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HEADLINES:
The borough of New Milford and the people who live there have been very busy lately. Neighbors are working with contractors to finish hookups into “city water,” and arranging for Uniform Construction Code (UCC) inspectors to look over and approve electrical and plumbing work that is required to be performed before an okay can be given to turn on the tap. A few residents were at last Thursday’s meeting of borough council (which Jim Carr and Chris Phillips were unable to attend) and they passed their experiences with the inspection process, being performed through COG codes inspectors. Generally, they have been good, although it takes some coordination between a resident’s contractor and COG to get an inspector to the site (an open hole) in a timely fashion. Borough secretary Amy Hine has been in touch with all contractors, and COG has been responding well to getting an inspector to the site as promptly as possible. The process will need to speed up. August 1 is the date by which residents will start getting billed for the sewer and when the contractors and inspections should be done. However, only 10 or so were up and running and inspected by last week. More than 350 properties are in the town, so there’s lots left to do in not a lot of time. There’s not a lot of time, either – the end of the month, in fact – for the contractor who put in the main sewage lines to put resident’s driveways and properties, and town roads back to the way they were before they started digging up the town. There are some real messes, and the town has the videotapes of every property before and after the construction to hold up to the contractor as proof of what needs to be done. Hine noted that she’s already started a list of those residents who are waiting for the contractor to come back to fix their properties. Should they fail to do so, the municipal authority can go after a more than $100,000 bond. All hope it will not come to that. The borough is anxious to get started on its long-anticipated street-paving project. It has signed a contract with its lowest bidder and has the financing. Council member Chris Allen and Hine believe the paving will begin end of July/beginning of August. Should a wrench get thrown into these plans, the project was laid out in three phases; Allen will speak with the paving contractor about working around any problem it may have with the sewer contractor making its part right. Council passed the ordinance for a general obligation loan of $142,000 towards paving the streets and which PENNDOT had to sign off on, as well, since the loan will largely be paid with liquid fuel funds. The loan paying will be a bit more than $1,000 a month. No council members have heard anything about the country’s decision on relocating District Justice Janicelli office, although the former “Orange Roof” has gotten a major facelift and expansion, and the owner of the building, in New Milford Township, has indicated he wants to hook into New Milford’s new sewer system and would pay for the cost of hooking into it. Council member Rick Ainey noted that early on, the town had gone to the township and asked them to join in hooking up to the Hallstead-Great Bend sewer authority. It didn’t want to. So the town, he said, absorbed the costs and the studies and went ahead on its own and did the work. New Milford also has a limited amount of “reserve” hook-ups for the borough, and the Orange Roof owner would like two of them. What if the Summit in the Township wanted to hook up?, Ainey asked, adding that requests could snowball. Council member Teri Gulick wondered if hooking up would be an option for anyone in the township who wanted it and appealed such to the municipal authority and the sewer authority. In other news, Hine reported that the borough got part of its FEMA money -- $50, 276 – with another $14,000 coming. These funds are for the flood clean-up last September and October, and for which the borough took a short-term loan, pending FEMA payment. Council president Scott Smith also reported that a creek-cleaning information session for the public will be scheduled for sometime in the fall, and he expected the county’s Jim Garner to attend. Council member Jane Zick reported that she attended the latest COG meeting, telling members that, in its renovation plans for the proposed magistrate’s office, it was never the borough’s intention to ask COG to leave or change offices in the borough building, where COG is a tenant. She passed along that the borough would be working with them to provide more space and accommodate the group. In correspondence, the borough received a letter from Great Bend Township, inviting it to join in forming a watershed association and tackle area creeks, like Salt Lick Creek, that have been very prone lately to flooding and erosion. Hine also read a letter from an area weekly newspaper, requesting the borough to send it copies of the minutes of borough meetings, as required under state disclosure law. Council will research what amounts the law allows a municipality to charge for its expenses for compliance and will comply with the request. Council will also follow up on several requests made during the public input section that closed the meeting, and that is to check out a couple of drainage ditches and catch basins, look into a road by Agway where water seems to run down a hill and is eroding a town road, and to check into two dogs that have been running around town. Hine is also continuing to follow up with Cosmello’s and others about a town clean up/appliance drop-off day and will keep council apprised. The next meeting of the New Milford borough council is scheduled for July 7 at 7 p.m. in the borough building on Main Street.
The Great Bend Borough Council meeting on June 2 yielded incremental progress on a number of outstanding items: * Penelec is making progress installing new lighting in Greenwood Park. * A street sweeper rented for $65 per hour to pick up anti-skid left over from the winter broke down, and wasn't working real well anyway, but work will continue to get the streets cleaned up at least before next winter. * According to a PENNDOT representative, the Borough should not concern itself with a problem with water on Mountain Vista Lane, which is an issue between PENNDOT and a property owner. * Two junk vehicles across from Kost Tire have been removed. According to State Police, the remaining car belongs to no one and can be removed by the Borough. * A deteriorating house on Main Street is apparently up for sale, so there is hope for improvement. * A request from New Milford Borough for an audit of the pension fund for the long-defunct police department is being batted around between lawyers. An annual report from the firm managing the fund shows that the Borough apparently neither owes anything to the fund, nor is owed anything from it. * Polite but assertive letters from Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan have gotten results, in one case asking a homeowner to stop parking in the front yard. She was asked to write several more. * On the down side, nothing has been heard from the Eagle Scout candidate who was considering making new welcome signs for the Borough. * And Fun Day won't be Fun Day this year. Council member Bea Alesky, who has honchoed the event the past several years, vows that "there will be something" this summer, but what or when is still undecided. Council also agreed on a motion to "let it ride for right now" in regard to a home rehabilitation loan that is in default. The borrower has declared bankruptcy and the Borough's claim is very weak. Council President Ray Holtzman got an up-close-and- personal complaint from a resident about dogs roaming unattended in Memorial Park, despite a sign that clearly prohibits the practice. Since the owners of the dogs are known, Ms. Guinan was asked to send another of her potent letters; continued failure to control the dogs might warrant a call to the county animal control office. Council received a letter from PENNDOT outlining a study of traffic along Main Street (U.S. Route 11) with an eye to possibly lowering the speed limit, now 35 mph. PENNDOT has very rigorous analytical procedures for these things - which didn't impress many on Council - and concluded that the speed limit is about right, particularly since enforcement is slim. The study said that 85 percent of the traffic surveyed was traveling within 5 mph of the posted limit, which is within the guidelines; and five years of "crash data" for the area show no significant incidents related to speeding. Nevertheless, a remedy may have reappeared on the distant horizon. Some months ago Council had discussions with Susquehanna Borough about possibly renting some time from the Susquehanna Borough Police Department. That was shot down by the Susquehanna Borough Council, but there have since been changes on that council and Susquehanna's Mayor has asked if Great Bend is still interested. Council informally agreed to pursue the matter further, also informally, for now. Mayor James Riecke rarely has much to say at Council meetings. When he does, he is usually finding the best that Great Bend Borough offers. This time he praised the effort of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in the town for the "absolutely outstanding" Memorial Day ceremony they sponsored. The Great Bend Borough Council meets on the first Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Borough Building (also the Blue Ridge Senior Center) at Franklin and Elizabeth Streets.
12 Sentenced In County Court Susquehanna County President Judge Kenneth W. Seamans recently sentenced a dozen individuals who pleaded guilty to an assortment of illegal offenses. Duane R. Consta, 36, of Lanesboro, will spend five months to 23 1/2 months in the Susquehanna County Jail on a sex charge. He was also fined $2,000 and ordered to do 50 hours of community service and will undergo sex offender counseling. Authorities charged Mr. Consta with indecent assault in Great Bend Township on July 27, 2003. John Walter Lezinsky, 50, of South Montrose, will also serve some time in the county jail for theft by unlawful taking in Hop Bottom on December 1, 2004. Judge Seamans sentenced Mr. Lezinsky to serve three months to 23 1/2 months and also to pay a fine of $750 and make restitution to his victim. Robert Wesley Stubbs, 30, of Exeter, will spend 45 days to 23 1/2 months in the county jail and pay a $500 fine for theft by unlawful taking in the Borough of Union Dale on September 1, 2001. He will also do 25 hours of community service. David M. Wayman, 25, of New Milford, was sentenced to serve 30 days to six months in the county jail for drunk driving in New Milford on August 22, 2004. Mr. Wayman was also fined $750 and must attend a safe driving school. Joseph Howey, 24, of Scranton, will spend 12 months to 30 months in a state correctional facility for theft by unlawful taking in South Gibson on August 9, 2004. Mr. Howey’s term will run consecutive to a Lackawanna County jail term. He was also fined $500 and may be recommended for attendance in a Pennsylvania Boot Camp. Tyrone Howard Beansley, 37, of Montrose, will serve 45 days to 18 months in the county jail and pay a fine of $150 for receiving stolen property in Silver Lake Township on August 13, 2004. He also received 23 months probation and a $500 fine for resisting arrest in Silver Lake Township on June 17, 2004. Jennifer E. Brown, 19, of Scranton, was placed on probation for 12 months and fined $100 for disorderly conduct in Forest City on July 22, 2004. She also received five to six months of home confinement, was fined $500, and will do 25 hours of community service for drunk driving in Forest City on July 22, 2004. And, finally, she received 12 months probation and a $150 fine for harassment in Forest City again on July 22, 2004. Sherman D. Porter, 27, of Hallstead, was placed on probation for one year and fined $200 for possession of drug paraphernalia in Liberty Township on October 14, 2004. He also received one year probation and was fined an additional $200 and ordered to do 25 hours of community service for possession of drug paraphernalia in Hallstead on July 6, 2004. Daniel E. Bentz, 24, of Susquehanna, will spend 30 days to one year in the county jail and do 50 hours of community service for harassment in Oakland Township on May 23, 2004. He was also fined $300. Louis Edward Yachymiak, 25, of Montrose, was placed on probation for 15 months, to run concurrent with any sentence he is presently serving, for escape in Harford Township on August 13, 2004. He was also fined $250 and ordered to do 25 hours of community service. Jared James Donnelly, 25, of Scranton was placed on state probation for four and one-half years and fined $500 for receiving stolen property in New Milford Borough on November 9, 2000. He was also ordered to pay $250 for DNA testing and to make restitution to his victim. James Moran, 26, of New Milford, was fined $250 and placed on probation for 18 months for receiving stolen property in Great Bend Township on December 9, 2002.
DEEDS Doris L. Szarek, Donald F. Todd, Cheryl L. Todd, Tracy Szarek, Ralph Richards to Ralph Richards, in Auburn Township for one dollar. Joseph Shane Szarek to Ralph Richards, in Auburn Township for one dollar. Berlin Russo to Berlin Russo Jr., in Springville Township for one dollar. Berlin Russo to Berlin Russo Jr., in Springville Township for one dollar. Harold Barwicke (by trustee), Leticia B. Barwicke (by trustee) to Rag Apple, in Jessup and Rush townships for $660,000. Hugh P. Gallagher and Joanne M. Gallagher to Donald L. Wagner and Mary M. Wagner, in Dimock Township for $75,000. Paul C. Haug and Beth J. Haug to Benjamin J. Ledonni, in Ararat Township for $42,500. James Tallman (estate by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bueau to Thomas C. Ankney, in Silver Lake Township for $1,039. Joseph DeLuca (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Donna Fekette and Thomas J. Lopatofsky, in Ararat Township for $9,100. Constance McAllister (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Donna Fekette and Thomas J. Lopatofsky, in Clifford Township for $9,100. Donald F. Bach (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Donna Fekette and Thomas J. Lopatofsky, in Franklin Township for $33,800. Daniel E. Hauer Jr. (by tax claim), Katarzyna A. Hauer (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Tim Porter, in Borough of Lanesboro for $3,500. Charles J. Forish Jr. (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Alan C. Bloomer, in Herrick Township for $1,200. George Stebbins (estabe by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to John M. Riley, in New Milford Township for $2,114. Russell Haynes (by tax claim), Betty Haynes (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to David L. Walters, in Lathrop Township for $3,500. Steve Behunchik (by tax claim), Susquehanna County Tax Claim Bureau to Joseph Paterno, in Clifford Township for $379. Frances E. Stark (estate), Terry J. Stark, James A. Stark, Naruko Stark, Audrey Sulllivan, Bonnie S. Rapkin, Robert Rapkin to James A. Stark, Naruko Stark, Bonnie S. Rapkin, Meredith C. Rapkin, in Oakland Township for $20,000. Russell Leichliter, Ruth Leichliter to Russell Leichliter and Ruth Leichliter, in Auburn Township for one dollar. James H. Aldrich, Gail Aldrich, John Aldrich, Jill D. Aldrich to Ashley L. Clark, in Liberty Township for $97,000. Edwin Hampton Shafer II, Anne D. Shafer to Ben Abby LLC (aka) Indian Mountain Inn, in Silver Lake Township for one dollar. (Quit claim covenant release) Joseph Russell Guagliata to David E. Nelk and Patricia A. Nelk, in Harford Township for $89,000. Edward A. Starzec to Edward A. Starzec Jr., George P. Starzec, Joseph Starzec, in Bridgewater Township for one dollar. Donald W. Squier, Carolyn Squier to Squier Family Trust, in Apolacon Township for one dollar. Carolyn L. Squier to Squier Family Trust in Apolacon Township for one dollar. Borden-Gerber Inc. to James Neel and Wendy Neel, in Herrick Township for $16,000. Albert H. Stickney, Doris Stickney, Herbert Traver, Sharon Traver to Peter J. Skutack, in Apolacon Township for $3,600. Donna M. Wayman, Lisa Warner (nbm) Lisa Ryan, to Lisa Ryan, in New Milford Borough for one dollar. Richard C. Quinn, Dianna J. Quinn to Lance J. Gramberg, Lori Gramberg, Lawrence V. Talcott, Irene A. Talcott, in Forest Lake Township for $80,000. RALLG Associates, WNG Co., John J. Lavelle Sr. (estate), Susan Lavelle, William Gerber (estate), Margaret V. Rockey to Louis Trangucci, Theresa Trangucci, Peter Parente, Jennifer Parente, Diana Trangucci, in Herrick Township for $18,000. C. Thomas Chilewski Jr., Cynthia Chilewski to Chester Thomas Chilewski III, in Oakland Township for one dollar. Eric R. Farley, Burnetta R. Farley to Gregory T. Otto and Vicki L. Otto, in Ararat Township for $25,000. Nancy R. Heckman to Bruce E. Heckman, in Silver Lake Township for $36,000. John J. Mruk Jr., Cathy Mruk, John A. Martin, Joanne Martin, Harry N. Cake, Joseph J. Mallory Sr., Joann Mallory, Nicholas Ossman, Enika Ossman to Donald Nice, Bradley Nice, Brian Nice, in Middletown Township for $36,000. Andrea Antol (by sheriff) to Fannie Mae, in Clifford Township for $876. Bertice N. Lewis, Patricia Lewis to John H. Franklin, Renee T. Franklin, in Liberty Township for $79,000. Lucy Helen Curtis (estate) to Desmond Corey Jr. in Union Dale Borough for $58,000. Louie J. Stone, Barbara E. Stone to William H. Bannister Jr., in Thompson Borough for $18,595. Louie J. Stone, Barbara E. Stone to William H. Bannister Sr., Karen M. Bannister, in Thompson Township for $10,904. Gerald Verboys (aka) Gerald F.Verboys, Patricia Ann Verboys (aka) Patricia A. Verboys to Gerald F. Verboys, Patricia A. Verboys, in Clifford Township for one dollar. Jason L. Faigle and Mary K. Faigle to Kevin J. Pascoe, in Springville Township for $103,800. Washington Mutual Home Loans to United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in Lathrop Township for one dollar. Lupe P. Mata-Bennett to Joseph Bennett and Julie Bennett, in New Milford Township for one dollar. Michael R. Martin and Melissa M. Martin to Michael R. Martin and Melissa M. Martin, in Apolacon Township for one dollar. Paul A. Kelly and Pamela E. Kelly to Charles Yaskulski and Susan Yaskulski, in Clifford Township for $100,000. MARRIAGES Philip M. Avery, Susquehanna and Mary A. Hubal, Thompson. Joseph Lee Rogers and Tammy S. Taylor, both of Montrose Joseph Edward Slick and Reyna Lopoz Emano, both of Forest City. DIVORCE Patricia A. Williams, South Montrose vs. Edward McBean, address unknown.
Deadline Set On Damaged Farmland Montrose, PA – Charles G. Perkins, County Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency in Susquehanna, Wyoming and Sullivan Counties, has announced that the last day for applying for cost-share assistance to rehabilitate damaged farmland from the flooding of April 2 and 3 is June 15, 2005. Assistance is offered under the Emergency Conservation Program.Anyone wanting to know more about this program can call the FSA office in Montrose at 278/1197 ext. 2 for Susquehanna County and our office in Tunkhannock at 836/5111 ext. 2 for both Wyoming and Sullivan Counties.
Following is the Susquehanna Borough Police Report, as submitted, for May, 2005. DISORDERLY CONDUCT On the morning of May 1, Stephanie Lyons of Susquehanna was charged with disorderly conduct after causing a disturbance with her vehicle on Main St. DISORDERLY CONDUCT On May 3 at 9:45 p.m., Police were called to Schneider’s parking lot where Albert Bishop Jr. allegedly urinated. Police found him intoxicated. He was charged with disorderly conduct and taken to his home in Brandt. DISORDERLY CONDUCT On May 7 at 9:10 p.m., Daniel Ervin of Susquehanna was charged with Disorderly Conduct after attempting to fight with two adult males in the Dollar General Parking area. CRIMINAL TRESPASS On May 11 charges were filed at District Justice 34-3-02 against Jason Penny of Susquehanna for Criminal Trespass and Loitering and Prowling at nighttime. According to the affidavit, Penny allegedly entered the residence of 509 Grand St. on April 30 at 4:20 a.m. and went into a juvenile’s room while two adults were sleeping in another room. Penny was not invited and was previously given written notice by Police to stay off said property. ARSON** On May 13 at 2:50 p.m., Police responded with Susquehanna Fire Department who put out a brush fire between Erie Blvd. and the Susquehanna River. Cause of the fire is believed to be arson. HARASSMENT/DISORDERLY CONDUCT/TRESPASS Around 6 p.m. on May 15, charges were filed on Justin Hopkins of Ararat after he allegedly threatened Roger Benson Jr. on West Main St. while showing a knife on his belt. Hopkins was gone upon Police arrival. ARSON** Also on May 15 at 9:40 p.m., Susquehanna Fire Department with Police responded to a house fire at 405 Erie Ave. which is abandoned. Susquehanna Fire Department put out the working fire that started in the rear of house. Police believe it was intentionally started and are working with State Police on the investigation. PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS On May 16 at 10:30 p.m., Charles Groover of Susquehanna was charged for Public Drunkenness after two witnesses reported him to have been verbally threatening them on Grand St. Upon Police arrival, Groover was found intoxicated holding six bottles of beer. TRAFFIC STOP / DUI On May 22, at 2:45 a.m. Danielle Keenan of Susquehanna was arrested for DUI after Police witnessed her on the opposite side of roadway while going West on Main St. at a high rate of speed. Keenan failed field sobriety testing. RESISTING ARREST/PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS On May 24 at 7:10 p.m. Albert Bishop Jr. of Brandt came into the Susquehanna Borough building intoxicated as a public meeting was being held. Bishop began yelling obscenities in the borough hallway at Police. Police (assisted by several council members) attempted to have Bishop leave the property in which he refused and continued causing a disturbance by standing on Erie Blvd. yelling obscenities. Upon arresting Bishop for Public Drunkenness, he then resisted. Bishop was arraigned in front of Magistrate Franklin and placed in Montrose Correctional Facility on $20,000.00 cash bail. LOITERING & PROWLING AT NIGHTTIME** On May 30 at 2:30 a.m. it was reported of an unknown white female wearing a baseball cap walking on different properties in the 300 – 400 block of Grand St. Female was gone upon Police arrival. Police have received similar reports on different dates. DISORDERLY CONDUCT On May 30 at 8:15 p.m., Joyce White was causing a disturbance by yelling obscenities while intoxicated at 317 Grand St. White was arrested for Disorderly Conduct and taken to a treatment center in New York for alcohol abuse.** Any information please call Police at 853-3147 or E-Mail: SusqPol@Epix.net.
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