Sunday, July 22, 2012 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 RVEYS LAKE BOROUGH ublic will decide location of police department The issue has been one of contention since the borough was awarded grant funds to relocate the police station in March. Many residents, former and current council members claim they never knew the police station was in poor condition or that the By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com After listening to residents’ comments about the proposed police station relocation, mem- bers of council took action in remedying community concerns Tuesday by choosing to let vot- ers decide on the issue. Whether the police depart- ment, currently housed across from the general municipal au- thority building on State Route 415, should be relocated to 22 Little League Road will be a referendum question on the general election ballot in No- vember. Council members Michelle Boice, Thomas Kehler, Ed Kelly and Amy Williams voted for the measure while Larry Radel, Fran Kopko and Boyd Barber voted against it. The motion, proposed by Boice, also asked council to “slow down” with the process of relocating the police station and finding estimates for renovating the existing building. The issue has been one of contention since the borough borough had applied for a grant. was ‘awarded grant funds to re- locate the police station in March. Many residents, former and current council members claim they never knew the po- lice station was in poor condi- tion or that the borough had applied for a grant. Mayor Clarence Hogan has said the existing building is not suitable for a police department due to its wooden frame, poor plumbing and other conditions that could cause security prob- lems. The former recreation build- ing is a concrete shell, and the renovations needed to convert it to an up-to-code and handicap accessible police station are es- timated to cost nearly $80,000. Council solicited bids for the project last month and Radel said bids are expected this week. Radel also said if the return- ing bids are higher than the grant money awarded, the pro- ject cannot be completed. Resident Rob Weaver asked why council did not get esti- mates to renovate the current police station to compare costs. Many residents have had con- cerns about the project since it was revealed, from the safety of the proposed location to wheth- er council had violated the Sun- shine Law in applying for the grant. Former council member and resident Diane Dwyer was un- certain how the grant applica- tion could state that the bor- ough intended to move the sec- retary and zoning officer to the current police building as part of the project but now “the (po- lice) building is condemned.” Resident Ed Williams made a See PUBLIC, Page 10 DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT Resolution may bring in big bucks from low bond rates By SUSAN DENNEY Dallas Post Correspondent The Dallas School Board may gain $308,000 because of histor- ically low bond rates. Dave Payne and Brian Kosce- lansky, representatives of PNC Bank, encouraged the board at Monday’s meeting to pass a pa- rameters resolution next month. Payne said this kind of resolu- tion will allow the board to spec- minimum level of savings on district’s debt service and allow PNC to move quickly and capture a low rate. Payne said that without a pa- rameters resolution, the wait time for refinancing a bond issue was about two months. He said the market is unstable and bond interest rates are low and the process is similar to lock- ing in a rate on a home mort- gage. The board acted on PNC's pro- posal and voted to advertise its intent to refinance the bond is- sue which generated funds for the new high school and other projects. This does not commit the board to refinance and it will de- cide at the August meeting whether to pass a parameters resolution. A resolution to renew a con- tract with accounting firm Bon- ita and Rainey met opposition from board member Karen Kyle. “It is good practice to bring in fresh eyes,” she said. She recom- mended considering other agen- cies to audit the district’s financ- es. “There’s no question that a public body, like a corporation, should change auditors after a certain period of time,” Board Solicitor Ben Jones said. The resolution to renew the contract with Bonita and Rainey failed, with board member Bruce Goeringer voting yes and all oth- er board members voting no. Member Richard Coslett was absent from the meeting. The board then passed a reso- lution to solicit quotes from audi- ting firms to consider at next month’s meeting. A resolution to adopt a 60- month lease with De Lage Lan- den Public Finance LLC for two new Blue Bird school buses