Obtaining permits was the hot topic of discussion at the June 3rd meeting. It was communicated that one of Thompson Township residents is currently building what appears to be a garage, with no apparent permit. Supervisors discussed various ways of informing out of state and local residents that permits are required in the Township. The Township Supervisors issue permits for all structures 1,200 sq. ft. and under that do not have water or electric, such as garages, gazebo’s, sheds, etc. All other permits such as sewer, homes, and all other structures that will have water and electric will be forwarded to JHA by the Township Supervisors. All permit applications are available at the Thompson Township building.

Supervisor Alex Komar suggested a pay increase for one of their workers from $12.00 to $14.00 per hour. Alex stated he reviewed the Township handbook, which states that Thompson Township salaries will be competitive with other townships. He made a few calls and workers in similar positions in surrounding townships had a range of $14.00 to $16.00 an hour. Alex made a motion to increase Clyde Gorton’s hourly rate to $14.00 per hour, Susan Jenkins seconded the motion, which approved unanimously.

The water truck that was purchased from the Thompson Hose Company is currently in use and works great, per Alex. He stated that there is a concentrated product called Sure Save, which comes in a 55-gallon drum for a cost of $880.00. One gallon of this product is mixed with 1,000 gallons of water to keep the dust down on the roads. This is an inexpensive alternative to the calcium chloride flakes, which have been used in the past. With the use of the water truck they are now able to cure the roads, reducing the  amount of dust and save a considerable amount of time and money.

Supervisors discussed the closing off of a section of Bear Swamp road due to PennDOT fixing the bridge located on that road. The fire company is aware of the closure, and will use alternative measures to get to an emergency if one arises.

Contractor Mr. Robinson completed the job installing the metal roof on the Township building and the Supervisors are very pleased with the outcome of the job. They stated Charles Robinson was able to complete the job in four days and worked in a neat and orderly manner.

“If you won’t leave, I will!” Starrucca Borough Council President Jack Downton shouted those words at meeting attendee Darl Haynes. Council members were visibly stunned as President Downton hurriedly gathered his possessions in preparation for departure. For a moment it appeared Council might remain in session and continue the meeting in his absence. But Secretary Pattie Smith murmured, “I don’t feel safe; I’m leaving.” In short order an adjournment motion won passage and the tension-filled meeting broke up amid a swirl of amazement, anger, distrust, and disgust.

How did it come to this? The Monday, June 1st, monthly meeting of Starrucca Borough Council started off routinely with President Downton issuing the call to order at 7 p.m. sharp. Present for the meeting were Council members Paul Everett, Louis Gurske, Barbara Glover, Arthur Kopp, and Jason Heeman, along with Mayor Mary Ann DeBalko. Councilman Robert Weldy was absent.

Council’s first order of business was review and approval of the minutes from last month’s meeting on May 4th. Councilman Kopp questioned the gist and intent of a motion made at the end of that meeting. The minutes reflected that council had approved a motion to inquire of the borough’s solicitor the current status of the case of Haynes v. Starrucca Borough. Mr. Kopp’s understanding of the motion passed on May 4 was that it authorized the borough to “proceed with”--not inquire as to the status of--legal action in the case.

The issue of how the motion should read in the minutes may have seemed like splitting hairs, but the distinction wasn’t lost upon the principals of the case. To “inquire” as to the status insinuates some recent action may have occurred due to institution of legal action; to “proceed” would insinuate that some legal action is imminent on the part of the borough. In any case, discussion ensured and ultimately the minutes were approved with language reflecting a motion to inquire concerning the status of the court case.

The next few minutes proceeded with less controversy. Treasurer Pattie Smith presented the Treasurer’s Report and Bills List. Figures were discussed, followed by Council’s blessing of the Treasurer’s Report, and authorization to make payment of the bills presented. The borough’s General Fund Balance on May 30 stood at $16,112, and Liquid Fuels Account at $11,992. Buck Bridge loan balance stood at $18,811 on May 30, with next payment due in June.

It was the next agenda item, “Persons to be Heard,” which proved to be the last Council would hear this night. First to be heard was Kirk Rhone, inquiring as to whether roads would be graded this year--because they were “really bad.” Specifically mentioned in that category were several roads, including Penn Hill and Leech Creek Roads. President Downton responded with uncertainty--the winter had been worse than expected, the boro didn’t have a lot of money, and he’d have to see what could be done. Mr. Downton added that more would be said later in the meeting concerning Leech Creek Road when that came up on the agenda. On the heels of this road discussion Robert Buck requested application of calcium chloride on roads to keep the dust down.

