The Fifth Grade Chorus left the cupcakes behind when their families escorted them from the building after their concert presented to the Blue Ridge School Board meeting on March 4th. Maybe it was just as well that the 24 youngsters weren’t asked to sit through the 12-point agenda just for the sugary nuggets of pleasure at the end. There probably wouldn’t have been enough cupcakes for all of them anyway.

The singers provided pleasure aplenty for everyone else though. Music teacher Kristen Burkhart led half of the 5th-grade chorus through 4 numbers from Broadway musicals The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, George Washington, Jr. and The Sound of Music. Celebrating Music in the Schools Month, the other half of the chorus is scheduled to perform for the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) on March 12. Maybe they’ll get cupcakes then.

Half of the 5th-grade chorus entertaining their families and the Board

The evening actually began with meetings of the Board’s Technology and Facilities & Grounds Committees.

John Ketchur’s Tech Committee concentrated on budget requests from Technology Director Mike Stewart. Where the current-year budget for computers, networking and other technology equipment and services was lower than the year before by almost $50,000, the request submitted for next year is up about $60,000. The new budget, however, includes a “contingency” fund of $50,000 which cannot be touched without specific Board approval.

As usual, each year some of the equipment and software needs to be replaced and/or upgraded as technology advances and the schools become more dependent on it. The PSSA and Keystone exams mandated by the state will be taken on computers, although no one knows for sure yet just what kind of devices can be used for the tests. Projectors, according to Mr. Stewart, are “dying like flies” and are expensive to replace.

The Committee also agreed with Mr. Stewart that his assistant, Dawn Crook, should be given a full-time appointment to help with the work over the summer that has been supported in the past few years by hiring students.

For the Facilities & Grounds Committee, Maintenance Director Kevin Price outlined his crews’ work coming up for the summer. Even now they are beginning to plan reconditioning of the ball fields in New Milford and Hallstead for the baseball/softball season. Over the summer they will carry out the bi-annual plan to restripe the High School parking lot. A fire zone will be added in front of each school to restrict parking, except for buses.

Blue Ridge staff themselves will deal with some windows whose frames have deteriorated. Some will be replaced, others given new caulking.

Drainage issues on the 5th-grade playground and the upper campus ball field will also be addressed, the former through a warranty claim.

Mr. Price also gave the committee some preliminary options with regard to the furnaces and boilers, should natural gas be supplied to the campus as proposed by the firm known as Leatherstocking. Most of the heat in the buildings is supplied by burning wood chips, by far the cheapest (available) fuel. Switching the supplemental oil-fired boiler to natural gas will save considerably, but, cautioned Committee chair Harold Empett, not enough to warrant expectations of lower taxes on that account alone.

Mr. Price also listed items that will need attention in the longer term, including roof work, replacing the internal telephone system, and, not least, replacing the main gym floor and bleachers. The latter he said would be “inevitable” but could still be put off for a while if necessary.

The Board meeting itself started off with introductions of High School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski’s choices of high-achieving seniors. Allison Coller, the student representative to the Board this year, expects to attend Penn State to study nursing, at least through a Master’s degree. Troy Carey is looking to pursue a career in law.

Outstanding Senior Allison Coller

Outstanding Senior Troy Carey

Most of the Board’s business agenda was fairly routine. Members approved a license agreement for the High School musical. For about $1,400, the school has the right to produce The Sound of Music in May. Following the choral concert at the top of the evening, Ms. Burkhart reminded listeners of the upcoming event, as well as the 2nd annual concert in the park in New Milford.

The Board accepted a list of delinquencies forwarded by tax collectors totaling over $460,000. Business Manager Loren Small said that the amount was typical. The accounts will be turned over to the Tax Claim Bureau for collection.

As they had been warned at a workshop the week before, the administration presented a long list of transfers, movements of dollar amounts within the budget and accounting system. The Board requested details of such transfers, which Superintendent Robert McTiernan promised will be fewer next year as the administration gives closer attention to budget detail and applies more strict controls over spending.

The Board approved some changes in two of its policies. One clarifies for the district and its tax collectors what is “timely and not timely” for submission of monthly collection reports. The other tightens up the definition of “uncompensated leave” by the staff, which Mr. McTiernan has indicated could have been abused in some cases. (In another measure the Board retroactively approved uncompensated leave for a staff member covering the month of February.)

The Board approved an agreement with a firm known as EnerNOC that will extend through May 31, 2019. For a monthly payment that could mean income of over $30,000 per year, the district agrees to participate in a program that would allow the company to ask Blue Ridge to curtail use of electricity during declared emergencies in the summer months. Under the agreement, the summer months include September. However, the district is permitted to decline to participate when necessary, forfeiting only a part of the payments.

The Board also created a “co-curricular position” to supervise the fitness center. The person appointed to the job would not be an instructor of any kind, but would monitor student use of the facility during after class hours Monday through Thursday. Compensation is capped at $2,100 per year, and will depend on whether the person hired is a staff member currently receiving regular Blue Ridge benefits, or a part-time employee from the community.

Mr. McTiernan commented on a recent “intruder drill” enacted in cooperation with the State Police as a part of a plan to improve safety and security in the schools. He said that the State Police commended the staff on their reaction to the simulated event, which identified issues that will be addressed by continuing drills, both announced and unannounced, and additional training.

Mr. Small will be offering options for scheduling budget workshops for the Board after Easter. A preliminary budget must be available for Board action by May 20, so that formal adoption can take place before the end of the fiscal year, in June.

There will be a Board workshop on Monday, March 25 beginning at 7:30 p.m., and Blue Ridge will host the annual Spring legislative meeting the following evening, beginning at 7:00 p.m. All meetings are staged in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.

One doesn’t always get a second chance, but Lanesboro is giving (or getting) one this month. The borough’s March meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, failed to draw the legally-constituted quorum necessary for governance. Present for the meeting were borough council President Todd Glover, council members David Glidden and Jason Fissel, along with Mayor Chris Maby and Secretary/Treasurer Gail Hanrahan. Council needed at least one of the four missing members - Dan Boughton, Regina Dilello, Dale Rockwell, or Colleen Y. Wilkes - to gavel the session to order.

Alas, at 7:12 p.m. Council President Glover conceded defeat and announced that council would reconvene in two weeks time, at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19, to take up the agenda from this evening’s postponed meeting. The March 19 meeting had previously been scheduled and advertised only to open sealed bids concerning the interior renovations for the Community Center. With this meeting’s agenda added to it council will have a full plate.

Among the agenda items to be considered will be the Floodplain ordinance (must-pass legislation requiring a roll-call vote), further discussion of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), and a progress report on the borough’s emergency one-call system set-up.

The supreme irony of the evening was not lost upon those present. Even as council failed to muster a majority, borough onlookers - two former councilmen, the usual attendees, and “newcomers”- turned out in numbers not seen in over a year. And despite the anecdotal reports of governmental layoffs and misfortunes attributed to Federal Sequestration, this reporter could deduce neither connection nor causality of Lanesboro’s March 5 governmental paralysis to the aforementioned “Congressionally-created catastrophe.” March 19 proffers redemption, a second chance for Lanesboro to close out winter’s work in winter, if council keeps its appointment.

Dick Button does what needs doing in Great Bend Borough. According to Borough Council member Mike VanGorden, he usually does it before he’s asked.

In the absence of Rick Franks and Council vice chair Jerry MacConnell, attorney Frank O’Connor asked members to elect another of their colleagues to preside as chair pro tempore for the March meeting on the 7th. They chose Mike VanGorden, who moved the meeting along briskly, and who, as maintenance supervisor, at the end of the meeting asked Council to buy a safety jacket for Mr. Button, a day-glo-striped jacket that would also keep him warm doing his winter chores.

Mr. Button has served faithfully as the Borough’s maintenance man for the past many years, plowing the streets in winter, mowing the grass in summer, putting up signs, taking out the trash, keeping up the town’s 3 parks. His lair is the Borough’s garage, which he now shares with the local police department. Jon Record, Officer in Charge, likes working with him too. “Dick has been wonderful with us,” says Officer Record.

As it happens, the police department got a complaint from a visitor who said an officer had discarded a part of a breathalyzer unit onto the street, which she considered littering. “So littering is okay for the police but not for the general public?”, she asked. Attorney O’Conner tried to suppress the details, asking the visitor to keep it out of the public record by taking it up with Mr. Record outside of the meeting. Which they did, and both sides seemed to be satisfied with the resolution when they returned to the meeting.

Mr. Record presented his report for the month of February when his officers totted up 80.5 hours, including 2 in court. He reported 6 “incidents,” including one involving an ATV and its driver, who was charged with driving under the influence, lack of vehicle registration, “driving suspended” and too fast, ignoring stop signs, lack of insurance, and “fleeing and eluding.” Those things are harder to hide in a town.

Officers also issued 9 traffic tickets and 14 warnings.

The police department has established a Facebook page under “Great Bend Police”. Mr. Record said that Facebook has been found to be “very effective” for similar agencies, for example, in locating missing persons.

The department will also be one of 3 sites in the county hosting the National Take Back Initiative. On April 27 between 10am and 2pm, anyone may drop off unused prescription drugs at the police station with no questions asked.

The police department will be spending a bit more money, including over $300 for uniforms. Mr. Record said that his officers will attend annual mandatory training updates at Lackawanna College for a total of about $300. He said the state administration cut funding for this program, which used to be free to local police departments.

Mr. Record asked Council for a brief executive session to discuss a personal issue; no details were forthcoming.

In other business, Council reviewed a development plan for Ideal Tool forwarded to the Borough by the County planning office for comment. According to Mr. O’Connor the plan is to move the firm across the street closer to the railroad tracks to get it out of the (new) flood plain. Council also adopted a required ordinance covering the new flood plain maps which will go into effect in early April. The ordinance was required to allow property owners to apply for flood insurance.

Council was gratified by the appearance of the floor in the Borough Building, recently stripped and waxed by Paul Washburn for only $483. Members also agreed to a suggestion by Mike VanGorden to install new gates at Greenwood and VFW Memorial parks.

One or the other of those parks will host events this summer. The Susquehanna Sojourn brings together a group of paddlers with their canoes and kayaks that every year enjoys a different stretch of the great river. This year they will assemble and camp one night in Greenwood Park before setting off into New York State on a 96-mile cruise that will end in Wyalusing some 10 days later. Council offered the use of the park at no charge to the group that provides community programs all along its route.

Council also agreed to give access to its parks to the Society for Creative Anachronism, a group that stages “renaissance faires” and other historically-oriented programs during the summer months.

And, the Methodist Church will hold weekly revivals throughout the summer in a tent behind the church office in the lot adjoining the Borough Building property.

The Borough is still accepting donations for new picnic tables. For $100 individuals, businesses and organizations can have a table marked with a label of their choice. Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan said that $1,000 had been collected so far. Mr. VanGorden announced that the Great Bend Hose Company will donate 2 tables.

Council member Bret Jennings seems a little more comfortable with the Hallstead-Great Bend Joint Sewer Authority for now. The Borough’s representative on the sewer body’s board of directors, he was recently elected vice-chair.

The next meeting of the Great Bend Borough Council is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, 2013 beginning at 7:00 p.m. at the Borough Building at Elizabeth and Franklin Streets.

The township of Great Bend supervisors gathered on March 4th at 7pm.

Not being known for drawing out points, but rather eternal champions of brevity, they settled in to the lean agenda. The roads report included that at long last the quest for a new grader had been completed. The used machine would cost approximately $60,000 and was procured from another township with only 4,000 hours of usage in the clock. Gladly the new equipment will allow for several projects to advance in the spring. The roads report also announced that the new Monroe Tractor site would be hosting an open house on Friday the 15th from 8 to 5.

Hot diggity dog had applied for a permit, and should be expected to be open throughout the township starting soon. The supervisors were pleased to be able to advance opportunities for local businesses which have a seasonal appeal. Sadly under unfinished business there is still a need for an Emergency Management Coordinator. Training for the position would take place March 14th however this vital job remains unfilled.

The sewer authority likewise suffers from a lack of personnel. The Township functions best without glaring holes in staff. If you are interested in assisting your township please inform the town office which will gladly provide you with a full list of duties for any position. The flood plane ordinance will be ready for approval at next months meeting, as always the public are encouraged to attend.

Deborah Gorton requested to address the board via a request to be added to the agenda. She informed those in attendance that she was involved with a group called the SCA. They are a not for profit educational group focusing on skills and talents prevalent from 600-1600 AD. As an international group they were attempting to find areas that had previously had little exposure to the group as their 50th anniversary was in the near future.

They offer assistance to teachers, homeschoolers, and others who wish to learn any of the skills they promote. From weaving, spinning and knitting to armor making, fletching and european martial activities, they have a teacher if you have a question. In the coming months they will be using public spaces where armored knights, and swashbuckling fencers will be honing their skills and gladly answer questions for anyone who stops by. Flyers will start to pop up around the area soon. Anyone interested can contact BEH_chatelaine@yahoo.com.

There was much petition signing going on preceding the New Milford Borough Council meeting, as multiple council members sought signatures prior to running for office.

When the meeting began, Rick Ainey reported on a hearing he had attended. The argument at the hearing was more regarding whether the violation notice was correct, he stated, than over technical issues. The mayor asked how the codes enforcement officer had done, and it was responded that he had not backed down. Mr. Ainey also stated that the borough’s attorney had done a good job. The judgment was in the borough’s favor, stating that the resident did have a zoning violation.

Mr. Ainey asked where things sat on the other codes situations. The time period for one had expired. The Codes Enforcement Officer had put a call in to that man’s property manager. Mr. Ainey said that he might want to review his enforcement notice as this had been questioned at the other hearing.

Mr. Ainey asked the council about the CEO citing residents. At one point the policy had been that the CEO would find a violation, but the borough had to make the decision regarding citations. He broached the subject as he said that eventually they might not win one and at some point it could be wise to pick their battles. Teri Gulick pointed out that most of the ordinances now had in them that if it got to that level the violator would have to cover all costs, including legal costs. There was some further discussion regarding this. Ms. Gulick said that when they were amending ordinances and bringing them up to date, they were taking into consideration the fact that the taxpayers should not have to pay because someone did not follow the rules and was taken to court.

The CEO’s effectiveness was discussed, with council members discussing how well he did for what he was given.

The visitor who wished to reduce the Main Street speed limit to 25 miles an hour was there again that evening; she had given the borough secretary a petition that had ten signatures already, stating that she was not the only one who felt as she did. Mr. White spoke up to clarify an entry in the minutes, stating that he was not against the 25 mile an hour speed limit but that he had said there should be a petition as evidence that more than one person wanted the change. The visitor said that she was not going to stop, regardless of the results of the traffic study, that she would continue collecting signatures. She had spoken with someone at Penndot regarding this herself. Mr. White said that traffic in town was safer than it had ever been, and that there were fewer accidents. Traffic was heavier, but it was safer. Ms. Gulick stated that they had heard the woman’s concerns, and were requesting a traffic study from PennDot. She was asking the resident to please let the borough take care of it however, as the resident’s calling them was not going to help. It was pointed out that the traffic study was free, though there would be the cost of signs if the change went forward. There was further discussion then regarding the matter of when the borough’s letter was addressed by PennDot, and whether or not the resident’s call to that office had helped. The visitor felt that her request to the borough was pushed under the table when she first brought it up. Council responded that when it was first brought up, there had been only one person for it and one against it. For council to do a lot of paperwork and move forward, then, it was felt that a petition showing that multiple residents wanted it, would be better. Ms. Gulick assured the visitor that council would stay on top of the matter, and she in turn agreed to let council handle PennDot. Another visitor said that enforcement to cut down the speed that was displayed now wouldn’t hurt. When trucks came in from the south they were flying. Mr. Ainey said that he wasn’t sure they had the right balance in where they were enforcing traffic, and suggested perhaps they enforce more toward the south end of town. It was stated that if it was dropped to twenty-five, the enforcement would need to be stepped up.

A visitor then asked, if Susquehanna didn’t make a lot of money, how they could have full time police. It was responded that they paid almost three times more tax, they were three times the size of New Milford, and they had more criminal calls. Ms. Gulick said that she had received other calls about the south end of town, and that she had asked the police to be there more often.

One of the visitors asked if there was anyone acting as a liaison between the municipal authority and council. He was asking if there was a council member who went to the municipal authority meetings, and why the sewer rate had been increased. Ms. Gulick said that this time she had not known about the rate increase until she received the notice as a resident. The visitor said that this had happened before. It was confirmed that the municipal authority did send minutes, but no one came to meetings and reported.

Ms. Gulick explained however, with the recent rate increase, that New Milford was a customer of the Hallstead/Great Bend sewer authority, and they had increased the rate. Mr. Taylor thought it odd that they paid more for sewer than water. He also pointed out that the borough was paying decidedly less per 1,000 gallons of water than some other municipalities. The Municipal Authority were residents, Mr. White said, and thus should make decisions in the best interest of the borough. Some council members did state that they agreed with the visitor, that it would have been good to know about the increase in advance. It was also acknowledged however that the MA members had a difficult job. Mr. Ainey pointed out that it was a two way street, and the borough should communicate with the MA as well.

A visitor asked then if New Milford hadn’t received a lump sum from one of the gas companies. It was responded that there was $64,000 in lease money, and $35,092 in Act 13 impact money. The lease fee had been kept aside, with the goal of having it if something really came up. A couple of years ago, Mr. Ainey said, the borough was borrowing money to pay bills.

It was stated that the borough sign was beautiful, and there was discussion regarding when it would be hung. Ms. Cosmello said that she and Mr. Gulick were at an event recently, and a name was needed for the senior housing project. At the meeting, council had been asked to provide input, though it was preferred that it not be named after a person.

Peck Hill drainage was discussed. It was felt that it had been cold, but the project was not forgotten. Mayor Taylor said that they were not going to work on the railroad bridge right away, as a property owner wouldn’t let them on their property. The project would still continue, but it would be slowed down.

The planning commission had a meeting. Ms. Gluck said that they had received a lovely letter from the borough regarding the national flood insurance program, which was regulated by FEMA. It asked them to review the amendments, and the commission had decided that they agreed with FEMA. Also, they were just starting to review their zoning ordinance, and had begun making suggestions on amending and changing the zoning. Also, they had been working on the comprehensive plan. There had been no final figures for New Milford borough for 2010.

A quote had been found for cannon wheels at around $500 a piece. There was some discussion regarding this. Mr. White volunteered to contact the selling party. They were designed for civil war era, but they fit the same criteria as the cannons required. This had been included in a grant application, it was reported. A Midtown Park upgrade grant had been discussed by the parks and recreation committee.

Ken Bondurant had been to see the secretary, and stated that the centennial committee had some leftover money, it was announced. They desired to use it to upgrade the electric in the gazebo.

The pool manager position was discussed. The manager would be responsible for overseeing the operation of the pool. This was a paid position. The payment was made in a lump sum.

The CDBG grant money was in the works to clean out the creek. Once that was done, it was thought that the water table would go down and the bridge could be fixed more effectively.

Ms. Cosmello had received a call from Peter Quigg at the Community Foundation, and he wrote about the borough on his blog. She read excerpts of this posting out loud. To date $30,000 had been raised from generous contractors. All donations were to be sent directly to the foundation.

Scranton had received three handicapped lifts from a federal grant, which led to a discussion of grants.

Mr. Carey reported that someone was assisting with the Constitution grant application for the Midtown Park remodeling. Mrs. Cosmello said that Constitution had been wonderful to the borough.

There was discussion regarding the pool upgrade. The goal was to have it open for the coming season.

The borough was looking for additional people to be on the recreation board, it was stated. Interested persons should contact the borough secretary.

Mr. Ainey said that they were looking for Northern Tier to come help the borough develop a five year plan. As such, he was seeking people’s dream lists for New Milford borough.

Mr. Ainey stated, when a visitor asked, that Leatherstocking would come for New Milford borough, but their plan was to come in July on a larger scale. They could have the contractors present.

Mr. White spoke of having a plan for cleaning the catch basins. This year the borough wanted to be ahead in this regard.

The flood plain ordinance was set to be adopted at the next meeting. There would be a hearing prior to this.

There was some discussion regarding the stenographer from a recent hearing. Mr. Ainey said that the law allowed for the council to ask the appellant to pay half of the stenographer fees. It was decided that council would ask for half of the appearance fees in the future. Ms. Gulick said that she did not think that their variance fees were enough to cover costs. Mr. Ainey stated that they could only charge what could be expensed out, and it was suggested that a cost analysis be performed.

There had been an appeal regarding the Bradley versus the zoning board case. It had been thrown out of Susquehanna County court because it lacked standing, and an appeal was made. The Commonwealth Court heard the case in whole because the court had never before ruled on a legal ruling regarding lack of standing. The ruling was in the zoning board’s favor, stating that Bradley did lack standing, in a 4 to 1 vote.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 11:15 a.m. on March 8, 2013: Elbert G. Allen, Sharon Baker, Christopher R. Brenner, John R. Bush, William J. Casey, Thomas D. Earley, David J. Fischer, Keith R. Hurd, John J. Jenisky, Jr, Kay L. Knolles, Whade A. Koch, Lee Labor, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Robert Lewis, Richard A. Murphy III, Robert A. Muzzy, Heather L. Nystrand, Mary Perschau, Sunshine X. Quick, Lacy M. Quick, Anthony Reed, Bruce A. Schurr, Neil D. Shaffer, David J. Shiner, Jerome W. Slick, Eric J. Snell, Stephen Sorensen, Tessa E. Thomas, Justin S. Thompson, Earl H. Thompson, Jr, Steven G. Warner. Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 170 with any information on the location of these individuals.