also met with resistance from the board. Several members questioned ‘whether the old buses needed re- placing so soon. Business manager Grant Pal- fey encouraged the board to en- ter the contract. “You can get into owning bad buses in a hurry,” he said. The motion passed with board members Charles Preece, Cathe- rine Wega, Colleen Slocum, Lar- ry Schuler and Goeringer voting yes and Maureen Matiska, Fred Parry and Kyle voting no. The board unanimously passed a resolution honoring Dallas High School graduate Paige Selenski, a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic field hockey team. Her father, Brian Selenski, ac- cepted the proclamation for his daughter, who was playing a game at the time of the meeting. Selenski received a standing ovation from the board, guests and residents at the meeting. _ TOWNSHIP Residents tired of dirt bike noise By CAMILLE FIOTI - Dallas Post Correspondent Bothered by the noise from ATVs and dirt bikes tearing through a vacant lot nearby, sev- eral Oak Hill residents asked su- pervisors for help at Monday's meeting. The residents, who did not want to be named, complained that teenagers have been riding their quads and dirt bikes too ‘close to residential properties. “The residents added that the lot is most likely in a wetlands area, which drains into the Huntsville ‘Reservoir. Township Supervisor Dave Sutton said the board is working on a solution to the problem, such as possibly restricting the distance people can ride their ve- hicles from residential areas. He also advised the residents to con- tact the state Department of En- vironmental Protection if they are concerned that the lot isin a wetlands area. “We're not totally against peo- ple using quads on their proper- ty,” Sutton said. “They just need a - large property.” The board also announced the township will begin to accept re- cycling at the township building in the near future. Assistant Township Secretary Marian DeAngelis said Abe N. Solomon Inc., of Wilkes-Barre, will provide recycling service to the township free of charge. “This is not exclusive to town- ship residents,” said Sutton. “We're hoping parents who are dropping their kids off at school will drop off their recycling on the way.” The board said Solomon was the only company that offered free recycling services. The board voted to authorize DeAngelis to negotiate a one-year contract with Solomon, rather than the two-year contract, which Solo- mon requested. The board added it hopes to of- fer recycling drop-off times dur- ing the week and every other Sat- urday. DeAngelis said the recy- cling will be “single stream,” meaning items don’t have to be separated. More information about the program will be provided in the near future. DALLAS TOWNSHIP Police chief By GERI GIBBONS Dallas Post Correspondent IER abd Se Le BE FE SN ] Supervisor Liz Martin com- mended Dallas Township Police Chief Robert Jolley on being in- vited to serve as a member of the joint State Government Adviso- y Committee on Capital Puni- hment. © “It is quite on an honor to be sked to serve with such an im- jessive group of people,” Martin ld about the invitation. ' In another matter, Solicitor 3ill McCall addressed Turkey {ill's application for a permit for onstruction of the store at the ntersection of Routes 415 and 118. McCall said the request was to serve on state hoard premature and would be evaluat- ed after plans for the project have been submitted. Also, the board announced its intent to advertise for the ap- pointment of a resident to the Dallas Area Municipal Authority to fulfill the term of Tom Dough- ton, who recently resigned. The board will discuss the matter at its next special meeting. In another matter, resident Morrell Devlin, of Elmcrest Drive, addressed the board about a swale in front of his property that makes it difficult for him to get his vehicle safely into his dri- veway. Roadmaster Martin Barry said safety was the township’s first priority and the swale was neces- sary, especially during the winter when water on the roadway could lead to dangerous, icy con- ditions. Supervisor Frank Wagner also emphasized safety. Board members said they would visit Devlin’s property, as- sess the situation and report back at the next meeting. The supervisors tabled an ordi- nance relating to reverse subdivi- sion and will address it again at their next meeting, allowing McCall to do more research on the matter. There will be a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7 about the new flood plain ordinance, prior to the board work session, which is open to the public. Members of the committee planning the 10th Annual Dallas Harvest Festival are, from left, seat- ed, Owen Faut, secretary; Rich