Sunday, August 22, 2010 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT Board approves $80,000 more in change orders By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent Dallas School Board members were requested to approve a total of $80,371.75 of construction change orders at their regular meeting Monday night. Bob Nesbitt from Crabtree Rohrbaugh Associate Architects of Mechanicsburg told board members the new high school con- struction is 52 percent finished, but subcontractors Lobar Inc. and Apollo Group Inc. are seeking con- struction change orders that carry a heavy price tag. Board members approved the construction change orders but have a plan to be reimbursed later. School board business manager Grant S. Palfey said the school board is “keeping score.” “That is why we always ask if this is an omission or an error,” he said. Palfey said keeping track of er- rors and omissions from the origi- nal agreement gives the district leverage to recoup the costs later. “We can file a claim of errors and omissions against the contractor or sub-contractors,” he said. “We have done this in the past and have been reimbursed a portion of the costs.” Lobar Inc. sought out a total of $30,987.29 for five construction order changes which include items such as a transfer switch for the auditorium for $6,010.03, $16,225.47 to change the ceilings in the locker room, $2,744.55 to add drywall ceilings in a corridor, $3,177.66 to use split face colored block in the courtyard and $2,829.58 for electrical work in the “We can file a claim of errors and omissions against the contractor or sub-contractors. We have done this in the past and have been reimbursed a portion of the costs.” Grant S. Palfey Dallas School District business manager gym. Apollo Group Inc. asked for 13 construction order changes, total- ing $62,384.46 but will give the district a credit of $13,000. The credit is due to electrical wiring al- ready in place in the vicinity where the access road off Hildebrandt Road will be placed. Some of the items under Apollo Group’s request include hand dryer, $18,000; added stage re- quirements, $9,524; exhaust fans and hoods, $3,409; lighting clarifi- cations and revised drawings, $4,155; and elevator pit power and lights, $1,622.69. Palfey said the school board was not pleased with the construction change orders but understands if the changes are not approved, con- struction on the project could be held up. In other news... ¢ Preparing for the start of a new school year, school board members approved the school lunch fees for the 2010-2011 school year: elementary lunches, $1.65; middle school lunches, $1.75; se- nior high school lunches, $1.90; and reduced price lunches, 40 cents. e Palfey said buses will be tracked by GPS and will have bet- ter timed arrivals. Another change with busing, Palfey said, is that drivers will have magnetic “emp- ty” signs to be placed on the back of the bus to be viewed through the back windows. This should prevent a situation like last year when a student fell asleep on the bus and went undetected. The following Emanuel Bus Lines Inc. drivers for the 2010-2011 school year have been approved and have credentials on file with the student support services coor- dinator: Jackie Backus, Robert R. Brown, Ben Chopka, Greg Co- bleigh, Jeffrey Emanuel, Jeffrey Emanuel II, Sally Emanuel, Sha- ron Evarts, Bruce Granahan, Judi- th Hartman, William Hartman, Ei- leen Headman, Robb Henderson, Kenneth Hislop, Christine Man- zella, Eugene Martinchak, Dar- leen McGeehan, Rachel Miers, James Monahan, David Rowett, Eugina Shannon, Samantha Sim- monette, Joe Sharp, Debbie Stred- ny, Thomas C. VanHorn, Michelle Vannoy and Harry Weaver. ¢ Superintendent Frank Galicki reported that school bus routes would be posted on the school dis- tricts website as of Wednesday, Aug. 18. ® Due to the Labor Day week- end, the next school board meet- ing will be held at 7 p.m. on Mon- day, Sept. 20, in the administra- tion building. KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Officials disgusted with proposed ezovernment change By RALPH NARDONE For The Dallas Post Officials at Kingston Town- ship expressed their public angst against a proposed change in Pennsylvania law that will move the power of lo- cal governments to the Lu- zerne County Courthouse. They sent a “letter of protest” to state government legisla- tors, including state represen- tative Phyllis Mundy and state senator Lisa Baker ac- cording to their discussions at Wednesday - night’s regular meeting of the township su- pervisors. The focus of the township’s ire centers on senate bill 1357 and house bill 2431 which es- sentially force smaller town- ships to combine under coun- ty rule, according to the Penn- sylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS). Kingston