3
SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013
THE DALLAS POST
PAGE 3
DALLAS TOWNSHIP
Development ordinance change sought
By SUSAN DENNEY
Dallas Post Correspondent
Supervisors are considering an
Inendment which could change the
way property is developed in Dallas
Township.
The projected amendment to the
township’s SALDO (Subdivision and
Land Development Ordinance) would
change the definition of a major sub-
division and allow property owners to
split a property into two lots without
having to meet requirements for a ma-
jor subdivision.
According to supervisor Bill Grant,
the township’s present ordinance “has
stymied development.” Supervisors
will consider the amendment at next
month’s meeting.
The meeting room on May 7 was
filled with representatives of towing
companies who had received informa-
tion packets about the possibility of
towing cars for the township.
Supervisors are considering the cre-
ation of a towing policy similar to ones
in the Municipality of Kingston and Ha-
nover Township.
Bob Kadluboski, who has been criti-
cal of Wilkes-Barre City politics, start-
ed the towers’ comments by telling
supervisors they should avoid towing
woes like those seen in Wilkes-Barre.
“The poster child for what’s wrong is
Wilkes-Barre,” Kadluboski said.
He asked if the township intended to
charge fees to the towers they worked with.
Grant assured him that charging
is not supervisors’ intent. “We’re not
looking at this as a money generator
for the township.”
Township solicitor Thomas Brennan
agreed, saying that people had asked to
be given a chance to tow for the town-
ship. “We are trying to be fair to every-
one.”
Representatives of different firms
asked about the informational packet
they had received. Many were not
pleased that the township might expect
a tower to shoulder the expense of tow-
ing stolen cars. But Chief Robert Jolley
felt the number of incidents would be
few and that towers should factor those
losses into their fee schedules.
Another discussion centered on the
possibility of the township requiring an
inventory of car contents.
Chris Yankovich said, “I never go in
their vehicles,” adding that towed ve-
hicles are locked and put in impound.
A representative of Falzone’s Towing
Service said his company takes pictures
of valuables in plain sight in a vehicle
and documents laptops or wallets left
on seats. But the representative said,
“We don’t dig through them or check
the car trunk or glove box.”
Supervisor Liz Martin thanked the
representatives for their input and
asked those interested in a rotation sys-
tem similar to the one in the Munici-
pality of Kingston to sign up at the end
of the meeting.
Chief Jolley introduced a request
from Dallas school superintendent
Frank Galicki to meet with him about
the possibility of applying for a COPS
federal grant to provide a resource of-
ficer to the school district.
Jolley said the grant proposal would
not cover all costs of hiring the police
officer and that the grant deadline is
in just a few days. He also pointed out
that the cap for the grant is $125,000
for three years.
Supervisors discussed a sewer and
stormwater project for Stredney Road
as a project for the 2014 Community
Development Block Grant.
Resident Jay Niskey expressed con-
cern about a number of property issues
in the township, referring to a large
tree at the intersection of Skyview and
Woodview that he believes presents
a danger. Niskey called it a “no man’s
land.”
Solicitor Brennan said nothing can
be done until the owner of that parcel
of land has been determined.
The May supervisors meeting has
been changed to 7 p.m. on Monday,
May 20 to avoid a conflict with Elec-
tion Day which is set for Tuesday, May
21.
Farmers
grarket
vouchers
available
{0 seniors
The Senior Farmers Market Nutri-
tion Program was established in 2002
by the Federal and State Dept. of Ag-
riculture to assist seniors in obtaining
fresh, Pennsylvania grown, nutritious
fruits and vegetables and to increase
sales and awareness of the farmers
markets in the local area.
In collaboration with each local Area
Agency on Aging the vouchers are dis-
tributéd to eligible seniors statewide.
The eligible senior will receive four $5
vouchers that can be redeemed only
at a Pennsylvania farmers ‘stand -par-
ticipating in the program. The vouch-
ers alSo can be redeemed at a farmers
stand in a neighboring state as long as
the produce was grown by the farmer
or purchased directly from a Pennsyl-
vania farmer. Further details regarding
eligible produce are available when
vouchers are obtained. The require-
ments for the program are as follows:
* Be a resident of Luzerne or Wyo-
ming County. Proof of residence re-
quired.
* Be at least 60 years of age by Dec.
31, 2013. Proof of age required.
* Meet income guidelines based on
2013 Total Household Income: (All in-
come is included, i.e., Social Security,
Black Lung, pension, etc.) Self declara-
tion — No proof required.
® qualifying individual is allowed
ly four (4) $5 vouchers per year.
“vouchers will not be sent out by mail.
A person can obtain vouchers for an
eligible senior as long as they have a
signed and completed proxy with them
when picking up the vouchers. These
proxy forms are now available at any
of the Active Adult centers sponsored
by Area Agency on Aging listed below.
