) ) t 1 : 1 Sunday, June 14, 2009 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT Final budget passes; executive salaries are approved By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Members of the Dallas School Board approved a final budget Monday evening for the 2009-10 fiscal year in the amount of $30.58 million. The tax millage, originally esti- mated to be 10.4303 mills, will be 10.6498 mills. District business manager Grant Palfey said the initial estimate did not factor in the impact of construction and renovation to schools. There will also be a per capita tax of $10, an earned income tax of one percent shared equally with municipal governments and an emergency municipal services tax of $52 shared as $5 for the dis- trict and $47 in municipalities that have enacted such a tax. The budget is available for review at the district administration office. Homestead and farmstead tax exclusion The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) will pay the school district $315,397.39 as a property tax reduction allocation funded by gambling tax funds. The district will also receive $4,979.42 from the PDE as reim- bursement for Philadelphia tax credits claimed against the dis- trict earned income tax by dis- trict residents who work in Phila- delphia. The total amount of $320,376.81 will be used for real estate tax reduction in approved homestead and farmstead prop- erties. There are 5,978 approved homesteads and 33 approved farmsteads in the school district. Because the school board has de- cided that the homestead and farmstead exclusion amounts will be equal, according to the above numbers, approved home- stead and farmstead property owners will receive a maximum real estate tax deduction of $53.59 on their tax bills. Executive salaries The board approved the sala- ries of the superintendent, assist- ant superintendent and director of technology for the 2009-10 school year. The salaries for the respective positions are Frank Galicki, $103,000; Paul Reinert, Ph.D., $95,200; and William Gar- trell, $84,000. There was deliberation among the board over what to pay Palfey after board member Russ Bigus requested a pay increase from $72,100 to $84,000, arguing that Palfey is deserving of the raise af- ter saving the district thousands of dollars in his position. It was originally proposed that Palfey be paid $74,300 next year. “This represents an increase of over 13 percent and two years ago we gave him an increase of over 16 percent,” said board member Richard Orlowski. Board member Catherine We- ga’s motion to pay Palfey $80,000 was narrowly approved by the board. Groundbreaking Galicki announced that the groundbreaking for the new Dal- las High School will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The new high school will be built next to the current high school, which will be demolished. Hires The following employees were hired by the school board: Kelly McKenzie, water safety instruc- tor and lifeguard for the summer, $15 an hour; Janelle Jacob, sum- mer school reading teacher, $27.30 an hour; Maria Brody, temporary reading recovery teacher leader, $40,469; Lo- rieAnn Carmody, special educa- tion teacher, $45,189; Marcus Sowcik, temporary special edu- cation teacher, $39,164; Kristyn Ecenrode, elementary teacher, $45,478; Megan McAndrew, tem- porary elementary teacher, $36,765; and Meredith Ohl, part- time social science teacher, $28.35 an hour for 3.5 hours a day. The following senior high coaches were hired for the 2009- 10 fall sports season: Ted Jackson Jr., John McNeil and Robert Mah- le, all assistant football coaches at $3,976; and Amanda Jez, as- sistant field hockey coach, $2,373. The following middle school coaches were hired for the 2009- 10 fall sports season: Marjorie Adams, assistant-in-charge of cross country, $1,919; Amy Rome, assistant cross country coach, $664; Russell Eyet, assist- ant-in-charge of soccer, $1,532; Luke Ruseskas, assistant soccer coach, $841; Anthony Chiarucci, assistant-in-charge of football, $3,295; Anthony Marranca and Michael Dunn, both assistant football coaches at $2,725; Nancy Shaw, assistant-in-charge of field hockey, $2,373; Lori Besecker, as- sistant field hockey coach, $1,989; and Amy Scafella, $1,808. The following senior high coaches were hired for the 2009- 10 winter sports season: Ted Jackson Jr., head boys basketball coach, $6,235; Romayne Mosier, head swim coach, $3,435; Mi- chael Richards, head wrestling coach, $6,235; and Matthew Sa- muel, winter track, $919. Substitutes The following people were added to the substitute list: Alex- andra Ingram, Rachel Kahn and Jessica Zmijewski, elementary special education; Amanda Kun- kel, elementary; Gregory Pimm, social studies; Kimberly LaNun- ziata and Donna Matcho, nurses; and Tena Dieffenbach, aide. Rebecca Bria is a staff writer for The Dallas Post. You can reach her at 970-7436. KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Residents thankful for burner ordinance Outdoor wood burners must be registered, inspected by code enforcement officer. By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com North Lehigh Street resident Mark Albrecht and several of his neighbors thanked township of- ficials Wednesday night for their help in creating a wood- burner ordinance. Supervisors enacted an ordi- nance to regulate the use of out- door wood burners in March 2008 after residents on the street complained of respiratory problems from heavy smoke that was emitted from a nearby wood burner. : The residents say they were in court on May 20 about the burner’s violation of the ordi- nance in front of county Judge