Bucks County Courier Times (Newspaper) - May 19, 1977, Levittown, Pennsylvania n May 68 Pages 20 Cents Local versus county powers By Mark Smith Courier Times Staff Writer The leading for the newly elected Bucks County ment study commission predicts the study group will be especially careful not to take away powers and from the county's 54 local municipalities K Frederick a rington Township said he will try to local Interests Townships already have the right to come to the county If they need help with services There's no need for the county to Impose a former leader of the state association of Is not alone on the new commission En his re- gard for the sovereignty of local ernments County GOP leader Harry W said one of the major reasons Tor the success of the endorsed party ticket Is its to keep the power with the local un- like the last study The issue of local versus county analysis powers played a major role in the un- doing of the home rule charter posed by the first county study commission In 1974 Many persons felt the charter gave sweeping powers to county government at the expense of local municipalities Al least three of Ihc four endorsed GOP candidates who will constitute a majority of the com- mission were active in the movement when the charter came to a vote They are Leon nor Jr and Elaine P Mrs was the group's while O'Connor was ing on the first study commission Both arc from Mid- Township O'Connor and Mrs ue lo serve notice that they will push for a strict definition of the powers of whatever county government the commission finally proposes O'Connor said the grant of powers clause in Act the law permitting counties to draw up home rule ers and other forms of is a statement But he said there is nothing in the act prohibiting a study commission from narrowing the scope of those powers Daniel K the fourth en- Republican to be elected lo the has not been as vocal on the Issue of local government powers as the others Cook is from Durham a tiny nestled in the far northeast corner of the ty His hometown constituency ally can be expected to be fearful of being sucked Into providing seemingly Irrelevant services Imposed by county government Cook's local allegiances probably will make him as wary of an oo Page CoL photo br Ron Brawn A mounting problem for and his Victorian home Pig eon They're taking over home By Thomas Walker Courier Times Special Writer If pigeon droppings were gold would make the wealthiest Arabian sheik look like a pauper But since the birds and their leavings are most guests at home Borough apartment building he Is far froi i happy with the piles of the stuff that accumulate on the roof The Victorian style nearly ISO years is the only one of its kind in the borough thinks Ihc 100 foot chimney makes it the tallest structure in appeared at the May session of ough council to discuss his problem with the ough fathers he asked If he would be violating borough ordinances should he shoot the on Page Col Centennial braces Huge tax hike due By Susan Sprague Courier Times Staff Writer Centennial School Board members last night cautiously agreed to an 18 mill real estate lax with the hope that the state will come through with additional subsidies before a al budget Is adopted Eight members of the board unhappily agreed to the hike during a straw vote taken at last night's budget committee session An official vote on a tentative get will be taken at a regular board meeting this coming Tuesday If the mill tax hike remains firm when the final budget is proved late In it will cost the owner of a home assessed at an additional per year The owner of a home assessed at will pay more 119 mills Residents of the Centennial School which serves Ivyland and and Upper Southampton now pay 119 mills in real estate taxes Finance Committee Chairman Eu- gene recommended the tax after paring a final 1.35 mill off Ihc projected budget Blaming the district's financial problems on on the stale Grossi said Ihc budget problem is one think every school board in the county is The percentage of funding from the stale has declined in Ihc past few while costs have escalated The burden has fallen on the taxpayers Centennial residents saw their taxes climb 26 mills a year In spite of the layoffs of more than 60 teachers Will School board member H Robert voted for tentative I will vote for a final get of no more than 10 said if Ihc state doesn't come through with the additional million expected If 593 Is he thinks the budget should be re- turned to the administration with or dcrs lo cut anywhere necessary School director Joseph Cody agreed with saying he a cut in activities and programs If necessary to keep the tax hike down Both he and School director Jean the dis- should consider closing the schools in mid-winter in order to keep costs down Grossi saying that white he agreed that 18 mills is mendous burden on Ihc he also feels society's future Is our The district's budget for the year presently stands at After approving Ihc tentative budget the board will hold hearings tax increase How much will It cost The owner of a home sessed at will pay an ad- That homeowner now pays The owner of a home at will pay an ad- That owner now pays The owner of a home sessed at will pay an ad- Thai owner now pays The owner of a home sessed at will pay an ad- That owner now pays seeks death penalty for patrolman By Carolyn Courier Times Writer District ney William T Nickolas today de- manded the death penalty for John J the Montgomery County trolman who is standing trial here for the brutal murder of a Bucks County woman last Jan 4 After closing arguments from both Nickolas and defense lawyer Vincent J Ihc jury could begin ating the fate of Palmer laic today a former Upper police is accused of beating and shooting at point-blank range Deborah Ann of ton A key defense Dr Robert testified the young victim may have Inadvertantly caused her own death by aggravating Palmer who was already in a touchy mental stale Sadoff said he administered a drug to Palmer following his arrest He said the officer told him Ms Hales accused the patrolman of harassing her the night he slopped to render assistance The woman's car had developed engine problems when Palmer stopped Jan earlier court testimony indicated the an got into the car while Palmer was on duly and was driven to a Willow Grove church parking lot where she was according to the testimony Sadoff said Palmer was worried