Sunday, May 20, 2012 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 JACKSON TOWNSHIP By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com The board of supervisors ap- proved a sewage facilities plan and addressed residents’ com- ments about the township police force at a meeting Monday. The board adopted a resolu- tion affirming that the township has an official sewage facilities plan for the Bulford Farms sewer system project. : Chairman John Wilkes Jr. said the township had to adopt the resolution in order to get approv- al for the project from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Wilkes said residents have had questions about whether the po- lice force in the township will disband. One of the township's full-time police officers recently resigned, and the township is seeking aid from neighboring departments to fill the gap. Wilkes said the department is not disbanding and supervisors are looking to “increase the ser- vice, not decrease it.” The board also approved a mo- tion authorizing the solicitor to take legal action against Larks- ville Borough for outstanding payments related to liquid fuels funds used to maintain Steele Road. Jackson Township maintained the entire road and was paid $400 in liquid fuels funds annual- ly by Larksville Borough for work performed on the section located within the borough. The township ended its 39- year agreement with the neigh- boring borough late last year be- cause Larksville Borough has not made a payment since 2005. Last month, Solicitor Jeff Ma- lak said the township received a partial payment for this year’s maintenance. Malak said the township just wants to ensure it receives the remaining payment. In other news, the board... ¢ Authorized the Back Moun- tain Memorial Library to use the light tower at the annual auc- tion. e Approved Kingston Town- ship’s request to join the Back Mountain Regional Emergency Management Agency and ap- | Smervison approve Bulford sewer plan pointed John Turner as an assist- ant chief. e Authorized police officers Leo Letoski and Tim Coffay to attend a state police firearms in- structors’ class. ® Authorized Boy Scout Troop 146 to house its training trailer at the municipal building. ® Authorized the Girl Scout troop to hold a cookout at the recreation pavilion. ¢ The next Jackson Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be held at 6 p.m. June 4 in the municipal building. hp = SEE Te ER I SE OR TSE I HARVEYS LAKE WVSA law approved, hearing scheduled By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Council approved a sanitary authority ordinance and sched- uled a public hearing to discuss changes to the flood plain ordi- nance at a meeting Tuesday. The countywide Wyoming Val- anitary Authority ordinance ates different regulations and fee schedules for municipalities that contribute to the sewer sys- tem. Council Vice President Francis Kopko said the hearing for the flood plain ordinance, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 19, is to discuss changes required for the ordinance to comply with state mandates. Council also voted to waive zoning fees that would be re- quired for the fire department to place generators on its property. Secretary Susan Sutton read a report compiled by Police Chief les Musial with a special ¢ regarding reports of icious activity. Sutton read that Musial re- ceived a call from a woman who had seen someone stealing items from a neighbor’s backyard, but did not call 911 because she “didn’t want to bother anyone.” Sutton read that Musial asks everyone to report suspicious ac- tivity. Councilman Ed Kelly an- nounced the Harveys Lake Fire Department will hold its annual dance benefit on July 28 at Irem Temple Country Club in Dallas. He said it is the 90th anniversary for the dance that will feature live music. Councilwoman Michell’e Boice urged residents to attend Lake-Lehman School Board meetings to learn more about the budgeting process and proposed tax increases. The next Harveys Lake Bor- ough council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. June 19 in the municipal building. Back Mountain ride benefits Habitat CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST About 150 participants, including the late Spencer Martin's granddaughter, Amanda Martin, start the Fourth An- nual Spencer Martin Memorial Bike Race Sunday morning at Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus in Lehman. The race ‘benefits the Wyoming Valley chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Cycling for a cause The Fourth Annual Spencer Martin Memorial Bike Ride for Habitat was held May 6 in memo- ry of the long-time devoted vol- unteer for Wyoming Valley Hab- itat for Humanity. Martin volun- teers for many years at Habitat work sites and on the board of di- rectors. The 34-mile ride began at the Wilkes-Barre campus of Penn State in Lehman and wound through the Back Moun- tain. Proceeds from the ride will be used by Wyoming Valley hab- itat for Humanity to help provide simple, decent affordable house for qualified families in Wyoming Valley. XP Joe Fauzio, of Lehman, grabs a snack before starting the bike race. DALLAS BOROUGH Council approves road projects, discusses wildlife sanctuary plans By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Council on Wednesday approved sever- al motions related to road repairs. Approved projects to be funded by state liquid fuels funds in 2012 include storm water infrastructure improvements in the area of Fawn Drive, Whitetail Drive and Hickory Road; resurfacing of the portion of White Birch Lane located in the bor- ough; and resurfacing of Mill Street be- tween state Route 415 and Woodlawn Avenue. Council awarded bids to Adamski Ex- cavating & Paving Inc. for storm water pipe repair work on Monroe Avenue in the amount of $2,391 and storm water in- and basin work on Lake Street in the unt of $1,585. Both projects are fund- y Federal Emergency Management Agency due to the declaration of disaster from Tropical Storm Lee in September. Borough Manager Tracey Carr said the borough can move ahead with plans to make street and storm water infrastruc- ture improvements to Wellington Avenue with funding from the Luzerne County Office of Community Development. Council also rehired Frank Stanish as a