EE | Williams. 2 The Dallas Post NEWS Sunday, October 26, 2003 LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL BOARD Budget dominates school board races By KALEN CHURCHER For The Post With eight candidates and three incumbents battling for five open Lake-Lehman School Board seats, the only certainty for the School District is change. Newcomer Mark Kornoski, 52, said those changes should occur in teachers contracts and health-care costs, including re- quiring a co-pay. “You have to at least look into it,” said Kornoski, of Har- veys Lake. Kornoski, a Democrat, faces crossfiled incumbent Lois Kopcha of Noxen and Republi- can taxpayer advocate Jeff Pauley for one of two seats available in Region 1. Unfinished science and in- dustrial arts labs, a faulty roof and other smaller construction projects have all but forced the School Board to take out a loan, Kornoski said. However, once those projects are com- plete, spending must be curbed, he said. Pauley, 46, agrees a loan ap- pears to be an unfortunate ne- cessity to put students back in classrooms. He criticized the School District’s business man- ager for not making budget re- ports easily accessible to the School Board. “Theyre not getting the in- formation they need,” the Nox- en resident said. “I was person- ally shocked that they kept (business manager Kathleen) Williams on when her contract came up.” In Region 2, Democrat in- cumbent Chuck Boytin faces Republican James Welby and Harold Cornell Jr., with Cornell securing Democratic and Re- publican bids by cross-filing in the primary. Two seats are open. Welby, 55, said he questions budget reports given by “Iwo and two is four no mat- ter which way you add it up,” Welby said. “Pm not question- ing the business manager per se ... but something has run amok.” The Lehman Township resi- dent said the School District must not lose sight of its first purpose — educating students. To do that, teachers must be given proper materials and fa- cilities. Welby suggests open- ing communication between teachers, principals and the School Board. Boytin, 49, said it is nearly impossible to accurately dis- cuss the budget because the state has not announced its contributions. However, Lake- Lehman is in better shape than some other districts, he said. “We are still paying our bills. We may not have all the an- swers to where we are at, but we are still fortunate enough to be able to pay our bills on time,” said Boytin, of Sweet Valley. One of the biggest challenges Boytin anticipates for the next few years is maintaining quali- ty education without laying the total burden on the taxpayers. Democrat Robert Peron bat- tles Republican incumbent Joseph Kapitula for the sole available seat in Region 3. Both men are from Jackson Town- ship. Peron admits he is unsure how dire the School District’s financial status is. Whatever the situation, junior-senior high school construction projects must be complete. “You've got to look at what needs to be done, and there may be some things that need to be put on hold,” said Peron, of Jackson Township. “Unfortu- nately, you may end up having to raise taxes.” Peron, 42, said it is easy to place blame on past adminis- trations for financial problems and incomplete projects, but the board must focus on the fu- ture. Kopcha, Cornell, and Kapitu- la could not be reached for comment. Haunted Forest is extended Due to the popularity of the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Government Association’s Haunted Forest, two extra dates have been added to the original schedule. The forest will be open from 7-10:45 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 29 and 30. A $5 per person entrance fee includes approximately 40 minutes of scary fun in the haunted forest, the haunted mansion, and on a haunted hayride. All proceeds benefit the Four Diamonds Fund for children with cancer at the Hershey Medical Center. Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Post OP St | tt | Welt. || Wenn. — | Vot—" | Sout || SOS_—_ | Soar. wm" || o—— ep ve | p———p "l used to work at a nursing home. Now I work with lawyers and make a lot more money. You can too." Amy Fanti, Legal Secretary, Wilkes-Barre Make More Money This Year As A Legal Secretary * Day & Evening Classes * Job Placement Assistance For Qualified Graduates * Financial Aid For Those Who Qualify One phone call can change your life forever. Call Now! ALLIED MEDICAL & TECHNICAL CAREERS 1-877-AMTC-NOW ( ; * Exciting Hands-On Training or 288-8400 Licensed by the PA Department of Education LEGAL SECRETAR POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK Small trees remain on the hillside off Sago Street in Dallas Township that was clearcut this summer. The property owner has taken remediation steps to stop runoff, but has not filed an Erosion and Sediment Plan with the Luzerne County Conservation District. Erosion plan still not filed By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — The de- veloper who was found in viola- tion of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law for improper clear cutting on Sago Street has not yet submitted a plan that was first requested in August. Dave Moss of the Luzerne County Conservation District said October 21 that the Ero- sion and Sediment Control Plan requested by his office to be received by September 1, has not been filed. The September 1 date was an extension given by the coun- ty office after the plan was not received by an August 21 due date. The August date was as- signed after Dombroski had been found in violation of the PA Clean Streams Law for fail- ing to protect a nearby Toby’s Creek tributary when trees were removed from his proper- The Erosion and Sediment Control Plan should have been submitted prior to cutting. Dombroski had the area clear cut in August to prepare it for home building. Moss said other required reparations to the property to prevent