BRIGHTON BOX 336, TA KE ER VOL. 87 NO. 36 A Members of the Dallas School Board approved survey of local students proposed by the Back Mountain Drug and Alcohol Abuse Council at a special board meeting Tuesday night. Earl Fritizges, board member, recommended that the council be allowed to conduct its survey through grades fifth to 12 with the stipulation that extreme caution be taken in obtaining parental and student con- sent and that responsibility rest with Q slips with both the signature of the student ana tne parent or parents, or guardian in lieu of parents. Fritzges asked that these permission slips be returned to the school thus signifying consent. The district will handle the mechanics of distributing and collecting the permission slips on behalf of the council. School Solicitor Ben Jones III ex- plained that the board’s concern was with the new Juvenile Rights Act due to the absence of any case law or any state or federal opinions. The approval was seven to one with director William Price voting no. The Hon. Daniel J. Flood will be imprisoned from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Monday, Oct. 11 at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas. Charges listed against the congressman are guest of honor of the Centurion Jaycees, and lending his support to raise money for the fight against muscular dystrophy. Congressman Flood has agreed to appear at the institution to assist the alenturion Jaycess, a prison chapter, "Sh their effort to raise funds for the muscular dystophy organization. The Jerry Lewis Telethon held each Labor Day is the main source of revenue for muscular dystrophy. However, thousands of civic groups each year stage a carnival to raise money. The Centurion Jaycees said they feel that they are a part of the community, and as such, have certain obligations not only to their own community but the communities which surround them. For the first time in the history of the Pennsylvania Prison System, the authorities have granted permission for the chapter to conduct a fundraising drive for the fight against MD by the sale of food which will be cooked in the yard. The inmates of the institution have placed their orders in advance but invited guests from the media and other Jaycee chapters may purchase their food that day. There will be live music provided by three groups from the institution, track and field events, basketball tournaments, and sandwiches and vevergges. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day until 3 p.m. Regional Jaycee chapters such as Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will be represented as well as other chapters and representatives of the various newspapers, radio and television media. General chairman of the fundraising is Joseph Quinlan. Robert Jones is president of the Centurion Chapter and E.F. Savage of the institution is the coordinator. Ernest Ashbridge, president of the board, stated that he was opposed to the survey in the beginning because See Page 9 he could not get an answer from the council on what they were going to do with the survey, but that he was not trying to hide anything. William Dierolf, board member, stated that although a Sweet Valley newspaper indicated the board feared the results of the survey, this was not the case since he and several other board members had indicated they already knew there was a problem. Mrs. Donald Watchulonis, president of Dallas Borough PTO, presented the board with a petition requesting that old Dallas Borough School, a frame structure located on the school grounds adjacent to the present Dallas Borough Elementary School, structure is considered a hazard, with broken glass, rotted steps and splintered wood; that the Kin- dergarten and first and second grade students play on the swings and other playground equipment directly under the windows of the building. Dierolf will contact the fire com- panies and seek their cooperation in using the building for training schools, if the board is able have part of the building razed. He will report to Richard Hislop, chairman of the board’s property committee, who in turn will try to reslove the issue with officers of the Dallas Borough PTO and other parents. The general meeting ofyfhe Dallas Scheol Distriet will be Oct. 11, 8 p.m. at the Dallas Senior High School. “We are not moving to Florida, nor has Ray gone,” said Mrs. Ray Titus in a conversation with a Post reporter this week. ‘Rumors to the contrary, Ray has placed his applications with a number of places (in the area) and will continue to do so.” “My sister has been here visiting The tradition of town meetings was revived last Sunday when more than fifty residents of the Dallas area met at the Dallas Junior High School to the area. The town meeting was sponsored by the Dallas Junior Woman’s Club in conjunction with the Pennsylvania University as a continuing education service. Keynote speakers included Col. William Dierolf, representive of the Dallas School Board, Mrs. Sylvia Hughes, representing Dallas borough. Kit Karuza for Kingston Township and Chuck Bouton for Penn State- Wilkes-Barre Campus. The representative from Dallas township was unable to attend. The speakers informed the group of present facilities available for public use in each area, of recreation programs presented and of future plans for recreation. They noted that school properties throughout the area were being utilized year round for township-sponsored programs, adult education and recreation courses, Little League, youth sports clinics, etc. Both Penn State and College Misericordia have facilities available also. The school district is presently investigating funding for the addition complex. Dallas Township presently has no township recreation program but does own land that could possibly be developed for recreation purposes. Dallas Borough is unique in being * the smallest municipality and having two recreation areas, one on Burn- dale Road and a mini-park under construction at the corner of Hunt- sville Road and Waters St. Volunteer this Saturday. Kingston Township is developing a community park to be located at the Land clearing and grading should begin in the near future. However, the lack of sufficient funds may necessitate the use of volunteers to complete the park. After hearing the speakers, the audience divided into four groups (Dallas School District, Dallas Twp., Dallas Borough, and Kingston Twp.) where they could discuss the problems and possible solutions for each area. Discussion groups were guided by leaders trained for this specific purpose by Penn State. Discussion leaders included Al Craft, Gerry Gregory, Walter Royall, and Fred Stefon. ; After an hour of discussion, the groups reassembled for refreshments and to hear the reports from each group. The consensus of opinion from each group included the following points. The group felt that there was suf- ficient interest throughout the com- munity for the construction of a school swimming pool but realized the problem of lack of funding for con- struction and maintenance. It was suggested that a family membership fee for evening and weekend use be established to cover maintenance costs and that a bike-a-thon could possibly be held to raise monies. Participants also suggested that the adult education classes that were cut from this year’s budget could be continued if participants would be willing to pay a nominal fee. Plans were discussed to