Regular weekly hours are listed for
each center. No other form or note will
be allowed. The “Proxy” form, if shown
in the paper, can be used.
A limit of two proxy forms is allowed
per person. A spouse must have the of-
ficial proxy form if picking up vouchers
for his/her spouse. A person having
Power of Attorney is required to pro-
vide the signed and completed proxy
form.
There will be a one-day voucher dis-
tribution at all Area Agency on Aging
Bbonsored active adult centers. Repre-
Sentatives will be available at the fol-
ing centers on the specified dates/
es:
yoming County Adult Active
hter
& 101 Dymond Terrace, Tunkhannock.
- > a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through
ay
RE nt
allas Active Adult Center
# 1158 Twin Stacks Drive, Dallas
gs 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MOnday through
riday
675-2179
Church of Christ
5439 Main Road, Sweet Valley
10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, June 27
For information regarding the vouch-
program, call Area Agency on Aging,
22-1159 Ext. 3337.
£)
wr. |
HOD HON
pany open house.
public at an open house on May 5.
Maureen Oremus, first assistant
chief, said the event gave the commu-
nity a chance to see the new training
facility and learn about what services
are available there.
The facility includes a 40 by 60 foot
hall that seats more than 200 people
and can be rented for weddings or
other events. The company also plans
to use the facility for a wide range of
training like a session held recently
on how to use breathing apparatus.
In the near future, there will be
vehicle rescue training, propane gas
training and “maze” training where
Zachary Williams, 6, of Franklin
Township, crawls through the
smoke-filled Franklin Township
fire safety house with the help of
junior firefighter Lindsey Oremus
during the fire company's open
house.
a
i
mus speak about fire safety.
Zachary Williams, 6, left, and his brother
E.J., 11, both of Franklin Township, listen
intently to assistant fire chief Maureen Ore-
y 5%
2
Fr
BILL TARUTIS PHOTOS/FOR THE DALLAS POST
Franklin Township assistant fire chief Maureen Oremus demonstrates fire safety hazards during the fire com-
Franklin Twp. Fire Company shows off its
NEW DIGS
he Franklin Township Fire
Company showcased its new
training facility upgrade to the
firefighters crawl through a dark
building to rescue victims.
Second Assistant Chief Doug Farr
applied for a state grant used to fund
the upgrades and the ladies axuiliary
contributed a large sum of money.
With 11 active members and six
junior members, the company serves
more than 2,000 homes within a 16-
mile radius in the Back Mountain. It
handled more than 130 calls last year.
The grant money was used for the
facility upgrade because the com-
pany’s equipment is paid off at this
time. It currently has one tanker, a
brush truck, one engine and a mini
pumper. The company also has a
“smokehouse” it uses to train visitors
how to survive in a burning building.
LE GAREY i
Epil Thinks - :
E
The Franklin Township Volunteer Fire Co. fire safety house.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
Green
project
proposed
By SUSAN DENNEY
Dallas Post Correspondent
Dallas Area Municipal Author-
ity is ready for Jackson Town-
ship to give the go-ahead on its
proposed cooperative venture
between the state correctional
institute in the township and
DAMA’s yard waste composting
program.
According to DAMA Execu-
tive Director Larry Spaciano, the
venture will combine the SCI’s
current food waste compost-
ing program with DAMA’s yard
waste composting program.
He said the
proposed site is
“off the beaten
path” and will
make use of land
owned by the
state correction-
al institute.
Spaciano de-
scribed the proj
ect as “the per-
fect cooperation
between state
and local govern-
ment.”
Supervisors of
Jackson Township announced
at their June 3 meeting, DAMA
(Dallas Area Municipal Author-
ity) will give a presentation
about the DAMA /SCI compost-
ing site in the township.
In regular business, the town-
ship hired the following: Joseph
Stager as part-time assistant
zoning officer/planning admin-
istrator, Michael Putnam as
part-time code enforcement offi-
cer, Duncan Mac Mullen as part-
time road worker and John Ma-
ciolek as part-time police officer.
The township accepted the
resignations of part-time police
officers Leo Letoski and John
Foley. Letoski has also resigned
as part-time code enforcement
officer.
Council members also accept-
ed the retirement of part-time
road worker Rich Hann.
Jeffrey Malak, township solici-
tor, was authorized to prepare
and initiate a Drug and Alcohol
Testing Program for all town-
ship employees.
Resident Mary Dockeray
asked about the recent gaming
grant received by the township
in favor of Lake-Lehman School
District. She felt the grant mon-
ey should affect residents more
directly. Dockeray also asked if
sewer or water projects could be
applied for from casino money
and urged supervisors to con-
tinue to apply for grants to help
benefit the township.
Council president John Wil-
kes pointed out several recent
projects which were funded by
successful grant applications.
He said the
proposed
site is “off
the beaten
path” and
will make
use of land
owned by
the state
correctional
institute.
wa