Fufaro, chairman; Liz Martin, marketing, Kiss the Pig Contest. Standing, Judge Robert Opel, grounds; Karen Fiorello, vendors; John Cybulski, grounds, vendors; Dallas Borough Manager Tracey Carr, children’s activities; and Carol Wall, development. Absent at the time of the photo were Gina Major, entertainment; Maryann Ochman, co-chair, Kiss the Pig Contest; Carol Carroll, flower box competition; and Darcy Brodmerkal, volunteers. Dallas Harvest Festival volunteers are prepping for 10th annual event The Dallas Harvest Festival Steering Committee announces the 10th Annual Dallas Harvest Festival while be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16 on and around Main Street in Dal- las. In observance of its decade- long tradition, the Dallas Har- vest Festival will seek to interact with the community in a special way this year - a “give back” to the thousands of people who vis- it Main Street each year. Among the planned com- memorative activities will be “Best of Kiss the Pig” which will pit winner against winner to see who can garner the most votes (and the most dollars for char- ity). Vying for the privilege of kiss- ing Dallas’ favorite potbelly pig this year will be Dallas Borough Mayor Tim Carroll (2003 win- ner), Kunkle Fire Chief Jack Dodson (2006 winner), Back Mountain Community News Publisher and Past Dallas Ro- tary President Lisa Pretko (2007 winner) and Dallas Middle School Principal Tom Duffy (2008 winner). District Judge James Tupper will announce the winner dur- ing the festival. Meanwhile, watch for those pink-labeled jugs to appear in Back Mountain businesses and vote with a sin- gle dollar for the winner/char- ity of your choice. For further information, con- tact the festival hotline at 675- 1950 or log onto www.dallashar- vestfestival.com. DALLAS BOROUGH Yard sale By GERI GIBBONS Dallas Post Correspondent Borough Council on Wednesday night passed an or- dinance requiring yard sale permits, limiting the number of such sales and providing pe- nalties for violations of the new rules. The ordinance limits yard/" garage sales to two a year. There is no cost to apply for a permit. Last month, Borough Man- ager Tracey Carr said the then- proposed ordinance was nec- essary to alleviate traffic con- gestion and tensions between neighbors. Council also approved an or- dinance regulating “BYOB” clubs, requiring permits and establishing penalties for vio- lations. In other business, council acknowledged receipt of re- quests for proposals from sev- eral area firms to provide engi- neering services to the bor- ough in association with a $75,000 block grant to be used for street and infrastructure improvements. The requests will be reviewed and the most qualified bidder will be deter- mined. A contract proposal will then be forwarded to the Luzerne County Office of permits required Community Development. In another matter, Dave Broadhead, representing Dal- las Family Practice, of Church Street, expressed concern about a Pennsylvania Depart- ment of Transportation pro- posed roundabout to improve traffic flow in the area of that business. The project will eliminate 15 to 17 parking spots in the lot shared by Dallas Family Prac- tice, Orchman’s Coins and Jewelry and a pizza business. Broadhead is concerned the elimination of the spaces will hurt those businesses. Carr has called PennDOT and requested a meeting be set up to address these con- cerns in the near future. She said she will contact interest- ed parties to give them an op- portunity to attend that meet- ing. The project is scheduled to begin in 2014. Water day camp returns to Lands at Hillside Farms Sponsored by Pennsylvania American Water in partnership with The Lands at Hillside Farms, the Wonderful World of Water Day Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. August 13-17 at The Lands at Hillside Farms, Shavertown. This is the second year that Pennsylvania American Water and The Lands at Hillside Farms have teamed up to offer this free camp. Day campers, ages 7-11, will explore watershed basics, learn how human activity on the land affects the quality of water in rivers and streams and discover solutions to water pollution. Campers will also learn about water’s importance to the ev- eryday workings on the farm and have the chance to partici- pate in various activities on a sustainable farm. To register a child, visit www.hillsidefarms.org/water- camp. Registration is limited. A deposit of $10 will hold a child’s space and the deposit will be re- funded upon arrival at camp. For more information, con- tact The Lands at Hillside Farms by e-mail at paaw- camp@hillsidefarms.org or call 995-1711 and leave a message.
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