The evening started off casually enough, with some members of the Board’s new Fundraising Committee gathered around the table in the cafeteria whose floor was being prepared for stripping and waxing. The Blue Ridge School Board’s sole August meeting date on the 13th came complete with committee sessions.

Committee Chair Shane Rumage concentrated first on trying to pick a date for a drawing that will select the winner of a new grill donated by G & W Trucking from among purchasers of raffle tickets to be sold throughout the soccer season. There was also the matter of where to get the tickets, what they should look like, and how they were to be distributed. Once Board President Laurie Brown-Bonner arrived, the discussion veered off into arrangements for next April’s golf tournament, and the kind of prizes that might be offered.

Later in the meeting Ms. Brown-Bonner encouraged listeners to shop at Five Below in Johnson City on August 25 & 26 using forms available at the school. The store will set aside 10% of such designated purchases for Blue Ridge. She said she hopes to run a promotion like this monthly.

The Facilities & Grounds Committee was also led by Mr. Rumage this time, in Harold Empett’s absence. The Committee heard a detailed report from maintenance chief Kevin Price about work around the campus that was nearing completion as the new school year approaches. He said that Johnson Controls had completed a punch list of items remaining from the major energy-saving project undertaken last year. He said the company still owed the district some training, but that energy consumption in June and July was 35% better than last year.

Mr. Price reported that the soccer fields had been sprayed for weeds, and that the campus had been cleared of some 100 wasp nests by another spraying campaign; Blue Ridge has “quite a wasp problem,” he said.

He reported that the carpeting in the High School Library has been replaced, and one Elementary School classroom was also re-carpeted with the leftovers.

He warned the Committee that some expense could be expected from reprogramming the district’s radios to meet new FCC regulations to narrow the frequency band. Some of the district’s radios would have to be replaced, at about $179 apiece. A new license would also be required, at $150 for 10 years.

Problems in the parking lots noted last year after the lots were repaved have yet to be addressed by the contractor. Bolands Topsoil of Conklin has been somewhat dilatory according to Business Manager Loren Small (they are “trying to dodge this job,” he said). Mr. Small is working with the architect, Berkavage Design, to try to schedule the work before the campus cranks up for the new school year. If it can’t be done by then, it will have to wait until next Spring.

Mr. Price also reported that the district’s 15-year-old wood-chip furnace isn’t functioning properly. While the boiler is fine, he said the burner’s firebox may need substantial work. He requested permission to bring in an engineer at $2,300 for advice.

Elementary School Principal Matthew Button added on a side note that an increase in enrollment so far this summer seems to be accounted for by families associated with the natural gas drilling and pipeline companies in the area. Mr. Button reported later that enrollment so far was 528, up from 492 at this time last year.

Once the main business meeting of the evening got under way, Ms. Brown-Bonner immediately called an executive session, which put the evening on hold for about 40 minutes. Later she said the session covered a student disciplinary measure; and personnel matters, including evaluations of the Superintendent and Business Manager, an agreement with the teachers that was part of the formal agenda, and a couple of positions in technology that also came up later.

Among other personnel actions taken during the meeting were several that covered summer activities for periods already in the past. For the coming year, the Board appointed Nicole Farrell to a 6th-grade teaching position, which she will share with several other functions in special education. Ms. Farrell had been a technology “coach” but is also a certified educator.

There were also 6 “professional staff assignment changes” on the agenda, including Melody Paul to High School Math, Matt Treible to Middle School English, Nancy Burkett to High School Biology, Elena Jones to Middle School Science, Janice Johnson to special education, and Jon Sayre to High School Technology. Dawn Crook was also hired as IT Support Specialist.

In a surprise move, 3 related agenda items reinstated the separation of the recently consolidated positions in drama and theater in the Middle and High Schools. During budget deliberations earlier in the year the Board decided to eliminate one of the two positions. They also cut salaries for several other positions, intending to offer hourly stipends for off-hours activities such as athletic tournaments and other performances. These measures didn’t sit well with some members of the community and student body, who attended meetings to protest the action. It wasn’t popular with the teachers either.

