The two owners of Leatherstocking Gas Company, Michael German and Michael Mirabito came in to speak with the New Milford Borough Council at their monthly meeting on June 2, 2016. Mr. German reiterated that Leatherstocking is committed to putting gas service in the Borough. He stated there were several issues that forced them to put a hold on the construction for 2016; the biggest obstacle was the school not signing a commitment. Low fuel prices and having an issue with acquiring the land for the pressure station were other factors that led to them making a decision to hold off.

Mr. German said they have spent two hundred thousand dollars on the engineering plans; they ordered and received long-term items for the pressure station and they almost have obtained all the right-of-ways they need to lay the pipe. If Leatherstocking wasn’t committed they wouldn’t have spent all the money thus far.

There are a few things they need to do before they can start construction. The first thing is to firm up all the commitments that they have received to date. The second is to sign a contract with DTE Energy Bluestone Gathering. The third is to obtain pricing from contractors. And the fourth is to finalize the land acquisition for the station.

What they plan to do in the first quarter of 2017 is to file for the needed permits for construction, which would allow them to start building in the late quarter of 2017. They would have two phases of the plan.

The state recently enacted into law a fund for municipalities to convert to natural gas from other sources of energy. Mr. German said the law was less than thirty days old, but there is a big pot of money, over thirty million dollars slated for the fund, which would be an advantage for the Borough. He said Senator Yaw sponsored the bill, and Governor Wolf signed it. Commissioner Maryann Warren stated it was Senate Bill 215, and it was a part sharing at fifty percent of overall cost.

President Ainey said he met with the School Board Director, and he inquired why they didn’t want to commit to Leatherstocking. The Director stated Leatherstocking wanted an exclusive contract not allowing them any other sources. Mr. German said they were asking for a minimum monetary amount to commit, which wasn’t acceptable to the school. He said they weren’t asking for an exclusive right.

Mr. German said it was very difficult for Leatherstocking without the school, since every other location they have contracted with had an anchor customer. He said they would continue to negotiate with the school and offer them a wood tie pricing. President Rick Ainey asked what that meant. Mr. German explained they would give them special pricing where the costs are associated with wood pricing. To heat with wood there are costs associated with the price of the wood, such as hauling away the ash, salary of person feeding and cleaning the furnace. They would focus on the variable, out of pocket expenses of wood heat.

Mr. German said he was encouraged about the project moving forward because propane and fuel are continuing to go up in price. He said they have one hundred eighty commitments that are firm, and over two hundred people signed up. They have most of the easement contracts; they’re close but not there yet.

President Ainey said it was appreciated that the two owners of the company came in to speak with them, and thanked them for doing so. Mr. Mirabito said the schedules are aggressive and he is overly optimistic. President Ainey informed them that Council would like to collaborate with them on what still needs to be completed.

Phase one does not include the school; phase two does for 2017-2018 timeline. Vice President White asked whom they would be using for the construction. Mr. German said they would be retrieving bids for the project and there are three companies that they know would want the work. GEC out of the Scranton area has highly competitive pricing and has done good work in the Montrose area. DDS is out of Conklin, NY and there is another company out of Owego.

Mr. German said there are still certain hurdles they need to achieve yet, but they want to bring the gas to the Borough, and are very optimistic they will get things done. He will be here for the updates, while Katrina Colvin-Stilts and Russ Miller will handle the marketing aspect of the project.

Council thanked both Mr. German and Mr. Mirabito once again for taking the time to come to the meeting, and their commitment to providing gas service to the residents of New Milford Borough.

It was reported by Vice President White there are around fifteen feral cats in the area of Maple and Church Streets and people have been feeding them. The only way to control the problem is to catch the male cats and spay them. The spaying cost is approximately thirty dollars per cat. President Ainey asked who would catch the cats. Councilperson Donna Cosmello said she called True Friends, and they would provide the containers to capture the cats.

Mayor Scott Smith thanked Chuck Welch for all the work he did on the Borough Park for the Memorial project. He would also like to send a thank you to the VFW for sending them thirty flags. He also thanked Eleanor Kempke for the flower box. Vice President White thanked the Mayor for helping Chuck put up the flags.

Vice President White stated Chuck repaired and replaced the wood at the bottom of the gazebo, he primed it, and President Ainey painted it. Council all agreed it looks beautiful. Vice President White said they replaced the light fixture and added a recessed light that goes over the steps.

Councilperson Wages said she met with Mr. Kessler and none of the trees need to be cut down. Mr. Kessler said the branches are a concern and all they need to do is cut off the dead ones since the rest of the tree is fine. They spoke about grants that are available for the trees and would be free for the Borough. Trimming the branches and cutting the top roots that are strangling the other roots would be for safety and beautification.

The signboard from Pocono Signs would be seven thousand dollars for a four and a half foot by two and a quarter foot sign. Councilperson Wages said there were two locations they were looking at to place the sign. One location is by the park where there is already an electrical service, the other location would be in front of the Municipal building but electricity would need to be run to the sign. Eleanor Kempke said she parked by the sign at the Susquehanna library and you cannot read the whole message if you were driving by. Other options of signs were discussed by Council, and it was determined that seven thousand dollars was a lot of money to spend on a sign when they had other communication devices already in effect. After several minutes of debate whether or not to purchase a sign Councilperson Gulick made a motion not to purchase a sign and Council voted unanimously to drop the project at this time.