part-time road department employee at a rate of $11.28 per hour for 24 hours per week. Residents asked council about a pro- posed bird sanctuary that is planned for private property located on Pineview Road. Resident Art Prutzman told council about the project, which consists of sever- al lots on Pineview Road that were owned by the late Paul Duda. Duda’s brother, An- drew, is trying to form a nonprofit orga- nization to maintain the land as a wildlife sanctuary open to the public. Carr said Andrew Duda has not pre- sented anything to council about the sanctuary. She said she would have to re- view the zoning ordinance to determine whether such a project would be allowed in a residential area. Resident Drina Casey asked whether she could place “no trespassing” signs on her property, which abuts the proposed sanctuary area. Carr said Casey would not need per- mission from council to put up signs on her own property. The Stravinskys of Lehman Avenue ap- proached council about receiving permis- sion for UGI Energy Services to cut into the road in order to connect their resi- dence to a natural gas system. Rosemary Stravinsky said the couple’s oil furnace broke and now they would like to switch to natural gas. Carr said the road was paved in 2010 ac- cording to a borough ordinance, resur- faced roads cannot be cut for non-emer- gency issues for five years. She said the situation did not meet the definition of an emergency. Prutzman also asked council there were stringent regulations on putting a shed on his property but one of his neigh- bors built a shed in the middle of borough property without any permits. Carr said Prutzman would need a zon- ing permit to construct a shed, which would also need to adhere to setback re- quirements. Councilman Brian Stevens said it ap- pears the neighbor’s shed was in violation of the zoning code, and Carr said she would ask Code Enforcement Officer Carl Alber to investigate. In other news, council... e Approved and authorized the pay- ment of $5,820 for the rental of 12 40-yard containers used for the 2012 Spring Clea- nup to Stell Enterprises Inc. of Plains Township. ¢ Authorized the borough manager to renew applicable insurance coverage re- lating to the summer recreation program. ¢ Authorized the borough engineer to redesign and solicit bids to replace two damaged traffic signal mast arms. Carr said the signals need to be redesigned be- cause they are prone to being hit by trac- tor trailers. ¢ Authorized the borough manager to solicit proposals for a new copy machine in the administrative office. ® Authorized the borough manager to solicit proposals for a new back-up gener- ator to be installed in the municipal build- ing. DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT Board OKs proposed budget with hike By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent Dallas School Board unani- mously approved a $32 million budget for the 2012-2013 school year with an increase to the mill rate on Monday night. The budget for the 2012-2013 school year totals $32,928,593, containing a mill rate increase from 11.5824 to 11.8052. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 assessed prop- erty tax value. The budget contains a per cap- ita tax of $10 and an earned in- come tax of one percent that will be shared 50/50 with the school district's municipalities. Also, the budget contains a $52 emer- gency municipal services tax, broken down to $5 for Dallas School District and $47 for mu- nicipal governments which have enacted the tax. The new budget also has about $1.3 million in district-wide cuts, including the decision not to re- place the following five retiring teachers: Luci Callahan, kinder- garten teacher at Dallas Elemen- tary; Candyce Fike, language arts and French teacher at the high and middle schools; Todd Hun- ter, music teacher at the high and elementary schools; Linda Doughton, gifted teacher at the Dallas Elementary School; and Louise Roberts, librarian at the middle school. The 2012-2013 budget is avail- able for review in the district’s ad- ministrative building. With purse strings tight, Jef- fery Shaffer, Dallas Senior High School principal. reported arts and music programs are planned to be carried through into the new school year, and enrollment in the programs is looking strong. Also, the school board ap- proved a motion to retain attor- ney Benjamin R. Jones III as so- licitor for the district at the rate of $130 per hour. Melissa Cencet- ti was approved as a contracted physical therapist for two days a week at a pay of $55 per hour. Charles Didgeon was appoint- ed high school hall monitor, earn- ing $8.10 per hour effective Janu- ary 30, 2012; and Patricia Reilly as classroom and office aide for Dallas Elementary School, earn- ing $8.10 effective April 10, 2012. The school board accepted the resignation of Cory Patton, as- sistant-in-charge, girls basketball coach, and Erika Chang, special education aide with Wyrcallis Ele- mentary School. Preparing for the new school year, the school board approved substitute teachers Amy Daniel, middle school math and science; Lindsey Davenport, elementary and special education; Jamie Kramer, elementary; Erica Slo- cum, elementary and special edu- cation; and Megan Yekel, elemen- tary and special education. In other news ... ® The school board honored the LifeSmarts Team, comprised of five high school students, for placing third in a national compe- tition held in April in Philadel- phia. The National LifeSmarts Championship focuses on testing students’ knowledge of finances, health, technology and the envi- ronment. The students, Decklan Cerza, team captain; Amber Ha- bib, Sara Hudak, Gates Palissery, and Samuel Reinert all received a certificate from the school board. The school board recognized teacher aide Anne Robbins for performing the Heimlich maneu- ver on a student who was chok- ing. Superintendent Frank Gal- icki reported the student is doing fine thanks to Robbins’ quick thinking. Summer swimming classes and schedule have been released. Galicki said it is available on the school district’s website. The next regular school board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Mon- day, June 11 in the administrative building. VW
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