Police: Oaks Man Forged Signatures to Get Speed Bumps Installed

An Oaks man was arrested on Wednesday after police say he forged signatures and bilked Upper Providence Township into financing a nearly $5,000 traffic calming plan its residents didn’t support.

Edward Peter Fern, 57, faces charges of forgery, theft by deception, and related charges stemming from the alleged fraud.

According to Upper Providence Township Police, in 2010, Fern submitted an application for traffic calming measures on Gumbes Road, where he lives. In accordance with township policy, as the applicant, Fern was responsible for handing out surveys to 54 properties in the affected area and demonstrating that 70 percent of them supported traffic calming measures in the area.

In February of this year, Fern submitted a survey indicating that he had gotten enough signatures to justify the measure and the township installed speed bumps, pavement markers, and signage at a cost of $4,865.54.

The affected residents soon spoke up though. Eight filed complaints that their names were forged or their responses misrepresented. One resident whose response was included is dead.

A subsequent investigation by Upper Providence Police determined that Fern, when he realized he could not get sufficient support for the traffic calming measures, faked it.

Fern was arraigned on October 24. He waived the right to a preliminary hearing.