Council discussed for several minutes how happy they are with the police presence in the Borough. They all commented what a terrific job the Great Bend Police have been doing in the Borough. Councilperson Gulick said once the Midtown Festival is over she will be making arrangements with them to provide the service “Coffee with a Cop”.

The final decision Council made for the night was to hire an assistant for summer help. The salary will be ten dollars per hour, and they will establish a position for part-time, on-call, summer help and Chuck Welch will be this person’s immediate supervisor. Unanimously approved by Council.

The echoing theme for the Susquehanna Parade and Ceremony was “Thank You” to the men and women who gave their lives to make America free, held on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016. The American Legion Riders, Chapter 86, lead the way, followed by the American Legion Honor Guard.  Other participants included the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, District Attorney Robert Kline, Judge Jason Legg, Commissioner Allen Hall, Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner, and the Susquehanna Ambulance and Fire Company.

Post Service Officer Gene Stewart was the Master of Ceremonies, and was accompanied by Ron Whitehead the Post Chaplain. Twelve-year-old Julia Shell started the ceremony singing the National Anthem, followed by the Susquehanna School Band playing God Bless the U.S.A., by Lee Greenwood.

Mayor Nancy Hurley thanked the American Legion for all they did to prepare for the service, and all they do throughout the year. She ended her speech with a poem, which honored the brave soldiers.

District Attorney Robert Kline said “Thank you to all the men and women who served and who are serving in the military for your service, courage, and keeping us free.” His speech portrayed how grateful he is for the people who fought for our freedom, and ended by quoting the words from Lee Greenwood’s song; “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died who gave that right to me”.

State Representative contender Jonathan Fritz said it is disheartening that so many children aren’t aware of the significance of Memorial Day. When questioned they will say it’s the beginning of summer, it's for barbeques and so on. Mr. Fritz said his children are eight, eleven, and twelve years old, and he wants them to be aware of the great sacrifices people have made so they can be afforded everyday peace of mind. Many men have laid down their lives to protect our way of life. Freedom isn’t free. Know and understand tha many paid the ultimate price. God Bless the United States of America!

Magisterial District Judge Jodi Cordner stated the Korean War lasted only three years, starting on June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953 but fifty-four thousand soldiers died, and one hundred three thousand were wounded in combat. They didn’t return to fanfare like the solders from other wars; they came home and returned to work the next day. There are seven thousand nine hundred ten Americans still missing, and they’re not giving up until they are found. The Mayor of Paju City, from the Republic of Korea, sent the Wire Fence Plaque to thank our Veterans for their service defending their country in the Korean War.

Judge Jason Legg shared a story of a man who found two bibles belonging to his great uncle. In one of the bibles was a letter dated February 28, 1919 from General John J. Pershing to the soldier, which he read for those in attendance. Judge Legg said during World War I, one hundred sixteen thousand men died protecting our freedom. He went on to say the best tribute is to live a life that honors those who died to preserve it. He said America is great, not because of the politicians who run the country, but because of the great sacrifices of those who have served our county.

The American Legion Riders placed a wreath at the memorial and veterans who passed away this year were recognized. Vince Chiaramonte said a memorial prayer, and the American Legion Honor Guard performed a gun solute, followed by taps performed by a member of the Susquehanna School Band and the director.

Those attending the ceremony were invited to join the Legion members for hamburgers, hot dogs, and salads at the American Legion Post located on Main Street.

Slowly Thompson Township is replacing the old equipment, thanks to the Impact Fee money that has been coming in over the past few years. Supervisor Alex Komar spoke about replacing the Woods Brush Hog that is fourteen years old, with a Verger Flail Mulcher with a hydraulic arm. The cost of the machinery will be four thousand six hundred dollars, which includes delivery. Supervisors Rick Wadman and Susan Jenkins asked what he intended to do with the Woods Brush Hog. Supervisor Komar said he would like to put it out for bid. Both the purchase for the Verger Flail Mulcher and the advertisement to obtain bids for the Woods Brush Hog were unanimously approved at the June 1, 2016 meeting.

Supervisor Komar reported Bear Swamp, Churchill Lake and Layton Roads were completed with the grading, raking and calcium. They need to prepare the trucks for inspection, and then they will continue to grade and place the calcium on the remaining roads.

JoEllen Greene provided the Planning Commission report to the Supervisors. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved the sewage for the Potter subdivision on Churchill Lake Road.

The Eastern Susquehanna County Partnership (ESCP) members will be meeting with the County Commissioners on Monday, June 6, 2016 to speak with the County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) representative. Ms. Greene stated State Representative Lisa Baker was the person who helped ESCP obtain Grant money to fund the GIS. Members of ESCP are Thompson Township, Thompson Borough, Herrick Township, Union Dale Borough and Ararat Township.

There were two permits issued by JHA representatives in the Township; an addition at Wrighter Lake and a driveway permit.

During the meeting Barbara Komar said she would like to see the local Earned Income Tax return to the Township. She stated this money is taken out of her pay where she works, but is not coming back to the place where she lives and pays taxes. Another member of the audience agreed stating the Impact Fee money is a great help, but we don’t know how many more years we can depend on it. Why not revive the EIT in the Township to add to the revenue; this may prevent a need to raise taxes when money is needed for expenses. The Supervisors said they would hold an open meeting to discuss this issue during July. They instructed their Secretary, Kim Wallace to place an ad in the paper informing people so they will be able to attend the July meeting and offer their opinions about the EIT.

The next meeting will be held on July 13, 2016 at 7:00 pm.