An evening of workshops for the Blue Ridge School Board on March 29th began with … well, it began with soup, a hearty chicken-rice soup, courtesy of Food Service Manager Linda Cole-Kolosky.

Then there was the relief that a planned strike by the district’s teachers has been postponed.  Originally announced to begin that very day, the teachers’ union, the Blue Ridge Education Association (BREA), has postponed the strike date until April 25.  The teachers and the district have been meeting frequently, trying to come to terms on the major issues, salary and the cost of health care.  It wasn’t lost on those attending the session that Montrose teachers did walk out that day.

 Staff salaries are probably the biggest part of the district’s budget, but Business Manager Brian Dolan was holding off on that for a while, offering the Board’s Finance Committee smaller chunks as the budgeting process ramps up toward the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1.

At this session, Mr. Dolan presented detailed packages for the administrative parts of the budget for the Elementary School, the schools’ health, library and guidance services, athletics, transportation and Board services.  Of the four groups under consideration, two showed slight decreases in projected expenditures, and two (busing and athletics) are looking for increases.

In most cases, the changes are small and scattered through the line items.  Increases for transportation reflect changes in state regulatory formulae, and the new contracts with the Blue Ridge bus operators.  (The contracts are currently being reviewed by the District’s solicitors.)  In addition, the district would like to equip each bus with a radio at an estimated total cost of some $17,000.  In athletics, much of the increase is for new uniforms and upgraded equipment, which Mr. Dolan described as “dilapidated.”  Wrestlers can also expect to have a new home of their own.

With several meetings to go, covering the biggest segments of the overall budget, with the state budget tangled up in Harrisburg, and the outcome of the negotiations with the teachers still uncertain, there is much work ahead for the School Board.

 As usual for these workshops, the chair – this time Harold Empett in the absence of Chris Lewis – listed some of the items to be expected on the business agenda a week hence.  Among them will be the annual retirement incentive package.

Facilities, Grounds and Technology Committee chair Eddie Arnold reported that the effort to provide emergency power in the buildings is under way.  He said that, in the event of an external power failure, the district’s generators should be able to maintain operation of some phones, cameras and network access points.

Under athletics and activities, a lengthy discussion followed Mr. Arnold’s suggestion that the Board consider paying coaches for performance: coaches with better records might be paid more money.  That idea didn’t fly, which Mr. Arnold quickly acknowledged.  Christina Whitney called it a “Pandora’s box” that shouldn’t be opened.  Superintendent Matthew Button, speaking here for Board President Chris Lewis, said that the salary structure for coaches is under review.  Ms. Whitney also stated that she does not support the practice of paying “volunteer” coaches in some cases; the work of volunteers can be greatly appreciated, while maintaining their voluntary character.

 Mr. Button reported that the District is considering a collaboration with the Lackawanna Community College satellite center at Gibson on a 1-year “vocational technology” offering for Blue Ridge seniors.

He also reported that the Instructional Unit will move a program from the old school facility in New Milford to a space at the Blue Ridge campus.  It will serve approximately 15 students.

Mr. Button added to a report of the Board’s Policy Committee that a new process is being developed that should help to expedite payments to officials of sporting events.

The Finance Committee will review another group of budget requests prior to the Board’s next scheduled business meeting on Monday, April 4.  Business meetings generally don’t come equipped with soup, but they do highlight the achievements of students and staff, and are where the real work of the Blue Ridge School Board gets done.  Check the District’s website for details.

Officially, Earth Day this year is on Friday, April 22.  The Harford Township Sewer System will celebrate a couple days early, on the 20th with the expected appearance of Thomas P. Williams, State Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to acknowledge his department’s support of the renovation of the township’s sewer system through a low-interest loan of $1,931,900.  The event is to take place at the township office on Route 547.

The loan, under Rural Development’s Water and Environmental Program, will carry a fixed interest rate of about 2.5% for 39 years, and will also cover the remaining balance on the old loan that financed the sewer system originally.  According to the announcement, the project will “upgrade [Harford’s] wastewater treatment plant to meet the more stringent monitoring and discharge criteria mandated by [the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] for nitrogen and phosphorus removal.  [The] project will also replace grinder pumps and add a garage at the treatment plant to house and repair equipment.”

Local politicians may also be expected to attend.

