Em rm Sunday, November 29, 2009 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 Three BMCP members receive $239,000 grant By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com Representatives of the Back Mountain Community Partner- ship learned Nov. 19 during their monthly meeting at Misericor- dia University that three mem- ber municipalities were ap- proved for a $239,000 grant. The Back Mountain Commu- nity Partnership is an inter-mu- nicipal group composed of Dal- las, Franklin, Jackson, Kingston and Lehman Townships and Dal- las Borough. According to Katie Feissner of NEPA Alliance, Kingston and Lehman Townships and Dallas Borough were approved for the full $239,000 they applied for from the Department of Envi- ronmental Protection Energy Conservation Grant. The funds will be used for en- ergy-efficiency improvements in the municipalities’ buildings, in- cluding lighting, heating and door retrofits and door replace- ments. “I think it’s a great partnership for all of us that were working together to see results,” said Al Fox, BMCP president. Kingston and Jackson Town- ships and Dallas Borough ap- plied separately for money for solar panels through the grant but were not approved for fund- ing. Dallas Borough and Kingston Township were also notified they will receive $494,400 through an NEPA Alliance pro- ject for upgrading traffic signals with LED bulbs. Operational costs Partnership representatives engaged in a lengthy debate over how to handle operational costs. Phil Walter, of Dallas Town- ship, suggested each municipal- “| think it's a great partnership for all of us that we're working together to see results.” Al Fox BMCP president ity contribute $250 but Dallas Borough Mayor Tim Carroll felt the amount should be more than $250. Partnership Vice President James Reino agreed that the mu- nicipal contributions should be kept to a minimum, but believes the partnership needs an oper- ating budget before the munici- palities can put in any money. Fox said the group has a pro- posed $35,000 budget; however, Reino wants a line-item oper- ational budget. The group approved a motion for Reino to create a line-item operational budget with the help of NEPA Alliance for the next meeting. In a separate motion, the part- nership also approved each mu- nicipality, upon approval from their board of supervisors or council, to contribute $250 to an operating budget. “All we're trying to do is pay the postage stamps, pay the sta- tionery and the legal ads that were going to incur together,” Fox said. DARE funding In her administrative report, Feissner said she researched pri- vate foundations in which the BMCP may be able to apply for funding for the Drug Abuse Re- sistance Education (DARE) pro- gram. Feissner reported there are several foundations that may fund the program, including the Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsyl- vania. The program is no longer be- ing funded by the state and Kingston Township agreed to take on the cost of about $10,428.89 for the present school year. Last month the township pro- posed to share the cost of the program, based on population, for the 2010-2011 school year as follows: 25 percent each from Dallas School District, Dallas Township and Kingston Town- ship; 15 percent from Dallas Bor- ough; and five percent each from Franklin Township and Gate of Heaven School. No official action on the mat- ter has been taken. Addressing project Fred Rosencrans, director of Luzerne County 911, spoke to the partnership about the coun- tywide E911 addressing project. In June, Luzerne County com- missioners approved the E911 addressing project, which will provide standards for the nam- ing of streets and establish a street numbering system throughout the county. Rosencrans is asking every municipality in the county to pass a resolution or an ordi- nance to recognize the project. Dallas Borough and Dallas Township had already done so at their November meetings. The project is finished in Fran- klin Township, according to Ro- sencrans. In addition, he says there will be about 50 new street names in Dallas Township when it is completed there. LAKE TOWNSHIP Planning Commission will By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent The Luzerne Planning Com- mission has stepped in to help Lake Township residents trou- bled by a nuisance property Owner. At Wednesday night’s meet- ing, Supervisor Amy Salansky said a letter sent to the Luzerne Planning Commission regard- ing illegal dumping and burn- ing practices of William Harri- son resulted in a property in- | spection and possibly more fines. nah iNHAT AK Harrison has been illegally disposing of solid waste for many years on his property. A letter, dated November 6, from Adrian FE. Merolli, executive di- rector of the Luzerne County Planning Commission, stated an inspection of Harrison's Tu- lip Road property revealed he has a “junkyard with vehicles, debris and trash without zon- ing permission.” This is in violation of permit- ted use of an agricultural zoned property. To avoid legal action @® possible fines of $500 per day, Harrison must apply for a permit to run a junkyard. Township Attorney Mark McNealis advised supervisors and residents in attendance that the Planning Commission can be very strict and, if Harri- son does apply for a junkyard permit, a public hearing will be set. : “If residents show resistance to the application, chances are it will be denied,” McNealis help with nuisance property Harrison has a long history of hauling in construction debris to dump or burn on his property. After several out-of-control fires, residents began to complain to supervisors and to the Department of Environmental Protection. said. Harrison has a long history of hauling in construction de- bris to dump or burn on his property. After several out-of- control fires, residents began to complain to supervisors and to the Department of Environ- mental Protection. In August, DEP inspected Harrison’s property, found it in