With the bridge repair finally completed in  New Milford Borough, drivers are enjoying the construction free zone.  Borough Council and visitors in attendance at the July 2nd meeting remarked how nice the new bridge looks.   With all the construction equipment and signs removed, the Borough looks very attractive.

Eleanor Lempke, one of the Borough’s residents stated she wished something could be done to clean up the garbage at the on and off ramps of Interstate 81 leading to and from New Milford.  Council stated the ramps are located in the Township, and they think there is “Adopt a Highway” sign at that location.  Council stated they should contact PennDot regarding the road on the exit ramp, since it’s in very bad shape.

Vice President Larry White reported the Street Department has been working on cleaning out the catch basins in town.  He said they have a lot more to do, and also a lot of trees in town need trimming.  They were looking for seasonal help and Jim Carpenetti will work with them weedwacking, cleaning out catch basins and whatever else they need him to do on a part time basis.

July 10th has been designated for the removal of the old fence at the park, and they will install the new fence on July 11th.  An auger has been rented to dig the holes for the posts.   Council is hoping the weather cooperates for this project.

The Recreation Board is looking for more volunteers.  New Milford Borough residents can volunteer; all they have to do is come to the meetings held on the 4th Monday of each month at the Borough Building at 7:00 pm.

A number of events are held at the pool, park, baseball field, and pavilion, and a master schedule needs to be kept at the borough office stated Councilman Ainey.  He suggested all personnel in charge of scheduling contact Amy Hine, to notify her with the events that are added to the schedule on a continuous basis.

Gary Baker, the Regional Director of the PA Dept. of Community & Economic Development met with council member Donna Cosmello.  Long-range plans they discussed are sidewalks, curbs, widening the lanes at the four corners to put in a turn lane, pedestrian signs, and an industrial site.

Leatherstocking will hold a design and vendor fair on Saturday, July 18th from 2-5 pm at the Blue Ridge Park.  All residents are urged to attend this informative meeting.

Donna Cosmello stated there is a gathering for the Women’s Resource Center on July 15th at the Rosemont Inn, located on Lake Avenue in Montrose.  The theme of the meeting is to fight domestic violence.  Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served from 5:30-7:00 pm.  She urges all to attend this important gathering to learn more information.  There is no charge to attend.

For their sole public meeting in June, Blue Ridge School Board members met on the 29th in a combined business session and workshop.  Among other things, the Board confirmed Matthew Button, lately principal of the Elementary School, as District Superintendent through June 2019.  He has occupied the position on an interim basis since Robert McTiernan departed to become executive director of the Instructional Unit.  And Danelle Decker, who has been filling in for Mr. Button in the Elementary School these past 2 months will continue in her new job through June 2018. 

Ms. Decker’s permanent appointment was added to the agenda following a 50-minute executive session that Board President Laurie Brown-Bonner announced was to discuss “contract issues.”  The teachers have been working under a contract that officially expired a year ago.  Negotiations continue.  Ms. Brown-Bonner announced that there had been a meeting on June 22, with another scheduled for July 13.

The Board has promised some restructuring of the district’s administration since earlier in the month when Matthew Nebzydoski, formerly Principal of the Middle and High Schools (and absent from the meeting this month), was named “Principal of Curriculum & Instruction.”  The Board will be interviewing applicants for High School Principal in July.

Prior to the Board meeting, its Facilities & Grounds committee met with the new Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Cranage, who presented a detailed report on his crew’s summer work so far, along with some of the larger projects yet to come.

The condition of the parking lots was the major concern of the committee.  Mr. Cranage had met over the blacktop with representatives of several contractors, all of whom said that the lots needed more than simple patching and sealing.  They offered some quotes totaling up to about $20,000, but there seemed little likelihood that such repairs would be more than a temporary remedy.  The committee agreed, therefore, to purchase a truckload of cold patch and rent some rolling equipment to patch the worst areas to get through the year.  The Board could then arrange for architectural studies to engineer a complete renovation of the parking lots, perhaps through a phased project that could be budgeted over 3 years.  Harold Empett said he thought adding proper drainage and repaving the lots could cost between a half and one million dollars.

Work in the gym is also progressing, with the local maintenance staff deconstructing the old bleachers and dividers and preparing electrical systems for the installation of the new stands.