Speaking next from the audience was Kristen Potter. Her concern was the state of disrepair, entropy, and general unattractiveness of Starrucca Borough Memorial Park. The area, used for Memorial Day observances, was a disgrace in her view of many others. She explained that her daughter had done a number of plantings and provided regular care the year before, all as part of a Girl Scout service project. This year the area was rundown; “Lawnmower-man” had run over two of her daughter’s flower plantings; and the American flag was in a tattered state on Memorial Day. She noted that the Civic Association had since replaced the tattered flag, but she asked if borough council could take action to ensure the area’s upkeep.

President Downton responded by issuing a call for volunteers from those in the audience. Mutters issued from the back benches. Mr. Downton sharply inquired as to what had been said, and after an awkward moment Peter Frank replied with a turn-of-the-tables request for volunteers from borough council. President Downton was not amused and directed Secretary Smith to record that he had requested volunteers from the audience and there was none. A dark mood slowly, but very perceptibly, enveloped the room.

Next to be heard was Ronnie Brownell. Mr. Brownell requested that borough council accept responsibility for maintaining all borough roads and stop trying to change the borough’s boundaries. A raucous back-and-forth ensued between Mr. Downton and Mr. Brownell, with each disputing the other’s knowledge of history, including events occurring as recently as 2007 and 2013. Unable to sway Mr. Brownell, President Downton suddenly focused his fire on a member of the audience. Donald Haynes was sitting in the first row of the audience and had neither offered comment nor asked any question. But President Downton asserted he could prove Mr. Brownell wrong and himself right through questioning Donald Haynes. And with that he directed that his questions and Mr. Haynes’ be recorded in the meeting’s minutes.

As President Downton made this unorthodox maneuver in contravention of Robert‘s Rules of Order, Darl Haynes voiced rejoinders from his chair in the audience furthest from council’s seating. Mr. Downton repeatedly warned Darl Haynes and demanded he leave the meeting. “Come back and make me!” dared Darl. “If you won’t leave, I will!” retorted President Downton. And in a fluid motion he scooped up his possessions in preparation to leave. As he did so, President Downton proclaimed, more than a motioned, that the meeting was adjourned.

Council members, Mayor, and Secretary were momentarily flummoxed. Councilman Kopp said, “Go ahead and leave, Jack.” Secretary Smith was visibly distraught and expressed it pointedly. Then, after a pregnant pause Councilman Kopp questioned if there had been a second, thereby provoking a motion by Councilman Gurske and a second from Councilwoman Glover. Meeting adjourned.

Main agenda items left untouched on Council’s plate included Correspondence, an Executive Session for legal issues, Old Business, New Business, and Public Participation. Among the items left undiscussed under Old Business were these sub-topics: (1) vacation of Kellogg Road - Haynes Stay; (2) Haynes v. Starrucca Borough - case still open; (3) 2007 Borough Boundary Resolution; (4) Leech Creek Road map filed in 2009 - contact PennDot proper liquid fuels allocations; and (5) Notify Preston Township. Readers will have to speculate where Council intends to proceed on the aforementioned items.

This meeting, like those of previous months, made clear that there exists a sharp divergence in views of the past. A present Council faction seems to advance a narrative that another faction (illegitimately, in their view) took advantage of political power to the disadvantage of the borough in times past. The second faction advocates, not without reason or evidence, that the present council is not fulfilling its legal obligations because it harbors an agenda to “set things right” according to what it “knows”, whether provable in court.

For clarification, the “Haynes Stay,” so-called by Starrucca Borough Council is, in fact, a court order issued by Wayne County President Judge Raymond Hamill which prohibits the borough from vacating Kellogg Road, notwithstanding the borough’s previous action to vacate said road. Darl Haynes obtained the stay (Order of the Court) in the Court of Common Pleas on December 10, 2013 in reaction to the borough’s unilateral action to vacate Kellogg Road in contravention of the Commonwealth’s Borough Code.

The next meeting of Starrucca Borough Council is, presumably, to take place at 7 p.m. on the first Monday in July. Fence-mending is badly needed before then; few, if any, see healing on the horizon. Just an opinion, but it may be wise for the borough to have two additional personnel on duty for the next meeting: a skilled parliamentarian and a peace officer/constable.

New Milford Borough Council President Ken Carey announced the pool should be opening on June 15th for the summer season.  The pool manager and the lifeguards are set up, and the chemicals are ordered. The new filtration system is scheduled for installation the morning of the 15th, but the job should be done in time for the opening.

On July 17th the first out of four concerts planned for the pool fundraising effort will be held at the park.   The event will start at 5:30 pm with a chicken barbeque by Pecos Bill, followed with music by Soul Fire starting at 6:30 pm. 

The two parks in town are now spruced up and mulched thanks to the help of the volunteers from Bridgewater Church for their “Don’t go to church Sunday”.  President Carey also thanked Councilman Rick Ainey, Mayor Scott Smith, Karen and Mark.

