Sunday, November 8, 2009 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 DALLAS TOWNSHIP Concern expressed about fulltime police officers By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Supervisor Frank Wagner ex- ressed his concerns Monday vening about the township’s number of full-time police offi- cers. After the retirement of Officer Wayman Miers in late Septem- ber, the police department is down to five officers and one sergeant who are full-time. There are also two part-time of- ficers. “Wayman’s done,” Wagner said. “I think we should put somebody in his place.” Chief of Police Robert Jolley says officers are working over- time to make up for one less full-time officer. Jolley is also covering shifts himself. In addition, Jolley says the de- partment’s vice investigations are suffering because of the number of officers. Jolley says ideally the depart- ment should have 10 full-time of- ficers and believes the supervi- sors will change the status of one of the part-time officers to full-time. Financial report request John Newman, of Wedgewood Way, followed up on a request he made last month for the su- pervisors to release a financial report at each of their meetings. Newman said he wants to know how the township is performing compared toits budget. Supervisor Glenn Howell told Newman he could view financial documents during business “No, I'm not going to come down here and look at it. | want it at the meeting. | can't understand why it's a hard thing to do. Every organization does it.” John Newman Wedgewood Way resident hours at the township building. “No, I'm not going to come down here and look at it,” New- man said. “I want it at the meet- ing. I can’t understand why it’s a hard thing to do. Every organi- zation does it.” Zoning amendment nixed Attorney Thomas Brennan, the township solicitor, decided not to not draft an amendment to the township’s zoning ordi- nance adopted in June 2008 to include the omitted “permitted uses in a light industrial dis- trict” as it had been listed in the amended zoning ordinance in 2005. Brennan previously said the zoning ordinance issue was brought to his attention by Tom Reilly, an engineer from Reilly Associates, when he was doing research for the new Geisinger facility to be built on Dorchester Drive. Instead of amending the ordi- nance, Brennan proposed that the medical center go to the zoning hearing board, if neces- sary. Rice Drive project The supervisors approved payment in the amount of $89,200.50 for the Rice Drive pipe replacement project. Tom Doughton, an employee from Douglas F. Trumbower and As- sociates, the township’s engi- neering firm, recommended not to release the check until the guide rail installation and line painting are completed. Resident reminders Bagged leaves will be collect- ed from Nov. 16 through Nov. 20, weather permitting. Also, parking is prohibited on all township roads from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily from Nov. 1 through April 30. White pine trees Approval was granted for Eastern Landcare to remove four or five dead white pine trees at the new bridge site at the corner of Lower Demunds Road and Fairground Road. They will replace the trees with four or five 6-feet to 8-feet white pine trees along the bridge and roadway, install mulch cover and clean up as required at a cost of $245 per tree. Eastern Landcare will provide the labor at no cost. The trees must be’ replaced prior to the Federal Emergency Manage- ment Agency’s final audit of the project. ROSS TOWNSHIP Liquid fuels allocation 1s lowered By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent On Tuesday night, supervi- sors announced the bad news at heir monthly meeting Tues- ay night that less money will be received from the state for the townships liquid fuels funds. Secretary Terry Davis read a letter from the state depart- ment, stating Ross Township will receive $106,317.12 in lig- uid fuels money for 2010. Last year, the township received $110,000 and Davis said over the past few years the money al- lotted to the township has de- creased. “This figure is down by four percent,” she said. “The amount mentioned in the letter is only an estimate of what we might receive.” Chairman Stanford Davis said the state determines how much money is allocated to each municipality based on mileage of township or bor- ough roads. “According to their letter, we Secretary Terry Davis read a letter from the state department, stating Ross Township will receive $106,317.12 in liquid fuels mon- ey for 2010. Last year, the township received $10,000 and Davis said over the past few years the money allotted to the township has decreased. have 33.65 miles of township roads,” he said. The money from the liquid fuels fund pays costs associated with road maintenance, vehi- cles fuel and road crew payroll. With this information in hand, supervisors will begin preparing a proposed budget for 2010 and Davis expected the proposed budget to be availa- ble for residents’ review by mid November. The budget, however, will not be approved until the end- of-year meeting to be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, Dc. 28, in the municipal building. In other news ... eo The project of bonding township roads for weight lim- its is progressing, Davis said. In August, supervisors con- tracted a company called Mu- nicipal Solutions, of Linden, to help them bond their road for weight limits. The preventive move was started with the threat of heavy trucks carrying Marcellus Shale gas drill equip- ment through the township. By bonding roads for weight lim- its, the township protects itself from paying for road repairs from damages caused by heavy trucks. e Supervisors have received Municipal Solutions analysis of their roads. Davis said the next step is to prepare an ordinance to adopt the suggestions of weight limits; however, she “added, the ordinance will not ‘be ready until next year. ‘® The next supervisors meet- ing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the munici- pal building. Genily Us od and Linda Myslinski. MEADOWS GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY The Meadows Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Dallas is giving back to those in need. Donation boxes in the lobby of the center for the collection of gently used coats, toys for tots and the Back Mountain Food Pantry. Anyone interested in donating is asked to drop off items in the lobby of the center at 55 W. Center Hill Rd., Dallas, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. From left, are Vivian Clark, Stefanie Williams, Evelyn Lukachko, Cristina Tarbox, administrator; Trick or treating at the Kunkle Fire Company Halloween Party This year’s Kunkle Fire Company Halloween Party was bigger and better than ever with more participants and costumes of all kinds. Many odd characters file in to the Kunkle Fire Hall for the fire company's annual Halloween party. Izzebelle Minor is the “prettiest” in her age category. AT RIGHT: Madeleine Ross, left, iss a banana and Rusty Cool- baugh has his head stuck in a jar at the annual Kunkle Fire Company Halloween Party. AT LEFT: Juliana Copenan, seated, waits for the judging to begin. Juliana's costume won for “prettiest” in her age cate- gory. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST
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