Katrina Covin-Stilts the marketing representative for Leatherstocking spoke with the New Milford Borough Council during their meeting on May 7th.  Ms. Covin-Stilts informed the Council the mapping of the Borough by DDS is nearly completed, and they should be receiving it shortly.  Terri Gulick said what was scary is that she has been hearing a lot of complaints about the delivery charges, that they were very steep.  Ms. Covin-Stilts informed the Council members the gas company is a regulated utility and they have to break down the charges, unlike oil companies that charge one price and the other charges are hidden.  Gas companies are not permitted to make more than a 10% profit on gas, but they do make money on the delivery fee.  She will be back next month for the June meeting, which will be held on the 4th.

Code Enforcement Officer, Gregory Scheer presented an activities log to Council to review.  Mr. Scheer stated there were violations going out, and several violations rectified.  Rick Ainey asked what was accomplished so far on the website proposal including fees that were requested by Council to build.  Mr. Scheer said it would cost approximately $750 - $1,250 to build the site since it depends on what Council would like to have on the site.  He will send Council members links to other websites he has built so they can get an idea of what they want.  Mr. Scheer said it would be a collaborative effort to build the site.

Terri Gulick over the last three months has been introducing herself at various Borough and Township meetings trying to gain support for the upcoming election.  Terri stated she has worked for 16 years in the Assessment office doing the mapping, and has worked closely with other offices in the Courthouse.  She is now running for Register/Recorder and she is humbly asking for Council’s support.  Council members wished her luck.

Mayor Scott Smith spoke with a representative from Southwestern Energy and they informed him they would not, will not, and have not ever drilled under a Borough.  Southwestern said they would need 100% of the Borough to be signed up before they would even consider it. They may syphon gas from under the land, but not drill on it.

Vice President Larry White provided an update on the Street Department.  They rented a street sweeper from Down to Earth and started on Monday, May 4th sweeping the streets in the Borough.  The sweeper worked excellent and the residents are very happy.  Larry said the new truck has been ordered and a possible delivery time would be the end of August.  Larry would like to use the red barn owned by the fire company for storage.  Council gave approval for him to contact the fire company, and arrange some type of mutual agreement.

Two people have applied for the position of Pool Manager.  Council has accepted the recommendation of the Recreation Board, to hire Amy Conrad for the position.

Council discussed for several minutes the type of trashcans that could be purchased to put around town replacing the existing ones that are in bad shape.  The cost for metal trashcans is approximately $900.00 each, which is a steep price, and Council is afraid they would be stolen to sell for scrap.  Another option is to purchase a heavy-duty plastic container, which may or may not hold up to the wear and tear.  Council decided to purchase 4 black plastic trash containers initially and see how well they hold up before purchasing any more.

The Blue Ridge School Board covered a lot of ground at its business meeting on May 4th, spending lots of money on roof repairs, clearing up a lot of year-end arrangements and preparing for the next, and hiring a new Business Manager.

The evening opened early, however, with a meeting of Michael Detwiler’s Policy Committee, dominated, of course, by Board President Laurie Brown-Bonner, who concentrated the committee’s and the administration’s attention on the student handbooks, which try to follow Board policy. She was concerned about how much fine print might be missed by students and parents. She was concerned by the cell phone policy, and by the policy covering the Pledge of Allegiance. And she was concerned about the accounting for and handling of absences.

The latter evoked a fair amount of wrangling with the school principals. The high school handbook says that a student with an average of 93% or better in, and no more than 10 absences from, a class, may elect to forego the privilege of taking a final examination in that class. By law, students are required to attend 180 days of instruction, with no more than 10 “unexcused” absences. That part is clear enough. At Blue Ridge, teachers track attendance in each class as well; this is reported to parents, but is not charged against the 180-day requirement. It is this class attendance figure that is in question. So the handbook will be amended to clarify that the 10-or-less class absences exclude school-sponsored activities. That, and a few other changes to the handbooks, will come up again, because the Board ultimately voted to table their approval of the handbooks for future consideration.

Before the Board’s business session could get under way, the school principals introduced a number of people in attendance who had achieved something remarkable, or who had supported the schools in a remarkable way.

Danelle Decker, interim Elementary School Principal, first issued certificates to a group of her students to be recognized as Citizens of the Month. The children and their parents were treated to cookies and punch (much of which remained for consumption by others not so honored).

Elementary School Citizens of the Month

Middle/High School Principal Matthew Nebzydoski had a fair stack of resolutions to distribute among some high-achieving students, and some generous supporters.

Mr. Nebz recognized two of his seniors as stand-outs. Karlee Shibley, otherwise occupied for the evening, was recognized for her consistent work with Ms. Jill Hoffman in athletics. Ryan Rogers, a true outdoorsman who is also very adept at woodworking, having helped to craft the bookcase being raffled by the Board’s Fundraising Committee, will participate in a national archery competition in Louisville, Kentucky.

High-achieving senior Ryan Rogers

Kimberly Davenport was recognized for her stewardship of the Raider Reader, and particularly its on-line edition, which has accumulated a number of awards. And student editor Cayli Allen was chosen as Student Journalist of the Year at the Bigler Conference at Wilkes University. Ms. Allen will study music (music criticism?) at Belmont University in Nashville next year.

Raider Reader stalwarts Cayli Allen (left), and faculty mentor Kimberly Davenport

Mr. Nebzydoski then recognized the 5 years that the Montrose Theater has presented free tickets to students named Students of the Month. Kristen Follett accepted the resolution for the Theater.

He also recognized Peoples Security Bank & Trust, represented by Maria Gunn, and the Jesse Osgood Tourje Memorial Fund, represented by Peter Quigg, president of the Community Foundation. The bank has given $10,000 for Project Lead the Way, a national initiative to promote STEM in the public schools. STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – is also the target of a $1,500 grant from the Tourje family through the county Foundation. Mr. Quigg told the Board that the program will be an annual recipient, although the amount awarded each year cannot be predicted. STEM at Blue Ridge will begin with new programs in computer science and software engineering.

Peter Quigg and Maria Gunn representing financial supporters of STEM initiative

Katherine Kempa was recognized for having been selected Regional Leo of the Year by the Lions Club for her consistent and untiring community support activities.

Katherine Kempa, Leo of the Year

Colton Hewitt was introduced as having qualified for national competition sponsored by Skills USA in the unusual but highly valued “sport” of precision heavy equipment operation.

Skilled dozer operator Colton Hewitt

And Laurren Whitney, daughter of Board member Christina Whitney and future veterinarian, was recognized for qualifying for a national competition in the Future Business Leaders of America program, specializing in agribusiness.

Future Business Leader Laurren Whitney

Once the business meeting got under way, the audience dwindled to just 2 or 3 witnesses as the Board approved most of a 29-point agenda in a single vote. Most of the exceptions were to allow various members to abstain on items with which they have a personal or family interest. For example, Harold Empett accepted his renomination as Board Treasurer (the only Board position that pays a salary -- $1,500 per year), and then voted for himself and his $15,000 bond.

Among other more routine items covered were:

• Agreement with Donna Brink (Tier Occupational Therapy Services) for supplemental occupational therapy as needed for next year at a rate of $75 per hour.
  
  
• Price schedules for software services from Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit for next year. The services provided cover fund accounting, personnel and payroll, for a minimum cost of about $4,500 per year.
  
  
• Agreement with Government Software Services for tax collection support at a cost of about 20 cents for each real-estate tax bill processed.
  
  
• Agreement with Blue Ridge Medical Center for medical support services at $125 per hour, including consultations and regular physical exams.
  
  
• Approved requests from 3 students for financial assistance to attend People to People events in Europe this summer. The Board allocates $1,500 per year for this purpose, to be divided among students who apply. The Board asked that the one student whose parent submitted the request be required to re-submit the request herself.
  
  
• Approved an invoice from Premier, part of School Specialty of Wisconsin for planners/agendas for the next school year at a total cost of some $7,000.
  
  
• Accepted a bid from RGM Hardwoods to supply woodchips for heating for next year at a price of $40 per ton, delivered.
  
  
• Approved bids by Sanico, Pennsylvania Paper & Supply, LJC Distributors and Share Corp. to provide custodial supplies for the next school year for a total cost of just over $21,000.
  
  
• Accepted bids from a number of vendors for athletic supplies for the next school year for a total value of over $22,000.
  
  
• Approved the nomination of Sweet, Stevens, Katz and Williams to continue as school solicitors for the next fiscal year.

The Board also accepted a proposal from Tremco, a national firm based in Ohio, to complete work to repair the gravel roofing on the campus buildings to extend their warranty for another 5 years. The bid proposal comes in at $328,809. The work will allow the District another 5 years to complete the renovation of the roofing systems. Tremco generally contracts with more local firms to actually carry out the work.

Overseeing a lot of this will be Blue Ridge’s new Business Manager, Brian Dolan of Scranton. He was the Board’s final choice after many months of twists and turns. When Loren Small left a year and a half ago under mysterious circumstances, the Board has been in a quandary about how to carry out the business functions of a school district that spends some $17 million per year under a heavy load of legal and regulatory challenges. At first Penny Greene was slotted into the position, and the Board approved an open-ended arrangement with the Susquehanna Community School District to help out as needed. Then the Board considered joining the Instructional Unit in sharing the services of a business manager with other districts. In the end it seems they decided they couldn’t do without one of their own. Mr. Dolan will officially begin his new job on June 1, but the Board will pay him for 5 days in May to get up to speed.

New Business Manager Brian Dolan

The Blue Ridge Board will continue to debate the issues presented by dress codes, use of cell phones, how to figure attendance, and a number of other knotty problems presented by the publication of the school handbooks for the coming school year. They will continue the debate next at a workshop on Monday, May 26, 2015, beginning at 7:00pm. All meetings are held in the cafeteria in the Elementary School. The food is usually better at the workshops.

And you won’t want to miss the next Concert in the Park featuring The Bands of Blue Ridge, at the midtown park in New Milford, on Wednesday, May 20th, beginning at 6:30pm. Bring a lawn chair. The weather is guaranteed to be perfect.

What’s a political party? How many do we have in Pennsylvania? Most readers likely think they have a good grasp of the answers to both, but the truth might surprise some. For all practical purposes Pennsylvania is a duopoly: the party with the highest number of votes and the party with the second highest number of votes. All other “parties” are defined as “political bodies” except in rare circumstances--situations most uncommon in PA politics.

Because the Democratic and Republican parties make up the binary political universe in our state, they are tasked with responsibilities and conferred with privileges like no others. Embedded within the PA Election Code Section 2834 are four key provisions: (1) The State committee of each party MAY make rules for governance of the party; (2) Such rules may NOT be inconsistent with law; (3) Such rules may be changed at any time so long as they are NOT inconsistent with law; and (4) No rules or changes to rules shall be effective until a certified copy is filed in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. So far so good.

Election Code Section 2837 reflects the same principles as those governing the State committee, except it does so on the county level, and in so doing localizes administrative responsibilities. In doing this, it requires that if any County committee makes rules they shall not only be NOT inconsistent with state law, but also NOT inconsistent with State rules. Furthermore, rules changes can be made at any time, but rules or changes to rules shall not be effective until a certified copy is filed in the office of the county board of election.

There’s an elegant symmetry here, with the Parties’ State rules and County rules subordinate to and not in conflict with State Law. Both State and County rules are required to be on file at offices designated by law and have attached to them certification. A County Committee IS an extension of its respective State Committee and cannot exist or operate without the State Party’s approval, i.e., the County Committee is a subdivision of the State Party. Approval is formally and legally conveyed by the State Party’s certification of County Committee’s rules prior to filing with the county board of elections.

The foregoing is dry reading for anyone not a political junkie, but it’s a prerequisite for comprehension of the story that follows. We have our very own duopoly here in Susquehanna County, but it would appear that one party’s leadership is playing by rules that look very different from the other‘s. Readers may judge for themselves.

On April 14, 2015, I submitted a Right-To-Know (RTK) request to Susquehanna County, asking for “a copy of the State Republican Party Certification attached to Susquehanna County Republican Committee Rules of March 2015, on file with the County Board of Election.” The county’s reply, dated April 22nd, is as follows, “Your request has been reviewed and has been denied. The reason for said denial is that there are no records responsive to your request.” The reply was signed by R.S. Stoud, Open-Records Officer. In other words, there is NO certification attached to the Republican County Committee Rules, as required by PA Election Code, as of this date.

Susquehanna County Committee Democratic Rules DO have attached to them the required certification from the State Democratic Party, so there is nothing more to be said about the Democratic Party. The rest of this saga pertains solely to the Republican Party.

Some members, and the leadership, of the Susquehanna County Republican Committee (SCRC) realized by early 2014 that SCRC Rules, dating from 2007, were out-of-date. Republican Party State Rules had been re-written at least twice since 2007, with the 2012 version in force in 2014 and still in effect to this day. Coincidentally, the Republican Chairwoman in 2007 is the same Republican Chairwoman of today.

This same Chairwoman made by-law revision a priority on her agenda, and appointed a by-law committee to perform the rewrite over the fall and winter. On March 12, 2015, the rewritten by-laws were voted on by the SCRC and received approval by a vote of 21-1. Minutes from that meeting, recorded by Nancy L. Narma, include this statement, “A motion was made by John Kameen to accept the revised By-laws with the knowledge that the By-laws will take effect after the By-Law Committee has signed off on them, and copies are filed with the Voter Registration Office, State Committee Atty. Lawrence Tabas, and Executive Director Bob Bozzuto.”

So here we have it, according to the motion made on March 12, 2015, required approvals must occur before the filing of the new by-laws with the Voter Registration Office (agent for the county board of election). First, the By-Law Committee had to sign off on the new by-laws. Second, State Attorney Lawrence Tabas had to review them. The motion also notes necessary filing with Executive Director Bob Bozzuto. These contingent requirements are only partially correct. While Attorney Lawrence Tabas would have to review the new by-laws, he would only do so at the request of Cody Harbaugh, Republican Political Director, if there were any problems. This procedure was confirmed by a phone conversation with Executive Assistant Salli Hironimus.

With a vote of 21-1, it should be apparent that no quorum even existed for the county committee to officially meet, let alone pass new by-laws. Is it not instructive that a number of committeemen had read the proposed by-laws, voiced objections, and absented themselves from the meeting to prevent any chance of revision passage? In every organization of any respectability, a quorum consists of at least 50% plus 1 of the membership present. Such a number did not exist at the March 12 meeting. It follows that the County Committee was not, therefore, empowered to enact the proposed by-law revisions.

Among the members of the SCRC not present for the meeting of March 12th, were a number concerned about inconsistent provisions to be enshrined in what are the by-laws now on file at the county board of election. Four members composed a letter extensively detailing structural inconsistencies institutionalized within the framework of the new Susquehanna County Committee Bylaws. That letter, dated March 18th, provided thorough in-dept analysis of the county party’s misaligned rules per the principles enshrined in State Party Rules. The letter was mailed to nine senior officials in the State Republican Party, including Lawrence Tabas, Ryan Stevens, Bob Bozzuto, and Cody Harbaugh. Silence was their response, except for one--who only responded by letter after numerous attempts to contact him by phone were unsuccessful.

Bob Bozzuto wrote, in a letter dated April 8, 2015, “The proposed bylaws of the Susquehanna County Republican Committee were submitted to the Republican Party of Pennsylvania prior to their approval. The bylaws were deemed consistent with the ‘Rules and Bylaws of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.’ The issues mentioned in the letter are local procedural items, and they are in no way inconsistent with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws. The Susquehanna County bylaws have been filed with the State Party since their most recent passage fulfilling the requirement.”

Now, Bob Bozzuto’s full-throated endorsement of the newly-passed SCRC bylaws might satisfy most people, but curiosity always gets the better of some. For example, if SCRC bylaws are deemed consistent with the State Party’s Rules, how does one square the outright contradictions between documents? SCRC bylaws should be reflective of the principles embodied in the State’s bylaws. They are not. Six specific contradictions of core principles were extensively highlighted. Yet Mr. Bozzuto brushed them aside with a broad, sweeping, and fully dismissive statement. Purposeful contradiction of State bylaw principles are so obvious in the SCRC bylaws that, for just one example, either the Chairwoman or Vice-Chairwoman would be required to resign if further truth were told.

Mr. Bozzuto makes neither comment upon the State Party’s responsibility for providing certification to the County Party that their by-laws are consistent with State Party Rules and State Law, nor does he provide a copy of the certifying document showing that the State Party has made such an official determination. He mentions no rigorous review of the enclosed exhibits and the lengthy discussions of the obvious harm these provisions inflict on the principles implicit in a republican form of government.

Mr. Bozzuto never explains how the newly invented rule of the SCRC concerning what constitutes a quorum comports with the State Party Rule on the same subject. The State requires 50% plus 1 be present to conduct official business; the new SCRC rule creates a “legal fiction” in that the new it rationalizes whenever “one-third plus one of the municipalities” of the county have a committeeman present for any called meeting, a quorum exists. By what alchemy do municipalities have anything to do with formation of a quorum in an elective representative body?

Mr. Bozzuto seems to think the SCRC has fulfilled the requirement to file their most recent bylaws with the State Party, but he never explains or acknowledges the SCRC’s additional obligation to supply the State Party with the names and addresses of members of the SCRC (including new appointees), the State Party’s obligation to provide certification that SCRC bylaws are consistent with the State Party, and that that certification from the Party be on file attached to the bylaws in the office of the county board of election.

Mr. Bozzuto never seems to take seriously the objections voiced by committeemen awake enough to recognize that much has gone awry in the county party, and that the State Party has a role here to restore order by way of requiring the county party align to the principles established by the State Party.

Here’s the bottom line. The State GOP is either grossly incompetent or providing cover for the SCRC. The County Republican Party did not have certification attached to their newly-revised bylaws on file with the county board of election on April 22nd. Do they now? And if they do, or ever do, will it ever matter? Is our county board of election asleep at the wheel? Does the State Party care so little about Susquehanna County that it cannot take the time to address serious departures from the State Party’s standards?

The sad fact is that most state-wide races are called before a single vote is counted in Susquehanna County. Perhaps the State Party considers Susquehanna County Republicans so inconsequential that they have no time to address issues of importance here.

The County Republican Party did indeed make changes to their bylaws, but the revisions were not for the better. Did the revisions increase transparency? Did they increase accountability? Did they accord with State law and State Party rules? I think not. Worst of all, the revisions tend only to aggregate power into a few offices, while weakening the role of committeemen, and reducing further any accountability to Republican electors at the precinct level. Susquehanna County Republicans deserve better of their party. All residents of this county deserve better and should make their voices heard. Primary Election Day is May 19th; the Municipal Election is November 3rd. Voters may wish to carefully consider their options and vote accordingly.

Lying some 10 miles east of Susquehanna, and abutting the county line, is the vast expanse of Starrucca Borough, Northeastern Pennsylvania’s largest borough, land-wise. Beneath its friendly, even idyllic exterior, lurks a not-so-well-hidden reality quite unattractive. The borough’s monthly meeting is well attended, not because of comity, but polarization.

Whose bridges? Whose roads? What boundaries? And most of all, whose truth and at what cost to taxpayers will truth be established, or imposed? These are the weighty issues which have dominated the borough’s council and a vocal contingent of residents who have a stake in the matters taken for granted elsewhere.

Starrucca borough meets on the first Monday of each month. Its April 6th and May 4th meetings were filled with not inconsiderable tension. All borough council members were present for the April meeting. Council President Jack Downton called the May meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. with council members Paul Everett, Barbara Glover, Arthur Kopp, and Jason Heeman. Also present was Mayor Mary Ann DeBalko and Secretary/Treasurer Pattie Smith. Councilmen Robert Weldy and Louis Gurske were absent.

The pledge of allegiance marked a rare moment of unity. But approval of council’s April minutes quickly morphed into a matter of contention as a motion concerning state bridges needed adjustment. Councilman Kopp further suggested that President Downton delineate the names of the state bridges so there could be no mistaking those to which the motion pertained. President Downton would have none of it and insisted that that would make it an entirely new motion—and the minutes were not open for retroactive change by inclusion of an entirely new motion. Councilman Kopp didn’t see it that way, but no one else had an appetite to oppose, so in the end the President’s position prevailed. Additional adjustments were included for listing bidders and the amounts of their bids in the April minutes.

After April meeting minutes were agreed upon, Ms. Smith presented the Treasurer’s Report. Notable details included mention of the borough’s general fund balance on hand at the end of April: $15,688. The balance on the borough’s bridge loan is $18,811, with next payment due in June. Mention of this item evoked verbal jabs from the audience directed at President Downton, who immediately responded, “Just because we’re paying for it doesn’t mean we own it?”

Moving on, Secretary Smith announced that she was now the borough’s Flood Plan Administrator . . . at a cost of $25.00. Her assumption of duties and title came about by accident, but she played the role of good sport and said she was willing to do it as no one else was available. The $25 cost came into play because she attended mandatory training, though she made clear she was not seeking reimbursement for the registration fee/expense.

The next person to be heard was Kristen Potter. Mrs. Potter is deputy tax collector to her husband who is the borough’s elected tax collector. She informed council of a recently mandated continuing education requirement, six credit hours/$35 per credit hour, for a total of $210 per tax collector. She inquired as to the borough’s willingness to help meet the cost. Council was caught by surprise and after a short discussion decided to table the matter while making further investigation.

Darl Haynes spoke next. He asked council to publicly read his most recent letter to the borough. After some wrangling back and forth, President Downton permitted Secretary Smith to do so. Mr. Haynes’ letter questioned council’s opacity concerning his previous letters which were routinely not read aloud or addressed by council. Mr. Haynes had presented a letter to council at April’s meeting, but as it was not listed on the agenda and had not been received by the secretary by 3 p.m. on the Friday before, President Downton had not permitted it to be read at April’s meeting.

President Downton permitted Secretary Smith to read aloud Mr. Haynes’ April 6, 2015 letter at this meeting. It is herewith quoted at length:

“We [Darwin & Darl Haynes] sent you letters for December 2014 and January 2015 Council meetings requesting Kellogg Road be maintained the entire length of about 1 mile. To date no action or response has been taken. We are working to make improvements at the 201 Kellogg Road address established by the Wayne County Dept. of Planning/GIS as a dwelling has been purchased. Once again we are requesting Kellogg Road be maintained and any other necessary work the entire length of about 1 mile. . .

Starrucca Borough received liquid fuels in 2010 [for] the full length (1 mile) of Kellogg Road. If lack of money is an issue they could consider reinstating this liquid fuels. Also the money used for attorney fees could be used for road maintenance. Since 2011 through 2015 the liquid fuels lost on Kellogg Road is about $9,000 and attorney fees for the last 2 and half years is about $20,000. Thank you for immediate attention to maintain Kellogg Road.”

Attached to the above letter were four supporting documents. All lent support to the Haynes brothers’ position, most pointedly the Court Order of December 10, 2013, having the effect of blocking the borough from vacating Kellogg Road. The heart of the matter is that a majority on Starrucca’s Borough Council see (or wish) the borough’s boundaries to be “less than” that which they were traditionally understood to be.

It may sound like a minor matter, but it’s been a bone of contention for at least five years, and the stakes are bigger than one might think at first glance. For residents, or future residents of Kellogg Road, there is certainly much at stake. Taxes (local and school district), road maintenance, school district assignment, and jurisdictional control/ responsibility are all on the line.

The Haynes v. Starrucca Borough court case continues in litigation because the borough is dissatisfied with the ruling favorable to the Haynes family. Starrucca Borough had also brought a court case against adjoining Scott Township. Wayne County President Judge Raymond L. Hamill was unimpressed by Starrucca Borough’s case to sanction establishment of boundary lines so as to locate part of Kellogg Road in Scott Township. While Judge Hamill dismissed Starrucca’s case without prejudice, the borough is free to seek administrative remedies to the point of exhaustion.

What has all this litigation cost Starrucca taxpayers? According to the borough’s audit reports for the last two full years, $6,395 was spent on legal services in 2013 and $6,692 in 2014. Obviously the bill for 2015 hasn’t been tallied yet, but it appears to at least be on track with previous years.

Darwin and Darl Haynes are of the opinion that a personal vendetta is going on here; President Downton claims not. Councilman Kopp offered a motion in January of 2015 “to reinstate liquid fuel money to use on the portion that was de-obligated on Kellogg Road,” but the motion died for lack of a second. At the May 4 meeting, Mr. Kopp motioned for “Starrucca Borough to maintain Kellogg Road to the currently recognized Scott Township line.” This too died for lack of a motion to second.

At 7:45 p.m. Council went into Executive Session to discuss sundry and inter-related legal issues: vacation of Kellogg Road, Scott Township/Starrucca Borough boundary maps, and the case of Haynes v. Starrucca Borough. At 8:30 p.m. Council returned to regular order. President Downton announced that the Borough’s lawsuit against Scott Township “was over.”

The second decision arising out of executive session discussions was a motion by Councilman Everett, seconded by Councilwoman Glover, and passed by council. This motion committed council “to pursue overturning the stay which obstructs the borough from vacating Kellogg Road.” In other words, the case of Haynes v. Starrucca will continue at the borough’s insistence. No estimate of further legal costs to Starrucca taxpayers was made.

Before adjourning at 8:34, Councilman Kopp reported he had found a small hole in the borough building’s roof. He volunteered to check further and to make repairs, as necessary. Council rightly applauded his efforts on the borough’s behalf.

Within Starrucca Borough reside only 162 people, a tiny population disproportionate to such a vast land mass. In a locale where everyone has the capacity to know everyone else one might think there would be more comity and sense of community amongst neighbors. “What’s the matter with Starrucca” will resume center-stage on the first Monday in June.

Alex Komar, Township Supervisor announced during the May 5th meeting that the new SV212 Case Vibratory Roller would be delivered the next day.  The Township Supervisors purchased the Case Roller for $108,000, which includes heat and air conditioning in the cab.  Alex stated Case proposed the best service package for 5 years, and a 5-year warranty.  They looked at the John Deere, JCB and Caterpillar equipment but ultimately decided to purchase the Case roller.

Road material went out to bid and the closed bids were opened during the meeting.  The bids came in from Bill Pykus Excavating Inc., E.R. Linde Construction, Lopke Quarries, Inc., Eastern Industries, and Cottrell Excavating Co. LLC.  Once the bids were opened and reviewed by Alex Komar, Susan Jenkins, and Rick Wadman the following determination was made by motion and acceptance.  Cottrell’s bid for black cinders; Lopke Quarries bid for ½ minus material; 2B stone bid from Linde; 2A stone bid from Linde and Pykus; 2RC stone from Linde and Pykus; #3 stone bid from Linde and Pykus; 3 minus from Pykus were all accepted.  

Alex stated the Thompson Fire Company was selling their 1993 tanker truck, which has a stainless steel container, hoses, sprayer, and a pump with a rebuilt engine with only 40,000 miles at a price of $12,000.00.  This could be used to apply liquid calcium to the roads instead of using the calcium-powdered flakes.  The liquid calcium works just as well to contain the dust of the dirt roads, and can be purchased at a better price.  Susan Jenkins motioned to purchase the truck, Alex 2nd the motion.  Motion passed.

Susan Jenkins attended a meeting which supplied information to homeowners that have small lots and have to worry about their septic system.  The company is called Pennvest Homeowner Septic Program and they offer 20-year loans at 1.75% for sums of $15,000 and $25,000.

Thompson Borough secretary responded to a letter regarding the hazardous conditions of the roads during the snow this past winter season that was penned to the Borough.  The Borough wanted to assure the Township that the contracted service was being monitored.  They assured the Township that they had the best interests of the people in mind, and they reminded the drivers to use caution on snowy roads.

EDITORS NOTE: These reports are taken directly from the Gibson State Police Barracks Blotter. Anyone having an issue with how they are worded is advised to visit the Barracks and inspect same before complaining about contents.

Criminal Mischief:  On May 8th at 1:30 am the tires of New Milford man were slashed in Lenox Township.  Anyone with information is asked to please call the police. 

Criminal Mischief:  Between May 5th and 6th a criminal mischief incident occurred in Bridgewater Township in which four tires and a brake line were damaged on the vehicle of a Montrose man, while it was parked in his driveway.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police. 

Crash:  On May 7th at 3:52 pm Javier Moran of Dimock was traveling east on SR 706 in Rush Township when Cheyenne Learn of Laceyville pulled out from SR 267 onto SR 706 without it being safe to do so.  Moran struck Learn's vehicle in the left front.  Learn had an injury.  Moran was not injured;  he was listed as using a seat belt. Rush fire and EMS responded to the scene.  Jack Williams garage towed Learn's vehicle. 

Crash:  On May 7th at 3:48 pm Apurva Jhaveri of New Brunswick, Nj was traveling north on I81 near MM 222.4 when he fell asleep, crossed into the passing lane, and woke up as his vehicle was entering the median.  The vehicle went into the median with its right side first, before it tipped onto its right side coming to its final uncontrolled rest area.  There were minor injuries;  seat belts were in use.  New Milford Fire and EMS responded along with Montrose EMS.  Marv's towed the vehicle from the scene. 

Crash:  On May 2nd at 12:52 am Donald Holdridge of Kingsley was traveling north on SR 2073 in Lenox Township when his vehicle failed to negotiate a left curve in the roadway.  It drifted to its right, crossing the white fog line and brushing a guide rail.  The Dodge Ram then crossed both lanes and rolled over onto its passenger side.  It sustained disabling damage as a result of the crash.  The driver was wearing his seat belt and was not injured as a result of the crash.  The vehicle was towed from the scene by Kozlowski's Towing.  Police were assisted on the scene by Harford Fire/EMS. 

Crash:  On May 4th at 4:56 pm Geena Bistocchi of New Milford was traveling westbound on High School Road in Bridgewater Township, and was negotiating a left turn.  In the center of the curve the vehicle exited off the north side of the roadway and struck a tree on the side of the road with the front driver side.  The vehicle sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene.  Bistocchi was taken to the hospital by her parents for her injuries sustained in the crash; a seat belt was in use. 

Scattering Rubbish:  On May 6th at 8:35 am unknown perpetrator(s) left bags of garbage on Stevens Point Road in Harmony Township.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police. 

CSDDCA:  On May 1st at 11:53 pm , following a traffic stop in New Milford Borough in which the accused was a passenger, Brian Balmer of Montrose had a small amount of suspected marijuana and a white pipe containing suspected marijuana on his person.  Charges were filed in District Court 34-3-02.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact PSP Gibson at 570-465-3154. 

Crash:  On May 2nd at an unlisted time, Robert Bullis Jr. of Deposit was traveling north on SR 171 when his vehicle swerved to the right to avoid a deer in the roadway, causing him to lost control of his vehicle.  The vehicle began to fishtail and traveled off the right side of the road into a field.  Upon traveling into the field, it rolled over onto its roof.  Bullis sustained minor injuries;  a seat belt was in use.  The vehicle was removed form the scene by French's Towing. Police were assisted at the scene by Thompson F.D. and EMS, Susquehanna Borough P.D., and French's Towing. 

Fugitive from Justice:  On May 1st at approximately 4:15 pm PSP-Gibson received the following information from Cortland, New York.  A kidnapping occurred in Cortland, New York where a four (4) year old boy was abducted by his biological father.  The boy was in foster care through the Cortland County Department of Social Services and his father was on a supervised visitation.  They further provided that the dad may be traveling south on I-81 in a silver Nissan Frontier bearing Florida registration 191-YTL.  Cortland Police Department issued an Amber Alert.  PSP Gibson members observed the vehicle traveling south on I-81 near mile marker 209, Lenox Township, Susquehanna county.  A traffic stop was conducted and the accused was taken into custody without incident.  The child was unharmed.  The accused was charged with Arrest Prior to Requisition and arraigned before MDJ Brainard;  bail was set at $150,000 and he was remanded to the Susquehanna County Prison.  The accused faces the following charges in New York:  Custodial Interference in the First Degree, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Harassment. 

Anyone having information regarding any of these incidents is asked to please contact the police at 570-465-3154.