2 The Post NEWS Sunday, November 16, 2003 By ERIN YOUNGMAN Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN — Be- cause of restricted state grants, .a regional master plan pro- posed by the Back Mountain Council of Governments (COG) has been postponed. Two weeks ago, COG mem- bers decided to split the plan in half and begin the first half im- mediately. But the entire plan is now on hold until the COG finds out whether it will be awarded a $50,000 Land Use Planning and Technical Assistance Program grant (LUPTAP). The decision was made to prevent harming the group’s chances to obtain the grant needed to complete the project, said Joe Moskovitz, Dallas Bor- ough Manager and coordinator of the COG. The regional plan is being undertaken by Dallas Borough and Dallas, Kingston and Lehman townships to assess several pressing regional issues, traffic, water supply and land use. Moskovitz said Cindy Camp- bell, of the Department of Com- munity and Economic Develop- ment (DCED), the granting body, explained last week that before awarding any grant mon- ey, her department would want to see three things. First, that the four participating munici- palities, are financially commit- ted. Second, that they have matching funds available (not spent), and third, that the group apply for the grant with an entire regional plan, not half of one. The plan to cut the regional assessment in half and conduct the first half immediately, was made assuming that the group could go ahead using the mu- nicipalities’ already committed monies and then complete the second half when, and if they received the grant. Campbell explained DCED’s requirement, “We want to see an application that would result in one comprehensive plan, not two separate pieces.” The group would have also harmed its chances of receiving the grant award if a portion of the matching money was spent, regardless of whether the mon- ey had been used for the proj- ect. “We can spend all the money we want,” said Moskovitz, “(However) funds expended by the municipalities prior to grant approval will not be counted toward our matching portion.” : Once the COG receives n tice that it has been awarded the grant money, it can begin to Supervisors okay study over crowd’s objections By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff KINGSTON TWP. — Going against the overwhelming sen- timent of the audience, the township supervisors voted 3-2 Wednesday to commit $17,000 of the 2004 budget for partici- pation in a regional master plan study commissioned by the Back Mountain Area Council of Governments (COG). But later in the evening, the entire budget was rejected. It will be taken up again at a spe- cial meeting that township Manager Eddie O'Neill antici- pated would take place some- time around Thanksgiving. The funds would be com- bined with contributions from other COG member municipali- ties, and would pay half the cost of the study. The firm of Kise, Straw and Kolodner has been selected to conduct the study, but no contract has been signed. Frank Wagner, Chairman of the COG, and Joe Moskovitz, the Dallas Borough Manager who has spearheaded the effort for a master plan, both ad- dressed the supervisors before the vote. “No plan of this nature has ever been conducted in the Back Mountain,” Moskovitz said. He suggested Kingston Township stands to suffer the most disruption from increas- ing traffic, which will be stud- ied in the plan along with water supplies and emergency servic- es. He advised the supervisors that even though the commit- ment is made now, money won't be spent until at least a year from now, since the state has advised him that no grants will be considered until Octo- ber, 2004. Other members of the COG — Dallas Borough, Dallas Township and Lehman Town- ship — have committed to the study, Moskovitz said. Jackson and Franklin townships are ex- pected to join the group soon, and their addition to the study could reduce the cost to each municipality, said Eddie O'Neill, Kingston Township Manager. “You will realize economies of scale,” he said. Jeffrey Box, who will take a seat on the board in January, said he supports the COG, but not the study. He suggested that other funding sources be explored, such as those avail- able through a regional trans- portation planning group that pays 80 percent of the cost. Box also feels the traffic study portion of a regional plan could easily be ignored by Pen- nDOT, and would therefore be costly but useless. Several township residents asked the supervisors to reject the $17,000 item, due to the weakness of the 2004 budget. “My hand was raised high on Monday night” in opposition to the item, said Ed Price. At Monday’s work session, Paul Sabol, Chairman of the supervi- sors, asked for a show of hands for or against. In a packed meeting room, fewer than five people indicated support for the plan. When a vote was taken, Sabol and Chris Yankovich were opposed, while Neil Allen, Carl Goodwin and John Versari made up the majority in favor. At that point, a comment from the audience summed up most people’s feelings; “No wonder you guys lost.” Allen and Versari were de- feated in the November 4 