolidations of two or more water, sewer or stormwater control systems.
 

State legislators passed three bills last week vital to the state's homebuilding industry this week. Home improvement contractor registration, a bill aimed at preventing scrap metal theft and a bill that will create a technical review and advisory council to assist the state government on building code-related matters. The home improvement contractor registration bill is fair to honest contractors and eliminates most municipal contractor registration requirements. PBA will develop registration-related informational materials to distribute to members early next year as the Attorney General makes information available. Under the new scrap materials theft prevention act, sellers of scrap materials will be forced to provide identification to be recorded by scrap metal businesses. PBA members believe the act will go a long way in preventing theft of scrap materials that plagues builders in many parts of the state. The UCC-related bill fills a need for experts to provide their insight regarding the building industry to the state Department of Labor and Industry as updates to the building code (not all applicable in Pennsylvania) become available.
 

Two farms in Franconia were among nine to join a growing list of preserved farms in Montgomery County.

County commissioners last week approved the purchase of agricultural conservation easements on nine farms totaling more than 416 acres at a total cost of $11.7 million, more than $7 million of which is to be borne by the county.

The farms include the 61.41-acre Marcho 2 Farm in Franconia and the 27.06-acre Freed Farm, which straddles Lower Salford and Franconia.

The easement for the Marcho 2 Farm costs more than $2.1 million. The county's share was more than $1.1 million, with the state contributing $639,625 and the municipality contributing $322,500.

 

By GEORGE MATTAR, Bucks County Courier Times

A script couldn't have written it better.

The late-morning sun was shining brightly Wednesday when Vince Hee talked about the many benefits of solar panels.

Not only does sun power help the environment, it reduces our dependence on foreign oil and puts money back in your pocket, he said.

Hee, sales manager for Russell Roofing of Oreland in Montgomery County, said his company is on the forefront of solar technology and has had its employees trained in solar panel installation.

“We have been to one of the two classes required to learn the installation of solar panels. We think it is the wave of the future. Some of our customers started asking us about the panels and we took a serious look at them,” Hee said.

 

At the heart of our economy's troubles is the housing market. As the federal financial rescue plan is implemented, it's important to focus on homeowners facing foreclosure.

About 5 percent of American mortgages, or more than three million homeowners, will go into default this year. Philadelphia's market mirrors this dismal statistic: Over the past 18 months, 5.7 percent of the area's home mortgages have gone into default. Last year, Philadelphia had 5,296 foreclosures.

These numbers represent only part of the problem. Foreclosures harm property values throughout a neighborhood, and lost local tax revenues may force cuts in city services.

We need to keep people in their homes when foreclosure is avoidable. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) and I are holding a Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in Philadelphia today to explore ways to do that.

One promising program started in Philadelphia. The Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program uses city resources to help homeowners and lenders reach agreements that head off foreclosure. Hundreds of attorneys are volunteering their services in representing homeowners and serving as mediators.

Spearheaded by President Judge Darnell Jones and Judge Annette Rizzo of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, the city program requires lenders to come to the table to meet with homeowners and their lawyers before there can be a sheriff's sale. It also makes homeowners aware of state and federal assistance that may be available. The program has prevented or delayed foreclosure in nearly 80 percent of the 552 cases that have gone into mediation.