Following a series of negotiations with the teachers, the separated positions were reinstated in a round-about way and at reduced salary. Because of the way the teachers’ contract is worded with regard to such “Schedule B” positions, the Board first had to remove the positions of High School Drama and Musical Director. Then they added back 4 new positions of Band Director for the Middle and High Schools, Chorus Director for the Middle and High Schools, and a “Theatrical Production Director” for each of the Middle and High Schools. Ms. Brown-Bonner took the occasion to remark that the expression of community feeling on the subject was influential.

The Board also approved a compensation package for Business Manager Loren Small. The formal agenda commonly shows the salary for staff hires. Asked why administrator salaries aren’t shown as well, there was some hesitation; then Superintendent Robert McTiernan said that since such information is public, it can be made available by the office on request. Ms. Brown-Bonner also said that goals determined for the senior administrators at a meeting in late July would be posted soon on the district’s new website.

The Board also approved transportation contracts for the coming school year. The Board earlier decided that, due to declining enrollment as well as budget considerations, this would be the last for the long-standing “two-tier” busing system. Contractors have been concerned that cutting their miles with a shift to a single-tier system might impact their profitability. The new contract schedule lists 5 separate busing operations (Hawk Bussing LLC, Dennis Lewis, Lewis Bussing, Inc., Sam Cosmello, and Marty Mac George) running approximately 1,714 miles each day for a total district cost of some $792,000.

The Board approved a response by the administration to a finding of the state Auditor General covering the fiscal years ending in June of 2005 and 2006. According to the response signed by Superintendent McTiernan, the findings resulted from minor clerical errors.

The Board also formally adopted some changes to its voluminous policy manual, all of which is now available on the district’s website. The policy covering “Teacher Representatives to the Board” is removed, presumably for lack of interest from the teachers. The policy governing summer school was amended to allow the district the option of not offering summer school at all. And the attendance policy was changed to cut the number of allowable “educational trips” not sponsored by the school from 10 days to 5, and to cut the total number of unexcused absences allowed to 5 days per year.

A new organizational chart was also approved, with some amendments on top of amendments. The new position of ITS Support Specialist is added, and the combined position of Technology Integrator and Grant Writer was split. The position of “Activities and Grounds Coordinator” is eliminated.

And finally, the district’s running track will soon belong – whole and entire – to the Blue Ridge School District. For some reason lost to the mists of time, a slight section of the track & field area has been on private property, probably since the facility was built. The owner of that property apparently didn’t have a problem with it, at least until he died. The new owners have been developing the property and offered some of it to the district to rectify the boundary issue. The Board gave approval for the administration to sign a contract to purchase 1.34 acres of land from Summerville Land Development, Inc. When the transaction is complete, “we will own the whole track,” said Ms. Brown-Bonner.

The Board also agreed on its meeting schedule for the remainder of the calendar year, to match what it began last Spring. In general, a workshop will be scheduled for the 4th Monday of the month, followed a week later by a business meeting. The idea is that the workshop will be offered a tentative agenda for a business meeting only a week hence. Meetings generally begin at 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria in the Elementary School. However, it is best to check the district’s website for the latest details, including times for meetings of the Board’s various committees.

It’s no secret that companies are drilling for natural gas in and around Harford Township, and that more is on the way. The gas they find has to be collected and sent someplace, and that’s done with pipelines. And pipelines are coming to Harford, big time. A large crowd (for Harford) turned out to hear about it.

Four representatives of Bluestone Gathering, a pipeline company wholly owned by DTE Energy of Michigan, attended the Harford Township Supervisors’ meeting on August 14th to lay out their plans for the next few months. While it is difficult to trace relationships among many of these companies, it appears that DTE this year acquired an entity called Susquehanna Gathering from what used to be Laser Northeast, which is now thought to be part of Williams Energy, which in turn is now developing something called the Constitution Pipeline. The Constitution transmission pipeline is also expected to enter Harford, probably from Brooklyn Township on the west, perhaps along or across Houlihan Road, and transit the Jeffers Farm area. There may be connections between Bluestone and Constitution. The Susquehanna County offices of Bluestone and Susquehanna now appear to be co-located near the Gibson exit off I-81 on Oliver Road.

The construction management team that appeared at the meeting was headed by Mike Armiak. They described what they called an “in-field” gathering system under the Susquehanna Gathering umbrella, while Bluestone Gathering would build the “mid-stream” pipelines that connect the various drilling pads. They expect to hold an open house sometime within the next few weeks, probably at the Harford firehouse, for township officials, affected landowners and others in the neighborhood.

The team offered a detailed map of the route of the mid-stream line that will run roughly diagonally across the township from southwest to northeast, from Lenox Township to New Milford Township, from there to Thompson and Jackson, and then on to the Millennium pipeline system in New York State. DTE also owns more than a quarter of Millennium. A 60-acre wetland straddling Lenox and Harford townships will be “replaced;” that is, the wetland will be converted and another wetland created elsewhere to compensate.

They expect construction in Harford Township to be complete by the end of the year. In the meantime they said to expect some areas to “look like a war zone.” They will begin with clearing a 75-foot construction right-of-way (which will become a 50-foot permanent right-of-way) which should take 3-4 weeks. The following phases will be grading, ditching, stringing (the pipe along the ditches), welding, coating, lowering (the pipe into the ditches) and backfilling. During the clearing phase, landowners will be paid “a good price” for the timber, which will be hauled away; landowners will not generally be permitted to keep the timber. Ultimately there will be up to 3 pipes along the line, depending on the needs of the extraction companies.

The team was in Harford in part to oversee their application for driveway and road-crossing permits. There was some extended discussion of a crossing at the intersection of Stephens and Grinnell Roads. In some cases the crew will bore under a road. In most cases in the township however, a road will be crossed by trenching. The team promised to “maintain traffic [at all times] during construction.” When necessary, steel plates will cover open trenches.

As gas exploration in the area intensifies, the “amount of traffic is going to be horrendous,” and “unreal” in the words of Supervisor Garry Foltz. He conceded, however, that “the gas companies have been pretty decent to deal with” so far.

In other business, the Supervisors reported that the sewer system operators have met with representatives of the Harford Fair to make sure that the system is functioning well for the upcoming week-long event. The sewer system has undergone “numerous repairs” in recent weeks. The operators have already used 4 of 6 new pumps recently purchased for almost $15,000. They would like to order 4 more, but the Supervisors decided that the money isn’t available right now. Instead, the system will depend for the time being on a collection of new, old, and refurbished/repaired pumps.

The Supervisors, in their capacity as the Harford Township Sewer Authority, are in the process of borrowing $150,000 to upgrade the sewage plant, now more than 15 years old. With paperwork still incomplete, the funds are not yet available. Still, the system’s engineer submitted an invoice for engineering services for the upgrade project. Mr. Foltz balked at paying the full invoiced amount, since it seemed to include full payment for project administration and oversight, and the project has yet to actually get under way. Of the $13,387 billed, the Supervisors will pay $10,000 now, holding the remainder for the completion of the project and final acceptance by the Supervisors. Supervisor and Township Secretary Sue Furney preferred to pay the full amount. She said that David Klepadlo’s nearly 20 years of service to, and close relationship with, the township should be enough to warrant payment in full.

On the other hand, Mr. Foltz also objected to applying a new “time-off” policy for the township’s employees retroactively, but Ms. Furney and Supervisor Doug Phelps overrode him and applied the policy retroactively to January 1, 2012. The policy was the idea of Mr. Phelps originally, as a way to encourage longevity in the township’s full-time workforce. It provides 10 vacation days annually and will start with an additional 2 “personal” days each year; both can be accumulated indefinitely. Beginning next January, employees will earn an additional 8 hours (1 working day) of personal leave for a full year served.

Roadmaster Eric Allen will have more time off than he can probably handle for a while. He broke his leg while clearing brush and is expected to be out until at least October. In the meantime, the Supervisors took on Jim Phelps as a full-time employee, effective August 8, after satisfactory service as part-time help. Brother to Supervisor Doug, Mr. Phelps will become eligible for benefits in October.

The Supervisors opened bids for materials to replenish road maintenance stocks that have run short. They will purchase up to 7,000 gallons of Calcium Chloride (for dust control) at $1.15 per gallon from SuitKote of Hallstead, and up to 500 tons of R4 stone from Eastern Industries of Clifford at between $11.50 and $11.50 per ton, depending on delivery.

Mr. Foltz reported that PennDOT will be surveying the right-of-way of Route 547 through Harford village to determine if properties have encroached on the thoroughfare where it narrows considerably by the post office.

Mr. Phelps reported that the barn on Tingley Lake Road that has caused some anguish among local residents and concern on the board of Supervisors, had finally been completely removed and the land graded off.

And, with the Fair coming up, the township office will be closed and the crew on vacation for the duration. The answering service will be monitored and emergencies handled as usual.

The next meeting of the Harford Township Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday, September 11, 2012. All meetings are held in the Township office on Route 547 and begin at 7:00 p.m.

As usual, the New Milford Township meeting began quite punctually. All three supervisors were present, along with the borough secretary.

Centax kind of dropped the ball, Mr. Hunter said, and the Susquehanna County Tax Commission decided to have Berkhemer take over. The township needed, then, to adopt a Confidential Tax Information Resolution. The solicitor needed to appoint a liaison with Berkheimer for the purposes of sharing confidential information. The secretary/treasurer was appointed to this role.

The propane and tank bids were opened. McCain Gas and Electric was the first bid, coming in at $1.99/gallon, plus time and material for tank installation. Lenox Propane bid $1.89 up to 4,000 gallons (plus time and material for installation). If this gallon amount was exceeded, after 5/17 the township would be required to pay the going rate. Lindsay bid $1.99 (point 9)/gallon until 5/30, plus time and material for installation. Lenox had greater hook up fees than the others. Mr. Shibley made the motion to go with the McCain bid, which Mr. Conroy seconded. It passed.

Southwestern had applied for Erosion and Sediment Control Ground Permits (ESCGP-1) for Pad #59 on Manzer Rd./Skinner Quarry Rd (Saltlick Hunting Club), Pad #64 on Tingley Lake Rd., and Pad GB2 on Wolf's Lair Rd. The company was granted an ESCGP-1 for pad #70, it was added.

Susquehanna Gathering was granted ESCGP-1 permits for CD1, Pad #54, and Pad #22, all three. The company had additionally applied for an ESCGP-1 for pad #18 to CDP1, and for modifications to CDP1. This CDP1 was for the compressor station on Carey Road.

Bluestone Pipeline Company was granted a permit for methane recovery facility No. BAQ-GPA/GP-5, a dehydration station on Sutton Rd. It was thought that the dehydration station would also be on Carey Road.

Mr. Bondurant brought up a few items of note. The first was appreciation of seeing a cleaning crew working on the creek above the township, in the direction of Hallstead. Work was to begin on the new flood ordinance, strengthening the flood plain ordinance to align with FEMA's regulations regarding new construction. FEMA had sent around new flood maps, which also had the flood management study for Susquehanna County.

The state did not like anyone dredging creeks, Mr. Bondurant responded when a visitor brought up how long it had been since the local creeks had been cleaned. The reasoning was that dredging the creeks increased the flow and gave someone else the problem. There was a bill regarding cleaning streams and sandbars which was being discussed however, he continued. Mr. Hunter pointed out that if the creeks were cleaned out and the river wasn't, the river would back flow to the creeks.

FEMA had stated that they would make contact in response to four different questions. Mr. Bondurant stated that, from an emergency management standpoint, actions were being taken to do what could be done to assist residents. The visitor spoke again about it being 50 years since the streams had been cleaned. Mr. Bondurant reiterated that there might be concern about the liability of where the water flow ended up. If everyone wasn't on the same page, he continued, a problem would be created for a neighbor.

Finally, the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) had assisted in developing a new website at www.pafloodmaps.com. Residents could go to the website, he explained, find their property, and find out if they lived in a 1% chance of flood. This would not eliminate the need for permits, but it would make information easier to access.

Mr. Bevans asked if there were any active wells in the township. It was responded that while some had been fracked and capped, none were currently active.

Hall Road was taken care of, it was stated. There had been visitors at the prior month's meeting with concerns about a situation on that road, which was rectified.

All were present and ready to get under way at the Susquehanna Borough meeting on August 15.

First on the agenda were the approval of the agenda and minutes from the past meetings; all were passed unanimously.

A representative from the Triboro Little League offered public comment about removing the mound for the baseball field. He said he contacted the other local little leagues and they all offered some form of field space for them if the council decides to remove the mound. Council did not decide to make a decision at the meeting, but said they will take his comments into consideration when making a decision.

Mayor Bill Perry did not have much to report to council, but did say that Chief Sweet will be going to a Professional Development Day. Mayor Perry said the conference will help run the police station much more efficiently. The total cost for the conference is $100 and a motion was made and passed to approve Chief Sweet to attend the conference.

Secretary Dianne Robbins said that she would like budget modifications to be in by the September meeting so the council is able to have a Budget meeting on October 11. Robbins also discussed the insurance being renewed and was advised by the agent to reduce the premium and would help save the borough $50 a month. Vice President Roy Williams brought up the furnace in the building and the repairs and replacements it may need to be ready for winter. Mayor Perry and Vice President Williams were in agreement that the units need to be repaired, but the exhaust may need to be replaced. No decisions were made after the discussion.

There was one bid to install the doors that were purchased by the borough for the door in the Borough Meeting Room and the Police Station door. The bid was approved and the motion was passed.

There was a motion to adopt the Resolution for the Drinker Creek Bridge. The motion was made by Sue Crawford and seconded by Vice President Williams.

Parks Director, John Sholtiss, was there to discuss the purchase of a grass sweeper for the parks and purchasing new locks for the park bathrooms. Sholtiss said the price of the grass sweeper was $479 at Sear’s. The council decided to wait on purchasing the sweeper but said purchasing new locks for the bathrooms must be done immediately. The motion was made to purchase new locks and it was passed unanimously.

The council decided to purchase two stop signs with battery flashes in the event of a power outage. They will be stored at the Police Department. The approximate cost was $140 for the signs, and they will be placed at Exchange Street and on the bridge in Susquehanna. The motion was made by Councilwoman Crawford and seconded by Vice President Williams.

The next item on the agenda was to help pay for the glasses of a borough employee because they were damaged on the job. A motion was made by Williams and seconded by Debbie Zayas.

The borough received a donation from SCDA in the amount of $300 for the Police force and their work during Hometown Days. There was a motion to move that donation to Police Labor by Joe Varsik and seconded by Crawford.

There was a motion to move $619.57 from $413.45 to the uncategorized expenses to pay for the expenses incurred with clean-up day. The borough hauled away 6,280 pounds of tires from that day.

Solicitor Michael Briechle was there to discuss the Planning Commission with the council and also to discuss Act 13, or better known as “The Impact Fee” set forth by the Governor Tom Corbett.

The meeting was recessed into an executive to discuss personnel with Solicitor Briechle.

Out of the executive session was a motion to amend the current handbook to remove any reference to comp time. The motion was made by Williams and seconded by Varsik.

Meeting was adjourned.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 9:00AM on August 17, 2012: Jeremy E. Anderson, Melanie M. Barber, Tonya S. Birchard, Chad C. Chauncey, David J. Fischer, MaryJo Gana, Keith R. Hurd, John J. Jenisky, Jr, James Karhnak, Kay L. Knolles, Lee Labor, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Derrick J. Lezinsky, Michael Maryasz, Donald Palmer, Perry Rohan, Bruce A. Schurr, Christie L. Sheptock, David J. Shiner, Jerome W. Slick, Tina M. Smith, Sinon C. Smith Sr, Eric J. Snell, Justin S. Thompson, Earl H. Thompson, Jr, Robert J. Twilley, Ryan Warnagiris, Steven G. Warner, Kelly Lynn Yarbrough. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.

Jeremiah James Dewitt, 27, of Susquehanna, PA to 6 months probation, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 CAT Surcharge, pay $10 EMS receive drug and alcohol treatment for Driving Under the Influence in Bridgewater Township on September 17, 2011. Mr. Dewitt also received 6 months probation, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 CAT Surcharge, attend safe driving school program, receive drug and alcohol treatment for Driving Under the Influence in Bridgewater Township on August 8, 2011. Finally Mr. Dewitt received 15 months probation, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee for Recklessly Endangering Another Person in Bridgewater Township on August 8, 2011.

Derek Brandon Stang, 20, of Lawton, PA to 9 months to 23 ½ months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, continue with drug and alcohol treatment for Burglary in Dushore Borough on October 25, 2011. Mr. Stang also received 5 years consecutive probation, a $300 fine and cost of prosecution for Burglary in Wyalusing Borough on September 23, 2011. Finally Mr. Stang received 9 months to 23 ½ months in the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, to run concurrent, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, continue with drug and alcohol treatment for Burglary in Montrose Borough on October 26, 2011.

Phillip Anthony Keslo III, 35, of Uniondale, PA to 4 ½ years probation, pay $250 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay restitution to the victim for Receiving Stolen Property in Thompson Borough on April 29, 2011. Mr. Keslo also received 4 ½ years probation, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay restitution to the victim for Receiving Stolen Property in Uniondale Borough on January 1, 2010. Finally Mr. Keslo received 4 ½ years probation, pay $250 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, pay restitution to the victim for Receiving Stolen Property in Thompson Borough on April 29, 2011.

Shawn Fiorentino, 36, of Montrose, PA to 8 months to 30 months in a state correctional facility, pay $350 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with anyone on supervision, not to possess weapons while on supervision, not to possess transport or consume alcoholic beverages, not to possess controlled substances for Theft by Unlawful Taking in Ararat Township on December 4, 2011.

Andrew Patrick Scro, 53, of Susquehanna, PA to 5 days to 6 months in Susquehanna County Correctional Facility, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $100 Act 198 fee, pay $50 CAT Surcharge, pay $10 EMS, attend safe driving school program, receive drug and alcohol counseling for Driving Under the Influence in Susquehanna Borough on February 24, 2012.

Larry James Phillips, Jr, 42, of Montrose, PA to 1 year to 2 years in a state correctional facility to run concurrent to any prior sentences followed by 4 years special probation, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act Fee for Escape on June 20, 2012 in Bridgewater Township. Mr. Phillips also received 1 year to 2 years in a state correctional facility to run concurrent with any prior sentences, pay $200 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, receive a mental health evaluation, continue with sexual offender counseling for Failure to Comply with Registration of Sexual Offender Requirements in New Milford on March 20, 2012.

Evan Hess, 18, of Huguenot, NY to 24 months probation, pay restitution to the victim, pay $250 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, continue with drug and alcohol counseling, continue with anger management, continue with school, get a part time job for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle on May 14, 2012 in Forest City Borough.

Michael Todd Donovan, 38, of Clifford, PA to 24 months probation, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with the victim in this case for Simple Assault in Clifford Township on June 8, 2012. Mr. Donovan also received 3 years probation to run concurrent with the above sentence, pay $300 fine, pay cost of prosecution, pay $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Act fee, not to have contact with the victim in this case for Stalking in Clifford Township on June 20, 2012.