The committee also welcomed Danielle Buchanan representing the Parent-Teacher Organization, which will install a new pavilion in the kindergarten area.  The new structure, similar to the one outside the 5th-grade area, will provide shade and shelter to the youngsters at play.  The PTO has allocated $12,000 for the project; a grant by Lowes of $5,000 will help.  The pavilion is only the latest of the organization’s benefactions to the district at no cost to taxpayers.

Mr. Cranage also reported that trenches are being prepared for the installation of electrical and water supply to the greenhouse, all of the work to be done by the maintenance staff and paid for from grant money.  The schools may eventually sell plants from the greenhouse, which is used primarily for educational purposes.

Most of the business agenda was routine.  It included agreements with Friendship House and The Meadows Psychiatric Center for mental health support services.  Friendship House will charge $40.00 per hour up to a maximum of $43,000.  Friendship House is based in Scranton.  The Meadows, based in Centre Hall, will charge up to $60 per day.  Another agreement was approved with PA Treatment & Healing, based in Turbotville, PA, “for Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth.”

Members approved a donation of $100 to the American Legion Riders for their “Fallen Soldiers Support Fund and The American Legion Riders community based projects,” in this case specifically for their 7th Annual Fallen Soldiers Memorial Ride.  Supporters’ names will appear on the ride’s posters and riders’ shirts.

Among other personnel actions, William Arthur is hired to the teaching position of Elementary Physical Education.  And Kristen Heller is shifted from Elementary Physical Education to Middle/High School Physical Education.

The board gave preliminary approval to a new form to accompany its policy on fundraising by school-affiliated groups.  During the workshop however, questions arose about the details.  The policy allows only 3 “fund raisers” per year, but what does that really mean?  For example, how does it apply to groups that operate concession stands for athletic and other events on a continuing basis; or groups that raise funds for other outside causes, like the daffodils sold by the Leo Club?  The schools have struggled for some time to reign in fundraising activities, and to exercise some control over their efforts.  Keep your eye on changes to the forms as they appear.

The Board itself has a Fundraising Committee that has tried a golf tournament and some solicitations.  With the help of a generous outside grant, the Board provided 20 scholarships to graduating students this year in the amount of $300 each.

Mr. Empett, the Board’s representative to the Instructional Unit, reported that the IU is reorganizing itself around its new executive director (Blue Ridge’s former superintendent, Robert McTiernan), and will be undertaking some facilities improvements of its own.  He also announced that he himself was elected vice president of the IU Board.

Asked by Mr. Button to consider the future of the district’s fitness center, the Board by consensus agreed to discontinue public access to the facility.  Liability concerns demand that it be staffed properly, but it has become difficult to staff the center adequately after school hours.

Mr. Button also listed a number of open positions for which the administration will be interviewing during July; he expects many of them to be up for approval at the July 20 meeting.  Director of Food Services, Linda Cole-Koloski will also present her annual report at that next Board meeting on July 20.

Ms. Brown-Bonner has tried a number of avenues to energize her colleagues, including “team-building” exercises and retreats.  She seems to have settled on annual “goal-setting” sessions when the Board meets with the Superintendent to identify its own objectives for the coming school year and tie them to goals for the Superintendent.  This year the session is scheduled for Tuesday, July 28 beginning at 6:00pm.  Last year they served a delicious soup and homemade bread with plenty of butter.

Public board meetings usually begin at 7:00pm in the Elementary School cafeteria.  Check the district’s website for the latest information.

Supervisor Alex Komar reported during the monthly meeting held on July 1st how they aspired to locate and identify the sleuth pipes in Thompson Township. JHA provided an estimated proposal to the Supervisors of $5,600.00. Supervisor Komar came up with an alternate way to perform the job in-house, and save the taxpayers some money. He purchased an AirPro video camera at a cost of $229.00, which will be used to tape each road showing the topography. Supervisor Komar said while taping they will also identify where pipes are located, and the type of pipe used: galvanized, concrete or plastic. Workers will record the type, length, and location of the pipe on each road. Not only will this be useful for location of the sleuth pipes, but it will also show the condition of the road and landscape.

Most of the roads throughout the Township were graded, rolled, and treated, per Supervisor Komar. The Street Department has been working most of this week clearing the branches and trees that were down due to a storm. Marilyn Czachor, a township resident said Lake Road is very slippery. Supervisor Komar said he was aware of the problem. The amount of rain that has been falling is to blame for the slickness of the road, since the rain prevented the solution from seeping into the ground. If it doesn’t improve when it dries up, they’ll put some crushed stone on top of the problem area. Supervisor Komar said Brown Hill Road is almost washed out, and he’ll have to take care of that road first.

The Township now has the Assessment Application and the Construction Permit Notice available for all building permits with a 1,200 square foot or less space. Any building over the 1,200 square foot space will need to pick up the permit application at Joe Hunt and Associates in Montrose.

Impact fee allocation, Act 13 for Thompson Township is $77,000 for the 2014 calendar year, and should be received sometime in July.

PennDot notified the Thompson Township Supervisors of a delay closing a section of Bear Swamp Road. The new date for the start of the project is July 7th.

Fraud: On 05/04/15 Silver Lake Township Police took a report of fraud. The resident stated that someone had made fraudulent charges on their credit card. The resident stated that the particular credit card that was used to commit the fraud had never been used in the past. The card was used and charges were over $1500.00 for multiple kids’ items at a store that the couple had never gone to. Chief Timothy Burgh took the report. This case is still active. 

Warrant Service/ Possession Arrest: On 05/06/15: Silver Lake Township Police were asked to assist the Susquehanna County Probation Department on a warrant that they had for an individual. The Probation Officers served the warrant and the individual was arrested by Silver Lake Township Police for being in possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Chief Timothy Burgh was the arresting officer.  

911 Hang-up: On 05/18/15 Silver Lake Township Police were dispatched to a residence located on Arrowhead Lake Road for a 911 hang-up call. Upon arrival at the residence it was discovered that contractors accidently hit the phone line while digging. Chief Timothy Burgh was the responding officer.

Fire Call: On 05/20/15 .Silver Lake Township Police were dispatched for a report of a possible structure fire located on Tripp Lake Road. Upon arrival of police it was discovered to be a dryer fire. The Silver Lake Township Fire Company handled the incident. Chief Timothy Burgh was the responding officer.

911 Hang-up: On 05/27/15 Silver Lake Township Police responded to a 911 hang-up call located on Donovan Road. Upon arrival it was discovered that there was a problem with the phone lines. Officer Levi Tiffany was the responding officer.

Harassment: On 05/28/15 Silver Lake Township Police responded to a residence located on Lyons Road for a report of harassment. Upon arrival by police the resident stated that a person came onto their property and started arguing and threatening them. The person was known to the resident and left the area. Silver Lake Township Police were able to make contact with the individual who left the area and the incident was handled. Officer Levi Tiffany was the responding officer. This case is still active.

Fraud/Scam: On 05/29/15 Silver lake Township Police took a report of a possible scam that occurred in the township. The person reported that he was contacted over the phone and told that a friend was involved in an accident and needed money to avoid going to jail. The individual recognized that it was a scam and the person who called him hung up. The person did call the residence again with the same story. The resident was informed by police that this is a common scam and that a lot of the time senior citizens are the target of this scam. Reports of people getting phone calls saying a loved one is in jail or going to jail if money is not transferred is a common scam in the area. The resident reported this incident because he wanted people to be aware of the scam. Chief Timothy Burgh took the report.

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

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.

BENCH WARRANTS

The Susquehanna County DOMESTIC RELATIONS Section has outstanding BENCH WARRANT’S for the following individuals as of 1:30 p.m. on July 2, 2015: Duane M. Aldrich, Elbert G. Allen, Jr, Asa M. Atherholt IV, Michael J. Burger, David A. Calla, Brian N. Carter, Tina M. Clark, Ronald S. Cook, Eric J. Darde, James Donahue III, Duane C. Faulkner, David J. Fischer, Justin T. Giberson, Charles R. Groover, Jeremy Halstead, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Derrick Lezinsky, Timothy Murray, Matthew J. Peters, Veronica D. Phelps, Bruce C. Runion, Desiree L. Shifler, Courtney M. Sterling, Tessa E. Thomas, Kurtis Tracy, Steven G. Warner, Patti 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.