ET ap Sunday, November 6, 2011 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 - NGSTON TOWNSHIP NUI1i | | JNO New First step taken to levy $52 annual local services tax on workers in township. Township supervisors took their first step Tuesday night toward levying a new tax on people who work in the town- ship. 7.1: The officials held the first reading of an ordinance to im- pose the local services tax, which would cost taxpayers $52 annually, $10 of which would be paid to the Dallas School District. The tax would replace the annual $10 occupational privi- lege tax. “This tax would be paid by those who are employed with- in the township,” said Supervi- sor Jeffrey Box. “We would be collecting funds from those who enjoy the benefits of the township because they work here.” Supervisor Chairman James ino also expressed his sup- port for the tax. Box and Reino cited the 2011 deficit and increasing costs of providing services, including upkeep of township roadways, in explaining their support. “I remember years in which we were able to pave over 10 streets,” said Box. “Now, we are lucky if one or two streets are paved.” “Kingston Township is one of the few municipalities in the Supers make move toward local tax “This tax would be paid by those who are em- ployed within the town- ship.” Jeffrey Box Kingston Twp. supervisor county to not require the tax,” added Reino. “Many township residents are required to pay the tax to other municipalities in which they are employed.” No residents were present for public comment. The meeting also gave the supervisors an opportunity to present a statement of support to the Pennsylvania Commit- tee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, recog- nizing the role of the Guard and Reserve, and as a show of support for the Uniformed Services Employment and Re- employment Rights Act. The board will meet again on Wednesday, Nov. 9 to dis- cuss budget issues, including the proposed increase in the real estate tax and on Wednes- day, Nov. 16 to discuss the pro- posed increase of the earned income tax. The next public work ses- sion will be at 7 p.m. on Mon- day, Nov.7 in preparation for the regular supervisors meet- ing. - Geri Gibbons i Gh, oa i Dallas Township Police Officer Brad Balutis, left, and Dallas , : > POLICE 251 — ER ——————— + Township Police Chief Robert Jolley stand near the Kunkle Project. 4) wg Fire Department sign that warns drivers of the /ennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education DT cops take part » d ®e © The Dallas Township Police Department will participate in the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Edu- cation Project through Novem- ber 14. Officers will be on the lookout for aggressive driving behav- iors, including speeding, follow- ing too closely (tailgating), im- proper passing and red light vio- lations. Enforcement activities will concentrate on roadways known to have a high number of aggressive-driving crashes. Approximately 60 percent of all 2010 traffic fatalities in Penn- sylvania involved some sort of aggressive driving. Following project too closely, or tailgating, is a common aggressive driving be- havior. This decreases your re- action time and increases the li- kelihood of a crash. When driv- ers increase the distance be- tween them and the car in front of them, they increase their safety. As this project is both en- forcement and education, signs will be placed informing drivers that “Aggressive Driving En- forcement” is underway. To help in the education process, the Kunkle Volunteer Fire De- partment placed the Aggressive Driving message on its elec- tronic sign. pumpkin. McKayla Williams has the most fun cleaning out the inside of her CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Eric Pimm, of Harveys Lake, helps his young son, Ashtun, during a pumpkin-carving party sponsored by the Harveys Lake Borough Council. Cd wi while carving their pumpkin. Anna and Janet DelPino get help from their uncle, Robert Smith, Having some PUMPKIN fun By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com While no one fashioned the likeness of a snowflake into their pumpkin, it may have been ap- propriate given the blizzard-like conditions at a Harveys Lake carving party held Oct. 29. Youngsters and their parents braved the snowy weather to at- tend the event armed with pumpkins to carve in celebration of Halloween. The event was sponsored by the Harveys Lake Homecoming Committee, a group that has seen its fair share of weary weather this past year. An Easter egg hunt scheduled in spring time was rained out. Rain poured on the group’s first attempt to hold the annual homecoming weekend this sum- mer, and the second try to cele- brate at the end of August was blown out of the water by Hurri- cane Irene. Despite the snow, the event lo- cation was toasty warm. That’s because Patti Adamshick, whose family purchased Sunset Marina on Lakeside Drive in August, opened the facility exclusively for the party. “The building has been vacant for nearly 10 years,” said Adam- shick, of Harveys Lake. “It was al- ways used as a boat marina. It should be a business. We're going to keep it. We don’t know what our plans are yet, and depending on the economy, we'll just have to find the best fit for it.” Several tables were set up for the kids to carve their orange gourds, and the homecoming committee supplied carving kits. The event also featured home- made food, spooky music, kid- friendly Halloween movies, sev- eral games and more. Amy Williams, of Harveys Lake, said the committee recent- ly started using the funds raised from the homecoming celebra- tion to hold community-minded events throughout the year. Borough council member Fran Kopko said events are planned in order to bring the community closer together — something he feels has been missing from Har- veys Lake. “This is to show the people "It's tough getting started because | think the pumpkin is frozen.” Amy Williams Harveys Lake resident that we're all coming together in the same municipality,” he said. “And it’s been working.” Eric Pimm, of Harveys Lake, and his 2-year-old son, Ashtun, have been anticipating the event for a while. “He’s been talking about this for a week,” Eric said. “The kids love it. It’s a great time for him to meet and play with other kids in the community.” Several tykes got busy carving » the tops of their pumpkins and enjoyed rolling up their sleeves while pulling out the seeds and other innards. McKayla Williams, Amy Wil- liams’ daughter, was especially excited to carve the likeness of a Barbie doll into the large pump- kin the family bought from Dy- mond’s Farm. “It’s tough getting started be- cause I think the pumpkin is fro- zen,” Amy said, laughing. nw together Preparing to put the pieces month’s meeting. following Hurri- Funding received through cane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, supervisors agreed to sign the PEMA Public Disaster Financial As- sistance Agreement for dam- ages sustained during Hurri- cane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The township sustained about $300,000 in damages from the two storms, Stan Davis announced during last the agreement with PEMA and FEMA will help with road restoration and repairs caused by the storms within the township. In conjunction with the motion, Township Secretary Terry Davis was appointed as the applicant agent, mak- ing her responsible for all forms and documents re- quired by FEMA and PEMA. Supervisors agree to sign disaster agreement In other news, the pro- posed 2012 budget will be ready for public review later this month. Also, supervisors an- nounced there will not be a meeting on November 8, which is Election Day. The next Ross Township monthly meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 in the municipal building. - Eileen Godin DALLAS TOWNSHIP esident nervously pleads with supervisors to take hazards of gas drilling into consideration Hands shaking, Wendy Co- minsky nervously read excerpts from national news articles pointing out the hazards of nat- ‘ural gas drilling at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “I’m asking you to take this in- to consideration,” she pleaded. Last month, the supervisors " approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would al- low for natural gas development in the township under a condi- tional use provision. “There is not enough re- ‘search,” Cominsky said. “Really take your time on this.” Another resident asked Solic- itor Tom Brennan if a special meeting could be scheduled to answer the numerous questions residents have regarding the is- sue. Brennan suggested that res- idents e-mail their questions to him or township planning con- sultant, Jack Varaly. Residents’ concerns will then be addressed. Brennan pointed out that, al- though the questions will be ad- dressed, a decision on the mat- ter can only be made in a public forum. “We have to look at this from both sides,” he cautioned. “Or we’ve gone through all of this ef- fort for nothing.” Chief Gathering LLC is in the middle of zoning hearings for its application to build a natural gas metering station off Hildebrandt Road about 1,300 feet from Dal- las schools. In a related matter, Mike Dick- inson of Williams Field Services, LLC updated the board on the status of a gathering line instal- lation project, which will tap in- to the Transco interstate pipe- line. Township Engineer Tom Doughton said he spoke with a Transco representative who as- sured him the township would be notified prior to any activity on the line. “They will set up a schedule with the township so we will have answers for the public as to what theyre doing and when,” Doughton said - Camille Fioti
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