Peter Paul Olszewski, who ruled in their favor. Township solicitor Ben Jones helped pre- pare the litigation. The burner is owned by Ed Gryskevicz, of North Lehigh Street. Gryskevicz told the su- pervisors in 2008 that he pur- chased his burner two years be- fore because it became too ex- pensive to heat his home solely with electricity. The wood-burner ordinance } requires owners of existing fur- naces to register their units with the township and have them inspected by the code en- forcement officer to determine compliance with its manufac- turer’s installation specifica- tions and use instructions. The inspection must be made within 90 days of the effective date of the ordinance. It also re- quires owners of new burners to purchase a $40 permit and have the unit inspected within 30 days of the installation. Violations of the ordinance re- sult in a fine of up to $500, plus prosecution costs. Emergency ordinance Supervisors tabled a motion to adopt an emergency ordi- nance that would amend an ex- isting ordinance to designate an ambulance association as the township's first responder. All township emergency med- ical services calls are currently handled by the Kingston Town- ship Ambulance & Rescue Asso- ciation. It was unclear as to what the amendment to the ordinance would be and township Manag- er Kathleen Sebastian said the matter is not ready for public” discussion. _ Because the motion was ta- bled, or postponed, by law it must appear on the agenda at next month’s regular supervi- sors’ meeting. Light installation The supervisors authorized the installation of spotlights and lights on a shed at the Kingston Township Recreation Center. The request for the lights came from Gary Capitano of the King- ston Township Raiders, a youth football organization that plays at the recreation center field. The lights will be on a sepa- rate meter and the Kingston Township Raiders will be re- sponsible for all costs associat- ed with them, including month- ly usage fees. The switch to the lights will be secured by lock and key. Emergency officials will have access to the keys be- cause the lights would need to be turned off if a medical heli- copter had to land in the field. Public hearings Two separate public hearings will be held at the next regular supervisors’ meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8. The first public hearing will be to discuss the approval of a liquor license transfer from Carm’s Sports Zone in Exeter to North 145, Inc., which operates as Libby’s Diner. The second hearing will be about a pro- posed ordinance to enact a local services tax for 2010, the old emergency services tax. The tax would require a $52 deduction from the pay of people who work in the township, with $47 going to the township and $5 to Dallas School District. Supervisor John Solinsky noted his strong opposition for the local services tax ordinance. Water main improvements Approval was granted for Pennsylvania American Water Company to do water main im- provements on Hickory and Ma- ple Streets. Several fire hydrants will also be replaced as part of the improvements, which are expected to begin in about one month. Chairman of supervisors Jef- frey Box thanked the water company for agreeing to comply with a township ordinance that requires resurfacing of the roads after the work is complete. Energy efficiency grant The supervisors authorized township manager Kathleen Se- bastian to apply for a grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — Penn- sylvania Conservation Works, which provides funds for munici- See ORDINANCE, Page 14 Doran honored for 40 years Bob Doran was the recipient of a 40-year service award at the Employees Service Awards Lun- cheon held at Mercy Center on May 14. Doran received a standing ovation from fellow employees as he accepted his award from Sr. Sara Sweeney, administrator. Mercy Center was a convent in 1968 when Doran began his new job in the laundry depart- ment. A few years later, he joined the maintenance staff and, in 1980, transferred to the Dietary Department where he has worked ever since. Doran can often by heard say- ing, “The people (at Mercy Cen- ter) are good to work for and it’s a nice place.” Doran was raised in northeast Pennsylvania and lived most of his years in Shavertown. He en- joys bowling, golf and music, knows how to play the organ and occasionally will play a tune on the keyboards at Mercy Cen- ter. Bob Doran was honored for 40 years pf service at Mercy Center. DUMC WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS The Dallas United Methodist Church welcomed two new mem- bers into its church family on Sunday, May 31. Krista Zimmer- man and Katie Jobson became the newest members at a special service after spending many weeks in confirmation class. A re- ception hosted by their parents and family members was held af- ter the service. From left, are Zimmerman, The Rev. Earl W. Robert III and Jobson. Get 1/2 Off Gift Certificates NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA PHILHARM@®NIC lhetier Than Thou Tattoo MD PIERCING STUDIO. Featuring special deals from: Curves available online at timesleader.com "1/2 PRICE DEALS ® MERLE NORMA PROJECTAVGREEN Ranked AL TE aR 4% io SIONTS While supplies last. in the country and in Pennsylvania for readership gain. - Audit Bureau of Circulations. CR isin ose 4 THE TIME S LEADE Everyone who knows Doran affectionately calls him “Bob- by.” oi 0 ity at Mercy Center, he says, “It just takes patience; just do what your job is.” timesleader.com | Subscribe today. 829-5000. ] & 137946
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