Does Forks Need a Open Space Referendum?

I attend a Open Space Referendum workshop in Lehigh County. The purpose of the workshop was to share the process and techniques required to launch a successful Open Space initiative.  A couple of points were discussed during the workshop:

1. A successful open space initiative is led by private citizens, not the township.

2.  A private citizen committee should be formed to create a campaign strategy, rally volunteers, coordinate election day activities, and help spread the word about the benefits of a open space initiative.

3. The township BoS may publicly endorse the initiative.

4. Sometimes it takes at least two attempts to get a Open Space referendum passed.

According to the FAC Website,  the Klein Farms was accepted for preservation by Northampton County. This is very exciting news. Now, this positive development raises a interesting question.  Does the township prepare a 2009 Open Space referendum to help all farmers?  Do we have a private citizen or group that is willing to lead the effort?

I think it is clear we should leave the decision whether to fund a open space initiative to the voters.  Additionally, I am hoping a private citizen or group takes the lead in crafting and leading an Open Space Referendum.  We have very few farms left, so it critical we made a decision ASAP.

Just for your information, I have included the Upper Saucon Township Open Space Referendum language from the November 2008 election.

UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP
“Do you favor the imposition of an additional Earned Income Tax at the rate of 0.25% by Upper Saucon Township to be used to finance the acquisition of real property or interests in real property to preserve open space?”

PLAIN ENGLISH STATEMENT
UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP EARNED INCOME TAX REFERENDUM FOR INCREASING RATE TO FINANCE OPEN SPACE LANDS ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION

Purpose
The purpose of the ballot question is to determine whether the voters of Upper Saucon Township desire to increase the rate of earned income tax in order to provide funds for the Township to acquire and preserve open space lands.
Revenue generated by this tax may not be used to acquire real property or interests in real property through condemnation.

Limitations
Approval of the ballot question would allow the Board of Supervisors of Upper Saucon Township to increase the earned income tax rate by 0.25% (one quarter of one percent) on an annual basis. Such additional tax revenue could only be used for the purposes allowed by state law to acquire and preserve open space lands. More specifically, revenue from the additional tax received may only be used to retire debt incurred to purchase interest in real property or in making additional acquisitions of real property for the purpose of securing an open space benefit or benefits under the state law for Open Space Lands Acquisitions and Preservation or the state law known as the Agricultural Area Security Law, or to pay transactional fees which are incidental to acquisitions made in accordance with the state law for open space lands acquisitions and preservation.

Revenue generated by this tax may not be used to acquire real property or interests in real property through condemnation.

Effects

If the majority of the voters of Upper Saucon Township vote in favor of the ballot question and the Township Supervisors enact an ordinance to increase the earned income tax rate, then the Township will use the revenue from the additional tax to:
1. acquire agricultural conservation easements;
2. finance the acquisition of open space;
3. finance the acquisition of land for historic or recreation preservation purposes; and
4.acquire property development rights.

Revenue generated by this tax may not be used to acquire real property or interests in real property through condemnation.