Easton City Council Welcomes New Planning Director

By Christina Georgiou

George Kinney, Easton's new planning director, told
city council members, "It's great to be back in my home
state of Pennsylvania."

Easton's new planning department director has been on the job for just over a week, but most city council members met Easton's new planning director for the first time Wednesday night.

"It's great to be back in my home state of Pennsylvania," George Kinney told elected city officials.

Kinney, originally from the area, has spent most of his 20-year career as a certified planner out of state, most recently in Florida and in Maryland, though he served for about nine months as Palmer Township's planner in 2008.

Replacing Becky Bradley, who left late last year to head the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Kinney was last the director of community development in St. Pete Beach, FL, beginning in April of 2012 where he was hired to work on the city's redevelopment plan, which included the development of local laws to foster affordable housing, public art, and the collection of improvement fees.

Before that, he was a member of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, and served for about nine months as the head of planning for Palmer Township in 2008.

He was one of nine candidates the city considered for the job and was chosen by the city administrator with the approval of the mayor, in accordance with the city's Home Rule charter.

Kinney told city council members he will have an open door policy while running Easton's planning department and that he hopes to make progress in the coming weeks and months when it comes to furthering the city's goals.

Easton Planning Director Leaving to Take Regional Position

By Christina Georgiou


Becky Bradley, at the ground breaking
ceremony for Easton's new city hall and
transportation center earlier this year.

The City of Easton Planning Director, Becky Bradley, will be leaving her position with the city in mid-July to become the executive director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, it was announced today.

"The loss to the City of Easton is the Lehigh Valley’s gain," said Easton Mayor Sal Panto in a media release. "Her professional training in planning and design was very helpful in the professional application process especially with the amount of economic development taking place."

He touted her accomplishments since taking on the Easton planning department's directorship, citing the adoption of "Smart Code" and her initiative in developing a new Comprehensive Plan for the city.

Bradley has been the city planning department director since 2008, having been promoted to the position after being hired as chief city planner in 2006.

Panto said the city wil immediately begin to search for a new planning and codes department director.

"It is our hope that an individual with her training and caliber of professionalism is found," Panto said.

Promoting current Chief City Planner Brian Gish is not an option, as he has given the city notice that he will be leaving the position in mid-July to pursue a doctorate degree in geology.

The city is reportedly already advertising to fill his position.

Karl Stirner Arts Trail Gets a Spring Cleaning



Volunteers from the College Hill Neighborhood Association, from left to right,
Josh Rae, Liz and Jerry Nissen, Nancy Amacker, and Jim and Christina Helms.
Photo by Becky Bradley

About 40 concerned citizens came together to give some TLC to the Karl Stirner Arts Trail Saturday morning.

Included in the mix were Friends of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, members of the College Hill Neighborhood Association, members of the Delta Upsilon fraternity at Lafayette College, representatives from the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, and even whole families who just enjoy the bit of nature the trail offers in the midst of the City of Easton.



Two volunteers prepare tree protectors for the many young
saplings along the Karl Stirner Arts Trail during the clean up
event on Saturday morning.
Photo by Brian Gish.



 

The second annual spring clean up event was sponsored by the city's planning department, whose staff also got their hands dirty to beautify the trail which included adding tree protection to saplings, picking up trash, and generally sprucing things up for the many residents and visitors who regularly stroll, hike, bike, and fish along the path that skirts the Bushkill Creek.



West Ward resident Jim Bloom, Chief City Planner
(and Downtown resident) Brian Gish, and Charles Elliot,
a Downtown business owner, College Hill resident
 and chairman of the Easton Planning Commission,
take a moment to admire the results of their labor.
Photo by Becky Bradley.




One young volunteer noted that while the event was planned and organized by adults, kids such as himself make a serious contribution that shouldn't be underestimated.

"Kids are more efficient than adults because adults just watch the news and drink beer," he reportedly told Chief City Planner Brian Gish.


  

Volunteers Owen Amacker, 8, Georgina Amacker, 5, and
Bianca Sessegilo, 11, take a brief break from their trail clean
up efforts Saturday morning.
Photo by Becky Bradley.



And, while the Karl Stirner Arts Trail has been open for nearly two years and even includes a dog park for the city's canine residents and their humans to enjoy, there are still more improvements that have been recently completed and coming in the near future.

The public is invited to a celebration of the trail's new Grace Gate this Tuesday, April 23, at 2 p.m.

The gate was designed and executed by renowned sculptor Willie Cole.

Parking will be available at the Lafayette College parking lot at the corner of North Third Street and Snyder Street, with shuttle service to the event site.

In case of rain, check www.easton-pa.gov for details on an alternate location for the celebration.

For those that missed the event and wish to contribute to city beautification, there is a citywide clean up event planned for next weekend, on Saturday, April 27.

Arts Trail Cleanup Seeks Volunteers

Click on the map for a better view.

Many people use the Karl Stirner Arts Trail to run, bike, stroll, walk their dogs, fish, and just generally enjoy a bit of nature along the banks of the Bushkill Creek, and now  that spring has arrived, the City of Easton Planning Department wants to ensure it looks good for the season.

The Second Annual Karl Stirner Arts Trail Spring Cleanup event is set for Saturday, April 20, from 8:30 to 11 a.m., and volunteers are needed to help with the effort to rid the trail of bits of trash that have accumulated over the winter.

The City of Easton will provide garbage bags and gloves for volunteers, who can sign in to the event at the blue bridge off of Bushkill Drive or at the North 13th Street entrance.

Parking for the clean up event is also provided nearby, at the trail's North 13th Street entrance and at 500 Bushkill Street (near Safe Harbor).

Advice for volunteers from last year's cleanup includes wearing long sleeves and long pants, wearing work or garden gloves, and bringing a filled water bottle.

In case of rain, the cleanup will be postponed until the next day, on Sunday, April 21, from 8:30 to 11 a.m.

Those not available on April 20 who would still like to contribute to the trail cleanup effort are welcome to bring their own garbage bag and collect trash any time. Bags can be left in any of the trail's garbage cans or carried out.

If trash cans along the trail are full, the planning department asks that people let them know at 610-250-6721.

The first of several events for the season along the trail is set for Tuesday, April 23 at 2 p.m., when the dedication of "Grace Gate" by artist Willie Cole will take place. The public is invited.

To directly view or download the clean up event flyer, with a map for volunteers, click here.

For more information about the trail and future events planned for the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, call the phone number above or visit the Friends of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail Facebook page.