develop the acreage behind the school into tennis courts, obstacle course, ball fields, etc. Coin- operated lighting was suggested for the school tennis courts. It was suggested that a community- wide council of local officials be formed to plan recreation facilities throughout the area and that a community-wide council of service club representatives could be formed to assist it. The Back Mt. Bicentennial Council representative felt that his group could be developed into a recreation commission for the area. The Dallas Township residents plan to form a Citizen’s Advocacy Group to promote recreation council for that area. Dallas Borough residents asked for volunteer help to finish their minipark and improve landscaping at the Burndale site. Funds for fencing the minipark and a backboard of the Burndale tennis courts is needed. Kingston Twp. residents are asked to support the five-man recreation committee and to attend their meetings on the third Monday of each month at the township building. Kingstown Township Little League and Girls'softball teams need practice fields. Residents of Kingston Twp. expressed hope that the Center Street park construction be underway shortly and that miniparks throughout the township will be a future project. It was the consensus of the entire group that the solution to the recreation problems of the Dallas area can only be found if officials and townspeople from all the townships and boroughs come together to work for that common goal. It was decided (Continued on page four) . from Tampa and she has wanted us to come down to visit her and her family but’ we had decided against that before Ray resigned.” Mrs. Titus was referring to her hus- band’s recent resignation as chief of police of Dallas Borough due to ‘‘per- sonal reasons’. She said that she wished that he had not turned in his resignation but that once Ray had decided to do so that was it. The former police chief had been with the borough in that position for nearly eight years. His resgnation has been the basis for widespread rumors which have not been helped by the confirmation or denial of such rumors on the part of the council members. Titus’ resignation was read at last week’s council meeting and unani- mously accepted by the members. Despite questions, no explanation was offered at that time and none has been given since for public release. Ac- ceptance of the resignation removed the issue from council’s jurisdiction, according to Council President Jerry Machell, speaking at last week’s meeting. District Attorney Patrick Toole and District Magistrate Leonard Harvey said they knew of no charges having been filed in connection with the resignation. District Attorney Toole stated that his door is always open to any citizen who has a basis for charges in any case. Quality ; of design ..see p. 4 The majority four of Harveys Lake borough council reaffirmed their decision against any borough development of property at Sandy Beach during a borough planning commission meeting last Friday night. The commission also proposed a Sunset location for a new borough building. Despite the strong pleas of Mayor William Connolly to at least give the Sandy Beach proposal serious study, ‘Councilmen Andy Morgus, Guy Giordano, Bob DeRemer and Margaret Purcell rejected the site, calling the acquisition and development too costly and unfair to other resident property owners in the borough. Backers of the Sandy Beach proposal, Council President Robert Wintersteen, .and councilmen Jack MacManus and William Sherksnas did not attend the planning meeting. The meeting had been publicly announced in legal ads in three area newspapers but no individual invitations were issued, according to Commission Chairman Giordano. The reaffirmed rejection of the Sandy Beach proposal came after lengthy discussion. Connolly’s pleas were directed toward securing council investigation of the potential site. He said he believed council majority vote at the September meeting constituted an ‘improper action of council.” Giordano rebutted the mayor’s contention, speaking for the majority and saying the group did not want the matter to proceed beyond the point it had already reached. The councilman also claimed Council President Wintersteen had taken an action ‘hostile to the majority” following the September meeting when he filed an application for federal grant for the Sandy Beach acquisition despite the 4-3 vote against proceeding further. Giordano said the action could “seriously damage the borough's chance for a grant since the applications were forwarded and filed.” He said the borough’s planning consultants, a Nanticoke firm, advised that, if withdrawn, the recreation grant application could lose its priority for federal funding. Lake resident Andy Sordoni discounted the consultant’s statement, noting that he believed it regain priority consideraticn with congressional help. He urged the councilmen to disregard ‘‘false pressures of form and time.” Another aspect of the Sandy Beach location which drew considerable comment was the status of three easements, held by up to 400 lot owners in adjoining areas, which were reported to oblige about 48 feet of the site. Area residents reasserted the easement property claim but also asked planner for consideration of Sandy Beach improvements so the easements could be used. Giordano recommended that easement holders band together and improve the lake access at Sandy Beach as a cooperative effort, saying he would support a borough measure to provide legal assistance with such a project. . Over the objections of Mayor Connolly, who called the suggestion meaningless, Giordano asked for a poll of the citizens attending the meeting on the issue of Sandy Beach. Giordano said that, since the meeting was publicly advertised, the attendance represented those who cared enough to attend the discussion The poll occur: _u on a motion from the floor by Frank Burnside, a local resident, and not only called for a rejection of the Sandy Beach plan but also a restraint by council against any major “commitment to burden the taxpayer until the cost of the sewer system becomes known.” Residents attending supported the motion by approximately 55-5 on a vote by show of hands. Giordano then proposed an alternate site for a new borough building, which Sandy Beach backers had intended for the recreation site. He recommended a location at Sunset, on land adjoining the present sewer authority building. 2 Giordano said available vacant easily accessible land that needed a “face lifting’ could be obtained by the borough. Mayor Connolly adamantly opposed the site, noting that flooding was a probability at the site. Giordano acknowledged that he too had some reservations about the drainage on the site but asked that the subsoil at least be evaluated by professional engineers. A resident Idetown if the lower site was not suitable for construction. One resident urged that property having the least value for taxation be considered by the borough. Another asked how the borough planned to borough building, noting that federal financing would not apply to land acquisition. : Giordano said surplus funds budgeted for another project could be applied to the land acquisition. He asked for another poll of the citizens attending the meeting. < Approximately 54-6 favored a study of the Sunset site, according to a show of hands. oN
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