elec- tion. Budget (continued from page 1) The biggest hangup Wednes- day night was a desire to inves- tigate whether the township could escape a commitment to pave Green Road. The town- ship sold bonds last year to fund the $385,000 project, and a construction contract has been signed. Work was to begin just after Thanksgiving. At first, it appeared there was no way out of the obligation to use the money only for Green Road. “The money has already been received,” said township Manager Eddie O'Neill. “At this point it’s irrevocable.” A long discussion ensued af- ter Marlyne Lipfert pursued the issue. “What would it cost to break that contract?” she asked. Solic- itor Ben Jones said he had not seen the contract, and could \Y[@ AVA} 3) petive Friday 11/14/03 Daily 7:00 Fri/Sat 9:00 Sat/Sun 2:00/4:00 Wed 1:15 Daly 6:45 + FriSat 9:15 Sat/Sun 1:00/3:45 + Wed 1:00 COMING SOON BROTHER BEAR LOVE ACTUALLY MASTER AND COMMANDER Tunkhannock “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com not answer, but that if the bond documents specified a particu- lar project, they could be used: only for that purpose. Several supervisors then said they believed the bond issue listed Green Road “and other capital projects,” perhaps pro- viding an opportunity to redi- rect the funds to more pressing needs, such as reconstruction of the Center Street bridge. “Perhaps the contract should be reviewed,” Jones said. After rejecting the first read- ing of the budget, the supervi- sors unanimously agreed to ask Jones and the counsel for the bond issuer to review the trans- action and offer a recommenda- tion. Wednesday's meeting was peppered with colorful com- ments, often exchanged be- tween Chairman Paul Sabol and members of the audience, which have marked each of the last few sessions. There was ev- WYOMING COUNTY CULTURAL CENTER FOR INFORMATION CALL 996-1500 TIME TO REGISTE FOR CLASSES! Y= MIXED MEDIA Ages 5-12 * Charcoal, watercolors and clay Mondays, Dec. 1,8, 15 * $15 * 4-5:30 pm ART FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS Ages 4-5 * Mondays, Dec. 1, 8, 15 12:15-1 pm + $15 SCULPTURE & POTTERY Ages 13-adult * Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17 8:30-10 am * $25 DRAWING Ages 13-adult Wednesdays, Dec. 3, 10, 17 « $25 YOGA FOR YOU Wednesdays 10-11 am « $10 THEATER Tunkhannock “MORE THAN THE MOVIES” 836-1022 www.dietrichtheater.com ident ill will between Sabol and newly-elected supervisor Jef- frey Box, with Sabol at one point asking Box to sit down with the comment, “You're in- terfering.” - Later in the meeting, Box be- gan a turn at the microphone by saying sternly to Sabol, “Don’t ever tell me what to do again.” The preliminary budget has evolved from one that stripped out the entire recreation budg- et, spring cleanup and held the probability of layoffs to one that has restored the two programs and funds all personnel. But it also uses more than $300,000 in township savings to operate through the year. Allen, who was defeated in the November 4 election, ad- dressed that aspect of the budg- et. “It simply drains the treas- ury and puts us in a precarious financial condition,” he said be- . fore voting against the meas- ure. After another long discussion earlier in the meeting, the su- pervisors decided to table plans to accept a revised plan for the Cheltenham subdivision off Pio- neer Avenue that included cre- ation of an emergency access road. There is presently only one way in and out of the devel- opment. The developer had offered use of a 30-foot right-of-way to Lincoln’ Street with the expec- tation that the township would prepare a roadway and erect a locked fence to prevent through traffic. But the supervisors felt the plan, approved by the planning commission, required the devel- oper to build a gravel road and the fence, at which point the township would assume main- tenance of an easement. The issue will be revisited at the December 10 meeting of su- pervisors. spend the committed portion without endangering the grant. One of DCED’s requirement is that each municipality show it is financially committed. Three out of the four have indi- cated they will be able to com- mit, but Kingston Township has yet to approve a 2004 budg- et. The municipalities must pass legislation committing the money. Copies of that legisla- tion then must be sent to .DCED, where it will be at- tached to the group’s applica tion. The cost to each municipality to be a part of the regional plan is based on its population. Kingston and Dallas townships are the largest and so bear most of the expense. Dallas Town- ship will commit approximately $16,000 and Kingston Town- ship approximately $15,000, said Moskovitz. Lehman will pay approximately $6,000 and Dallas Borough, 5,000. Frank Wagner, President of the COG, said he is disappoint- ed about putting the plan off, but is optimistic about the prospect of Franklin and Jack- son townships joining near the first of the year. Franklin and Jackson town- ships have indicated in the past that they want to join, but to date haven't formally done so. FOR THE POST/FRED ADAMS Patrick Raymond Russin is led to court Thursday afternoon to plead guilty to