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HEADLINES: Wait ‘Til Spring In Great Bend? Some things in Great Bend Borough will have to wait until Spring. For others, maybe the Borough has been waiting long enough. At their February meeting on the 3rd, Borough Council members decided that the frost is too deep to go ahead with the underground plumbing on Washington Street that they hope will take care of a potential flooding problem like the one that inundated the area in the Summer of 2006. And the roof on the Borough Building is loaded with ice and snow, so a new roof will also have to wait. Council is also hoping that the sewer authority will do its duty and repair Spring Street following completion of renovations to the sewer plant come Spring. Council and the community will also be awaiting more information about a “mobile food bank” that is expected to come to the parking lot once or twice a month. Volunteers are encouraged to come forward. And complaints about people ignoring the one-way signs on Williams Street will have to wait until the Borough can get a police department. To that end, Council Chair Rick Franks recommended that Council hire someone with experience to head up the police department they have been trying to form for some months now. He said that council members couldn’t be the experts in this area, despite the town’s experience with a police department some years back. In fact, he said that this would “not be the same department.” Still wrangling with pension disputes left over from before, Council is not inclined to name a “chief” of police this time, preferring instead something like an officer in charge (OIC). The Borough would need to pass an ordinance establishing the police department first, but Mr. Franks said that they needed someone to spend more time focused on getting the department “up and running.” Last month Council decided to schedule separate meetings just on the police issue. A scheduling conflict set aside the January meeting. This time they decided to hold the meetings on the third Monday of each month. For this month that would be Monday, February 21, at 7:00 p.m. at the Borough Building, which just happens to be the Presidents’ Day holiday. Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan reported that the county expects to have grant money available to deal with abandoned and blighted properties. It’s too late to apply this year, and anyway they have to first define the terms “abandoned” and “blighted.” Ms. Guinan said she thought the grants would only be available for properties that the Borough is already in the process of acquiring, but she said that, although the town doesn’t seem to have any “abandoned” properties, it was agreed that there are certainly some that might be considered “blighted.” Identifying and dealing with blighted properties will also have to wait for the appearance of someone willing to act as Codes Enforcement Officer for the Borough. Last month Council member Ruth Loucks presented an article from a firemens’ periodical that seemed to suggest that some insurance companies might be denying workmens’ compensation claims to firemen who are retired and receiving either medicare or other health-care benefits under a pension program. Ms. Guinan inquired of the Borough’s insurance carrier about this and was given the complicated details that boil down to the proposition that under workmens’ compensation no one should be able to make more money than they would make on the job. The article, which was spawned by a personal-injury law firm was characterized as “over the top.” And Ms. Guinan reminded Council members up for election this year that the filing deadline for the primary election is approaching. Jerry MacConnell, Joe Collins, Bret Jennings and Rick Franks hold seats subject to voter preference this year. The Great Bend Borough Council meets in public session on the first Thursday of each month in the Borough Building at Elizabeth and Franklin Streets beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Courthouse Report DEEDS Ernest and Faye C. Blachek to Lewallace P. Howard, III, in Brooklyn Township for $12,000.00. Barry D. and Betsy A. Brown to Betsy A. Brown, in Springville Township for one dollar. Kathryn A. Austin to Frederick W., Jr. and Teresa M. Singer, Constance M. Deater and Christina A. Eiskant, in Forest Lake Township for one dollar. Thomas Joseph Conboy to Thomas Joseph Conboy, in Middletown Township for one dollar. Khakhan LLC to Tariq Awan and Abdul Rauf, in Great Bend Borough for $30,000.00. Alan L., Joann D., Matthew P. and Wendy M. Reimel to Alan L. and Joann D. Reimel, in Montrose for one dollar. David C. and Joyce Harvey to David C. and Joyce Harvey, in Hop Bottom Borough for one dollar. Amy F. and Paul J. Brady to Warren J. and Bridget C. Walters, in Lenox Township for one dollar. Roy C. and Doris J. Somers to Tracy Gumaer, in Hallstead Borough for $95,000.00. Robert L. and Jerome J. Cassizzi to Duane B. Thomas, in Apolacon Township for $199,900.00. Dawn J. and Dennis J. Lacosta to Dawn J. and Dennis J. Lacosta, in Lenox Township for one dollar. Keith (AKA) Keith L. and Patricia (AKA) Patricia J. Pratt to Gordon L. Pratt, in Brooklyn and Lathrop Townships for one dollar. Roger J. Lewis (estate) to Thomas Randt, in Clifford Township for $110,000.00. Clair S. Swingle, Jr. to Robert G. Donald and Charles Schimpf, in Silver Lake Township for one dollar. INGY HJD Company to Susquehanna County Housing Development Corporation, in New Milford Borough for $111,000.00. James A., Jr. and Margaret Ryan to Blain Henry, in Clifford Township for $90,000.00. Calvin L., Jr. (AKA) Calvin Clapper (estate) to Patricia J. Clapper, in New Milford Township for one dollar. William F. and Ethel H. Ambagais and Frances D. Bossert (NKA) Frances D. Ambagais to William F. and Ethel H. Ambagais, in Gibson Township for one dollar. Justin and Lisa Yarrish to Viewless Mountains LLC, in Gibson Township for $146,000.00. Citicorp Trust Bank to Money Line Mortgage LLC, in Susquehanna for $10.00. Ronald W., Howard A. and Kenneth R. Sharer to Stone Energy Corporation, in Rush Township for $15,000.00. BENCH WARRANTS The Susquehanna County Domestic Relations Section has bench warrants for the following individuals as of 10:40 a.m. on February 4, 2011. Craig J. Anderson, Michael A. Argust, Asa Atherholt, Erika L. Back, David Shawn Blaisure, Ryan T. Brooks, Douglas Buckman, Bryan S. Burnett, Howard A. Burns, III, Jason James Carroll, John C. Creps, David D. Depue-Fitzpatrick, Charles S. Dunn, Jonathan Fathi, David J. Fischer, Thomas Fisher, John S. Frisbie, Jr., Ryan M. God, Deborah E. Gould, Andy L. Groff, David Haines, Jr., Keith G. Harms, William Neil Hendrickson, Shannon J. Hollister, Gerald C. Hundley, Richard W. Ianuale, Jason R. James, Christopher J. Kingsbury, Erik E. Krisovitch, Lee Labor, Casey J. Lawton, Joshua S. Lee, Charlie J. Legere, Carlos L. Leiser, Derrick Lezinsky, Jason Lindquist, Mark C. McCarey, Jennifer M. Miller, Shane Nelson, Jeremy Presson, Arthur D. Quick, Michael S. Rieman, Shawn Rousseau, Neil D. Shaffer, David J. Shiner, Richard D. Shoemaker, Eric J. Snell, Garrett M. Staudinger (aka Thomas), Justin Thompson, Robert J. Twilley, Todd M. West, Steven G. Wormuth, Donna Zeluff. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.