erosion and run-off problems have been made. Further work at the site is not permitted until a Sediment Control and Erosion Plan has been submitted and approved by the Luzerne County Conser- vation District. Supervisors quiz developer on roads By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff DALLAS TWP. - At the Oc- tober 21 meeting, Township Supervisors asked the develop- er of the proposed Goodleigh Manor subdivision off Lake Catalpa Road to make changes - to streets so that plowed snow doesn’t block driveways. “Where do you put the snow on a cul-de-sac?” asked Supervi- sor Frank Wagner, who spent many years as roadmaster. He and Supervisor Phil Walter said driveways that enter cul-de- sacs tend to get blocked by snow, resulting in complaints to the township. There are four such streets in the develop- ment, each with four to six driveways off them. Developer Jim Comes of Landview Properties asked if a “hammerhead” layout, in which a square or rectangular area re- places a circle at the end of a Heating & Air Conditioning “NOW ACCEPTING NEW CUSTOMERS” Service - Installations - Tune-ups Gas - Oil - Air Conditioning street, would be preferable. The Supervisors said it would be, as long as there was ade- quate space to turn around a plow truck. Comes said he would consult with the town- ship engineer and “work some- thing out.” = Comes has yet to make a for- mal application to develop the land, but has asked the Supervi- sors and Planning Commission for direction before submitting a plan. If built, Goodleigh Manor will contain 74 lots on 250 acres, with access on both ends off Lake Catalpa Road. Comes said homes would have a mini- mum of 2,400 square feet of liv- ing space, with individual wells and septic systems. The Supervisors also dis- cussed raising the fine for ille- gal parking from its present $5. Police Chief Robert Jolley said one offender had told him it . was cheaper to pay a few days’ | 24 Hour Emergency Service | ~¥ "FF = = = &8 FB = 8 &8 5B =B _&8 FB FB J 283-5950 OR 696-3831 fines than to hire a tow truck to pull his car out of a snow bank. Wagner suggested a fine of $15 for the first offense and $25 thereafter. The township solici- tor will be asked to draft a reso- lution to that effect. Parking is banned on all township streets between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. until the end of April. In other business, the super- visors: e Approved a motion to re- duce the letter of credit re- quired from the developer of the Overbrook Farms subdivi- sion off Overbrook Road from $512,205 to $305,426. Howell said the township engineer had inspected the project and found that enough work had been properly completed to justify the reduction. e Changed the date of the next meeting to Monday, Nov. 3, due to the election Now. 4. Deadlocke | preserves business manager’s contract Staff report LEHMAN TWP. — The School Board deadlocked Oc- tober 21 on a motion to not re- new the employment contract for Lake-Lehman School Dis- trict Business Manager Kath- leen Williams. Board member Angelo DeCesaris made a motion not to renew Williams’ contract when it expires next ye Joseph Kapitula’s absence fr the meeting created the tie, though the motion could ap- pear on a future agenda. “How in your right mind can you vote not to terminate this?” asked DeCesaris, one of several School Board members who have questioned Williams’ work. “We have to look out for the best interest of the School District.” According to the contract, the agreement is “automatical- ly renewed” unless, at least 150 days prior to its expira- tion, the board informs Williams otherwise. Solicitor Charles Coslett stressed the motion was not a “termination resolution” for Williams. Instead, it required her contract be renegotiated before it expires next year. Besides a salary of more than $72,000, contract perks include: complete reimburse- credits per year; 20 vacati days per year; and an early re- tirement incentive. Represented by attorney David Tomaszewski, Williams said little at the meeting. Tomaszewski, however, ques- tioned why the School Board could not wait until new mem- bers come aboard to vote. Five School Board seats are open in the Nov. 4 election. He also ar- gued Williams’ contract “does not expire until 2006, rather than 2004. DeCesaris, James Mahon, Sheila Gionfriddo and Lois ment for tuition costs, up to 3 Kopcha voted not to Toni) the contract. Moderno Rossi Charles Balavage, Michelle Coombs and Charles Boytin voted to keep the status quo. In other business: e Board members will con- tinue Tuesday’s meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 in the music room of the Lehman-Jackson Ele- mentary School. Refurbish- ment of science and industrial arts rooms will be discussed. 696-0380 Dallas, PA 18612 “HOME. AUTO. LIFE. TALK TO A REAL, LIVE PERSON WHO'S IN THE SAME PHONE BOOK AS YOU. Edward Donahue, Jr. 405 N. Memorial Highway Alistate Property and Casualty insurance Company. Allstate Indemnity Company and Allstate Life Insurance Company, Home Office: Northbrook, Hinois. © 2002 Alistate Insurance Company ME. @ You're in good hands. Allstate. @ TIMESeLEADER by to order. THE POST 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 * 570-675-5211 any misunderstandings created by a story. Call 675-5211. Have a story idea? Please call, we'd like to hear about it. Letters: The Post prints letters of local interest. Send letters to: Editor, The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. All letters must be signed and include a phone number at which we can reach the author. Deadline is Noon, Tuesday prior to publication. Want a photo that has appeared? We can provide color prints of pho- : tos taken by our staff. Prices: 5x7 - $12; 8x10 - $15. Call, mail in, or stop POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Post, 15 N. 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