third-degree murder. Russin agrees to testify By DAVID WEISS For The Post WILKES-BARRE — Prose- cutors say they secured eyewit- ness testimony in their homi- - cide case against Hugo Selenski by allowing another man charged to plead guilty to lesser murder charges. Patrick Raymond Russin, who was charged with homi- cide in the deaths of two men police have described as drug dealers, pleaded guilty Novem- ber 6 to two counts of third-de- gree murder, robbery, abuse of a corpse and a single count of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery. The plea calls for Russin, 33, “of Pallas; to serve no more than 20 to 40 years in prison on all of the charges. Russin could have faced a much stiffer sentence, includ- ing life in prison or the death penalty, if he had taken the homicide charges to trial and been convicted of second- or first-degree murder. Police charged Selenski, 30, of Kingston Township, and Russin in October with the deaths of Frank Jermaine James and Adieye Keiler, who authorities have described as “Bloods” gang members. The two were shot by Selens- ki in May while he and Russin robbed them of $40 to $65 and crack cocaine at Selenski’s Mount Olivet Road home, po- lice said. The bodies were later covered with gasoline, tires and wood, and burned for days in Selenski’s back yard. Police @ details of the killing were o lined by Russin. After accepting the plea, ‘Luzerne County Court of Com- mon Pleas Judge Michael Cona- han scheduled Russin’s sentenc- ing tentatively for Jan. 9. Russin was taken back to the Pike County prison. The remains of the two bod- ies were found at the home. A total of five bodies were found at Selenski’s home after police began a search of the property June 5. No charges have been filed in connection with the other remains. District Attorney David Lu- pas said prosecutors deem Russin’s plea to third-de murder as “appropriate.” Obtaining Russin’s testimony was a crucial part of the deal, Lupas said. www.curvesinternational,com It's your turn to change your life in thirty minutes. We can help at Curves. And now there's one in your neighborhood. Curves is thirty-minute fitness, commonserise weight loss and the support you need to do both. Call us today and discover what over one million women already know: that at Curves, your dreams are our goals. DISCOUNT VADER SHAVERTOWN Curves The power to amaze yourself™ (ov OPEN IN “Offsc based on firvt visit enoliea, swinissum 12 mo. ¢. 4. program: dew members only. SOUTH SIDE A tra 570-207-7373 1136 MOOSIC ST SCRANTON, PA. 18505 Over 6,000 locations to serve you. rss | First 100 Members 66% Off 7 Service Fee @ Valid only at participating Jocations. Nog valid with any other offer, Have a story idea? any isundetetandings created by a story. Call 675-5211. lease 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. Main St., punity Newspaper Group Coverage Area: The Post covers the “Back Mountain” area of Luzerne County, including Dallas, Kingston, Lehman and Jackson townships, po Dallas Borough, Harveys Lake and the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school # districts. We try to get to as many events as possible, but staff and space limitations make it impossible to cover everthing. If you have news about your family, town or organization, please send it to us and we'll try to get it in. Photographs are welcome. Display Advertising Deadline: Mondays at 5 p.m.. Call (570) 970-7102 We have a variety of rates and programs to suit your advertising needs. The Post satisfies most co-op ad programs. Creative services at no 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 « 570-675-5211 charge. Combination rates with The Abington Jounal, Clarks Summit, and the Sunday Dispatch, Pittston available. We can produce your newsletter, flyer or newspaper. Call for quotes on typesetting, production and printing. Orders for subscription received by Friday at Noon will begin the following Corrections, clarifications: The Post will correct errors of fact or clarify Week. See box at right for subscription prices. Local subscriptions should g Other PA, NY or NJ arrive Mondays. Please inform us of damage or delay, call 829-5000. The Post (ISSN - 1090 - 1094) Published weekly by Cypress Media, LLC. $20 per year, in Luzeme and Wyoming counties (PA); $24 elsewhere in PA and additional offices. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, PA 18612-9998 - Name 1 Complete and mail in this form, or call 675-5211 Please enter a subscription to The Post. ! Mail Address | City State | Phone | RATES:- | ) i 118711 | | [ § = I Luzeme & Wyoming counties j All Other States i § Retum completed form with payment to: The Post 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, PA Zip 1 Year 2 Years $20 $35 $24 $42 $27 $48 by to order. Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 ©COPYRIGHT 2003: Entire contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. WE AE NS ER SN TEN SGN SEN SEN SON MEN WS NEN SEN NR EN SS SE SN GN NE EN SN SN GS NN SSN RS Sm me wm ol] 1 \ ge oY . Regional master plan study is postponed by lack of state fundinge |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers