A large crowd assembled on a balmy evening under the big maple trees leafed out for early summer at the park in the center of New Milford to hear a band concert.  They were treated to not one, but four bands from Blue Ridge.  There were too many musicians for the park’s antique bandstand, so they played – wearing black and Blue Ridge red, or black and white – from platforms installed by the school for the occasion.

Fifth Grade Concert Band

The annual event was begun 5 years ago when Vincent LoRusso became music director for the High School and Middle School.  This being Northeast Pennsylvania in May, two of those years were frigid; twice more rain drove the concert indoors.  This year was just right.

Sixth Grade Concert Band

Saxophone quartet

The bands played 16 numbers altogether, beginning with the 5th Grade Concert Band under the direction of Jay Thornton.  Mr. LoRusso took over with the “small but mighty” 6th Grade Concert Band, then the 7th/8th Grade Concert Band.  Mr. LoRusso called some improvisation a “New Milford arrangement,” when he paused his players for passing farm tractors, water trucks and trains.  A highlight of the High School Concert Band performance was “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby,” by Leroy Anderson, with solo trumpet played by senior Nick Swaha.

7th/8th Grade Concert Band

Nick Swaha playing Trumpeter's Lullaby, with Director Vincent LoRusso

Hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salad, assorted snacks, and chocolate cupcakes with gooey frosting topped with fresh strawberries were available much too cheaply.  The evening concluded in traditional fashion with the playing of “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “Stars and Stripes Forever,” and finally Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”

Visitors to the May 18th meeting of the New Milford Township supervisors walked past PA constables serving as door openers, if they arrived early enough. The generally quiet and rather placid meeting was rather full, with later visitors standing. Solicitor Micheal Briechle spoke prior to the meetings' commencement, stating that those wishing to speak would need to sign in on a sheet by the door, and would be limited to two minutes a piece. The standard matters of business were dealt with first, briefly, as usual. The treasurer's report and minutes were accepted without comment.

The township had put out bids for garage renovations; this matter was being tabled until the following meeting.  It was stated that this was due to the need for an engineer to be involved. The supervisors also related that they were going to be putting out to bid for roughly two miles of used guardrails, with bids to be opened at the June meeting.

Mr. Briechle then spoke again, saying that they would take questions from the audience. The sign up sheet from the back was brought forth and the names were called off- with the signors being asked if they did in fact wish to speak.

A man near the front spoke first, saying that he had read the online distribution of information relating to a hazardous waste incinerator to be built in the township off of 81. He wished to recommend most strongly against it. He said that the builders of the plant couldn't give any guarantees that they would be able to avoid polluting the environment irreparably. He recommended to the supervisors that they do research on this company and any facilities that they built.

Several other visitors spoke, including a woman who said that she had brought in a list of names of people who were against it. She offered to do anything she could to help the community. The incinerator was to be right in her back yard, she said. She was from Philadelphia;  the Philadelphia Incinerator was right there, and it was nasty. She said 848 was a mess already with the water trucks and this would only make it more of a mess.

Another woman wished to know exactly what they were talking about, and where the location would be. Mr. Briechle said that they weren't sure themselves about where and what was going to occur. He had spoke that day with Commissioner Hall, who advised Mr. Briechle that a group of investors had approached the commissioners and told them that they were considering a facility for the incineration of industrial waste, such as paint and pharmaceuticals. He had stressed that it was industrial not hazardous waste;  it wouldn't necessarily be of a biological nature. Mr. Briechle had also contacted Bob Templeton from the Planning Commission, who the company would have to go through  for the plans, and he had told the solicitor that the commission hadn't received an application or plans for the facility. Mr. Briechle had been told that the location would be somewhere behind Burger King near the Gibson exit. As he understood it, the property was not currently owned by that company.

One man advised against it for traffic alone. Another man related that some years ago someone had looked at that area for a residential incinerator and cited a concern that this wasn't a great welcome to Susquehanna County. He referenced the landfill in the borough, citing it as evidence that corporations didn't always tell the right story.

Another man asked about the air quality that would result from an incinerator. Yet another asked if the industrial part and incinerator were to be related. Mr. Briechle responded that he had heard that the incinerator company may be looking to develop further because the byproduct of the incineration process led to energy which could be used to fuel other activity. He said that unfortunately they didn't know the parameters, as it was all nebulous at that point.

A few visitors wondered if there was a similar plant they could visit to ask questions. Mr. Briechle wasn't sure.

Mr. Briechle emphasized throughout the meeting that the township had a jurisdictional decision outside of the informational process, otherwise they went with the county and the agencies. Since the township didn't have zoning and relied on the county's zoning authorities, the applications would go through those organizations. He said that he suspected this would be regulated by DEP if it went forward. A woman asked what they could do if they were against it. Mr. Briechle responded that they could go to the county level meetings, such as the planning commission meetings, as they were the ones who made such decisions. He reiterated that he and the supervisors weren't even sure what they were dealing with yet and would themselves get information from other sources. Mr. Shibley asserted that if they did get information they'd be willing to share it with the public, but at that time he didn't have any more information than what was in the paper. He had been blindsided by it.

A woman spoke up and read a prepared statement, handing the supervisors and solicitor a letter. She made several assertions regarding statements made by Mr. Templeton and Commissioner Hall, regarding a plan by the Tyler Corners group to propose industrial development on lands they intended to purchase near the Gibson exit, for an incinerator and an industrial plant. She felt some of these statements were in contradiction with each other. She said commissioner Hall has said that it would involve a decision on the township's part and felt that the public was typically not informed before such deals were made. She said an industrial incinerator had no benefit for the community and most residents she'd spoken with didn't want it. She felt it to be a significant risk of hazardous pollutants.

She asked for the supervisors commitment that no deals would be signed, no land sold for this purpose, and no DEP applications be submitted, without information being given to the community and without the explicit consent of anyone living within 10 miles of the site. She said some people asked for more specific details before the ink was dry on any specific deals.

Mr. Briechle responded that there was no host agreement that existed with the township and the investors.  The supervisors hadn't spoken to anybody who was proposing to do this. He said that they were insinuating there was something occurring behind closed doors, but no one from the development group had come to speak to either he or the supervisors and that information came from the county level. The decision was not for the township to decide; it was completely outside of their jurisdiction due to the lack of zoning or planning. There were certain points at the process where they could maybe input certain comments, such as with sewage, but this was all being discussed in the abstract at that time.

One visitor present asked about the Pentagon Gas project. The secretary related that the Pentagon Gas representative was supposed to be at that meeting, but hadn't been able to attend. Mr. Briechle noted that it was at least in the development stage, with a sketch proposed.  It was related that the township hadn't signed anything on it and that they hadn't received anything yet from the county level. The secretary noted that the company had submitted at the county level, and it would be decided upon by DEP and then be sent to the township. The company had been at the previous meeting. (This project involved a proposed filling station).

When we left off at the end of last week’s episode, the Harford Township Supervisors went off to an executive session to discuss litigation over Tyler Lake Road that may come to trial in September.  The saga continued at the second meeting on May 24th, again ending with an executive session, this time to review the litigation with the township’s solicitor, A. James Hailstone, son of Harford’s long-time lawyer, Drew Hailstone, partner at Kreder Brooks Hailstone of Scranton.

In the meantime, the Supervisors worked over some of the issues tabled the week before, and a few of them were put off a little longer.

They want to apply about 3,800 tons of DSA (Driving Surface Aggregate, a product of Penn State labs that produces a harder, more durable surface for otherwise dirt and gravel roads).  They initially were to select a contractor with a paver to do the work, but, on the recommendation of Mr. Hailstone, will instead solicit bids for placing the material in 4 locations: Orphan School Road, a hill on Tingley Street, the hill on Wolf Lake Road from Fair Hill Road, and a part of Stevens Road.  The contract will also cover trucking from the supplier; the Supervisors last week chose New Enterprise Stone & Lime to provide the DSA material.  During the discussion, some tension between Supervisors Conrad Owens and Doug Phelps broke out into a bit of a spat over the details.

In fact, Mr. Hailstone recommended that all “projects” (as opposed to “routine maintenance,” and emergencies) be bid – “err on the side of bidding everything,” said he.  He even recommended that the township enact a resolution to that effect, and was asked to draft such a measure for the Supervisors’ consideration.

Under state law and regulation, the township is allowed to consider telephone quotes in lieu of a formal bidding process for anything that is expected to cost less than a threshold amount.  The township is expected to select the “lowest responsible bid.”  Mr. Hailstone said that bidding everything protects the township from the complaints of losing bidders, and the sanction of the state through criminal process if not done properly.  In this case, the Supervisors had been considering splitting the process up for each section of road, as well as for trucking services; this might have brought the costs for the individual parts of the project within the lower threshold, but might have exposed the township to sanctions and/or lawsuits.

The formal bidding process was followed for a project to renovate part of Houlihan Road that serves all of 2 houses.  The township crew will do part of the work, replacing a broken sluice pipe.  The rest of the project will be contracted out to Frank Payne for $12,200, the low bidder among the five offered.

Contracting for ditching work was put off yet again so that the Supervisors, together with Roadmaster Jim Phelps, can meet to decide on which of the worst areas to work on this year within the limits imposed by available resources (money).

Similarly, the Supervisors took no decision on the offer by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to “turn back” State Route 2022 from Shoup Road to U.S. Route 11.  Doug Phelps said that formal transfer of the 2-mile-long roadway would probably not happen this year.  The township would receive about $8,000 per year for taking responsibility for the road, which would be completely rebuilt by PennDOT in advance of the turnover.  Subsequently, the road would be added to the township’s inventory of some 60 miles of roads that are supported by the state’s “liquid fuels” subsidy.

Asked about the wisdom of renovating wilderness tracks like Westcott Road, Houlihan Road, and Monument Road, Mr. Owens said that all of them are in the liquid fuels inventory, and that an audit by the state might place the township in a bind if they do not meet the requirements of a drivable road.  Westcott Road – the road itself – had to be “logged” according to Mr. Owens, because of the trees growing in it, before it could be fixed up. 

In other business, the Supervisors agreed, on the recommendation of their colleague, Sue Furney, to hire Amy Yasnovitch to help out with the township “cleanup” during the first week of June.  Ms. Yasnovitch will be the first female on the township’s road crew.  They also (actually, Conrad Owens, who will oversee the project as Assistant Roadmaster) signed a contract with Chemung Suppy for some used guard rails that will replace their deteriorating counterparts on the bridge on Pennay Hill Road at the foot of the twin Podunk Roads.

When time came for citizen input, it was those Podunk Roads that seemed of greatest interest.  Residents of the area were upset that work on their roads was interrupted when the crew was transferred to take care of Beaver Meadow Road on the other side of the township.  One resident of the latter area commended the Supervisors for smoothing out their road – and Grinnell Road as well.  The Podunk contingent, however, wondered if they would again be last on the schedule this year.  A brief shouting match erupted between those and some denizens of the Stevens Road area who complained of serious dust problems.  Mr. Owens provided a copy of his proposed schedule for summer road work this year.  He said that Tingley Street and Jeffers Road would probably be at the tail end this time around, but that the crew should get back to Podunk territory by mid-season.

Attorney Hailstone told the Supervisors that the agreement with Peoples Security Bank & Trust on financing for the upcoming sewer renovation project would probably close in June.  They are hoping to have the $1.9 million available as a line of credit rather than a loan, all of it guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program.

The Harford Township Supervisors are expected to meet next in public session on June 21, 2016, beginning at 7:00pm at the township office on Route 547.

Disorderly Conduct:  On May 18th at 2:50 pm a man received two tubes of anal lube in the mail from Cheaplubes.com.  The victim related that he did not purchase the items and believes someone is harassing him. 

DUI:  On May 12th at 10:38 pm Craig Owens was stopped for a traffic violation and was subsequently arrested for DUI. 

Crash:  On May 20th at 10:16 pm Brittany Brozovic of Little Meadows was traveling north on I81 near mile marker 204 when she took her eyes off of the road to adjust the radio.  When she looked up there was a vehicle in front of her.  She swerved to the left to avoid contact.  The vehicle spun in a counter clockwise direction striking the guide rail off the west side of the north bound lane.  Once the driver gained controls, she drove the Chevrolet Prizm safely off the roadway.  There were no injuries;  a seat belt was in use.  Kozlowski towed the vehicle from the scene. 

DUI:  On May 19th at 2:46 am David Wansack of Pulaski, Pa was involved in a one vehicle crash in Bridgewater Township.  Through the investigation it was learned that the accused was DUI.  No injuries were reported.  Charges were to be filed through District Court 34-3-01 as of the time of report. 

Simple Assault:  Between the 12th and 19th of May a New Milford man is accused of striking a woman several times.  The investigation was continuing as of the time of report. 

Theft from Motor Vehicle:  Between May 18th and 19th three women had small items taken from their vehicle, while it was located on Sr 29 in Montrose.  It is unclear if the vehicle was locked or not.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police. 

Hit and Run:  On May 15th at 7 am Michael Bollinger of Lawton lost control of his vehicle in Auburn Township.  The vehicle exited the roadway and traveled down an embankment.  The driver fled the scene by unknown means. 

Drug Possession:  On May 14th at 3:37 pm a trooper stopped a black 2001 Honda Accord for a traffic violation at the New Milford Hardware Store.  A search of the vehicle was conducted and the man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. 

Harassment:  On May 16th two juveniles, a 15 year old from Great Bend and a 14 year old from Hallstead, got into a physical altercation at the Blue Ridge school.  Both were cited in District Court 34-3-02. 

Possess Weapon on School Ground:  On May 16th at 1:30 pm a 15 year old juvenile male was found to have in his possession a buck knife and several pieces of forged metal resembling knives. 

Hit and Run:  On May 15th at 5:30 pm an unknown driver either pulled in or backed in to the driveway of an Ariport Road home in Great Bend Township, where a Ford was parked facing west.  The offending vehicle came along and collided with the front end of the Ford between the hours of 8:30 and 4:00 pm.  It then fled the scene without leaving the necessary information. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police. 

Burglary:  On May 8th at approximately 1:30 pm a Kingsley residence was entered, and several items taken from within.  The investigation was continuing as of the time of report. 

Theft:  On May 8th an unknown person took several prescription Xanax pills from a Hop Bottom woman.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police at 570-465-3154. 

Criminal Mischief:  On May 15th a Clifford man reported that one or more unknown perpetrator(s) entered his vehicle and pushed it own a hill in his yard, causing it to hit a swing set, and causing damage to both the truck and the swing set.  Anyone with information is asked to please contact the police. 

Crash:  On May 11th at 5:47 pm Ashleigh Hinds of Montrose was traveling north on Sr 29 at the same time as Dylan Thompson of Montrose was traveling the same road behind her vehicle. Hinds' vehicle slowed down, turned on its left turn signal, and attempted to turn left.  Thompson failed to observe the turning of the vehicle in time and swerved into the left lane to avoid a collision.  As Hind's vehicle was turning left, Thompson's vehicle struck its front driver's side with its own passenger side.  After impact, Thompsons' vehicle began to spin and partially trav3eled off the right side of the road, before crossing both lanes and traveling off the left side of the road, impacting a ditch, and rolling over.  It rolled over approximately one time before coming to a rest off the west side of the roadway facing east.  Hinds' vehicle came to rest at the initial point of impact.  Thompson sustained injury;  Hinds was listed as using a seat belt.  JD's Towing removed Hind's vehicle from the scene.  Police were also assisted at the scene by United Fire Department and Montrose EMS. 

Crash:  On May 12th at 1:27 am Christian Sorensen of Friendsville was traveling north in the right lane on Quaker Lake Road in Silver Lake Township when his motorcycle crossed over the double yellow line into the oncoming lane by approximately one foot for unknown reasons.  It then skidded approximately 62 feet.  It then lost control and the motorcycle tipped onto its left side and slide approximately 90 feet to where it came to rest on its left side in a ditch off the east side of the road.  The driver was thrown from the vehicle at some point and came to a rest lying in the oncoming lane approximately 75 feet from where the slide/gouge marks start.  The trooper was assisted at the scene by Silver Lake Fire and EMS.  Injury was suspected;  a motorcycle helmet was in use. 

