page 11 Danav sens = X Back Mountain Real Estate page 12 Vol. 100 No. 2 "A Centennial Edition" Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 18, 1989 25 Cents Newer members of the King- ston Township police force will be making 13.5% more money at the end of 1989 than they were at the start under terms of arbitra- tion awards completed last week. Longer-term members of the de- partment will receive much smaller raises as the new salary schedule attempts to close the gap for new officers faster than under prior plans. The increases will occur in two steps. Officers earning $14,100 annually in 1988 will receive a $900 increase that is retroactive toJanuary 1, 1989; a second raise of $1000 takes ef- fect June 1, so the salary at the end of 1989 will be $16,000. The contract is for three years. The increments in the second and third years will be more modest - $640 on January 1, 1990 and $830 on January 1, 1991. Longer term department mem- bers will receive much smaller raises, on a percentage basis. Chief Paul Sabol gets 4 per cent each year of the contract, Sargeant James Balavage and K-T police get 2-tier raises officer Walter Davis each re- ceive 3 per cent. Other changes in the pact in- clude an increase in the clothing allowance of $25.00 each year; one additional personal day in 1989and 1990, bringing the total to three; and increased sick leave, from 9 to 10 days yearly. Also, sick days may now be accumu- lated up to a total of 30 days, with the Township having to buy back any accumulated days over 30. The officers will also receive vision and dental insurance coverage, but must pay 50 per _ said Friday that he could not yet cent of the latter's cost. In another change that in- coming officers had requested, the probationary period has been lowered from one year to six months, and new officers are given a year after that to take up residence in the Township. Township manager Jeffrey Bax put a price tag on the new agree- ment and that some administra- tive details have yet to be ironed out. But he said, “There is no appeal procedure,” at this point and the arbitrator's decision is final. It's a common tale but true. There are no absolute answers when it comes to measuring things. For example, consider the differ- ence in temperature readings be- tween the thermometer on the Merchants Bank building in Shav- ertown with the one on the Fran- klin First Federal Savings building directly across the street on Rt. 309. Whew...! It could be as much as seven degrees warmer on the north side of Rt. 309, or seven \) degrees colder on the south side. So what's the story? “People do ask” says George Maculloch, branch manager at the Merchants Bank office. “I tell them its just the warmer side of the street.” Continues George, “It's probably because all the nicest and prettiest girls are here.” Speak- ing more seriously he says, “We've had it (the thermometer) checked out by the sign company and it seems to be OK." But George A tale of two thermometers thinks the difference occurs be- cause the thermometer on Mer- chants Bank is nestled next to the sign nearer to the ground than the one on the Franklin First Federal building, which he thinks must be on top of their building. Sandy Mott, branch manager at the Fran- klin First Federal Bank across the : street isn't sure. “I don’t really know why there's a difference.” says Sandy. “The thermometer has just recently been recalibrated by the American Sign and Indicator Company and we think it's right on target. Whatever the reasons are, when it gets really hot or cold people do comment.” And so the saga goes on and on, a few degrees here, seven de- grees there, who can explain the difference? Regardless, ifyoudon't like the weather on either side of Rt. 309 you can, as in the words of Mark Twain, wait awhile and it's sure to change. L-L board will consider attendance policy complaints By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer It may be effective, but the new attendance policy at Lake-Lehman High School isn't popular with everyone. Lake-Lehman School Board members were presented ' with a petition signed by approxi- mately 350 students and parents \ 4 protesting the policy at the Janu- ? : ay 10 board meeting. | But the policy was vigorously defended by Superintendent Dr. Charles Borchetta. He said in his opinion the policy was working well, since from September through December, 1988 absenteeism dropped from 7,028 for those four | months in 1987 to 3,998 for the ' four months in 1988. | “That figure represents an in- | crease of attendance of 43 percent or a decrease in absenteeism of 57 | percent,” Borchetta said. “The high | school administration and staff | support the new policy which is working much better than we had anticipated.” High school student Joann Tregaskis presented the petition to board president Mark Elgaway, who said it would be reviewed by the entire board. “It will be discussed before a committee of the whole meeting and their input requested,” Elga- way said, “and will be on the Feb- ruary board meeting agenda.” of the school "The high school administration and staff support the new policy, which is working much better than we had anticipated.” Dr. Charles Borchetta Lake-Lehman Superintendent Elgaway asked for a representa- tive from the group presenting the petition whom he could contact. Mrs. Glenn Bogardus and Mrs. Betty Newell volunteered as con- tact persons. Mrs. Bogardus said her com- plaint was that the policy implied that a parent couldn't determine whether or not a child was sick, but that the district could send a child home because of illness. She questioned why the district could not accept a parent's excuse as a legal one. She told Elgaway she believed those present deserved an explanation of the policy. Elgaway outlined the specifics of the policy, then asked Superin- tendent Dr. Charles Borchetta to comment. Borchetta explained that the policy had been explained to the high school students in a general assembly at the beginning ear and afterwards, | a copy was distributed to each student to take home to their par- ents or guardians. Borchetta emphasized the due process of a three step procedure concerning students absences and pointed out that if a parent can prove that a child had a valid rea- son for being absent, some of the unauthorized absences could be dismissed. A warning procedure offers several opportunities for parents and students to explain their situation, He said. The policy, which pertains to ninth through 12 grades, permits 16 unauthorized absences in a school year, eight for each semes- ter. If a student has a 17th un- authorized absence