Township Manag- er Kathleen Sebastian said oth Baker and Mundy re- Jied, stating they will oppose “the law. : “We don’t want our town- ship run by the county,” Se- bastian said. “If the new laws are approved, the entire King- ston Township government could disappear.” The PSATS called the house bill a “most onerous measure” and a “slap in the face to the founding fathers.” Sebastian said the law was first introduced in Berks County and is starting to gain momentum in the northern part of the state. Supporters say combining all municipalities under one central county rule would eliminate inefficient and re- The PSATS called the house bill a “most onerous mea- sure” and a “slap in the face to the founding fathers.” Sebastian said the law was first introduced in Berks County and is starting to gain momentum in the northern part of the state. dundant local governments. Sebastian’ said the residents of Kingston Township would be better served by a local government where they can voice their opinion instead of a large scale county-wide gov- ernment. Township officials also wrote a letter of protest to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) concerning proposed storm water guidelines, ac- cording to Sebastian. She said the DEP wants to require the township to install a $2,000 filter on all catch ba- sins in the township and set up a regular maintenance and cleaning plan for each one. She did not say what the esti- mated costs would be to im- plement the plan but indicat- ed they would be significant. In addition, the DEP would require all residents with pat- ios larger than 25 x 10 feet to install drainage systems. In other business ... ¢ Supervisors voted to pur- chase a new unmarked police car at a cost of up to $28,000. Police Chief James Balavage said the township should aim to purchase a Ford Crown Vic- toria since the township has See CHANGE, Page 10 Shown here during the 2009 Luzerne County Fair Princess Con- SI test are, from left, Nicole Clemson, 2009 PA State Fair Queen; Kennedy Woods, 2009 Luzerne County Fair Princess; Leah Carr, 2009 PA State Fair first runner up; Krista Paluski, 2009 Luzerne County Fair Queen; and Channing Loke, 2009 Luzerne County first runner up. Contestants sought for county fair princess In conjunction with the Lu- zerne County Fair, there will be a Luzerne County Fair Princess Contest. Contestants: * must be at least 4 years old and no older than 6 years of age on Sept, 11, 2010. e must reside in Luzerne County. e must be dressed in a party dress e must be prepared to tell a lit- tle about themselves e must have fun. The winner of the contest must be willing to take part in commu- nity events during the year. In addition to a Luzerne Coun- ty Fair Princess, a first and sec- ond runner-up will also be cho- sen. Entry forms are available by contacting Trudy Clemson, c/o Luzerne County Fair, P.O. Box 393, Dallas, PA 18612. LEHMAN TOWNSHIP Positives of gas drilling discussed By RALPH NARDONE For The Dallas Post Despite being bombarded by negative feedback over the last few months from anti-fracking groups concerning the influx of Marcellus shale drilling, the supervisors of Lehman Town- ship expressed their support of the industry at Monday night’s meeting. Several township res- idents were boisterous in their support as well. : Carl Kern, who owns trucks that provide service to drillers in Bradford County, said the public should listen to the pos- itive side of drilling instead of the constant cacophony of pro- test. For: example, the companies are maintaining the roads they use, Kern said. In Lehman Township, if a road repair is necessary, the supervisors can call the company and the drill- ing companies will fix it, he added. Township Chairman Dave Sutton concurred, adding that if the township must repair a road in an emergency situa- tion, it will be reimbursed for the cost by the drillers. “It’s nice to hear something positive,” Sutton said. Kern discussed his support with state senator Lisa Baker and believes she is doing what she can to ensure the drilling “is done right.” He pointed out the pressure levels of the gas were under- estimated which caused prob- lems for the drilling equip- ment in the beginning. Now, the companies have upgraded to improve safety. Vice Chairman Ray Iwanow- ski said drilling sites have less environmental impact than housing developments. He said the amount of negative environmental issues with de- velopments are significant (Carl) Kern discussed his support with state senator Lisa Baker and believes she is doing what she can to ensure the drilling “is done right." with respect to water runoff and the leaching of salt and oil from local roadways into water supplies. In addition, they re- sult in more traffic and an overall strain on public servic- es. The drillers leave a much smaller “footprint” on the land, he said. Kern said, once a drilling site is finished, it can be quick- ly reclaimed into usable land. Some reclaimed sites are hard- ly noticeable in the northern tier part of Pennsylvania. Todd DeRosa, a resident of Lehman Township currently leasing land for drilling, wor- ries the anti-drilling effort may “spook” drilling companies out of the area, taking with them the economic benefits of their industry. He and several other lease holders are in the process of formalizing a support group to get the word out about the benefits of the local gas indus- try. One woman added the own- ers of the lease land are legally able to “exercise their mineral rights.” DeRosa emphasized he and other supporters understand the concerns of local residents. However, he said, if they take the time to ask township offi- cials, they may learn it is not as harmful as it is being made out to be by local media and noisy opponents. Iwanowski stressed the fo- cus on water quality and vol- ume associated with drilling See DRILLING, Page 10 LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT Board approves hires and retires, receives update on field project By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com It was business as usual for the Lake-Lehman School Board @- Monday, Aug. 16 as members approved hires and retires and received an update on the field project between the junior-se- nior high school and Lehman- Jackson Elementary. Terry Ostrowski of Borton- Lawson Engineers presented the board with an updated de- sign plan for adjoining the space between the high school and Lehman-Jackson Elementary. The proposed plan features field hockey, soccer and football prac- tice fields in the area between the schools. A previous plan, which Os- trowski called a “wish list,” fea- tured softball and baseball fields as well as walking paths and ‘additional parking spaces. Os- trowski said the plan was re- vised due to budgeting issues and the firm wanted to present a plan that could be completed in the near future. The design plan presented Monday evening would come to an estimated total of $590,000, which would include the costs of clearing and grubbing the ar- ea, bringing in top soil, planting and seeding the grass and re- ceiving permits to clear the ar- ea. The fields would not require irrigation or lighting be- Vi cause they are only practice ar- eas. “They would be dawn to dusk fields,” said Ostrowski. In other news, the board ac- cepted the following four letters of retirement within the district: Carl Welter, first grade Ross Ele- mentary teacher; Deborah Row- land, elementary guidance counselor; Sandra Stankiewicz, Lehman-Jackson Elementary cafeteria manager; and Patricia ‘McCulloch, R.N., health assist- ant for Ross Elementary. The board ratified the approv- al of the Shelter Agreement be- tween the Wyoming Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Lake-Lehman School District for the use of district facilities as an emergen- cy shelter in the event of a di- saster. The board also voted: e To advertise for the posi- tions of SADD Advisor and ele- mentary teacher(s). e To appoint John McDonald of Harveys Lake to the position of In-School Suspension Moni- tor for the 2010-11 school year at a salary of $13 per hour. ¢ To appoint Vanessa Wengen of Dallas as an Elementary Spe- cial Education Teacher in the district for the 2010-11 school year at a salary of $40,355. e To appoint the following persons as substitute teachers within the district, pending Nonnen- clearances: Matthew burg, Thomas Bryan and Jamie King, all of Scranton. e To appoint Alysia Jones of Edwardsville and Kathryn Mul- ligans of Wyoming as temporary Elementary Intervention Spe- cialists in the district for the 2010-11 school year with salaries to be determined and paid through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. e To authorize the reassign- ment of Lynne Ann Johns of Hunlock Creek from the posi- tion of part-time food service work to one-on-one aide at Leh- man-Jackson Elementary for the 2010-11 school year at a salary of $11.50 per hour. e To appoint Maureen McCabe of Noxen to the posi- tion of ‘Instructional Para Pro- fessional for the 2010-11 school year at a salary of $10.20 per hour. e To appoint Patricia MCcul- loch of Inkerman as a substitute health assistant and nurse for the district. e To appoint Pamela Gro- blewski of Dallas to the position of Lehman-Jackson Elementary cafeteria manager for the 2010- 11 school year at an hourly rate of $11.50 plus a one-time ad- justment of $1.10 to the hourly wage, in accordance with the LESPA Collective Bargaining Unit. See PROJECT, Page 10 Co) asd)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers