The Blue Ridge School Board accepted the administration’s budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning in July at its meeting on April 7th. The “preliminary” budget, which calls for no increase in local tax rates, will be available for public review for at least a month before formal adoption prior to the end of the current fiscal year on June 30. The plan estimates total expenditures of $17,192,560, with revenues to match.

The budget was only one of 25 items on the agenda for the evening, most of them passed in a single motion. The business of the meeting was conducted before the typically sparse audience that remained following awards and a brief concert.

The cafeteria in the Elementary School hosted the families of children awarded Citizen of the Month certificates by the new Acting Elementary School Principal Danelle Decker. That was followed by a performance of 4 songs from popular movies and musicals by the 5th Grade Choir led by Kristen Burkhart, who thanked the Board for its continuing support of the arts in the schools.

Blue Ridge Elementary School Citizens of the Month

The Blue Ridge 5th Grade Choir

Among the wide variety of agenda items, the School Board:

• Approved something called a Comprehensive Improvement Plan. This document (not immediately available) is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and supplants the former strategic plan. It presumably outlines where the District is headed in the next few years.
  
  
• Approved an “Affiliation Agreement” with Mansfield University, allowing Mansfield to send some of its students to Blue Ridge for teacher training.
  
  
• Will pay $140 for a full-page advertisement in the premium book for the Harford Fair.
  
  
• Approved support for the Summer Adventure program of Blue Ridge Recreation, Inc. this summer, including a donation of $2,500.
  
  
• Renewed its agreement with Murphy, Dougherty & Co. as the District’s independent auditors for 2016 through 2020.
  
  
• Accepted a new budget offered by the Northeastern Instructional Unit (NEIU #19) that calls for no increase in Blue Ridge’s contribution. The Board also renewed its contract with the IU for Special Education services. (Outgoing Blue Ridge Superintendent Robert McTiernan will become the new Executive Director of the IU.)

The Board also approved a project to replace the bleachers in the main gymnasium at a maximum expenditure of $69,000. The details of the work, which will be contracted through the state CoStars purchasing program and thus not require a formal bidding process, remain to be determined. In particular, yet to be decided is whether the old bleachers will be simply demolished, or removed and repurposed in some way. A “soft” part of the gym floor is also to be repaired. The floor cannot be sanded again, but replacing the entire floor would cost more than the District is willing to pay at this time. Board member Chris Lewis cast the sole vote against the measure.

Among other more routine personnel actions, the Board appointed Ron Cranage to the position of Maintenance Supervisor, replacing Kevin Price who recently took a job in Susquehanna. Mr. Cranage told the Board that he knew he had big shoes to fill.

The Board also acknowledged the retirement of school nurse Judith McKee. Superintendent McTiernan commended Ms. McKee on her work of the past 5 years, and the Board accepted her letter with regret.

The Board adopted changes to many sections of its policy manual, most of them recommended in order to bring policy in closer alignment to recent changes in law and regulation. Among the changes:

• The District is to conduct an “employment history review” whose results can affect a decision to hire or to continue to employ a Superintendent.
  
  
• The District must develop a “professional development” plan for teachers to be available for public review by the state Department of Education.
  
  
• A policy covering uncompensated leave includes an application form defining the period requested, along with the purpose.
  
  
• Contracted services will now include requirements covering workers regarding sexual misconduct and child abuse.

Other policy changes are submitted for 30-day review, including:

• A detailed policy covering the use of medications by students.
  
  
• A lengthy and detailed new policy defining and covering the District’s responsibilities with regard to child abuse.
  
  
• Adding audio to video recording on the buses.
  
  
• Some new requirements covering fundraising.
  

At the very end of the meeting Mr. McTiernan thanked the Board for 5 good years as the District’s Superintendent. Elementary School Principal Matthew Button occupied a new place at the table as Acting Superintendent; he deferred to Mr. McTiernan and Ms. Decker as he relinquishes his old position and eases into the new role. The Board has yet to decide whether to appoint Mr. Button and Ms. Decker to their new jobs permanently. They will be in their Acting roles until the end of June.

The next public meeting of the Blue Ridge School Board is a workshop scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2015 beginning at 7:00pm. Committees sometimes meet earlier. Check the calendar on the District website for the latest information. There were cookies this time, and the water ran out, but there was punch.

Susquehanna Borough Council news is usually made by members present at the monthly meeting. So April 8th’s meeting was just a little bit different when President Varsik provided an explanation, most praiseworthy, for a member’s absence from council’s deliberations.

Present for the public portion—just under half an hour—were Mayor Nancy Hurley, Secretary/Treasurer Margaret Biegert, and council members Sue Crawford, John Hendrickson, Barbara Larsen, Kaylin Lindquist, Debbie Zayas. Joe Varsik was wielding the gavel.

Figured it out yet, who’s the missing newsmaker? We’ll get there shortly. First council disposed of routine matters: small amendments to the evening’s agenda and bill list. Both were then approved, followed by Council’s nods to last month’s meeting minutes and Treasurer’s Report.

From there, Mayor Hurley provided the borough’s Police Report for the month of March. It showed, aside from 7 motor vehicle stops/incidents, the following: burglary (1), domestic disputes (2), fraud (1), harassment (1), suspicious person (1), thefts (3), and miscellaneous (3). President Varsik added that the borough’s police car had been repaired last month and was working fine to date.

At this point, DPW and Codes Reports came up for discussion per the meeting’s agenda. Councilman Roy Williams, missing from the meeting, normally comes to the fore in discussing both DPW and Codes. But this evening President Varsik spoke in his place. He prefaced his remarks with a description of the huge repair operation underway on High Street. A severe drainage problem was in the process of being corrected: water was pooling—largely under the roadway—rather than flowing downhill as it should. Piping, insufficiently angled was so retarded in its flow that it had frozen for a length of some 60 feet. The length of pipe was laboriously being thawed, removed, and replaced. In the rainy raw weather of the day accomplishing this job was nothing less than Herculean.

The pipe replacement, once completed, will require extensive road repairs as well. President Varsik and council members recognized both Mr. Williams and dedicated DPW employees who were working tirelessly, even while the meeting was in progress, to make repairs a reality.

In other DPW news President Varsik noted that all the downtown Main Street trees had been trimmed the week before and that a collapsed sewer pipe on West Main Street had been repaired. Negotiations with PennDot on the Agility Program remained underway but no final agreement had been reached.

In the Codes Report the subject of Rental Applications was discussed. Secretary Biegert is preparing a wave of second notices to those recalcitrant. Landlords of rental properties are required to complete the application process. Thus far only 10 applications have come in, with 45 still outstanding.

Old business consumed most of the remaining meeting. First up was the Great American Cleanup, currently scheduled for April 25. Coordinator Kaylin Lindquist reported that should April 25th be a rainout, May 5th is scheduled for the borough’s cleanup. All volunteers are welcome!

Two motions were also passed—one for a parade and one for a 5-K race. Council approved a motion for the American Legion Memorial Day Parade on May 25 at 11 a.m., running from the Canawacta Gun Club to Shops Plaza. The 5-K Run is scheduled for July 18 at 9 a.m. from the SCSD Campus to the Susquehanna Depot Borough Office. The borough will send letters to PennDot requesting permits for both.

And while the winter season may (hopefully) be drawing to a close parking policy remains a subject for discussion. Alternate side of the street parking for the business district is being considered for winter 2015-16. How it would be implemented isn’t yet clear, but public hearings and a revised ordinance would be necessary prerequisites.

Under new business council noted that the borough’s Zoning Board will meet at 6 p.m. on the Second Wednesday of each month, provided it has business beforehand to be considered at that month’s meeting. To clarify, if the Board has no business beforehand, it will NOT convene to meet. Board members Jennifer Kelly and Lori Canfield have elected Brian Crawford as their new Chairman.

Before closing the meeting, a Susquehanna resident complained about the Veterans Bridge traffic signal sensor. The sensor is not, and will not, be repaired until road repair work can be concurrently scheduled. Traffic approaching the signal from Oakland is acknowledged to be delayed somewhere between one and two minutes longer than what one should normally expect.

At 7:29 p.m. council went into Executive Session to discuss a zoning issue on Depot Street and legal issue involving a property on Grand Street. When council reconvened the meeting at 7:59 p.m. no votes or official actions were taken prior to adjournment.

Borough Council will convene their next monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 13.

Enforcement issues are discussed at virtually every borough council meeting, but Oakland Borough’s April 9, 2015 meeting provided new wrinkles for council consideration. President Brian Rhone presided over the 7:01 to 7:58 p.m. meeting. All councilmen were present: Eric Page, Jack Agler, Gary Boughton, Dave Trevarthan, Doug Arthur, and Nelson Towner. Also in attendance were Mayor Ron Beavan and Secretary/Treasurer Flo Brush.

Enforcement issues dominating council’s focus primarily fell into two categories. The Countywide burn ban from April 2 to May 2, 2015 provided meaty discussion with a dollop of wit and humor. As the rain beat down during the meeting’s deliberations Councilmen couldn’t help but note the irony that the supposed purpose was to fight the county’s drought condition. No shortage of muddy conditions or squishy ground has been observable in Oakland.

Mayor Beavan, an old-hand in local government, explained that the county routinely imposes a burn ban every spring. It’s really directed from the state level, he noted, and it’s designed to preclude the possibility of wildfires getting started in the detritus of leaves and dead undergrowth from fall and winter. Councilmen noted that they were aware of two residents in the borough who had recently been burning trash, and both individuals will be personally contacted to ensure no further burning takes place.

It was appropriate that an Oakland resident in attendance was given opportunity to speak at this junction. The resident had a complaint about an adjoining property (located in Oakland Township) that regularly conducts burning. Complainant’s discussions with the deed-holder to stop unsafe burning practices had borne no fruitful result. But it wasn’t just the burning itself that was a problem. Children in the area had been tossing M-80’s into the fire for effect, and on at least one occasion an aerosol can had been tossed into the fire. While no one had yet been injured by these actions, the potential for catastrophic effects should not be ignored.

Council agreed with the complainant’s assessment of the situation that it was entirely unsatisfactory. The deed holder will be personally notified of the county-wide burn ban and Oakland Boro Police will be apprised of the situation and the potential to take action should further violations occur.

As discussion of the burn ban wrapped up, council turned its attention to roads. Potholes are a big problem, particularly on several streets in the borough. Very deep potholes, councilmen noted, have the potential to seriously damage autos when drivers unaware fail to swerve out of their path. Council lamented that the weather had been so wet stagnant water prevented the filling of these crater-like mini-lakes. With tongue-in-cheek aplomb Councilman Trevarthan deadpanned that it wouldn’t be long before all the roadway potholes would be dried up, as evidenced by the county’s affirmation of drought conditions. That elicited howls of laughter and smiles all around.

Mayor Beavan presented the Police Report for the month of March. It showed one burglary alarm and four traffic stops. Mayor Beavan noted that motorists often failed to stop at the bottom of Westfall Avenue, and hypothetically if the borough were of a mind it could garner a major source of revenue simply by posting police at that location to cite violators. Now the borough isn’t going to do that, but parking, he noted, may be a contributing factor to other problems at that particular intersection. Should parking be restricted? Should it be a “loading zone” only? Does the borough need a new ordinance on parking? Are there parking restrictions already on the books that just aren’t being enforced? These and other questions arose as and were batted around. It was ultimately determined that the police force should look at the situation to decide if a real problem exists, what the law is, and what, if any, action council should take for rectification.

A final enforcement issue came up under old business. Last month council had received a request from the Tax Claim Bureau for 347 State Street. To recap, the house at that address is observably collapsing and in a state of severe dilapidation. It had been through two tax sales with no bids received at either. The Tax Bureau had requested that the borough relinquish any claim to back-taxes so that the property could be sold at any price negotiated. Council had tabled the matter at their March 12th meeting to seek legal advice from Solicitor Myron DeWitt and make further inquiries from the Tax Claim Bureau. Council’s wish was to attach conditions to the release of back-tax claims, namely that any purchaser of the property agree to demolish the structure and conduct clean-up conditions to the borough’s satisfaction.

The end result of the issue is that the borough may not attach such conditions to withdrawal of claims to back-taxes and sale of the property. That being the case, Secretary Brush drew up a letter to Treasurer Cathy Benedict indicating the borough’s assent to sell the property for whatever amount for which it may be sold. If sold, the property would be returned to tax rolls. The borough will simply have to monitor compliance with the property maintenance code and hold the owner accountable. To that end council voted unanimously to relinquish tax claims and so notify the County that sale may proceed.

Concerning the borough’s website, Council agreed to the expenditure of a $59.95 annual fee due in June. Councilmen Arthur, Trevarthan, and Towner agreed to making upgrades on the site and keeping it up to date. Likely more pictures will be added in the near future. Oakland residents are encouraged to check out the website from time to time for new information. The borough’s website is www.oaklandboro.com.

In other news, councilmen, led by Doug Arthur, are planning to conduct spring clean-up in Oakland Park on Saturday, April 11. Should circumstances dictate, a rain date of April 18 has been decided. Raking of leaves and sprucing of grounds will be the order of the day.

Council’s next meeting is scheduled for the second Thursday of May, just five days before Primary Election Day. Incidentally, the seats currently held by Councilmen Boughton, Page, Agler, and Trevarthan are all on the line for nomination. None has his name printed on the ballot so it will be an all-write event, with 10 votes minimally required to obtain a nomination for candidacy printing of name on the fall ballot.

Crash: On April 9th at 2:50 am Robert Coffin of Lee Center, NY was traveling southbound on I81 in New Milford township, and he took exit 223. His vehicle drove off the west side of the roadway and struck the concrete barrier with the front driver side of the unit, which sustained disabling damage to the front driver side. The driver was not injured in the crash; a seat belt was in use.

Theft by Unlawful Taking: On November 4th between noon and 3 pm, a Friendsville woman reported, jewelry went missing from her residence. Several persons or family members visited the victim's home during the given time frame. There were no signs of physical entry or reported damage. The jewelry had an estimated value of $8,325.00.

Identity Theft: The social security number of a Brackey man was stolen. An unlawful income tax file was involved.

Runaway/Missing Person: On April 9th at 5:00 pm a 17 year old female left her residence on foot and traveled west of a road in New Milford township. She was described as a white female with blonde hair. The report gave further description. The girl was located.

Harassment: On April 8th at 3:54 a 25 year old Montrose man and a 23 year old Lawton female began arguing. During the argument, the man is accused of damaging the woman's phone by throwing it. He also threatened physical violence against the woman. Criminal Mischief and Harassment charges were filed in District Court 34-3-01.

Theft: On April 5th at 8:00 am approximately 200 Seroquel pills and 15 Adderall pills were stolen from the residence of a Springville woman. No forced entry was observed.

Theft: On April 2nd a 99-01 Honda 400 EX, red and blue in color, was removed from the back of a Great Bend township man.

Burglary: On April 7th between 9:15 and 11:00 am, the home of a Liberty Township was entered. The perpetrator(s) proceeded to ransack a bedroom, throwing numerous items outside the residence. The investigation was ongoing as of the time of report.

Crash: On April 5th at 9:45 pm Steven Boyer of Binghamton was traveling north in Silver Lake Township when he lost control of the vehicle on the snow covered roadway, slid off the east shoulder and struck a utility pole. Seatbelts were in use; no injuries were sustained.

Criminal Mischief: Between the 3rd and 6th of April, rent-a-johns in Harford were struck with a vehicle. The rent-a-johns were damaged.

Theft by Deception: On April 3rd at 6 pm a Hallstead Borough man fell victim to a Craige's List scam.

Burglary: On March 3rd between 9 am and 1 pm, a Lenox Township residence had the front door kicked in, after which the residence was entered.

Criminal Mischief: Between the 2nd and 3rd of April, one or more unknown perpetrator(s) drained approximately 80 gallons of fuel from a bulldozer in Harford township, causing damage to the environment.

If you have information regarding any of these incidents please contact the police at 570-465-3154.

BENCH WARRANTS

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 10:45 a.m. on April 10, 2015: Shawn J. Bedford, Allen S. Bowman, Michael J. Burger, Michael J. Calby, Brian N. Carter, Anthony M. Choplosky, Tina M. Clark, Ronald S. Cook, Benjamin D. Fassett, Jonathan Fathi, David J. Fischer, Justin T. Giberson, Charles R. Groover, Jeremy W. Hall, Timothy M. Holmes, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Derrick Lezinsky, Daniel M. Mangin, Matthew J. Peters, Vincent J. Petriello, Veronica D. Phelps, Desiree L. Shifler, Tessa E. Thomas, Kurtis Tracy, Steven G. Warner, Kevin H. Welch, Kyle D. Wilbur, Jamie L. Williams, Sr., Please contact the Domestic Relations Section at 570-278-4600 ext. 4050 with any information on the location of these individuals.

DEEDS

Matthew W. & Alexis A. Leonard to Eric M. & Savannah R. Mallery, in Apolacon Twp., for $152,500.00.

Matthew F. & Stacy F. Merrell to Gary J. Sienko & Kylee Kelley, in Hallstead Boro, for $99,000.00.

Lillian W. Jayne to Lillian W., Allan Rodney, Franz Robert & Timothy Allen Jayne, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.

Joan M. Seeley to James T. Seeley, in Ararat Twp., for $1.00.

Joan M. Seeley to Joyce S. Vanschooneveld, in Ararat Twp., for $1.00.

Jean, Gary E. & Kimberly Mundy to Gary E. & Kimberly Mundy, in Harford & Gibson Twp., for $1.00.

Jason & Erin Lynady to Erin Lynady, in Clifford Twp., for $1.00.

John Reynen to Reynen Revocable Trust, in Harford Twp., for $1.00.

Sylvia Beamer to Jesse Jake, in Susquehanna, for $43,000.00.

Edward & Rebecca Grasavage to Delta Gas & Oil LLC, in Jessup Twp., for $1.00.

Willard T. & Patricia A. Bennett to P & 3 BS Bennett Family Limited Partnership, in Gibson Twp., for $1.00.

Jennifer Kellett-Moore (aka) Jennifer Kellett Moore to Moore Susquehanna Farm Trust., in Middletown Twp., for $10.00.

Ellen Thornton Staerk to Mark & Michelle Gregorio, in Jackson Twp., for $126,000.00.

Lewene A. Terry to Lewene A. Terry (trust) & William L. Terry Sr. (trust), in Little Meadows Borough, for $1.00.

Mark Butler & Michelle M. Groshong Butler (aka) Michelle M. Groshong-Butler to Mark Butler & Michelle M. Groshong Butler (aka) Michelle M. Groshong-Butler, in Bridgewater Twp., for $1.00.

Faye J. Wade to Faye J. Wade, in Auburn Twp., for $1.00.Mark & Nicole Shiffer to Devon Kobbe, in Clifford Twp., for $80,000.

Edmund Piasecki Jr. (aka) Edmund P. Piasecki Jr. to Edmund Piasecki Jr., Edmund J. Piasecki III and Mary Piasecki, in Lenox Twp., for $1.00.

Thomas I. & Cynthia L. Moore to Jack & Nicole Bolyard, in Rush Twp., for $85,000.00.

Stephanie A. Martinez (fka) Stephanie A. Ralston to Stephanie A. & Daniel Martinez, in New Milford Borough, for $1.00.

Michael R. & Susan J. Crandall to Susan J. Crandall, in Gibson Twp., for $1.00.

William Wood (aka) William H. Wood, Elaine Wood (aka) Elaine M. Wood to Martin T. Petroski, Jr., in Gibson Twp., for $75,000.00.

April L. & David E. Harvey to Nathan Engle, in Liberty Twp., for $1.00.

William & Dolores Skoronski to James B. Mitchell III & Leigh Mitchell, in Hallstead Borough, for $124,900.00.

Society of the Annunciation of the Lord to Diocese of Newton for Melkites in the USA Inc., in Middletown Twp., for $10,000.00.

Anthony G. & Margaret C. Lotempio to Jamie Ray Granger & Vicki J. Cook, in Rush Twp., for $147,000.00.

Joseph A. Sturchio (aka) Joe Sturchio to James & Donna Ritz, in Lathrop Twp., for $2,200.00.

Old Stone House Road Farm LLC (fka) George W. & Marie M. Bolcato LLC to Old Stone House Road Farm LLC, in Gibson Twp., for $0.00.

Brighter Horizons LLC to Peter & Laura Tuite, in Oakland Twp., for $29,200.00.

Mark, Jennifer, Brian, Diane, Matthew & Bree Zappe, Teri & Michael Beckage to Hermann F. Zappe, in Harford Twp., for $1.00.

Raptor Resources LLC to Holzer Family 2004 Trust, in Bridgewater Twp., for $10.00.

Paul & Linda L. Kupchick to Haskell Joseph & Lyubov Sergeyevna Thompson, in Jackson Twp., for $267,500.00.

Paul C. Newcomer to Lee R. & Yvonne T. Lord, in Great Bend Twp., for $29,000.00.

Frances L. Flynn (tadba), Brett W. Flynn (tadba), Christel D. Flynns (tadba), Flynns Stone Castle to Flynns Stone Castle Inc., in Rush Twp., for $1.00.

Freida S. Hall (aka) Freida Stein Hall to Freida S. Hall (aka) Freida Stein Hall, Eric A. Hall & Sherry B. Hall, in Silver Lake Twp., for $1.00.

Jacqueline L. Cook & Arthur G. Starks Jr. to Mark A. Mead, in Bridgewater Twp., for $18,000.00.

Glenn M. Aldrich (estate aka) Glen M. Aldrich (estate) to Ronald & Wendy Vanteger, in Hallstead Borough, for $47,000.00.

John F. Young Sr., Mary L. Young, Jeffrey G. Young & Julie A. Young to Robert Loiodice, in Choconut Twp., for $218,000.00.

Kay & Donnie R. Butler to Kay Butler (trust), in Harford Twp., for $1.00.

Dorothy Turner to Dorothy Turner, in Liberty & Silver Lake Townships, for $1.00.

James E. Savage & Teresa A. Forys Savage to EMK Resources LLC, in Friendsville Borough, for $325,000.00.

David & Susan Eddleston to Joseph S. Bobinis, Pamela A Millus-Bobinis (aka) Pamela A. Millus Bobinis, in Great Bend Twp., for $335,000.00.

Laurel L. & John Brabson to Brookfield Global Relocation Services LLC, in New Milford Twp., for $122,500.00.

Brookfield Global Relocation Services LLC to David & Kelly G. Young, for $122,500.00.

Sharla B. Lewis to Randy K. Lewis, in Franklin Twp., for $1.00.