The Supervisors met on March 28th in a special session that was originally designated for opening bids for stone.  They took advantage of the opportunity to clear up some other business as well, including the adoption of a resolution that gives them the authority to borrow that $2 million for the sewer system.

The Supervisors opened 2 bids for stone, from F.S. Lopke and New Enterprises Stone and Lime Company, the latter the successor to Eastern Industries (which in turn was the successor to State Aggregates).  The Lopke bids for the various types of stone were significantly lower, but the township has experienced some problems with the quality of some of the Lopke products that are often mixed with too much dirt.  So the Supervisors decided to accept both bid packages, allowing the township to choose among the products.

They also accepted a bid from Chemung Supply for a truckload of sluice pipe.  The overall price from Chemung, at about $10,600, was somewhat lower than the others; the township will also purchase some additional “collars” for joining sections of pipe.  The collars from different vendors, even for the same size pipe, don’t often work well.  Roadmaster Jim Phelps wants a consistent supplier for both pipe and collars.

The Supervisors went on to accept offers from 6 bidders for trucking services: Barhite Excavating, Diaz Companies, Ron Kiefer, B&H Paving, Young Transporting and Stony Mountain Tractor Parts.  All of these bidders offered services at $75 per hour (slightly less in one case).  All bids were accepted so that the road crews can call any of them when needed.

Next, the Supervisors accepted a bid of $8,500 from Frank Payne Excavating to renovate Westcott Road.  Township crews are now preparing the area by cutting trees to widen the roadway.  The township will also provide extra trucking services.

The Supervisors also signed an agreement under which the county Soil & Conservation Service will contract to install a “french mattress” in a section of Bartholomew Road subject to persistent inundation from the depredations of beavers.  This is the first installation of such a feature – in place of a culvert or sluice pipe – in Susquehanna County, and will become an educational project in the method for Soil & Conservation and local municipalities.  A “french mattress” is a series of stone layers of different sizes under a road, wrapped in “geotextile fabric”, that allows the passage of water without eroding the road structure itself.  The technique, developed by the Penn State Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies, is supposed to fool the beavers, to keep them from trying to dam a waterway under the road, as they tend to do with sluice pipes.  The project is expected to cost Soil & Conservation some $12,200.

The Supervisors also contracted with All American Rooter for a trial project that they hope will expedite the flushing of clogged sluice pipes and avoid the need to dig up the pipes to clean them out.  For $1,200, the company will spend 8 hours in the township to demonstrate the feasibility of the method.

The Supervisors accepted a “road betterment agreement” with the Williams company that will allow a section of old route 11 to be closed for 3-4 months while the company completes a bore of some 450 feet for a pipeline under U.S. Route 11.  As an inducement, the company will provide the township with about $12,000 worth of 2A stone material.

The Supervisors accepted the application of Todd Decker for part-time employment with the road crew.  The Supervisors hope to make good use of his current CDL license and experience with heavy equipment, particularly with snow removal next winter.

They are also considering a “turn-back” proposal from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) for route number 2022.  PennDOT would bring the road from Shoup Road to U.S. Route 11 near Oakley Crossing up to modern specifications, and then turn the road over to the township with some additional money for future maintenance.

The next meeting of the Harford Township Supervisors is scheduled for April 19.  The Roadmaster wanted these bids for road materials opened and decided as early as possible so that work on the roads could commence as soon as the season arrives.  Meetings are held in the township office on Route 547 and generally begin at 7:00pm.  The Earth Day event on April 20 is expected to begin at about 11:00am.

Bench Warrants

Tonya S. Birchard, Edwin Blaisure, Elmer Beebe, JR, Adam Bohn, Michael J. Burger, Brian N. Carter, Donald G. Darrow, David J. Fischer, Morgan A. Garcia, Vincent Gordon, Jonathan L. Hollister, Nathan Hollister, Christopher M. Kuiper, Todd J. Layton, Charlie J. Legere, Casey M. Lehman, Jason L. Luce Jr., Robert J. McCrone, George Miller, Peggy J. Mills, Christine Mroz, Timothy Murray, Cindy Pellew, Desiree L. Shifler, Jason L. Shores, Marcus E. Spickerman, Christopher D. Taylor, James E. Turcotte, Robert C. Walter II,

Deeds

Tammy F. Barnard to Shane R. Rumage  &  Julie A. Rumage, in  Great Bend Township, for $167,350.00.

