PAGE TWO
(Continued from P. 1)
When asked if they believed the
project was a mistake, Dallas
Township supervisors emphatically
said “No.”
“It’s really nice, down there,”
said Glenn Howell.
“We put stuff out there that the
kids could use whenever they want
to;*=said Walters. “We made it as
maintainance free as possible.”
To all appearances, that govern-
ing body had the right idea. Encour-
aged by the volunteer Back
Mountain Recreation Commission
A casual observer might consider
the Harveys Lake Borough Council
meeting ‘‘true democracy in ac-
tion,” or wish, ¢n the other hand,
that this body would face the public
with at least some knowledge of the
aetion items which might be pre-
sented. It appears some members
prefer to save bombshells for the
public’ forum, making it more a
battlefield than a business meeting.
Watchers of .such public actions
might find Council’s meeting more
entertaining than some, where it
appears voting procedures have
been rehearsed in advance.
Still, last Tuesday it was admitted
eous of governing bodies some of
the dramatics were staged.
Following a long and heated argu-
ment, with motions and votes to
table those motions, legaleze from
Solicitor Joseph Kasper and much
name calling, Councilman Joseph
Ruotolo completely cancelled his
idea to .serve notice on two mem-
(what’s that?), and guided through
reams of governmental red tape by
Leonard Ziolkowski, the township
took its share of recreational funds
provided by the Office of Com-
munity Development and the
Department of Community Affairs.
The original land was donated to
the township for recreational pur-
poses by the McHenry Estate.
Several additional lots were pro-
cured to provide esier access to the
park. To the contrary, no access to
to live in that section of the
bers of the Zoning Board. Ruotolo
appeared determined to give
Richard Myers and Francis Kopko
15 days notice that a vote would be
taken concerning their dismissal
from the zoning board. When
pressed for spcific charges, Ruotolo
gave none saying only that he
believed they had improperly
granted a variance.
The entire issue was apparently
dropped when solicitor Kasper said
the civil rights of the two men could
be jeopardy. “I'm against this
whole procedure,” he explained. “I
think you're on dangerous
At this point, Ruotolo withdrew
his motion, saying he had gained his
purpose.
Another surprise issue turned out
to be a $150 expenditure for locks
and keys which Councilman John
Coulton refused to vote on payment.
The lock on Borough secretary
Miriam Mitchell’s desk, several
Township. The park is off Route 309
and Sago Street across from the en-
trance to New Goss Manor. It was
of any Back Mountain community,
but its secret location might
prevent universal attendance.
On paper, the picture of a shaded
place for families to relax, children
to swing, youths to play ball or ice
skate in the winter, is an enticing
one. After two years, however,
appears to be vandalism, over-
grown equipment and the marshy
remnants of a pond.
battlefield
and the Rec Center were changed
by Lake Lock.
Mitchell said the locks were
changed after a borough policeman
found the office in disarray with the
door open. Coulton challenged her
| : » ; 4 alk }
POLKA MASS-Pennsylvania Merrymakers played for
the Polka Mass last Sunday at Our Lady of Victory
Church, Warden Place, Harveys Lake. The Mass proved
explanation, demanding a: police
report of the incident and a com-
plete breakdown of the job done by
Lake Lock. Included in the change
to be popular with residents of the Lake and outside the
area.
were seven keys to the Rec Center,
four to the filing cabinets. and one
for Mitchell’s desk. Coulton also
demanded a listing of those holding
the keys.
“It’s a small price to pay for
privacy,’ said Mitchell. A motion to
pay all bills except Lake Lock was
passed, a separate move to vote
funds to cover that charge received
the inevitable ‘‘table’’” from
Councilman Gifford Cappellini. The
issue was finally set aside for
discussion at the group’s next work
session.
Neighbors of = Tom
Payne, Ash | Street,
Harveys Lake, will have
to find some other method
of removing him from his
home, as Borough of-
ficials have exhausted
every effort. Borough
secretary, Miriam Mit-
chell, contacted the
he,
© RUGS
¢ BARS
Luzerne County Health
Department to inspect
Payne's residence, only to
be informed Harveys
Lake is not in that office’s
jurisdiction. The State
Health Department was
also of no help as it is only
authorized to involve
itself in situations con-
cerning raw sewage.
‘At this point, it is up to
to find some way of
getting him, out,” said
Mitchell. “As far as the
borough is concerned, he
is completely within his
rights.”
Payne was the subject
of discussion at last
week’s borough council
meeting. Residents from
the ara requested the
concerning his living
conditions. The 58-year-
old retired Conrail em-
ployee lives in a home
which is badly rundown.
He cooks out of doors,
often using shingles from
the porch for fuel. Neigh-
bors questioned whether
he had indoor plumbing, a
fact which he conformed
when several borough
officials visited him last
Thursday.
Council president,
Bruce Anderson, council
man Frank Coulton and
Mayor Frank Picchi spent
three minutes at Payne’s
home going no further
than the livingroom. They
found some unorthodox
surroundings, but a work-
ing television testified to
electrical service.
On June 2, Payne ap-
plied for a permit in the
/ 500 Kidder St.
BOYS'-MEN'S-GIRLS'
i List $79.97
GIRLS’ —
Values
to
amount of $2,000 to repair
‘the home and porch.
Mitchell said as buildgg
inspector she is respo
ible to issue the permit
and insure that he is
trying to make repairs.
Chief Lionel Bulford
originally joined Mitchell
on her first inspection of
the premises. ‘The man
is working. He has
painted and he is not in
violation of any borough
ordinance,” she ex-
plained.
In lieu of its own health
officer, the borough ap-
plied to the county for
help in making a deter-
safety status of the
residence. The last health
officer was former police
chief, Waldrich Lienthall.
Since his retirement, the
state requires local health
officers to pass a course
on the subject before
becoming certified.
member “of the com-
munity has come forw
to take that responsibility.
“I suspect that even a
health officer would find it
hard to say that he’s in
violation of anything,”’
said Mitchell.
Payne’s neighbors look
upon his home as a safety
hazard, however. They
want him removed and
taken care of properly.
Mitchell believes both
Council and the citizens
have been looking to her
at the end of her re
sources.
‘“‘He pays his taxes. His
sewer fees are up to date,
and his permit is paid up.
in better shape
financially than some
people with $85,000
N.E.PA.
CAR
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CARE
PAGES 13-18
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LEATHER WHITE /BLUE
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Phone 822- 6362
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