violation of the Solid Waste Management Act and issued a citation giving Harrison 45 days to clean up three dump truck size piles of construction debris. DEP returned in late Sep- tember and found that piles re- mained and evidence of recent burning. On October 28, DEP registered two charges of un- lawful disposal of solid waste with Magistrate Judge James Tupper. The first charge is dumping solid waste without a “valid permit from the department” with a fine of $633.50. The sec- ond charge is burning solid waste without a valid permit from DEP and a fine of $510 has been charged. Mark Carmon of DEP said at this time a hearing has not been scheduled as Harrison has 10 days to respond to the charges. If Harrison fails to do so, a hearing date will be set, Carmon reported. In other news, B and J Paving of Dallas was awarded the bid for road work to Bear Hollow Road and Wesley Road. B and J Paving’s bid totaled $119,909.03. The bid was awarded based on requirements set forth by the Stimulus Grant, Salansky said. Other bids were received from: Linde Enterprises, Wilkes-Barre, “$172,891: Pikes Creek Site Contractors, Sweet Valley, $137,709; Wexcon In- corporated., © Mohrsville, $146,525; Stell Enterprises, Plains, $152,211; Shea Industri- es, Clark Summit, $91,935; B and J Paving, Dallas, $119,909.03. The sealed bids were opened during last month’s meeting. Supervisors held two special meetings to review the bid ap- plication and grant require- ments. Supervisors also received no- tification of the township's lig- uid fuels allocation from the state. Secretary Carlene Price said the township will receive $78,660.04 for 2010, compared to $81,876 received this year. Price said when she inquired about the difference, she was told gas prices decreased and the township will not need as much. Money from the liquid fuels fund goes toward road mainte- nance, vehicles’ fuel and pay- roll for the road crew. HARVEYS LAKE Council reveals proposed budget By EILEEN GODIN - Dallas Post Correspondent Harveys Lake Borough Coun- cil revealed the proposed 2010 budget, appointed members to the Zoning Board and passed a Land Development Ordinance at its Tuesday night meeting. Figuresin the $1,003,650 pro- Iposed budget are comparable to this year’s figures Secretary Su- san Sutton said the budget pro- posal contains “no major chang- es” from this year and con- firmed, at this point, that coun- cil members have no major projects or purchases planned for 2010. The mill rate of .604 remains the same along with a one per- cent per capita tax, real estate tax and earned income tax. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of as- sessed tax value. Council President Lawrence ¥ budget will be available for pub- lic review from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the municipal building. Sutton said council is sched- uled to vote on the budget pro- posal during its regular month- ly meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the mu- nicipal building. Also preparing for the end of the year, council reappointed Sutton as Zoning Board secreta- ry and Attorney Mark McNealis as Zoning Board solicitor. Looking toward future bet- terment of the lake community, council members unanimously approved a Land Development Ordinance, giving gives the ap- proval process for land develop- ment and subdivision to the borough’s Zoning Board. Previously, the Luzerne County Planning Commission authorized any applications for land subdivisions while the bor- Lucarino the proposed vi ough Zoning Board and Zoning | Officer handled building per- mits. “Land development was gov- erned by the county for about 5 to 6 years,” said Jack Varaly, planning consultant for the bor- ough. “It just made sense for the borough to control it.” Varaly said when the new zoning manual was adopted this summer, council wanted to regain control over land devel- opments and subdivisions. In other news, council mem- bers approved a request by Po- lice Chief Dan Evancho for the purchase of police department software called Metro Tech software which software will aid police officers in filing re- ports and preparing for hear- ings. The software package, in- cluding training, will cost $8,470. Council member also approved Evancho’s request to purchase a computer at an esti- mated cost of $800. keyboard instruments “by ear A be RT EER BRINGING SANTA CLAUS TO DOWNTOWN Nicole Clemson, left, of Dallas, 2009 PA State Fair Queen and Kennedy Wood, of Shavertown, 2009 Luzerne County Fair Princess take a moment to pose with a variety of parade characters during the 2009 Wilkes-Barre City Christmas Parade. A ® * 2 4 » { : 3 a - & i x Mark Pall will offer an organ Advent/Christmas concert at 3 p.m. today, Nov. 29, at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 420 Main St., Dallas. 12-year-old organist offers holiday concert today Mark Pall will offer an organ Advent/Christmas concert at 3 p.m. today, Nov. 29, at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, 420 Main St., Dallas. A seventh-grade student at the Dallas Middle School, Pall is just 12 years old. This is his third Advent/Christmas organ concert. Since he was 5 years old, Pall has shown talent for playing » and a passion for the pipe or- In the past, Pall has been in- vited to play for special services at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Dallas, Church of Christ Uniting in Kingston, the Tunkhannock United Methodist Church and at Dallas United Methodist Church. He is a regular service musi- cian at the Orange United Methodist Church and the Huntsville United Methodist Church, his family’s church. Pall is a student of Ed Loch, organist and choir director at St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes- Barre. A free will offering will be received at the concert to bene- fit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Eastern Pennsylvania. Refreshments will be served following the concert. .-.- a ll AW } c—
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