Susquehanna County Commissioners convened on Wednesday morning with a light agenda that would take only 18 minutes to cover. With Commissioner Hall being at a public utility meeting to handle concerns over act 13 disbursements, Commissioner Giangrieco sat as chair. The sparse agenda went rather rapid fire. Aside from approving funds for training and hiring several key staff members to fill vacancies, the brief meeting only held one point requiring explanation.

The county was approving funds to total $1,798 for the installation of an upgrade to the CAPS (Child Accounts and Profile System) program. This program is used to store information in regard to children who are at risk or in the Children and Youth system. The system is used by other counties as well and the fixed price is the apportioned cost for the county of the total $228,500 to be spent overall.

Public comment yielded more raised concerns over the constitution pipeline, and a request for information on forming a county run dog park. As the meeting drew to a close the commissioners added in a warning about individuals approaching county residents under the guise of tax personell. Comissioner Warren posted later in the day a warning to all residents in reguard to this matter on her face book page and email alert, it is included below for individuals not alerted via the internet.

“Do not open your door to anyone without proper photo identification! It’s been brought to our attention that a person (people) is attempting to gainaccess to homes in Susquehanna County, stating that they’re Susquehanna County employees in our Assessment Department. All County employees have County ID with their photo on it. It will also have signatures of the current Commissioners on the back.

We’ve also found that magnetic placards that either state ‘Susquehanna County’ or ‘Susq. County’ have also disappeared from some of our county vehicles. Please share this with your email lists of family and friends and others that do not have access to the internet.

If you could also share it at any public functions, meetings, church, etc. it will help keep everyone safe. Thank you!” -as published on Comissioner Warren’s Facebook page.

Remember those old green-and-white road signs that have been replaced recently by newfangled reflective blue and white ones? If you’re feeling some nostalgia about the old signs now’s your chance to own a piece of the past while benefiting some young baseball hopefuls. The Harford Township Supervisors are auctioning off a collection of the old signs, proceeds to benefit the Harford-Lenox Baseball Association.

At their meeting on November 13th Supervisor Garry Foltz distributed a list of the signs that are available, some of them damaged (bent, full of bullet holes, etc.). There are duplicates of many of them, most roads having at least 2 ends, of course. The minimum bid is 5 dollars. Bids should be sent to the Township office with the name of the road on the outside of the envelope. Bids will be opened and the winners awarded their signs at the Township’s regular December meeting on the 11th. Do not include money with your bid; the Township doesn’t want to have to return checks to losing bidders.

Natural gas exploration and exploitation continues apace in Harford. The Supervisors granted a waiver to Cabot Oil & Gas under the Township’s noise ordinance. The waiver is good for 6 months and covers the wellpad on the DeLucia property south of Tingley Lake.

The Supervisors also reported that the companies working in the area offered assistance during the recent storms, and that Price-Gregory, the company building the Bluestone Pipeline, has supplied some stone for repairing roads. Supervisor and Acting Roadmaster Doug Phelps said that the pipeline companies have been very helpful in maintaining the roads.

The Williams pipeline that will service Cabot wells in the area will be cranking up soon. And Mr. Foltz announced that the Constitution Pipeline company has created a Constitution Pipeline Community Grant Program, soliciting applications for grants up to $25,000 for just about anything a community needs except administration, wages or planning. Grants will be awarded twice a year and preference will be given to communities traversed by the Constitution Pipeline. It doesn’t look like Harford will host any part of that pipeline, but the Supervisors will try to think up a suitable application anyway for the March 2013 deadline.

Supervisor and Township Secretary Sue Furney reported that the June “cleanup” handled 36 loads and took in $2,783.79 in total revenue, including sale of scrap, etc. Two dumpsters to handle the stuff cost $1,740.36. Mr. Foltz said that more than 100 car tires have accumulated in the yard. He hopes that the pipeline company will take them along with their own as the project nears completion. Ms. Furney said that new regulations covering disposal of electronic devices go into effect in 2013. The Supervisors hope to be able to handle these castoffs as a convenience to Township residents next year by shuttling them to the county recycling center.

Ms. Furney reported that recent recalculations by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission cut the impact fee disbursement to Harford by about $4,000. The Township now expects to receive a check for $128,246.76 by December 1. That 76¢ will come in handy.

In the meantime the Township needs to apply to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for an extension on mitigation work stemming from last year’s two major storms. And now FEMA wants an ordinance covering the new flood plain maps. The ordinance will allow residents to apply for flood insurance. Ms. Furney will try to find a model ordinance and ask FEMA for more time while the Township’s attorney vets the document.

According to the bill list, the Township spent $2,456.68 with its attorneys so far for services related to a suit brought by a landowner at Tingley Lake for damage sustained by flooding. Mr. Foltz also announced an executive session to follow the public meeting to discuss the suit. The executive session would also consider an application for an open position in the road crew.

Ms. Furney also noted an upcoming meeting at the firehall about the Harford post office. It seems that the U.S. Postal Service is considering changes in many of the smaller post offices. Harford’s historic jewel box P.O. isn’t directly threatened as far as anyone knows. However hours may be curtailed. A similar meeting is scheduled for the tiny Gibson P.O., and Great Bend is facing a renewed threat in favor of Hallstead. Stay tuned, boxholders.

The budget wasn’t an issue at this meeting. There will be another a week hence, on November 20 (before you read this) to nail down a proposed budget for 2013, with formal adoption in December. All meetings begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Township office on Route 547.

Lanesboro’s 2013 budget passed unanimously at the Wednesday, November 14 meeting of Lanesboro Borough Council. That unanimous vote was achieved with “aye” votes from Council President Todd Glover and Council members Dan Boughton, Jason Fissel, and David Glidden. Council member Colleen Wilkes, present for most of the meeting, left before the budget came up for discussion. Council members Regina Dilello and Dale Rockwell were not present for the meeting.

Next year’s budget balances the borough’s revenues and expenses at $244,594, with no tax increase and no change in sewer and garbage rates. Minor adjustments to the budget previously posted online were made to reflect a small increase in the Fire Department contract and a minor decrease in office expenses.

In more routine matters council approved the minutes for last month’s regular meeting of October 2, as well as those for a special meeting on October 29. Secretary/Treasurer Gail Hanrahan read a letter from the Triboro Municipal Authority detailing the results of tests that were conducted within Lanesboro during the month of October. Those tests indicated that there is a potential problem with a line on Viaduct Street. Council members reacted with discussion of the situation to pinpoint the genesis of the problem and necessary corrective action.

When council asked if anyone requested time on the agenda, Steve Glover indicated he would be stepping down from his position as driver of the borough’s garbage truck effective November 24. Mr. Glover thanked council members for the many years he had enjoyed working for the boro, and council members likewise thanked him for his faithful service. Councilman Dan Boughton expressed the heartfelt sympathies of several others as he playfully retorted that council was unwilling to accept Mr. Glover’s resignation. By later motion, council authorized advertising to fill the position, if necessary; though most council members expressed hope the position could be filled by promotion from within the borough’s employee ranks.

Speaking during the public comment period were several borough residents, including this reporter, concerning the proposed implementation of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). All commenters took a dim view of the IPMC’s extreme regulatory provisions. The general consensus among visitors, as well as council members during later agenda discussion, was that there are legitimate concerns about maintenance issues with several Lanesboro properties, but that this code is regulatory overkill. Councilman Fissel noted that right now the borough had nothing, but that this code was too much. With that, council agreed with President Glover’s decision to slow-track review of the IPMC. Council members will review the IPMC in their own time and take note of offending verbiage which should be removed before passage. At each subsequent regular monthly meeting council will devote 15 minutes to line-by-line review until the entire code is reviewed.

In the interest of full disclosure I note that I, as a private citizen and resident of Lanesboro, submitted to council two provisions for consideration as part of any property maintenance code council might ultimately enact. The provisions, formulated in the interest of limited government, require annual accountability reporting of actions taken under the code’s authority, as well as annual sun-setting of the code itself in the absence of affirmative annual reauthorization by council.

Mayor Maby presented the borough’s Police Report for the month of October. Total police patrol hours came to 174, of which 12.5 hours were in Thompson. Within Lanesboro there were 46 traffic stops, with 28 citations issued and 18 warnings given. Those 46 traffic stops were for the following reasons: speeding (35), registration violations (3), inspection violations (3), stop sign violations (2), careless driving (2), and equipment violations (2). There were six incidents for other than routine traffic matters: criminal trespass incident on October 10; criminal mischief incident on October 24; two assists to Susquehanna P.D.; investigation of an abandoned vehicle; and assist to a disabled tractor trailer.

The Mayor’s Police Report for Lanesboro Police in Thompson showed there were 15 traffic stops, with eight citations issued and seven warnings given. The reasons for those 15 traffic stops broke down into the following: speeding (9), registration violations (4) and inspection violations (2). Police also responded to an incident of disorderly conduct/harassment on October 5.

Use of police power came up twice more during the course of the meeting. Under the purview of the Sewer/Refuse Committee Secretary Gail Hanrahan noted existence of a delinquent sewer account. Water to the property had been shut off as a result. However, the borough had clear and convincing evidence that the owner had, without authorization, turned the water back on, in violation of Lanesboro’s 1987-4 Sewer Hook-up Ordinance. Contact with Lanesboro‘s Finest - perhaps unpleasant - will be in the scofflaw’s future.

The final mention of police was in conjunction with the borough’s insurance policy. Mayor Maby noted that police and firefighters acting not in emergency service or line-of-duty service were not covered by the borough’s insurance. Likewise, volunteers acting on behalf of the borough are not covered. Mayor Maby was looking into obtaining a quote for an insurance rider to cover these situations. He had hoped to have it in time for the evening’s meeting, but that was not the case. Council gave him their full support to proceed so that consideration of the option might follow at next month’s meeting.

Other matters concerning council included the ongoing improvements at Luciana Park. New and improved signage, possible grants for improvement of the park, and ongoing partnership with Rails to Trails to make improvements were discussed. Picnic tables in the park have not yet been painted, but completion of the project is expected before next council meeting.

The old borough building/post office was torn down on October 28 and intensive landscaping and paving projects are going on around the Community Center, just in case anyone hadn’t noticed. Renovation of the Community Center’s interior will be proceeding quickly as well. Two new offices, one for the police and one for the borough’s business office, will be constructed. While those offices will decrease the square footage of the “ballroom,” the area remaining is considered adequate for large meetings, gatherings, and parties, and rentals will resume once renovations are completed.

Finally, the meeting wrapped up with the felicitous news that the monies the borough would be receiving as a result of Act 13 (Gas Drilling Impact Fees) have doubled from the previously projected $10,787.78 to $21,575.76. The check will soon be in the mail - so they say.

At 8:40 p.m. council adjourned from evening’s work. Next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m.

DEEDS

Deannda L. Bryant to Kenneth C. Bryant, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Sherrie & Michael Roberts, Jeff Mennig (aka) Jeffrey Mennig & Brenda Mennig to Thomas J. Lopatpfsky Jr., in Clifford Twp., for $87,500.00.

Anthony J. Turano Jr. (estate) to Patricia Turano, in Little Meadows Borough, for $1.00.

James F., Marlene, Joseph L. & Mary Homan to John A. Sykas, in Little Meadows Borough, for $64,000.00.

Kathryn c. Schroeder (by atty), Joseph A. & Helen A. Castronova to Lanny T. & Joanna Leonard, in Jackson Twp., for $65,000.00.

Otto May to Ruth & Fred Mackeben, in Herrick Twp., for $100.00.

Michele C. Garnett (nbm) Michele C. Bonavita & Shane Bonavita to Robert & Mary Bonavita, in Auburn Twp., for $80,000.00.

Robert E. & Betty J. Boyanowski to Robert E. & Betty J. Boyanowski, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Christopher S. Onofrey to Rubin & Laurie Blair, in Ararat Twp., for $699,000.00.

Kenneth O. Shaffer, Ann E. Tego & Mark McKinnie to Jerry L. Johnson & Mindy M. Knapp, in Rush Twp., for $55,000.00.

Nathan Hosie (by atty) to John Heptig & Laecy Cwikla, in Harford Twp., for $169,500.00.

Wells Fargo Bank (succ to) & Wachovia Bank to Alfred J. Sullivan & Joann M. Matarese, in Forest City, for $17,000.00.

Gerald A. Pollack & Patricia S. Pollack (aka) Patricia E. Pollack to Patricia E. Pollack, in Bridgewater & Franklin Twp., for $1.00.

Marjorie Walworth to Joel A. Brown Jr., in Liberty Twp., for $35,500.00.

Martha D. & Karl J. Zangerle to Anne Anderson, in Brooklyn Twp., for $1.00.

Mark & Paula Hammell to Jade Steele, in Ararat Twp., for $82,000.00.

Jason Eromenok & Kristen Briggs Eromenok (fka) Kristen Briggs to Matthew J. Lyons, in Susquehanna, for $68,000.00.

Ellen Mulligan to Kimberly Davenport, in Montrose, for $110,000.00.

Diana Wallace Endres (fka) Diana Wallace Perrussel to Diana Wallace Perrussel (trust), in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Samuel A. Beam (estate) to Nina M. Mangan, in Harford Twp., for $1.00.

Barbara E. Boyle (trust by trustee) to Raymond E. & Linda Cebular, in Harford Twp., for $147,000.00.

William M. Timko & Thomas R. Timko (estate) to Edward P. Drickler & Marlene Grubbs, in Lenox Twp., for $144,000.00.

Barbara A. Thomas (estate) to Pro Environmental LLC, in Lathrop Twp., for $150,000.00.

Jessica S. Hall (by sheriff) to Federal National Mortgage Association, in New Milford Twp., for $1,022.20.

Daniel L. & Cassandra D. Blass to Daniel L. & Cassandra D. Blass, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.

Connie Jo Ehrie (nbm) Connie Jo Winnie & Steven Winnie to Connie Jo & Steven Winnie, in Great Bend Twp., for $1.00.

Crystal Lake Estates LLC to Sandra Cosklo, in Clifford Twp., for $200,000.00.

Kevin H. MacDonald (aka) Kevin MacDonald & Cynthia MacDonald to Noble Marcellus LP, in Lenox Twp., for $181,326.00.

DJR Holdings LLC to Alan Balabanick, in Rush Twp., for $10.00.

James I. & Mary Ann Geer to Austin Oneal Taylor, in Herrick Twp., for $100.00.

Joseph V. Tillman Jr. & Marianne C. Tillman to David J. & Clancy C. Harrison, in Clifford Twp., for $196,500.00.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Timothy D. & Stephanie J. Thomas, in Hop Bottom Borough, for $44,000.00.

George H. & Rosemary J. Stephens to Heidi Pavelski, in Lenox Twp., for $1.00.

Lisa A. & Rickey A. Burger Sr. to Michael A. Walter, in Springville Twp., for $145,000.00.

Suzanne S. Cobb to Robert S. & Michelle M. Montague, in Hallstead Borough, for $100,000.00.

Joel & Denise Gary to Richard Arthur Gary, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Connie Gary to Richard Arthur Gary, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Darwin & Sandra Gary to Richard Arthur Gary, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Citimortgage Inc. to United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in Brooklyn Twp., for $1.00.

Richard G. & Sandra Alexander to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Dept of Transportation, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.

Kenneth B. & Janice Pittman to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Dept of Transportation, in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Harry Brink & James J. Nagle Jr. to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Dept of Transportation, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.

John & Helga M. Hooper to Pennsylvania Commonwealth of Dept of Transportation, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.

Ronald E. Ivey (by sheriff) to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency US Bank, in Montrose, for $6,587.14.

Kathryn M. Koch to Benjamin W. & Megan L. Doney, in Auburn Twp., for $140,000.00.

Jacob I. & Betty Jane Colwell to Mary Ann Dalton & Nancy Middaugh, in Harmony Twp., for $1.00.

Anna M. Jones (estate), Theresa Cramer & Steven L. Jones to Theresa Cramer & Steven L. Jones, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.

Robert S. Dossantos to Robert S. Dossantos, in Great Bend Twp., for $1.00.

Jill Smolowe to William F. & Nancy L. Culnane, in Thompson Twp., for $141,500.00.

Joseph Killiany to Paul Killiany, in Forest City, for $1.00.

Joi M. Siebecker-Schimelfenig (aka) Joi M. Siebecker Schimelfenig (nka) Joi M. Siebecker to Joi M. Siebecker, in Lenox Twp., for $1.00.

Joi M. Siebecker to Joi M., Fred S. Jr. & Barbara J. Siebecker, in Lenox Twp., for $1.00.

Darlene L. Bayuk to Darlene L. Bayuk & Hilary Sloane Harriet, in Hallstead Borough, for $1.00.

Carole Loomis (aka) Caroel Ann Loomis to Ann Marie & James E. Marcy, in New Milford Twp., for $1.00.

Carole Loomis (aka) Caroel Ann Loomis to Ann Marie & James E. Marcy, in Montrose, for $1.00.

Laurie Griffing Gregory, Chris Griffing (aka) Christopher J. Griffing, Douglas Griffing & Neil R. Griffing to Heart Lake Association Inc., in New Milford Twp. & Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.

BENCH WARRANTS

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 10:15 a.m. on November 16, 2012: Elbert G. Allen, Jason J. Carroll, William J. Casey, Thomas D. Earley, Jonathan Fathi, David J. Fischer, Jennifer D. Hazlett, Melinda D. Holbrook, Keith R. Hurd, John J. Jenisky, Jr, Richard E. Kalinowski, Kay L. Knolles, Lee Labor, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Derrick J. Lezinsky, Anastacia V. Poff, Joseph M. Rhodes, Perry Rohan, Bruce A. Schurr, Christie L. Sheptock, Desiree L. Shifler, David J. Shiner, Brian R. Shio, Tina M. Smith, Eric J. Snell, Justin S. Thompson, Earl H. Thompson, Jr, Steven G. Warner, Jamie L. Williams, Sr, Dennis Wisniewski, Kelly Lynn Yarbrough, Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.

There was a no good things are happening section at the November 12th Montrose School board meeting. This was purposeful, as it was assumed that the discussion of PSSAs would take some time.

During the administrator’s reports, Mr. Ognosky forbade the administrators from discussing the PSSA’s, however, as they would be discussed later. Dr. Adams related that the Halloween party and parade had been canceled. Between the weather and the tragedy at the school, it seemed inappropriate. Mr. Ognosky commended Dr. Adams and his staff for how the tragedy had been handled at the school, and stated that the district’s thoughts and prayers were with the family. Dr. Adams called it a heartbreaking tragedy, echoing the sentiments of their thoughts and prayers being with the family. The Veteran’s Day program had been held the previous Thursday; he said that the program just got better and better. The event included a slide show with some of the veterans in their uniforms.

Mr. Owens spoke about a little e-mail problem, which he called no big deal. He spoke further about technological matters. The help desk had been upgraded. The help desk had been down for a day. He summed up his report by saying that they had broken a lot of stuff, and had fixed a lot of stuff. He commended the hard work of his staff.

Mrs. Lusk reported that the auditor was to be present at the December meeting. It was thought that they would be within $5,000 of their actual expenses. Mr Ognosky put that in perspective by pointing out that it was $24,000,000 budget. The auditors’ reports were to be finalized by then.

Mr. Ognosky then spoke of a few discussion items from the agenda. The budget timeline was the first of these. Mrs. Lusk stated that she felt the timeline which they had followed the previous year had worked well, giving the staff time. Mr. Ognosky reminded the board that if they chose to follow that timeline they had to make a commitment that they would not raise taxes above the index, which would be under a mill. The district could go beyond the index however, under exceptions. This commitment would then be on the agenda in December.

Plan Con Part J was discussed. The district had been reimbursed on a temporary percentage reimbursable rate on a project from the mid nineties. This had come up the previous year, and with paperwork being completed and submitted for Plan Con J, PDE could assign the district a final reimbursable percentage for the bond issues from that project. One of the items needed was to discuss the final close out of Plan Con J and submit it into the board minutes. Based on the figures the district was to receive a final close out payment of $269,080.92 by the end of the year. Mr. Caterson asked how they had been reimbursed in the past. It was explained that when they made a payment on their bond payment, the reimbursable dollars had been spread out over the life of the bond issue. More money would be coming based on the bond. Mr. Ognosky publicly commended her for her work.

Mr. McComb then gave his report. The fourth, fifth, and sixth graders had come to the secondary school to the play. The parent conferences had gone well, he related. The book fair had been well attended, with each educator being given $80 from the proceeds to use for classrooms, etc.

Mr. Ognosky then gave a PSSA presentation. He stated that he would let each of the building administrators talk about their building scores and he himself would review the district scores. This was regarding the PSSA’s taken the previous March and April. Choconut Valley was the first district reviewed. Mr. McComb spoke of the thirteen goals which his building had, which was fewer than Dr. Adams had. All of the targets had been met for attendance and test participation. However, they had not made all of the targets based on the strict percentages. The last couple of years the state had put things in place to allow safe harbor or confidence interval or the growth model to allow districts which hadn’t met the target to still meet AYP. Choconut Valley had made AYP based on the growth model in several areas, which recognized the efforts of schools whose students hadn’t met proficiency but were on trajectory to do so. When he compared their numbers to the state, they were at or above the state, and he said that they were making progress each year. Every year however the target went up as well. The district had also met some benchmarks with a confidence interval. With these provisions the school had met all 13 benchmarks. They had made AYP every year since 2002, since they could do so.

Lathrop Street was the next school discussed. Dr. Adams said that they had 17 categories to meet, due to having a special education subgroup. Forty students meeting a specific qualification designated a subgroup. This was probably their largest issue as far as making AYP. That year 81% of students had to be advanced or proficient in reading, and 78% in Math. These numbers were to jump ten and eleven percent in the coming year. Lathrop Street had also made AYP, with the assistance of confidence intervals, safe harbor, and safe harbor with confidence interval. Safe Harbor represented an improvement of at least 10% from previous years. The school had exceeded the attendance and test participation measures. They had also met AYP every year they could.

Mrs. Staats spoke about special education. These were students which had been identified as not meeting grade level, and who could be instructed at their academic level rather than grade level. However, they might be tested at grade level. Mrs. Homan asked if they could receive the same type of help they received every day. It was responded that there was a list of accommodations that could be offered, but there were no accommodations for the reading. They also could not retest.

Mr. Ognosky reviewed the high school scores. At the junior senior high school, the grades seven, eight, and eleven were factored in. Five of the six schools had junior senior high schools. Of those five schools, none of the junior senior high schools made AYP. The school had 18 measures to meet, and had made 12 of them. The six not made were academic. The junior senior Math goals had been made but not the Reading goals.

As a district, AYP had been made. This combined all of the kids, elementary and junior/senior high school students. The district did not make AYP and was in School Improvement 1. As a district, AYP had been made every year but one.

Mr. Ognosky said then that he was a rural educator, and that he was very proud of what these schools did. He felt that the schools in Susquehanna County did a heck of a job educating the kids with the resources available. He referenced a handout of the eighteen counties in the Northeastern quadrant of the state. In that area there were 15 counties that had multi-school district numbers. Of those fifteen there was only 1 county where all of the school districts had made AYP. That was Susquehanna County. He said that they were very proud of that. Of the 103 school districts in that 18 county area, 60 out of 103 districts had made AYP. One hundred percent of the districts in Susquehanna County had made it. The handouts he gave were on the website. Of the 151 school districts in Intermediate Unit 19 (plus Luzerne County) only 60 made AYP (roughly 40%). When those districts were broken down the only two counties which scored above 50% of their schools making AYP were Wayne County (60%), and Susquehanna County had (57%). The only two having over 50% of their schools making AYP, then, were two of the most rural. He felt this showed that the districts in this county were working hard and doing well.

He said that all of the administrators he knew felt that this whole AYP system was flawed. He said that the idea that every child, no matter their learning abilities, would be proficient or advanced was flawed. The goal in education had always been to get kids to work to the best of their ability, and he felt that this wasn’t what it was any more. He felt as an administrator in the county that they did good things, and he felt that they didn’t do enough to let the press know that.

Susquehanna County had 8 out of the 14 schools to make AYP, but they were the only county in which all of the school districts missed AYP by only one building. The other five counties in that study all had multiple districts that missed the designation in multiple buildings.

The entire test had been revamped for eleventh grade. Now they would move away from the PSSA’s above eleventh grade, and to the Keystone exams.

Mr. Gow spoke of a commercial, regarding cyber schools in the state of Pennsylvania. And their closing shot was that there was no charge to the residents. He said that this was misleading, as residents would pay it in their taxes. Mr. Ognosky said that people didn’t pay for that in their taxes, as the taxes didn’t meet the cyber cost for a specific person. Mr. Gow thought that the legislature needed to be appraised of their taxes. Mr. Ognosky said that this had been attacked already. Mr. Ognosky said that it was misleading but not dishonest. The district paid an estimated $650,000 to cyber schools as an estimate. Mr. Owens said that they could make the same claim technically, as public education was no cost to the parents. He said that not one of the cyber schools had met AYP. Mr. Ognosky said that by legislation the way AYP was figured for cyber schools was changed, and by that calculation that year two thirds of them would have made it. Other schools, he continued, were saying then that they should use the same system for them as for cyber schools.

A special board meeting for reorganization purposes was scheduled for Monday December 3rd, with the regular meeting to follow.

The resignation of Chris Kearney from his position as Assistant Varsity Basketball Coach was approved. Rebecca Rose was employed as the Wrestling Cheerleading Advisor, Joshua Define as Junior High Head Wrestling Coach, Michael Zuba as Assistant Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach, Cody Ivey as Junior High Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, and Jeremy Dibble as Junior High Assistant Boys’ Basketball Coach, pending completion of employment requirements. It was difficult to fill all of these positions, Mr. Ognosky explained. The staff had worked very hard, all of those involved were former students who had been part of the sports. All of the recommendations came from the head coach and the athletic director. There was some discussion then regarding how these coaches were trained, and a program which was available to them at the University of Scranton various times of the year.

Mr. Ognosky quipped that he almost wanted to have a drumroll, as there were no resignations from food services that evening. Jeanne Dietz was hired to a part-time position in this department.

Mr. Ognosky asked the elementary principals to tell them about the sub list at the elementary. It was responded that they had been able to fill the positions thus far, and were doing alright.

Some were winners and some were losers in the lottery that resulted from the recalculations done by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) on the $208 million or so received from the Act 13 “impact fees” paid by the natural gas exploration companies. The PUC oversees distribution of the money among counties and municipalities. The first computation awarded Hallstead about $25,000. With the recalculation Hallstead came up a winner. Having already received a check for $25,495.12, the Borough is now looking forward to getting another one just like it.

Since the distribution process is something of a mystery, when Borough Council members gathered for their November meeting on the 15th and approved a preliminary budget for 2013, Council chair Michele Giangrieco suggested that they expect only about $35,000 in the new budget from the impact fees. She said she would “rather be surprised” if more shows up.

Hallstead hasn’t boosted tax rates in many years, and the streak continues. The expense budget will increase by more than 22%, to a total of $252,348. Council wants to put more money into drainage, perhaps with special attention to Railroad Avenue and 4th Street.

Wright Street will get some attention right away. A resident of the area appeared last month to ask for help. So now, with some extra money to spend at the end of the year, Council will hire B&H Paving to do the work. The expense might be allocated differently if the Borough wanted to spend out of the liquid fuel subsidy, but that would require a longer approval period looking for state-certified materials. This work will be done with Borough funds.

The Borough will start collecting another $500 per month soon, along with some much-needed renovations to the Borough building, when Patti Smith and Lori Fisher begin work on a new hair salon. The renovations will include a new ramp to the door on the 2nd floor, along with a refurbished kitchen. The pair provided some architect’s drawings at the meeting, but said they haven’t yet decided on a name for the enterprise.

The Borough will get some help with its Christmas lights, too. Henry Glover, Jr. Truck Supervisor with Equipment Transport LLC said that his company will pony up about $1,260 to light the five trees along the riverbank. Mr. Glover was standing in for CEO David Florance who attended last month to fill Council in on his plans for a waste-water treatment facility on the old foundry property on Main Street. He said that his company would be meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in mid-December and, to support the company’s application, would appreciate a letter from the Borough stating that the property is properly zoned for the facility. That would be easy, since Hallstead doesn’t have any zoning. Mr. Glover provided a sample letter that the Borough could put on its own letterhead, which Council agreed to do.

Richard Armondi, representing the local Little League, attended the meeting to ask Council to consider renewing the ball club’s 7-year lease, which expires this year. He said the ballfield has been winterized and the power shut off for the season. He said the field was “being used a lot more,” and that the club had spent $11,000 on new fencing this year. Council will review the new lease for adoption in December.

The Hallstead Borough Council meets on the third Thursday of each month around the big table on the 2nd floor of the Borough Building at the corner of Franklin and Lackawanna Avenues beginning at 7:00 pm.

Prior to really beginning the November 15th meeting of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center’s school board, Dr. Bush announced a guest presenting something positive at the Elk Lake school. Mr. Woolcock was present to speak about science activities at the junior high. Widener university had sent a letter announcing their annual technology competition. This was the same competition which had, the previous year, challenged the students to create mousetrap powered cars. This year the challenge was to create a mousetrap powered ping pong ball launcher. The program was introduced to the 9th grade students. Student Seth Tewksbury spoke next, explaining the challenge and the experience. There was a course, and the challenge was to shoot ping pong balls into a variety of holes which had different point values. The ninth grade students had designed contraptions and tested them in class against each other on a course Mr. Good created for them. The teams with the four best scores were given the chance to go to Widener to compete. Out of a total of 110 teams, Seth’s team earned a place in the top eight and progressed to the finals. At the finals, only three teams scored a point, bringing them into the top three. When they shot at this time, the ball bounced back, struck their contraption, and ricocheted into the hole. As neither of the other teams scored, they won. Mr. Woolcock displayed the trophy. Seth spoke about the value of the challenge, including the scientific applications of motion, friction, and energy, and the ability to trouble shoot and problem solve. Both Seth and Mr. Woolcock thanked Mr. Mallery for supporting them, and Mr. Good for building them a practice course. Mr. Emmerich asked how far they had to shoot the ball, it was responded that the distance was about 10 feet. Mrs. McGee asked if there was criteria, and it was responded that there wasn’t beyond the mandate to be creative and get the ball down the hole. The other students on Seth’s team were Chase Orlandini and Hunter Bedell.

The SCCTC meeting then truly began. During the Director’s report, Dr. Davis spoke of the National Technical Honor Society induction, at which 14 students were inducted. She called it a very nice ceremony. Cosmetology had raised $1,100 for the Susquehanna County American Cancer Society during the Pink Out. A letter was received from the Community Foundation, and $36,063.09 had been granted, to assist students with supplies, etc.

The subject of lead renovator training was broached. Mr. Fenton went monthly to lead a class on this, a skill now required for contractors working on homes older than 1978. It was requested that the board approve workmen’s comp for him, as the trainings were held in New York state. The class brought in more money than this would cost.

Dr. Davis then took the floor again, reporting what was being done to make things better for the students at the Career Center. In the Accounting and Administrative Assistant course, the personal white boards were being used. More critical thinking was being incorporated, and they were trying to make it fun. Currently they were going after any certification that a student could get. The Carpentry and Cabinet Making program had implemented a student log book, listing hourly progress on tasks and industry standards. The Cosmetology program had extended their clinics, they were now open five days a week. In the theory classroom, the students had lap top computers. The Culinary Arts program was creating a checklist of correct procedures and policies. They were also costing the food. This would help were the students to ever run their own catering company. Students were self evaluating also. The Electrical Plumbing and Heating program added student logbooks. Once the common core qualifications were completed, the students could then choose to go back and focus on their interests. Not only did students get diplomas, they also received competencies. In the Health Care program they were also using the lap tops. Health care was the number one top job in the area, as Pennsylvania had the second largest elderly population in the United States. In small engine repair, a lot of online small gas engines were assessed and specs were researched. Welding Technology was a new program, where the students were making some of the equipment they were using. Finally, she reviewed program income, which totaled an additional $8,000 in revenue from CNA and Serve Safe training and the Cosmetology Clinic (in addition to the lead training income).

After a break, the Elk Lake meeting began with a reading of correspondence. A thank you had been received for a donation for the library. A letter of gratitude to the board was then read on behalf of Elk Lake Cross Country team.

The principals were asked to report and give the board an update on their school. Mr. Pirone was first. An election had been held at the elementary school the day before the public election. For the previous 40 years the elementary schools had selected the candidate who won, with pretty accurate guesses. The Veterans Day program was noted, and spoken highly of. He spoke next of the sixth grade Gettysburg trip. This was to be held in May. He reviewed the cost, which included a reasonable fee for the students, and asked the board to approve the trip. He explained that the school was focusing on Reading and Math. He showed the board the assessment anchors, items which were eligible to be put on the PSSA’s. The school had analyzed every anchor from math and reading, in relation to the previous year’s scores. Action was taken to strengthen that subject matter instruction. This included high school instructors working with students during their hall duty cover in a tutoring relationship.

Additional reading material had been purchased, especially in the non-fiction area. The PSSA test was changing from a reading test, it was explained, to an English Language Arts test, which led to an encouragement for students to incorporate English Language Arts into various subjects. He also reviewed various reports.

The board was also given the AYP numbers from several years. Finally, the board was given a list of shifts that the school should take to transition to the common core; the list was from the state.

During Mr. Mallery’s presentation there was some discussion about starting basketball games earlier. Mr. Mallery explained that at this point beginning the basketball game earlier was a matter of negotiation between students. Congratulations were given to the cross country teams. The junior high had won the Lackawanna League, and the varsity had done very well at states. Mr. Mallery bragged about Mr. Woolcock and the science instruction in his class. Mrs. Blaisure that same day had taken a group of eighth grade students down to Gettysburg for a reenactment of the battle of Gettysburg. Mrs. Tewksbury had done a lesson on projectiles, which led Mrs. Warholic to come to him and request a pumpkin chucking event. The seventh graders had gone out back and fired gourds with a large slingshot, the group with the furthest chucks won an ice cream party. Mr. Mallery said that these were the things which the state didn’t measure; he then reviewed scores and discussed changes at the junior high level.

The junior high had missed some of the benchmarks set by the state by 8 tenths of a point. There were some changes that year which would affect their scores further. The state had eliminated modified tests for special education students. For about three years the district had been involved in reading apprenticeship. The point of the program was to identify necessary skills to be a better reader, and then to learn how to develop and master them. Informational text was utilized across the board, he added.

There was a seventh grade math tutoring program. The students were given a test once a month, and if they needed it could receive peer tutoring for a month.

In answer to a question by Mr. Tewksbury, Dr. Bush stated that there was some conjecture regarding what occurred if benchmarks weren’t met. There were some schools which had failed for four years, which had not been taken over as of yet. The goal of 100% in 2014 was set. Dr. Bush didn’t think this was realistic, however it was something to strive for. Mr. Mallery opined that the state identified students who struggled, yet asked the school to bring that student to level.

Mrs. Staats spoke next. She reviewed a few special education laws. One of them said that schools would educate all students, and another defined the IEP process. A third encouraged inclusion. Finally, there was No Child Left Behind, which she said was in direct contradiction to all special education law that was passed. Currently the focus was more on where the service could be provided as opposed to what was to be provided. The special education department goals were to provide appropriate education to the special education students, based on their IEP’s goals and objectives. They also strove to stay accountable to special education laws. IDEA law had said that students should be assessed and tested on their level. No Child Left Behind was in contradiction of this, stating that they be tested on grade level. Modifications had been removed.

The Special Education department did everything it could prior to evaluating a student, she explained. The district looked at IQ, achievement scores, and possible behavioral contributing factors. What the school did in special education was replacement instruction. This was more prescriptive; for instance a child with a decoding difficulty would be pulled out for individual instruction in decoding. She opined that it was important to note that students varied in their abilities, and that there could be students who had no learning disability but did not test well due to attention difficulties. She did not believe that the district had not made AYP due to special education, as they usually made confidence interval and safe harbor, since there was improvement.

Dr. Bush noted that if the students weren’t in the class learning the materials of the common core, it would be unreasonable to expect them to achieve on the test.

Dr. Cuomo was the last principal to speak, congratulating the drama program for the play. He felt that the students had done a great job. He spoke of the Veteran’s Day program at the middle and high school, with a guest of honor who was a 2008 alum. Three of the faculty also spoke about their experiences. He felt it had gone over very well.

He also reviewed reports and data. The school had not met the benchmark, but had made AYP due to the growth model. That being said, the PSSA no longer existed at the high school for the future. The educator effectiveness evaluation system was discussed, a significant change in evaluation which was instructor centered and data driven. He then reviewed the Common Core Pa Academic Standards. He quipped that the Pa Academic standards hadn’t gone away, the state had put them on steroids. The standards raised the bar and increased levels of Bloom’s taxonomy. He explained the common core. In the past he explained, when reading scores were received everyone had looked at the English instructors. Fifty percent of the assessment was now to be literacy in other subjects, such as Science or Social Studies. Other instructors then needed to be able to work with students in how to read in their subject matter. This linked to a discussion of reading apprenticeship, each grade would begin to have a core group of educators to assist other instructors. He summed it up by saying that Reading was now everybody’s job.

The tests issued at the high school level were transitioning to the Keystone exams. At that time the exams would be Literature, Algebra, and Biology exams. These exams were known as end of course exams. Any Algebra student would be taking the exam at the end of the course, as would Biology students. So, for instance, a 10th grader taking Biology would take the test at the end of the course. Regardless of when the test was taken, those scores would be banked and applied to the student in eleventh grade to come up with AYP. The Science exam was basically a Reading test. The Literature exam was going to be very document driven. There were to be no more obscure writing prompts, they would be directly tied to a document they were reading. The district was designing common assessments, to ensure that multiple instructors leading the same course would provide the same instruction. Underachieving students were being assessed for weaknesses and strengths, and then the grade levels were looking at common strategies to assist and encourage them. Dr. Bush gave the board a copy of the proposed transition from the state to the common core. He also gave them a county report for AYP. Dr. Bush felt that the county had done a great job, and that the county staff had supported each other. He looked at the 18 counties of the area, 15 of the counties had multiple school districts. Susquehanna County school districts had all met AYP. Other counties could not all boast this. The information was compiled by Mr. Ognosky, the superintendent of Montrose. Dr. Bush stated that the staff had done a great job to achieve as it had.

Mr. Place then expressed an opinion. He said that in some places people bashed school administrators. He said that this situation was a primary example of why administrators were needed. Mr. Tewksbury said that this showed not only what kind of administrators they had but also what kind of education staff they had.

A budgetary transfer to the cafeteria was discussed briefly. There had been a decrease in meals purchased, a trend which it was said existed throughout the state.

A solicitor, Abrahamson, Conaboy, and Abrahamson of Scranton, was approved for the matter of the Williams pipeline. It was felt that it might be wise to have representation in the matter. Mr. Place cautioned that were someone wanting to ask questions, the board was under legal advisement and was limited in what it could say.

A visitor asked what the attorney was all about. Dr. Bush explained that the district was looking to confer with an attorney about the proposed right of way, the pipeline. There were issues with it which the board had concerns about. The company was looking to put a pipeline onto school property.

Mr. Tewksbury thanked everybody for their patience with the long meeting. Mr. Place said that one of the major concerns on the Williams pipeline was safety issues.

The Susquehanna Borough council convened at 7:01 with standing room only available in the hall and all members in attendance. With a gentle nod to the amassed populace, chair Reddon requested that all recall the meeting is a place for polite civil intercourse and requested that anyone wishing to make comments do so at the appropriate time and to remain civil.

Public comment opened with a lively discussion about the Starucca house and the process for getting permits, and appealing in regard to zoning and other summons issued against the owner, Mr. Plonka. He further voiced concerns over the utter lack of good faith in which he felt the borough was dealing with him. Chair Reddon was quick to point out that while the council was willing to take note of the concerns listed this would clearly be under the pervue of the zoning board and a council of appeal if necessary based on their decision. Additionally the board could not issue a time table for resolution beyond appointing a board of review and setting a date for a hearing at this time.

Sadly several in attendance had come to bid a fond farewell. Steve Glover had served as a commissioner for streets for 27 years, and after much deliberation has chosen to move on.  He thanked all in attendance for the opportunity to serve them and spoke of the changes and improvements which had come to pass since his beginning in 1985. As he prepares to serve his final day on 11-23 many of the council chose to thank him for his service and support of the borough, as well as wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

The mayor was pleased to report that JNET is now up and running in the borough. Additionally the police had responded to several calls related to super storm sandy. But that while the council had convened in the hours preceding the storm to assure supplies and procedures were in place, they did not need to use them. This was however considered a training opportunity for those involved and best practices had been noted for review. Sadly the new security measures to be implemented around the borough building would have to be placed on hold. It was uncertain how these upgrades would be maintained and thus they were not being implemented at this time.

Before moving to executive session council informed all in attendance that the tree lighting would take place on the seventh at 6:00 p.m., and that on Saturday the 8th pancakes with Santa would be held at 8:30.