L Vol. 117 No.22 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 May 28 - June 3, 2006 50¢ SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Taking a hard look at the COG Back Mountain municipalities deciding whether or not to back Master Plan By CAMILLE FIOTI Post Correspondent For almost three years, the Back Mountain Council of Gov- ernments — which consists of Dal- las Borough, and Dallas, King- ston and Lehman townships — has been working to develop a Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Master Plan with a goal of im- proving the quality of life in the Back Mountain. The BMCOG hired planning consultants Kise, Straw and Ko- lodner, Cahill Associates, and Ed- wards and Kelcey at a price tag of $200,000 funded by multiple grants, to draw up the plan which outlines recommendations for each of the four municipalities. The plan provides a demographic overview of the area and address- es the many issues of each munic- ipality. “The round-about is one of the alternative plans that have been suggested to us, in terms of re- taining our downtown,” Dallas Borough manager Joe Moskovitz said, referring to a proposed traf- fic pattern near the intersection of Route 415, and Lake, Church and Main streets. It also makes recommendations for major traf- fic issues in the other municipal- ities. Another element of the plan is designed to protect sensitive en- vironmental areas and to balance development. Moskovitz said the comprehensive plan has the least impact on the borough, noting its size of 2 square miles. “We don’t have lots of land to develop. Were a borough,” he said. “We're a small village and we want to maintain that quality of life. That’s what's in this plan for us.” At their May 2 meeting, the Dallas Township board of super- visors rejected the plan. Their de- cision was based on a unanimous recommendation of the planning and zoning boards that advised the township to develop its own independent comprehensive plan. The boards cited the plan as being unduly intrusive on the role of the township in the devel- opment of its land resources. “I don’t believe they read it,” Moskovitz said, referring to Dal- las Township’s rejection of the plan. “If they do their own plan, they're going to come up with the same conclusions. If there were parts that they didn’t like, we could have looked into revising it. It is mind-boggling that the township is so opposed.” The Dallas Township’s board “We have to be responsible to maintain this beauti- ful environment for future generations.” Joe Moskovitz Dallas Borough manager of supervisors had planned to use $25,000 in leftover funds from a creek project to develop their own plan. The federal funds came from a Community Devel- opment Block Grant, adminis- tered by Luzerne County. Andy Reilly, director of the Office of Community Development, said the township's request to use the funds for the plan was denied by the county commissioners. “The commissioners are strong proponents of the COG and their efforts to create a mas- ter plan,” he said, pointing out that the plan is a draft that can be changed. He also said he believes the township rejected the plan without fully reviewing it and added that he recently received “unofficial” communication that the board of supervisors plan to use township money to finance their own plan. “We would like the township to sit back down with the other communities and work the issues out,” Reilly said. With the help of the Municipal Cooperation Com- mission — created by the commis- sioners — he said the county and the township could get together and work out an agreement with the municipalities. Dallas Township vice chair- man Frank Wagner said he doesn’t agree with the board of supervisor's rejection. “I'm for the plan,” he said. “I'm kinda mad about it. I can’t see spending taxpayer’s money do- ing another comprehensive plan. If they don’t like a couple of things in there, they can omit them. I think they should take a look at it.” At their May 15 meeting, the Lehman Township board of su- pervisors said they were disap- pointed Dallas Township reject- ed the plan. Ray Iwanoski said Lehman Township would most likely adopt the plan, but was not ready to make a decision. Chair- man Dave Sutton said there isn’t See COG, Page 3 Mothers and daughters get together at church ™ FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Colleen Reynolds and her daughter Mikayla enjoyed a cup of tea at the Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church. 1D | g I certainly was a night out for the ladies. A Bryce Van Deutschhad tries her first taste of tea. An overflow crowd of ‘approximately 100 mothers, daughters, grandmothers and granddaughters attended the annual Mother-Daughter Tea at the Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church on Mountain View Road. Six people sat at each table, with one person serving as the hostess. One person was also responsible for decorating the table. There were different themes, including antiques. Back Mountain resident Lois Hughes attended the event for the first time. The president of the Dream Houses in Min- iature Club of Harveys Lake brought a miniature tea set to be used as a centerpiece. “It was very nice event,” said Hughes. “I had a lovely time.” FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Dallas High School Honors Society president Liz Hines address- es her classmates at the annual honors banquet. Academic success rewarded Dallas H.S. honors excellent students By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor DALLAS TWP. —- Jack Wolen- sky has been involved in many special events during his nearly three-decade career in the Dal- las School District. But the guidance counselor says there’s nothing quite like the high school’s annual Honors Banquet. More than 400 students, fam- ily members and faculty attend- ed the event earlier this week at Irem Temple Country Club. The banquet has been held each year since 1984. The event is orga- nized by the school’s guidance department, in conjunction with the main office. “I really think it’s the nicest night we have here,” said Wolen- sky, who has worked in the dis- trict for 27 years, including the last eight in the high school guidance office. He’s also the school’s athletic director. “It makes you realize how many great kids we have at Dallas. We have lots of students who do so many things in.our community. This is a great way for us to hon- or the best in our school.” The banquet was started as a way for outstanding students to receive recognition, says Wolen- sky. “For a long time, the school focused on banquets that didn’t focus on academics,” he said. “This is a nice way to do some- thing for the top academic stu- dents in the school. We also hon- or many of our students who do great things for others as part of community service.” First-year high school princi- pal Deborah Morgantini made her debut appearance at the ban- quet. And she was very im- pressed. “I think it’s a very nice thing to do,” she said. “The students de- serve every honor that is be- stowed upon them. I'm very proud of the students. It really is an all-around good experience.” During the banquet, which lasted more than three hours, several scholarships were awarded - including three named in honor of former Dallas See HONORS, Page 3 Students and guests enjoy an outdoor buffet dinner as part of the banquet. 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