Development In New Milford? The February 3 New Milford Borough meeting began with an executive session, upon advisement of the borough's new solicitor Micheal Briechle. It was stated that the executive session was for purposes of potential legislative action, though further detail on this was not provided. Jodi Cordner spoke after the executive session, addressing the public and the council. She is planning on running for District Judge after Peter Janicelli's retirement, and prior to an announcement in the paper she desired to go around and speak to the various municipalities. She and her husband are from the area. She is an attorney and had served as New Milford borough's solicitor, worked with the Susquehanna County Domestic Relations office and has been an adjunct professor at Binghamton University. She felt she was qualified not only because she had a law degree but also because she has been able to practice law. She stated that she had represented both the defense and the prosecution before, and has had great opportunity to be an advocate for the people during the last nine years. She felt this position would allow her to better serve the community. She was there asking for people's support. The Housing Authority was next to speak, wishing to show the project they were proposing. The engineer wished to review zoning with the council. The site is the old Southern Tier plastic site, which the Authority would like to demolish and replace with a three story housing development for the elderly and disabled. Plans include a sun roof and community room, a porch for residents to sit on and 24 units. The site was purchased on January 21. Mayor Joe Taylor asked if they had the money to demolish the building, and it was responded that this would be included in the application for PHFA low-income tax credit funding. This project was approved for the first level of scrutiny, but a second application was required now, to be submitted by March 1. The engineer was present asking permission for a variance, allowing them to put a residential building on industrial land. Having the zoning in place would better their cause during the next round of consideration. Mr. Jim Carr stated that a variance would need to go before the zoning hearing board. There are no scheduled meetings for this board, they meet when needed. Mr. Carr said that the council wanted to make it really, really clear that they were in favor of this and would love to see it through. Others agreed with this sentiment publicly. The mayor, however, stated that it would be nearly impossible to meet the application deadline, due to advertising requirements, etc. Mr. Carr confirmed this assessment. It was suggested that perhaps PHFA could be contacted with the situation, and asked for an extension. The representative of the Housing Authority said that PHFA would not push the deadline back. She said that if they could not even get a letter of support, the points for this section of the application would be lost. When asked why this had not been brought before council before, she responded that nothing could be done until the property had been purchased. Mr. Carr said that the solicitor could draft a letter of support, but it would unfortunately have to be non-committal. It would voice the council's backing, and explain the process. Requesting a variance and applying for a change in zoning are two different matters it was stipulated. The first needs to go before the zoning hearing board. The second is decided by the council, but requires much more time. Both actions need to be advertised, and a hearing held for public input. It was suggested that the Housing Authority start both. Barb Gulick asked what would happen with the land if the PHFA funding were not approved. It was responded if it did not go through this time the application would be resubmitted the following year. If that fell through, she assured those present, it would still be demolished and developed, but it would not be the three story building that was being proposed. Ms. Gulick then questioned her regarding environmental concerns, as it may have once been a tannery. It was answered that a phase one environmental assessment needed to be done for the application as well, and that the housing authority knew what they were getting into. Jane Zick asked when the authority would start taking names for the development, as this question had been put to her. It was answered that information could be disseminated. A few matters of correspondence were discussed, once the special presentations ended. The Northern Tier Natural Gas Summit for Municipal Officials was scheduled. It was stated that a lot had changed, and they were asking for the top three issues that concerned each municipality. A letter was received from Geo Kintetics. They asked permission to do a seismic survey across the borough. The route would be Rt. 11 from 706 up 492, and would be a 2-D survey. It was suggested that this be discussed at the work session. It would be mainly state roads and not borough roads, so the council might not have a lot of say in the matter anyway. During the mayor's report, Mr. Taylor spoke about the creeks being clogged up by the Flying J. They were spoken to, and the Flying J stated that they contracted out and did not perform the service. The person hired for the job was plowing the snow into the creek. The mayor had made contact and the matter was to be rectified. There was also a discussion about some water which a Main Street resident was pumping out of his basement onto his lawn, which, his lawn being located on a bank, proceeded onto the road and froze over. Council decided that a letter should be sent requesting that he please do something else with the water. There had been no response from Montrose regarding salt. It was stated that 20 tons was the minimum requirement to purchase salt, and the borough would have no place to store it if they had some. Also, there wasn't the budgeted money for it. The borough had not been using salt for quite some time. Ms. Abbot said that she and Penny Scarborough were going to look into sidewalks. It was decided that information could be provided at the work session. A visitor asked if there was an ordinance requiring property owners to shovel their sidewalks. Mr. Carr said that he didn't know how to make somebody shovel it, and in the past the concern had been raised that if the borough did it and someone fell the municipality was liable. It was stated that there was an ordinance, and suggested that someone do research for the work session.
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