Albert F. & Claire L. Baker to Raymond Barnes, in Harmony Township, for $10,000.00.

James P. Rosemergey III.  (ESTATE  BY SHERIFF) to PRO KO PROPERTIES, INC. & BEAR CREEK PROPERTIES, in Bridgewater Township, for $51, 000.00.

Dawn Roth to Barbara Lake, in Susquehanna, for $636.26.

Paul  & Carol A. Oleyar to The Butterfield LLC, in Jackson Township, for $1.00.

Eileen A. & Lawrence. C. Braungard to Joshua F. & Nicole R. Hobbs, in Lanesboro Borough, for $23,500.00.

Francis J. Mendicino (ESTATE AKA), Francis Mendicino (AKA) Frank Mendicino (ESTATE) to Jill Marie Oliver, in Clifford Township, for $157,000.00.

Emilio M. Roma to Ursula H. Roma, in Choconut Township, for $1.00.

Susan Bennett-Dyson (AKA) Susan Bennet Dyson to Larinda Dyson Kaufer (TRUST), in Springville Township, for $1.00.

Jeffrey C. & Janet L. Winemiller to Appalachian Basin Minerals LP, Resources II LP Pennmarc, Wildes Mineral Interests LLC & McCrow Energy Partners II LLC, in Harford Township, for $1.00.

Janelle E. Kelley to Robert C. Heed III & Amber K. Heed, in Bridgewater Township, for $34,000.00.

Joseph M. Fron to Daniel & Shannon Gushue, in Hardford Township, for $177,500.00.

Linda Butler to Linda F. Butler (TRUST), in Bridgewater Township, for $1.00.

RHOUSE516 LLC to John R. Wooster & Amanda E. Martel, in Great Bend Township, for $67,400.00.

Leah Emmons to Alice M. & Raymond C. Davis, in Springville Township, for $259,000.00.

Carolyn Bloxham Johnson to Gary R. & Carolyn B. Johnson, in Clifford Township, for $1.00.

Lillian A. Ainey (TRUST BY TRUSTEE) to Lillian A. Ainey, in  Montrose, for $1.00.

Joseph Zuk to George & Carole Zuk, in Clifford Township, for $1.00.

Bremer Hof  Owners Inc. to James M. Ross, in Herrick Township, for $100.00.

Bremer Hof Owners Inc. to Royal R. & Dolores H. Westbrook, in Herrick Township, for $100.00.

James P. Teetsel, Jr. & Catherine Teetsel to James P. Teetsel Jr. & Catherine Teetsel, in Auburn Township, for $1.00.

Chales A. Nagele & Charles J. Nagele to Charles A. Nagle, Charles J. Nagele & Patrizia M. Nagele, in Ararat Township, for $1.00.

John Penfield to Charles & Terry L. Miller, in Silver Lake Township, for $38,000.00.

Robert P. & Elizabeth Marland to US Bank, in Montrose, for $1.00.

Carol A. Barnes to Christopher D. Rockwell, in Harmony Township, for $10.00.

Richard G. & Dorothy C. States to Michelle Lynn Kerr & Joseph Parke States, in Springeville Township, for $1.00.

Reba J. Loomis to Reba J. Loomis (TRUST), in Springville Township & Auburn Township, for $1.00.

By The Stream LLC to Catherine Daniele, in Hop Bottom Borough, for $75,000.00.

William J. Teresco, Grace Marie Kilmer, Peter Thomas Teresco, Angela Helen Frammosa, Faye M. Teresco (AKA) Fortunata M. Tersero (AKA) Fannie M. Teresco to Donna Priedemann & George VaGelatos, in New Milford Township for $150,000.00.

Charles E., Nancy A., Kenneth J. & Mildred M. DeMaree to Tracy W. Bennett, in Silver Lake Township, for $169,000.00.

John E. & Ann Marie Saam to Kevin Saam, in Uniondale Borough, for $1.00.

John D. & Ann Marie Saam to John D. & Ann Marie Saam, in Uniondale Borough, for $1.00.

Robert Schneider, Laura Schneider, William Kenneth Wood, Betsy L. Wood, Benjamin, Wood, Tracy J. Wood (AKA) Tracy Wood to Ronald A. Franks, Melissa Franks (AKA) Mellisa Franks, in Clifford Township, for $1.00.