Harassment:  On May 14th at 7:20 pm two New Milford women became engaged in a physical confrontation on the interstate in Great Bend after an argument erupted int eh vehicle that they were traveling in.  The same actors were to be charged at District Court 34-3-02. 

Criminal Mischief:  On May 12th between 7 pm and 10 pm a cluster of mailboxes was damaged when the same were run into with a vehicle in Herrick Township, on Lake Drive.  The investigation was continuing as of the time of report. 

Fatal Crash:  On May 7th at 10:58 pm an incident occurred in which a Chevrolet Silverado was traveling north in the south bound lanes of Sr 81 in Harford Township.  While in the southbound passing lane, the Chevrolet struck a Kia Sedona in a head on collision.  The Chevrolet rotated counter clockwise and came to a rest facing south in the southbound travel lane and shoulder.  One 911 call was placed at 10:57 stating that there was a crash at mile marker 215.9 southbound.  The driver and sole occupant of the Chevrolet died at the scene, and two occupants of the Kia died as a result of the crash.  Six other occupants of the Kia were taken to area hospitals from treatment of their injuries.  From a receipt found in the Silverado, the driver was at the Hallstead McDonalds at 10:09 on May 7th, prior to the crash.  A witness observed the Chevrolet traveling south on Sr 81 near mile marker 217.  Another two witnesses observed the Chevrolet stop in the south bound lanes and execute a K turn and travel north in the south bound lanes just north of exit 211.  The crash was then called in to 911 at 215.9 southbound.  From a download of the airbag control module, the Chevrolet was traveling approximately 62 miles per hour with no braking prior to impact.  Toxicology was still pending as of the time of report and the investigation was still ongoing. 

Hit and Run:  On May 8th at 12:08 pm an unknown driver was traveling west along Sr 2061 in New Milford Township when the vehicle traveled off the south side of the road and struck a utility pole.  The vehicle then continued back onto the roadway and fled the area. 

Anyone having information on any of these incidents is asked to please contact the police at (570) 465-3154.1

Following Is The List Of Names Drawn To Serve As Petit And Traverse Jurors For June, To Appear In The Court Of Common Pleas, Susquehanna County Courthouse (Large Courtroom), Montrose, PA, On The 8th Day Of June, 2016 At Nine O'Clock A.M. (9:00 A.M.)

Apolacon Township: Richard Vanness

Ararat Township: Dianne Burman

Aubrun Township: Rita Harvey, Gary Morgan, Terri Tyler

Bridgewater Township: Bruce Baessler, Elizabeth Cain, John Oleniacz

Clifford Township: Michael Andzulis, Dale Hixon, Laura A Schultz

Dimock Township: Kimberly Hollister, Debbra Nagle, Leon Rivenberg, Tamara Walsh

Forest City 2nd Ward: Roberta Barnes

Forest Lake Township: Christine M Harasymczuk, Lisa Reeves

Franklin Township: George Schreck

Gibson Township: Daphne Lipko

Great Bend Borough: Maureen Crook, Eugene Osterhout, Tammy Smith

Great Bend Township: Barbara Nettleship, Yung Sook Tiffany

Hallstead Borough: Matthew Card, James Kinsley

Harmony Township: Amy James, William Payne

Herrick Township: Marie Owens

Jessup Township: Mandy Bunnell, Walter Gieski, Constance Kiefer

Lanesboro Borough: Francis Rudolph

Lathrop Township: Jackie Frantz

Lenox Township: Lisa Barhight, Donna Kletsko

Liberty Township: Kyra Roe, Sharon Stockholm, Sally A Viall

Montrose Borough 1st Ward: Gwen Zimmerman

Montrose Borough 2nd Ward: Robert Calvin Dean

New Milford Borough: Lynette Daniels

New Milford Township: Louis Hartman

Oakland Borough: Donald Richardson

Oakland Township: Marylin Wanatt

Rush Township: Gary Douglas

Silver Lake Township: Gerald Feeney, Melissa Geertgens, Mary Madigan, Ulana Zahajkewycz

Springville Township: Raymond Mayerzak, Robert Tiffany

Susquehanna Borough 1st Ward: Damon Sisler

Susquehanna Borough 2nd Ward: Mark Calvin

Thompson Borough: Alan Lloyd