Katrina Colvin-Stilts presented a copy of the Leatherstocking pipe plans to Council members, and she apologized that it wasn’t the scale size they were looking for.  She assured Council DDS would be providing a larger size in the near future.  Ms. Covin-Stilts gave Council a brochure on gaslights, and informed them not too many companies manufacture them.  The brochure was from Gas-Lite Manufacturing Company, and the pieces are ordered separately per their specifications.  Councilman Rick Ainey questioned if there is anything special they need to do in order for them to install the gaslights.  He stated they would want to do the installation in phases, starting with a few at the park and then finish the process on Main Street.  Ms. Covin-Stilts stated she didn’t know of any special requirements, but Russ Miller would probably have more information for them.  Leatherstocking is trying to contact Blue Ridge School to see if they would be willing to host a vendor fair.  Mayor Scott Smith gave her a person to contact to make that arrangement.

President Carey expressed his sympathy about New Milford’s former Mayor Joe Taylor passing away.  He wants Mr. Taylor’s family to know Council sympathizes with their loss. President Carey went on to say they appreciate all the effort he conducted as Mayor, and it has not been forgotten.  Rick Ainey motioned that Council honor that memory by some memorial directed by the family, whether it be flowers or a donation, approved unanimously. 

The bumper blocks in the park are in terrible shape, and some are missing and need to be replaced reported Vice President Larry White.   Discussion was whether or not to replace the bumper blocks or install a guardrail like it was in the past.  There were pro’s and con’s discussed with both the bumper blocks and a guardrail.  It was finally decided to fix the existing product.

Vice President Larry White stated Quality Roofing Systems completed the work that they were contracted to do and gave the Borough an eight-year warranty on the work.  The front of the building needed structural repairs, which entailed obtaining a permit by COG and repairs to be conducted per their specifications.  Vice President Larry White stated he was satisfied with the work.

New Milford Attorney Robert Klein added the Democratic Party’s District Attorney Nomination to his resume on Thursday, June 4th. Mr. Klein had already garnered the Republican nomination with a 36-vote margin on election night. That machine-count stood up as unassailable. Unlike the Republican Primary, the Democratic Primary had no names printed on the ballot for the D.A. race; all votes on the Democratic side had to be cast by write-in, which made for a hand-count with many variations in the spelling of candidate names.

President Judge Kenneth Seamans reviewed the evidence, studied cumulation motions, and heard testimony before making his rulings.  The final tally in the Democratic Write-in race for D.A. gave Robert Klein a 397-255 margin over candidate Marion O’Malley of Montrose.

Theoretically, Ms. O’Malley could appeal to Commonwealth Court or wage a write-in campaign in the fall.  Practically speaking, Robert Klein sees a clear path to election with both the Republican and Democratic nominations attached to his name on the fall ballot.  Asked for comment after Thursday’s court victory, Mr. Klein modestly commented, “I am pleased with the way the hearing went.”

Susquehanna, Lanesboro, and Oakland borough primary voters endorsed continuity on Tuesday, May 19. Whether candidates’ names were printed on the ballots or write-in votes were necessary, those participating in the Primary Election process apparently knew what they wanted and made it happen.

For Susquehanna Borough, Deborah Anne Zayas, Roy Williams, and Barbara S. Larsen each picked up Democratic Party nominations for three of the four four-year term councilman seats. For the one two-year term councilman seat Dana Rockwell could claim the Democratic nomination with 13 write-in votes. Damion Scales picked up the Democratic Party’s nomination for Constable with 17 write-in votes.

On the Republican side for Susquehanna Borough, no one petitioned to run for any of the four-year term councilman seats, and no Republican reached the 10-vote minimum to pick up any write-in nomination. For the two-year councilman seat Joseph E. Varsik, Jr., was on the ballot and received 46 votes for the Republican nomination. No Republican candidate was nominated for the office of Constable.

Down the road in Lanesboro, Republicans nominated three incumbent councilmen for the four-year terms of office: Dale Rockwell, Dan Boughton, and Ed Arzouian. No Democrats were on the ballot locally and none received sufficient votes for any councilman nomination. With the two-year councilman seat (currently filled by Ed Arzouian) not on the ballot (through oversight), no nomination could be made by either party for that seat. The office of Constable was on the ballot, but no nominations were made by either party’s voters.

Across the river in Oakland, Republicans nominated four incumbent councilmen for another four years in office: Gary Boughton, Eric Page, John Agler, and David Trevarthan. As in Lanesboro, no Democrats were on the ballot locally and none received sufficient votes for a Councilman or Constable nomination. Republican voters made no nomination for the office of Constable.

Voters in the three boroughs will make their final decisions on November 3. Independent and third-party candidates have until August 3 to file nomination papers for any of the aforementioned contests.

One final consideration, write-in winners in the Primary Election are not automatically elevated to placement on the fall ballot. To claim a write-in win, each candidate must formally accept nomination, file required documents, and submit a Statement of Financial Interest with the County Board of Election.

Susquehanna Community School District Director nominations were decided in the May 19 Primary.  For District 1--encompassing Lanesboro, Oakland Borough, and Oakland Township--voters had a chance to vote for two.  Jamie Koziol, cross-filed on both Democratic and Republican ballots, won a double-nomination for one seat.  For the second seat, Ashley Depew won Republican nomination through a write-in campaign.  No candidate had sufficient write-in votes to win the Democratic nomination for the second Region 1 seat.

For Region 2--Wards 1 & 2 of Susquehanna Borough--incumbent school director Martha R. Stanford picked up both Democratic and Republican nominations with near unanimity for the one seat on the ballot.

Region 3--Ararat, Harmony, Thompson Borough, and Thompson Township--results gave double-nominations to incumbents Steven Mark Stanford and Evelyn A. Cottrell.

Independent or third-party candidacies have until close of business on August 3 to file nomination papers for printing of names on the fall ballot.

Criminal Mischief/Attempted Burglary: On 04/01/15 Silver Lake Township Police responded to a residence located on State Route 167 for a report of criminal mischief. The victim reported that while they were away from their residence, someone broke a garage door window and tried to enter their home. Officer Levi Tiffany was the responding officer. This case is still under investigation.   

Domestic Dispute/Harassment/Drug Arrest: On 04/06/15 Silver Lake Township Police were dispatched to an active physical domestic dispute located on North Shore Drive. Upon arrival by police the incident was no longer active. Investigation revealed that alcohol and marijuana had played a part in the incident. Arrests were made for possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct, and harassment. Silver Lake Township Police were assisted by Officers Grindall and Tiffany from the Montrose Police Department. Chief Timothy Burgh was the arresting officer. Case is still active pending court action.

Fraud: On 04/07/15 Silver Lake Township Police were dispatched to a residence located on State Route 4001 for a report of fraud. Upon arrival by police the victim stated that someone stole their identity and filed an income tax return in their name. The individual was notified of the incident when they went to file a tax return and were told it had already been filed. Multiple federal agencies are involved in the investigation of this incident. Chief Timothy Burgh was the responding officer. Case is still active.

Motor Vehicle Accident: On 04/21/15 .Silver Lake Township Police were dispatched for a motor vehicle accident on John C. McNamara Drive. Upon arrival of police patient refused medical attention. The investigation showed that the individual was travelling East on John C. McNamara Drive and failed to negotiate a left hand curve as they were driving on the roadway. The driver’s vehicle left the roadway and went into a residence yard. Chief Timothy Burgh was the responding officer. This case is still active.

Traffic Stop/Drug Arrest: On 04/28/15 Silver Lake Township Police stopped a vehicle at the intersection of State Route 167 and Arrowhead Lake Road. The vehicle was stopped for a cracked windshield and an out of date inspection. During the traffic stop police investigation showed that the vehicles plate belong on a different vehicle and the driver was giving untruthful statements. Susquehanna County Detective and K-9 units responded to the scene along with The Susquehanna County Sheriff. Upon further investigation the driver was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. Chief Timothy Burgh was the arresting officer. This case is still active and pending court action.   

Silver Lake Township Police responded with The Silver Lake Fire Company or Silver Lake Ambulance a couple of times during the month of April.

Any information or questions for Silver Lake Township Police please call 570-278-6818 and leave a message or email us at silverlaketwppd@epix.net, all information will be held strictly confidential. You can look at the Silver Lake Township Website at www.silverlaketwp.org, to see all Silver Lake Townships' news, profiles, and resources, including the police reports. For all emergencies calls or if you need an immediate police response, dial 911.

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 9:05AM June 5, 2015: Duane M. Aldrich, Michael J. Burger, Brian N. Carter, Tina M. Clark, Ronald S. Cook, James Donahue III, Benjamin D. Fassett, David J. Fischer, Justin T. Giberson, Charles R. Groover, Jeremy W. Hall, Jeremy Halstead, Todd J. Layton, Joshua S. Lee, Charlie J. Legere, Derrick Lezinsky, Lawrence M. McGuire, Matthew J. Peters, Veronica D. Phelps, Bruce C. Runion, Desiree L. Shifler, Courtney M. Sterling, Tessa E. Thomas, Kurtis Tracy, Steven G. Warner, Bradley D. Warner, Sr., 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.