The Post a SE — Sunday, December 7, 2003 3 ® Dallas (continued from page 1) by Anthony Barbose’s resig- Tax (continued from page 1) 1994. That could raise about “I'm not opposed nation. the same amount as the tax on Morgantini seconded the businesses, approximately to pauing it. But motion, which passed 8-0. $85,000 a year. bayug Before a vote was taken, So- licitor Ben Jones III explained the legality of the motion. He said the Pennsylvania Laws and Rules book states that “The board of directors has power (to appoint) after the 30-day period has expired, be- fore any petition has been filed with the Court of Common Pleas.” “How do we know if we haven't had any petitions?” asked board member Maureen Matiska. In fact, Ernest Ashbridge, who had been ousted from the ballot in the May primary, had filed a petition on Dec. 1, a day before the court announced it was accepting them. Jones said petitions had been filed with the court ad- ministrator, but that they weren't yet at the Court of Common Pleas. Thursday, Jones said that * any petitions filed before the court’s official notice are irrele- vant. The court couldn’t offi- cially accept petitions until af- ter the notice. Jones further contends that the notice itself says any peti- tions filed won't actually be considered by the court before Dec. 16. Until then a court ad- ministrator accepts petitions as well as objections to petitions, but the judges take no action. Outgoing board members Ashbridge and John Litz said last month that they would ac- cept the appointment if it were offered. Board members said the group was split over who to put in the open position, Go- choel, Ashbridge, or Litz. Jones said Judge Joseph Augello has scheduled a Dec. 16 hearing to settle the matter. Jones said he must submit a le- gal brief supporting the School Boards position “as soon as possible, probably early next week. : “The School Board does not seek to throw out any present Taking a break from the kitchen duties, from left: Charles D. Lemmond Jr., Barbara Lem- mond, Miriam Naylor-Wilska (Shawn Murphy's mother), Shawn Murphy, John Murphy. In photo below, Barbara Lemmond gives marching orders to the large group of volunteers who prepare and serve the dinner. POST PHOTOS/RON BARTIZEK Passing along a 30-year holiday tradition The founders of the Naylor- Lemmond Community Thanks- giving Dinner oversaw the 30th edition of the free event on Thanksgiving day. Shawn and John Murphy, and State Senator Charles D. Lem- mond Jr. and his wife Barbara started the dinner to honor the memories of Benjamin E. Naylor, Ms. Murphy's grandfather, and Ruth and Charles Lemmond, the senator’s parents. Organizations that assist in subsidizing the din- ner include the Commission on Economic Opportunity, St. Stephen’s Church and the Luzerne County Transportation Department. The dinner, held at First United Methodist Church in Wilkes-Barre, will now be conducted by I Li) hb § the Urban Ministries of the United Methodist Church. Given a choice, Trudy Liuzzo thought the property tax might be more evenhanded. “I could see that before I could see a business tax,” she said. Frank Lombardo, owner of Cook’s Pharmacy, termed his a “mid-size” business in the township. He said he could ac- cept the tax, “if it makes sense and it’s good for the communi- ty.” But he wondered why any tax increase is needed. “My biggest question is, ‘What is that revenue going to be used for?” ” Lombardo asked. Anthony Liuzzo said taxes on business often hurt a town- ship’s economy in the long run. “It's a very shortsighted per- spective,” he said, noting that smaller businesses will have more difficulty than large ones coming up with several hun- dred dollars each year. Tax policy plays an impor- tant role in attracting business- es, who contribute to the town- ship coffers in other ways, Li- uzzo said, such as the taxes paid by employees. If Kingston Township becomes less desir- able as a business address, “The township could ultimate- ly end up losing money.” Mary Bartos has operated Bridal Trinkets on West Center Street for five years. While not rejecting the tax, she also wants to be sure it’s necessary. “Im not opposed to paying it,” she said. “But I'd like to see where it’s going.” In their search for new rev- enues to help close a projected $236,000 deficit, some supervi- sors have complained that busi- nesses are able to take advan- tage of public services without paying for them. The tradition- al “mercantile tax,” in which a municipality received a per- centage of gross sales, can no longer be imposed in Pennsyl- vania, but a flat tax can be. Dave Jenkins, who will take a supervisor seat along with I'd like to see where it's going.” Mary Bartos Bridal Trinkets Jeff Box after the first of the year, agrees the township needs to address its budget shortfall. “Yes, there is a need for rev- enue enhancement,” he said, given that residents seem to want services maintained. But Jenkins objects to the knee-jerk manner in which the current board arrived at the business tax proposal. “We seem to lurch into one decision after another,” he said, without research, planning or discussion with the people who will be affected. Jenkins and Box have indi- cated they will seek to reopen the 2004 budget as soon as they are seated. “We're going to look at these kind of actions next month,” Jenkins said. As for a property tax, Jenk- ins said that would spread the impact more evenly among everyone who uses township services. Chris Yankovich, himself the owner of a small business, was the only supervisor to vote against the tax on businesses. In addition to the new tax, supervisors have considered hiking employee prescription co-pays, charging fees for the spring cleanup and asking the police union to reopen its con- tract, which calls for 4.75 per- cent raises in each of the next three years. The proposed tax will be tak- en up at a special meeting of supervisors starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The budget itself is likely to be discussed at that meeting, as well as the month- ly work session on Monday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday's regular meeting, starting at 7:30 p.m. If accepted by the supervi- sors, the 2004 budget will be settled Wednesday night. Busy week ahead or future petitions,” Jones said. “The School Board’s position is ~ that the vacancy has been filled and therefore the court doesn’t have to go through this process.” During the reorganization part of the meeting, David Us- avage was elected president and Natitus, vice president. Bi- gus was elected assistant secre- tary. Natitus and Morgantini were elected as West Side Vo- Tech representatives. Usavage was also elected as Intermediate Unit representa- tive. Police make good use of grants By RONALD BARTIZEK Post Staff KINGSTON TWP. — A now-expiring federal program that helped municipalities hire additional police officers in the 1990s was put to good use in the township. ‘Police Chief James Balavage said Tuesday the officer hired under the COPSFAST program in 1995 is still on the force. The federal government paid 75 percent of the officer’s salary the first year, 50 percent the next and 25 percent the third. After the third year, the town- ship was required to either hire the officer or pay back all the grant funds, approximately $75,000. “We kept our part of the bar- gain,” Balavage said. “We need- ed the extra officer anyhow.” Balavage said the additional manpower has helped the township conduct a DARE pro- gram, which educates children on the danger of illicit drug The Kingston Township Supervisors will hold meetings on three use, and hire a traffic enforce- ment officer. The Kingston Township force consists of Balavage, a sergeant and eight patrolmen. In many communities, staffing levels are declining in part because cities and towns can’t afford the salaries of offi- . cers hired with federal funds af- ter the grants run out. Even so, Balavage said he hasn’t heard of one case in which a municipali- ty was forced to repay the fund- ing. consecutive nights this week. The monthly work session starts at 7 p.m. Monday. It’s likely the 2004 budget will be a prime topic, along with other issues that are coming to a head. Votes cannot be taken at a work session. A special meeting has been called for Tuesday, starting at 7:30 p.m. to discuss three specific items: renewal of the earned income, realty transfer and other taxes, at essentially the same levels as now exist; a proposal for a Business Privilege Tax of $500 to $600 per business; and a proposal to limit or ban open burning. The regular monthly meeting is Wednesday. At their last meet- ing, the supervisors expressed hope that a final 2004 budget could be adopted then. All meetings take place in the township municipal building at 180 E. Center St. in Shavertown. New books added to collection at Back Mountain Memorial Library The Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, announces the addition of the following books to their collection: EXPRESS LOAN “The Hanged Man's Song” by John Sandford “The Big Bad Wolf” by James Patterson FICTION “The Cove” by Catherine Coulter “The Big Bad Wolf” by James Patterson “Cry No More” by Linda Howard “The Christmas Kite” by Gail Gaymer Martin “The Small Boat of Great Sorrows” by Dan Fesperman “The Road to Armageddon” by Larry Collins : “The Salt Roads” by Nalo Hopkinson “The Con Man’s Daughter” by Ed Dee “Owen Glendower’ by John Cowper Powys LOWER DEMUNDS SELF STORAGE e Assorted Sizes & Rates °¢ Great Location * By The Month Available “Heat of Passion” by Harold Robbins “A Christmas Journey” by Anne Perry “By Sorrow’s River” by Larry McMurtry “The Touch” by Colleen McCullough “Trojan Odyssey” by Clive Cussler NON-FICTION “Intelligence in War” by John Keegan “Ultimate Punishment: a lawyer's reflec- tions on dealing with the death penalty” by Scott Turow “Self-Powerment” by Faye Mandell “The Wyoming Valley: an American por- trait” by Edward F. Hanlon and Paul J. Zbiek “A National Party” by Zell Miller “Better Together” by Robert, D. Putnam BIOGRAPHY “I am a Soldier, Too: the§ Jessica Lynch story” bygs Rick Bragg “Brinkley’s Beat” by David Brinkley LARGE PRINT NON-FICTION “Seeking Enlightment — Hat by Hat” by Nevada Barr AUDIOTAPES “Balance of Power” by Richard North Patterson “Shepherds Abiding” by Jan Karon “Orchid Beach” by Stuart Woods “Blow Fly” by Patricia Cornwell “Smoke Screen” by Kyle Mills “O’Hara’s Choice” by Leon Uris “Condi: the Condoleeza Rice Story” by Antonia Felix “Over the Edge of the World” by Laurence Bergreen “The Children of Henry VII" by Alison Weir “The Burma Road” by Donovan Web- ster “Dragon’s Lair” by Sharon Kay Penman SPECIAL DONATIONS “Castles of Steel” by Robert K. Massie donated by Daddow-lsaacs Post 672 American Legion “The Oxford Companion to Military His- tory” donated by Daddow-Isaacs Post 672 American Legion “The Illusion of Victory” by Thomas J. Fleming donated by Daddow-Isaacs Post 672 American Legion “World War Il on the Air” by Mark Bern- stein donated by Daddow-lsaacs Post 672 American Legion “The Military and Naval History of the Rebellion in the United States” by William Jewett Tenney donated by Dad- dow-Isaacs Post 672 American Legion “The Civil War Research Guide” by Stephen McManus donated by Dad- dow-Isaacs Post 672 American Legion “The First Heroes” by Craig Nelson do- nated by Daddow-lsaacs Post 672 American Legion “Peace Pact” by David C. Hendrickson donated byOneida Lodge 1.O0.O.F. #371 PIMA Sh ORE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers