Sunday, September 25, 2011 THE DALLAS POST DALLAS BOROUGH Boro's disaster response *nraised; motions passed By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Council approved several mo- tions at a meeting Wednesday evening in response to Tropical storms Irene and Lee, which caused significant damage in Dallas Borough in late August and early September. A state of emergency for both events was declared, but Bor- ough Manager Tracey Carr said she felt the borough was well- prepared to weather the storms. The power outages, downed trees and washouts caused by Tropical Storm Irene were is- sues the borough “really never experienced before” said Coun- cil President Lee Eckert. Borough officials had to man- age road closures and flashing traffic lights, but Carr said the response from the Back Moun- tain Regional Emergency Man- agement Agency was “excel lent.” “The Back Mountain Region- Emergency Management ency had their ducks in a row days in advance,” she said. Council approved the pur- chase of two additional genera- tors in the amount of $800 each. Carr said the borough was able to handle some traffic light outages, like at the five-corners area and near Friendly’s restau- “We want to make sure we're prepared if this happens in the future.” Tracey Carr Dallas Borough manager rant on Route 309, but officials were unequipped to maintain power at other areas, such as the Dallas Shopping Center in- tersection and the intersection of Route 415 and Center Hill Road. “We usually borrow some (generators) from the fire de- partment, but in this situation there just weren't enough to go around,” she said. “We want to make sure we're prepared if this happens in the future.” Carr was also named the bor- ough’s agent to file applications to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. She is working to account for all the expenses accrued during the storms in order to recoup costs. Carr is also keeping track of residents who have sustained damage during the storms, but she currently does not have ap- plications for residents to complte. Resident Cathy Casey told council about a water problem at her house that happened be- fore the storms. She said in early July, soon af- ter she purchased her home on ‘Lackawanna Street, she found there were problems with sewer drainage and water entering her home through her toilet, bath- tub and bathroom sink. Casey said a manhole cover in the street outside her house was spewing water five feet high and her yard, which is the reason she purchased the house, is now a “swamp.” She said the local fire depart- ment and municipal authority helped to pump out water on several occasions for hours at a time, but asked council if the sit- uation can be resolved in anoth- er way. Council member Robert Ed- gerton said the borough engi- neer, Brent Berger of Quad 3 En- gineering Group, would visit the site in a few days. In other news, council... _e Hired Mark Joseph Liparela as a part-time police office at an hourly rate of $13.78. See RESPONSE, Page 12 DALLAS TOWNSHIP Gas company begins work Solicitor Thomas Brennan told residents that, because Williams has signed an agreement with the township and has received land development approval from the planning commission, the company is “entitled to start the work on the pipeline as far as By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Supervisors took questions from residents Tuesday about ongoing work being performed by Williams Field Services, L1C. The company is currently clearing trees for right-of-ways to install a portion of its 33 Yo-mile natural gas pipeline within the township. The line will connect to the Transco in- terstate pipeline, located near the Dallas School District cam- us, to bring gas from wells in @ schon: County to market. Residents wanted assurance from township officials that the company was being monitored by the appropriate government regulatory bodies and has all the permits and documentation necessary to perform the work. Resident Chuck Borland . asked whether any township of- ficials knew if the state Depart- ment of Environmental Protec- - tion has been overseeing the tree-clearing and other work. Supervisor Frank Wagner said he had seen a DEP vehicle driving around the area, but wasn’t sure if its presence was the township is concerned...” related to the Williams work. Solicitor Thomas Brennan told residents that, because Wil- liams has signed an agreement with the township and has re- ceived land development ap- proval from the planning com- mission, the company is “entit- led to start the work on the pipe- line as far as the township is concerned...” Supervisors announced a public hearing will be held Oc- tober 13 and a special meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oc- tober 24 to discuss and consider the adoption of a proposed zon- ing ordinance amendment relat- ed to the natural gas industry. In other news, the board... e Announced the closure of Pear Tree Lane, which connects the Dallas School District cam- pus with New Goss Manor. Ser- geant Doug Higgins said he and township officials met with dis- trict administrators at the site to observe traffic, and it was clear that before a traffic study can be done the road needs to be closed for safety concerns. eo Heard a suggestion from Borland about taking advantage of federal and state funds to clean up Trout Brook, a tribu- tary of Toby Creek, which he said is clogged with debris after Tropical Storm Irene and Trop- ical Storm Lee swept through the region. He said local government workers could also help in the debris removal. Brennan said he is under the impression that municipal workers aren’t allowed to do such work, but given the state of the area after the two storms, he said other organizations might like the extra help. HARVEYS LAKE BOROUGH Flood-damaged items to be collected By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent A curb side pick-up of flood - damaged items from homes and : boathouses has been arranged - with JP Mascaro and Sons for Monday, said Francis Kopko, eys Lake council chairman. ; " Tropical Storm Lee left its - mark on much of the Wyoming : Valley, including Harveys Lake . Borough when the lake water - rose to abnormally high levels, ' flooding many homes, boath- * ouses and the majority of Grotto . Pizza’s parking lot. To assist residents with their ~ clean-up efforts, Kopko said JP ' Mascaro and Sons will conduct a curb side pick-up for flood : damaged items. Kopko added . the service has no limitations, . but asked residents to only put . out flood-damaged items. This is the second time the waste disposal company sched- uled a pick-up service of this na- ture in the borough. Just a few weeks ago, the borough ar- ranged for a similar pick-up ser- vice for debris from Hurricane Irene. Kopko said it cost the bor- ough about $455 at that time, but “was well worth it.” The final cost of damages to the borough from the two storms is still being calculated, he said. Residents asked the council if the dam at the lake outlet could be opened the next time the lake rises to such high levels to pre- vent flooding. Kopko said the dam is controlled by the Depart- ment of Environmental Protec- tion, not the borough, and add- ed that council will contact DEP to see if this is an option for fu- ture situations. Also storm related, Council approved overtime for Police Chief Charles Musial in accord- EY ance with his contract. Kopko said the contract allows Musial to receive overtime pay of $34.19 per hour during emer- gency situations. Musial applied for the council's approval for $376.09 in overtime pay. In other news ... e Council approved a bid of $55,944 from American As- phalt, Shavertown, for a paving project on Lewis Avenue and Perrego Street. Work will begin soon, weather permitting. Residents Ken Kale, Taft Truska III and Rick Amy were appointed to the borough’s new- ly-formed Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals will hear dis- pute cases of residents not ac- cepting the decision of Pasonick Engineering, the borough’s third party engineer. The next borough council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct.18 in the munic- ipal building. Members of the Rock Solid Academy Board and Committee are, from left, first row, Mark A. DiPippa, President/Head of School; LuAnn Letoski, Polly Harteis, Carolyn Oravitz. Second row, Pastor Dan Miller, William Norwig, Gerald Harteis, board chairman. Third row, Brian Phillips, Attorney Lee Piatt and Ted Haas. Absent at the time of the photo Joyce Hoban. Rock Solid Academy directors to meet with Christian leaders Group invites more than 100 church leaders of different denominations to breakfast. The Rock Solid Academy Board of Directors and Com- mittee members met on Sep- tember 19 to discuss the by- laws, mission statement and statement of faith for the school. The school has officially adopted the following mis- sion statement: “The mission of Rock Solid Academy is to partner with parents to pro- vide students with a superior education consistent with Christian principles.” The statement of faith, which mirrors the Associ- ation of Christian Schools In- ternational statement of faith, consists of seven points that open the door for the school to be truly interdenomina- tional. “With the mission state- ment and statement of faith in place, we now have the foundational documentation to build a caring Christian school that breaks down de- nominational walls and lifts the name of Christ,” stated Mark A. DiPippa, President/ Head of School for Rock Solid Academy. The school will host area pastors and Christian leaders at a breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Leggio’s in Dallas. An invite was sent to over 100 church leaders from different denominational backgrounds. The school has opened a registration link of www.rock- solidacademy.org/regform/ for the Christian Leadership to register for the breakfast and comment about Christian Education and Rock Solid A- cademy. LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT District commended for aid during recent tropical storms (Superintendent Jim) McGovern also told the board and the pub- lic that a week lost due to the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene in late August would not be forgiven by the state Department of Education. He said graduation will need to be pushed back until June 13, and the last day of school will be June 6. McGovern added that the days in between those dates will be recognized as By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com The Lake-Lehman School Board approved several person- nel changes at a meeting Monday evening, and Superintendent James McGovern commended the community for its aid during recent tropical storms. McGovern said the district re- ceived a letter from the Lehman Township Fire Department with accolades for the district and its support of evacuees during the flooding that occurred in early September. McGovern said the school had only between 20 and 25 evacuees at the junior/senior high school, but the American Red Cross pre- pared the school’s gym with more than 300 cots for families in the flood plain to utilize. He said once administrators got word of the seriousness of the situation, officials pleaded for help on the district’s Facebook page. “Within 15 minutes, we had 55 volunteers,” said McGovern. For three days, the district maintained a 24-hour staff to help those in need during the flooding caused by remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. “It’s a testimony to the people in our community,” he said. McGovern also told the board and the public that a week lost due to the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene in late August would not be forgiven by the state De- partment of Education. He said graduation will need to be € snow days. pushed back until June 13, and the last day of school will be June 6. McGovern added that the days in between those dates will be recognized as snow days. Nine professional employees within the district received ten- ure. They are as follows: Cecelia Candelario, Jenna Casaldi, Chris- topher Davis, Christina Goble, ‘Kathi Hamilton, Tiffny Hettes, Gennifer Pauley, Melissa Smi- gielski and Kacie Skutnik. The board also approved 11 substitute teacher hires with vari- ous certifications. They include Nicholas Bilski, of Wilkes-Barre; Andrea Buckman, of Tunkhan- nock; Leilani Cabrera, Wilkes- Barre; Jack Davis, Harveys Lake; Denise Elko, of Laurel Run; Maria Gialanella, of Dallas; Alicia Har- ris, of Mountain Top; Leanne Harvey, of Nanticoke; Melony Jones, of Hunlock Creek; Maura Narkiewicz, of Dallas; and Jessica Thomas, of Swoyersville. Jeffrey Shook, of Hanover Township, was appointed as the home and school visitor with a salary of $41,263 effective Sept. 20. The board approved a medical sabbatical leave for Kyrston Strauch for the 2011-12 school year. The following four coaches were approved for the 2011-12 school year: Wayne Oplinger, of Shavertown, as head softball coach; Nancy Edkins, of Hunlock Creek, as head swim coach; Mat- thew Nonnenberg, of Scranton, as volunteer junior high assistant soccer coach; and John Davis, of Harveys Lake, as varsity assistant wrestling coach. The board approved a raise for Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Mary Jo Casaldi in the amount of $0.55 per hour, retroactive to July 1, 2011. In other news, the board... e Approved a refund of paid taxes to the following property owners: Richard Lukasavage in the amount of $340.67 for a prop- erty located in Harveys Lake, Jus- tin Matus in the amount of $272.54 for a property located in Harveys Lake and Josephine Olk- er in the amount of $173.73 for a property located in Harveys Lake. ¢ The next Committee-of-the- Whole meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10 and the next regular meeting will be held at 7p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17 in the junior /senior high school library. »
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