VOL. 88 NO. 48 by Shawn Murphy After a lengthy and occasionally heated school board meeting last Tuesday night, Lake-Lehman School Directors voted 5 to 2 to continue plans for construction of a new elementary building on the site of the present The vote followed comments by a number of persons, including in- dividuals who were opposed to build- ing the new school and those who favored the project. Serving as spokesperson for the Lehman Taxpayers’ Association was Stan Magalski, vice president and secretary of the organization. Magalski questioned the need for a new school, and maintained that a renovation of the existing facility would provide adequate space for the district’s youth from Lake and Noxen Townships. His suggestion that renovations would be less expensive than new construction was challenged by Architect Douglas Trumbower, who The proposed Lake-Noxen Elemen- tary School was discussed at length at the Lehman Taxpayers Association meeting on Wednesday night. Approximately 39 people were in attendance. All attending were op- posed to the new school. The general concensus was that no concrete an- swer has been given as to why the Lake building cannot be repaired to meet existing mandates. These residents of the Lake-Lehman School District said they are opposed to a new school construction because what they consider to be already high millage will be raised even higher. Petitions are being circulated against building the new school until more information concerning renovation of the Lake building can be obtained. Deadline for returning these petitions to the association is Jan. 10, 1979. These petitions will then be pre- sented to the school board. Stanley Magalski, secretary, was authorized to investigate what legal recourse can be taken by the group concerning new school construction. On Thursday, Dec. 28, the Dallas Township Board of Supervisors and the Back Mountain Recreation Council will hold their first annual weiner roast-ice skating party at the newly constructed lake in the new The park is located between Sago Street in Old Goss Manor and Route 309 by the Back Mountain School District. Follow the signs. All residents (kids and parents) are cordially invited! The party will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no admission charge to the park, however, there will be a reasonable charge for refreshments (weiners, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, etc.). This will be a great opportunity for the kids (young and young at heart) to have a good time and to meet their neighbors and friends (and possibly even use their Christmas presents from Santa or Holiday Gifts.) by Barbara Evans At one time Dallas Township maintained a strict policy of ‘‘going it on their own”, without financial help from state or federal agencies. Increasing population, pressures from newly formed local organizations and growing pains have forced the governing fathers to consider succumbing to the ever expanding funding and grantitis! At the bi-monthly meeting of the supervisors it was announced that application would be made for a full- time policeman through the CETA program. James Loftus, executive director of CETA, presented a case for his program following the regular monthly meeting of the supervisors in early December. He noted that a man could be hired for a 78 week period with all of his salary, training and fringe benefits paid by CETA. The patrolman would be a “public service employee” and it would cost the Dallas Township Taxpayers ‘nothing’. The only thing not included would be a retirement program because he would be a ‘transitional employee’. At the end of the 78 weeks, he could be let go or if there was an opening on the force he would be expected to be hired by the township. Then another patrolman could be hired for an additional 78 weeks. He by Tom Mooney An unusually dry summer and fall period has dropped water reserves of the Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company to their lowest levels since the 1964-65 drought, according to a spokesman for the utility. There is a ‘possibility’ that Harveys Lake water would be used to alleviate a shortage, the spokesman acknowledged. Joseph Lubinski, chief engineer for PG&W, said this week that the water company is urging voluntary |con- sumer conservation measures and will be issuing an additional notice on the problem shortly. The last con- servation notice appeared in early October. Good rainfall through December so far, said Lubinski, has helped somewhat. But a dry winter could bring about ‘a water emergency situation. The Huntsville Reservoir, a major supplier of water needs for Wyoming Valley, stood at 61.3 percent capacity as of Saturday, while the entire Springbrook Division, composed of the Huntsville facility and several other sources, was at 55.8 percent. The figures are just four percentage points higher than the drought-period 1964-65 levels. The greater part of the Back Mountain area is supplied with water insisted that a possible $300,000 savings would be consumed by infla- tion’ occasioned by delaying the building project. Trumbower stated that he would feel ‘‘very comfortable’’ having another architectural firm review his findings on the renovation vs. new on this question, Trumbower $10,000. Robert Allardyce, Chase Manor resident, stated that he was ‘not against the new school but against the way it’s being done.” Allardyce asked why the same plans could not be used for the new school as were used for the Lehman- Jackson Building and was informed by Gilbert Tough, board president, that state mandates prevented their being used. School Director Angelo DeCesaris, speaking in favor of the new school, sought to quash discussions of renova- ting the old school by noting that ‘‘we have been told time after time by pro- fessionals not to put money into that building--when do we stop procrastinating? When do we get the needed classrooms? DeCesaris was referring to a study of the district’s school buildings done in 1976 by the architectural firm of Lacy, Atherton and Davis. The study had recommended that ‘‘no funds be invested in the Lake Building except those required by extenuating cir- cumstances.” Despite his insistence that the district move ahead in its plans to build a new school, however, DeCesaris voted against the motion to submit the next set of documents to Harrisburg for approval. He joined Director Ed Mark in voting against more information before approving that step. In other business, the board unani- mously approved installation of an emergency lighting system in the from various smaller private firms drawing largely upon wells. Trucksville, however, is served by PG&W through the Evans Reservolir, now standing at just 61 percent capacity. If an emergency does develop, Lubinski confirmed, there is ‘a possibility”’ that PG&W could draw water from Harveys Lake to serve the needs of its Wyoming Valley customers. A release gate at the lake would permit water to be released into PG&W’s systems. The situation has reportedly im- proved somewhat this month. December so far has seen ap- proximately 1% inches of rain, compared to just about one inch for all of November. Lubinski said that the system’s. water level was up almost But, although the situation has improved somewhat in recent weeks, continued Lubinski, the possibility of danger is still present. “Sometimes in December,”” he continued, ‘‘the system is full or nearly full.” A deep, hard freeze during the upcoming winter months could result in a further drop in water levels and bring about an emergency. While Lubinski would not say that an emergency exists at present, he did urge consumers to be ‘water con- Lake building at a cost of $600. The selection of Michael J. Faillace as industrial arts teacher at the junior and senior high schools was opposed by Director Mark, who noted that he was casting his vote for the candidate for that position who lived at Harveys Lake. Faillace was hired by a vote of 6 to 1. President Tough informed the board that he had not completed re- organization of board committees for the coming year and asked that Directors Paul Crockett and Donald Jones continue to serve as interim representatives to the West Side Vocational-Technical School Board would come under all of the rules and regulations of the township police force and would be subject to them in all matters. Problems in the expanding town- ship are increasing and additional policemen are needed, according to officials. the 1979 budget was passed at the bi-monthly meeting and there was no place where corners could be cut to allow the hiring of another policeman. Officials tend to believe that people would be up in arms should taxes be increased and so there seems to be no alternative. Federal and state grants appear to be the only answer. The township is still battling the PAGE THREE DALLAS, PA. TWENTY CENTS Lae battle of the recreational grant. For two years mountains of paperwork, surveys and ‘applications have brought forth nothing but em- barrassment and aggravation. A grant of $27,000 has been applied for and is still not in the township treasury. There are bills which have not been paid, awaiting the grant. The independent spirit of local government seems to be tested to its capacity through bureaucratic en-: trapment. There seems to be no. alternative but to seek aid. Dallas: Township held out for a commendable ! length of time and was one of the last ‘to go’. ) t 7 1 scious’ and sparing in their use of water. Hew said that PG&W at the moment is trying to eliminate flushing and repair leaks in the system. A ‘‘stronger conservation notice’ would accompany the development of an emergency. “We feel much more confident now,’ said Lubinski of the month’s favorable rainfall. “I would anticipate | we will be safe.” He added that actual | steps to be taken and requested during | any emergency would follow an: evaluation of the seriousness of the situation. i Kingston Township Supervisors announced their proposed budget for 1979 at Wednesday's meeting. Estimated revenue for 1979 is $489,164 while estimated expenditures amount to $482,967. Real estate .tax. will remain at 7 mills. Per capita tax is set at $5. Real estate transfer tax, half of which is shared with the school district, will remain at’ 1 percent. Earned income tax is set at 11» per- cent with the school district receiving secretary Mike Stanley to engage Joseph H. Williams and Company, CPA, to audit books and records of Kingston Township for 1979. A letter from Luzerne’ County Engineer John Churnetski requested the board to accept the ownership and Road. This 1% mile road is a problem for the county to plow during snow- storms due to the fact: that it is not adjacent to any other county roads. Churnetski pointed out that Meadowcrest Road is in good con- dition having been resurfaced three years go. The board passed a resolution to accept Meadowcrest Road. Roadmaster Robert Chamberlin reported that requests from Marilyn Bostock, Bunker Hill resident, and Trucksville PTO for “watch children” signs have been installed. until the regular January school board meeting. A highly laudatory letter from the coaches and booster: club president of the Delaware Valley Field Hockey Team was read aloud by Director Arnold Garinger. The. letter detailed the conduct of members of Lake-Lehman’s girls’ recent bid for the PIAA State Championship. After losing in the first round, the letter writer stated the Knights ‘rallied behind the Delaware Valley girls in such a way that we earnestly believe that they had a substantial fo Denmonj effect on the outcome of the Tour- nament. Their friendship, camaraderie and cheering for their newfound friends from Delaware Valley picked our girls up in their difficult games and made it possible for Delaware Valley to realize their dream of a State Championship.” . Said Garinger: ‘“‘we hear so much about kids when they do things they shouldn't, I think it only right that we should also hear the things they do that are outstanding.” The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be held Jan. 9, 1979, in the Lehman-Jackson Building.
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