Ms Hales would report the Incident and cause the patrolman to be called in before his superior for disciplinary reasons The thought caused him to Sadoff said her was the final straw and she may have said the wrong at Ihc wrong lime to the wrong he Sadoff said Palmer was unaware of what he had done following the attack In other testimony the prosecution attempted lo discount defense ney main argument in That Palmer is suffering from rare mental illness which caused insanity the night of the ing J a criminal psychiatrist employed by the mery County testified he has never heard of Ihc dis- which the jury was told Palmer has The disorder was described by de- fense witness Dr Frank a on Tuesday Elliott said the physical disorder Is located in the left side of Palmer's brain The Illness causes uncontrollable attacks of spotty memory and a slowing of time and space during a violent the neurologist told Ihc jury Palmer was having such an attack on Jan 4 when he shot and killed Ms Elliott said Dr the said that while he hadn't heard of he has heard of also ascribed to Palmer by defense witness Gerald Cook Dr Byron disagreed with Dr Cook on Page Col news summary Bucks County 3 chicken legs comfort some diners Sooner or later everyone has to face the problem of dining alone How would you solve Several Bucks County residents offer their opinions on how to make wolfing a quick hamburger a little less painful 3 Timothy and partner crisscross state to make friends Timothy Ihc dummy and his Marie have spent the last year crossing the state as part of Marie's reign as Miss Pennsylvania a recalls some of the more hectic moments of being Miss Pennsylvania Columnist Joe tells the story 4 Weekend Hot and humid Those cooled off somewhat by last night's will be hot and humid again this weekend The low 90s again are possible 2 Bensalem tax cut cot to 2 If you were planning to use the extra you'd get next year from a Township school tax forget It Last board adopted a tentative budget which included a cut Instead 3 faces 2 Incumbents Newtown Borough man who won 27 write-in votes in Tuesday's Democratic primary will challenge Republican incumbents In November Michael entered the race because of in the Northampton 3 Korman drama heads to court Korman Corp and Ihc Northampton supervisors staged a one act play at last night's board meeting which could have been titled of a Shopping It played like a dress rehearsal for the coming attraction of Ya in Bucks County 8 Chain Bridge lands may be on the way The state's secretary of transportation has recommended the Chain Bridge on Second Street Pike Northampton and Townships be added to the state's capital budget order to provide funds for replacement at the earliest possible 3 Docs time heal political The Democratic party did a lot of during the past primary Will the different faction be able lo bury all the hatches and fight the Republican challenge There are some Indications they will Bristol Township schools 5 Cattanl after all Sally In Democratic race for school board In Bristol Township was short-lived Joseph got the news yesterday he was the real winner A discrepancy was the reason schools 5 ROTC program for another year Reports of the demise of Air Force Junior ROTC program were exaggerated Board voted last night to reject an and keep the program for at least one more year The There weren't enough votes to kill It Business 11 Investors won't gamble Atlantic City Firms planning In Atlantic City arc going to have to work hard to raise the money for their dollar Investment bankers say Most Institutional investors arc wary of connecting their names with gamblers Insurance a prime source of won't touch a potentially venture Editorial 6 Inflation bits us In higher education We'll have to bite the bullet on more taxes If we intend to keep our supported colleges open 6 Up Ibe rebate scale Now more senior citizens can take advantage of School District tax rebate program and Back to basic courses for college students Is a must for Bucks County Community College 7 A great American hero for all time The country needed a hero and Lucky was the one In 1927 i 7 Georgia and the Justice ment Columnist Louis comments on the President's men tn the top law enforcement agency In the country 7 where doe Despite the usual humorous Humphrey has a long and often distinguished political life 7 U.S colleges rebuild from ground op Back to basic courses for many students at major colleges good evening Applause That's what is being heard all over Lower Bucks for the voters of Philadelphia What gence they showed Tuesday They were terrific They told the political bosses loud and clear not to be con- of the public The voters sent a rousing message to Ihc bosses that if they want votes they better have candidates who don't run their offices as a kingdom The bosses had better have working and reputable candidates who want to do a job for the not to the public I guess the only reason I doubted was because they thought hotdogs were better than Nathan's Lisa Bichette was defeated for her bid to the State Supreme Court by a huge western vote Out there they don't care who the candidate Is as long as he's not from Philadelphia That means our liberal Supreme Court will be getting Both the Democratic and Re- publican candidates colt themselves tough judges A survey shows Americans arc now paying an average of for a new house That's 38 per cent more than they did just three years ago What this country needs Is another Levitt We have to find ways to provide homes for young couples Homes cost so much now that by the time they have saved enough their children arc grown and they don't need the house Is celebrating Its an- this June There arc a lot of grateful people living or who have moved who couldn't have bought a home anywhere else Alt you needed was a deposit There arc many who derided the but they have stood the test of time Today they arc In- with additions and scaping and visitors arc continually surprised what a pretty place It is An exorbitant rate Is what you're a ridiculous rate Is what you charge Amazing how brilliant arc the ple who agree with us index DCT Birthdays A J Briefs All Business DSC Classified Comics Deir Abby A Entertainment CD Happenings All Investor CIS A 8 All CM A 3 834 Living Lottery Movie Sports TV Review TV Schedule Weather Wilson Your Government night numbers After S p.m Classified After 7 p.m Newsroom Sports circulation
