The Washington Township Board of Supervisors voted on Thursday night to move forward with a settlement agreement of three separate lawsuits filed in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas against the township by developer Richard Mingey. 

            The settlement must be consistent with discussions held in the courtroom.

            On July 8th, Berks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Madalyn Fudeman mandated there must be a settlement of the three lawsuits filed by Richard Mingey.  Mingey has appealed actions and decisions rendered by Washington Township.  Judge Fudeman consolidated the three cases into one action.

            The developer, through his various entities which include Barto Industries, Barto Mall, and Kelly Builders/Shadeland Development, appealed a denial by the board of a conditional use to erect a clubhouse on land he owns along Kutztown and Schwenkenfelder roads. 

            In another case, the developer sued the township for a breach of its sewer and water agreement.  Additionally, the developer challenged the validity of Washington Township's enactment of an ordinance that revised its zoning map.  The developer owns several tracts of land that would be impacted by a settlement.

            Township Solicitor Joan London explained the settlement proposal would ...

            A medical office in Pennsburg that changed hands last year is poised to undergo significant renovations. Last week, a contractor hired by the Lehigh Valley Health Network paid $38,715 in fees to complete upgrades at a facility at property at 101 West Seventh St. The network is planning $3 million worth of improvements, according to information provided by council President Diane Stevens.

            Marc Breidenbach, the director of design and construction for the Lehigh Valley Health Network, is listed as the property owner on the permit application. Grand View Medical Practices Ob-Gyn previously operated at the property, which had been owned by the Upper Perkiomen Medical Association since 1993, according to information on the county's website.

            The new facility marks the network's initial foray into Montgomery County. Patients have expressed a preference to accessing its services closer to home, according to an email message from Brian Downs, the Lehigh Valley Health Network's public information officer.

            "Specific details are being discussed and once we have those finalized we will announce the services that will be available in that location and when," Downs wrote in the message received Wednesday morning.

            Jerdon Construction, of Allentown, submitted applications to municipal officials on July 8. Multiple permits were issued to the company on July 20, according to copies of the borough's building and zoning application.

            The contractor plans numerous enhancements for the two-story structure. They include ...