in a full year or a ninth absence in a one-semester course, he or she would receive a withdrawal for the course, Borchetta explained. In another matter, John Phillips of Chase asked the board why Lake- Lehman and Northwest were the only two schools in the area which had school on January 2. He said he understood that of 666 stu- dents, 222 were absent. Phillips questioned whether there was much work done that day. “I believe the directors are not in command of the situation,” Phil- lips said. “They shouldn't receive pats on the backs, they are lax. Last Easter I pointed my finger at Borchetta thinking attendance was his fault but I apologize to him tonight. I believe it is the directors’ fault.” Borchetta explained that the school calendar was developed in January and February of the pre- vious year and was coordinated with other districts at that time. “We, not the board, thought the calendar for the school year was well synchronized. At the time the policy to have school January 2, See POLICY, pg 2 Citizens' Council to set committees All interested Back Mountain citizens are urged to attend the meeting of Back Mountain Citi- zens Council, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7 p.m. at Penn State Wilkes-Barre science center. Emphasis will be on setting the agenda for the future of the Back Mountain, according to Nancy, Eckert, council president. Participants will be invited to join committees designated as: Water, Community Education and Social Concerns, Solid Waste, Planning and Zoning, Transporta- tion, Open Space and Recreation, Communications and Municipal Services which include fire, police, and ambulance. Citizens' group wants action on prison water By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer ‘Time is the key factor in keeping the 1,960 inmates at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas(SCID) supplied with a suffi- cient supply of quality water. This is the chief worry and concern of the members of the Jackson Town- ship Citizens Advisory Committee, committee chairperson Pat Rusi- loski told prison officials and area legislators. The water problem was dis- cussed Friday at a meeting with State Representatives Scott Di- etteri. «, George Hasayand Stanley Jarolin, representative Tom Reese for Sen. Charles Lemmond, SCID superintendent Joseph Ryan and committee members. According to Jarolin, it will take anywhere from two to three years for the Department of General Services (DGS) to complete work studies and award construction contracts to connect a water sys- tem between the state institution and Ceasetown Reservoir, owned by PG&W. Rusiloski told Jarolin there is no way the institution could wait 254 lots ok'd "The Back Mountain is not aware of the amount of water being drawn daily at ‘this institution.” Pat Rusiloski Citizens' Advisory Committee that long. “With one well dry, there are more people in this institution drawing off two wells than in the entire surrounding area. The Back Mountain is not aware of the amount of water being drawn daily at the institution,” Rusiloski said. Jarolin said the officials have emphasized in Harrisburg how critical the need for a water system is for the institution. “There is no doubt in my mind that this prison system has an impact on the water supply in the Back Mountain,” he said. The legislators at the meeting and Senator Lemmond will not relax their pressure on DGS to get the project going, according to Sen. ' Hasay, who was in charge of the ce See PRISON, pg 3 in Kingston Township in two years But only 20 units actually constructed By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Ifall the housing units approved in Kingston Township during the past two years are built, the Town- ship would see a building boom of umprecedented proportions. However, so far less than 10 per cent of the approved sites have been developed. According to plans filed with the Township, there were eight major developments approved during 1987 and 1988. While they con- tain a total of 254 lots, only 20 houses have been built or are under construction at this time. The subdivisions are Sunrise Phase II, Woodridge II, Crane's Landing, Cedar Lane Phase I and Phase II, Maple Crest, and Woodside Phase I and Phase II. Jeffrey Box, Kingston Township . manager, explained that approval of a developer's plan does not necessarily mean that the number of homes stipulated are built or ever will be built. For example, almost two years have passed since the Cedar Lane and Summerfield plans were filed and approved, but no permits have been issued for Summerfield and and only five permits issued for Cedar Lane. Arrest near In Kingston Township Police Chief Paul Sabol announced late Tues- day that an arrest was pending in the recent robbery at Burger King in Shavertown. Sabol said a war- rant was issued for a suspect who was expected to be taken into custody late Tuesday night or Wednesday. ; The suspect is thought to be one of two males, who entered the Burger King Restaurant on Route 309, Monday, January 9, at ap- proximately 10:30 p.m., and at The final plan for Sunrise Phase II was approved for 23 homes, but to date only three permits have been issued for actual construc- tion. : Woodridge II, bordering Jackson Township, was approved for 60 lots. The developers are now sell- ing lots, but only one permit for a house has been issued. Crane's Landing, between Carverton Road and Crane Road, was approved for 44 homes; only six building permits have been issued. Summerfield, at 8th Street and Carverton Road, was approved for 14 lots of between one and a half and three and a half acres. No permits have been issued for build- ing. Cedar Lane Phase I and Cedar Lane Phase Il were approved for 27 lots and 15 lots respectively, but only five houses are being or have been constructed there. All utili- ties have been installed in this development, however. Maple Crest was approved for 37 lots, but nothing has yet been done in that development. Woodside Phase | was approved for four lots and four permits were issued for houses that were subse- quently constructed. Woodside Phase II was approved for 30 See GROWTH, pg 3 B'King heist gun point ordered an employee to empty the money from the cash register and put it in a bag. The man fled from the restaurant while the second man went into the kitchen area and at gun point ordered the employees to get down on the floor. He left by the back door and both men fled the area in a late model Ford. Chief Sabol said that Sgt. James Balavage and Officer Michael Moravec were the investigating officers in the case.
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