The Borough of Montrose celebrated in a big way with a gathering for National Night Out on August 1st.  Chief Dale Smith stated this event provides an opportunity for the first responders to meet with the community under positive circumstances.  He said when tragedy happens the Police are normally the first people on the scene, and when officers are familiar it doesn’t add more anxiety to an already stressful situation.

Aerial View

Chief Smith said Montrose is a great place to live and work.  The people are community minded, and the number of volunteers and generous donations they received proved it.  He said he is very thankful for everyone who donated their time, resources and came out to join in the festivities.

  
Jackson Holbert won the bicycle for the 6 and under. Naomi Cook won the bicycle for the 6 and under girls

To celebrate the event there were three bounce houses providing entertainment for children ages toddler to teen. Volunteers from Endless Mountain Learning Center, Suzie Howell, Megan Howell, Emily Kinney, Amanda Arnold, and Shawnna Benedict supervised the children, who had a blast in the bounce houses.

Frank Fruehan supplied the lovely music

The music was provided by Frank Fuehan, which the crowd enjoyed immensely. Ryan Coy, along with Connie Charles, Larry Coy and Raelene Coy set up the hot air balloon so children and adults alike would be able to go into it and see first hand what it was like.  Laura Wulff volunteered to do the face painting, and she had a crowd most of the night.  Corn Hole, basketball and football were also available to all.

Price Chopper's cooks and servers, front row left to right, Katelyn Kinney,Luci Phillips, Amy Henry, Bryan Fick; back row  – Ryan Taylor, Brian Nee, Bob Buraczewski, Cathy Vanderdeck

Price Chopper graciously attended the event, donating their products and service by grilling hot dogs and serving them along with condiments to the community.  Chief Smith expressed his thanks to Bob Buraczewski, Bryan Fick, Ryan Taylor, Katelyn Kinney, Brian Nee, Amy Henry, Luci Phillips and Cathy Vanderdeck for coming out and doing this for the community. 

From left to right: Dairy Princess Michayla Stahl, Alternate Dairy Princess Dana Nunenacher, Dairy Ambassador Alivia Hughes, and Dairy Maid Courtney Marvin

Ice Cream was donated by Price Chopper and served by the Dairy Princesses and Dairy Maid.  Courtney Marvin, Michayla Stahl, Alivia Hughes and Dana Nunenacher did an awesome job serving.

Ray’s Sure Save donated water and chip snacks, and Marty Demmer, Ray’s representative attended to hand them out.

Dory Browning from True Friends helped by serving pizza, which was donated by the Montrose Pump and Pantry.  Her helpers were Mason and Cole Christ.

Left to right Chief Dale Smith, Officer Diddick, Officer Zaweski, Officer Hollenbeck and Sargent Hornak

Susquehanna County 911 representatives Cheryl Wellman and Mary Rosengrant made numerous snow cones for the attendees.  They also handed out, compliments of the 911 Call Center bags, pencils, notebook & pen set, rulers, coloring books, wristbands and brochures.

Cynthia Goodman graciously volunteered her time and popcorn machine to provide the goodies to the children.  Her grandson, Cole Myers was her helper for the event.

Krystal Hazlett from Head Start, Sommer Gaydos and Marsha Borosh from Trehab, and Tiffany Benedict from the Women’s Resource Center set up tables with information regarding their services.

Firefighters from left to right: Mike Rosin, Caitlyn Daly, Lindsey Daly, Dillan Vannostrand, John Wert, Tom Runyon

United Fire Company brought their ladder truck and was represented by Mike Rosin, Dillan Vannostrand, Caityn Daly, Lindsey Daly, Tom Runyon and John Wert.  The children enjoyed speaking with the fire fighters, looking at the truck, and especially the Dalmatian Fire Hats handed out to the youngsters.

Dory Browning from True Friends chats with Commissioner Arnold

Pennsylvania State Police Officers Jason McKee and Joseph Bissol enjoyed mingling with the community, as did Ben Rebuck from the Game Commission.  Commissioner Betsy Arnold expressed her thanks to the first responders and stated Chief Smith did a great job organizing the event for the community.  Chief Smith said he was grateful for the partnership of the Borough Secretary and the Street Department working together to make the first time hosting National Night Out such a success.  He said in the past the County would pick a location for the event and all the local police would gather in one town.  This year it was decided each municipality who had a police presence would conduct their own event.  Chief Smith said it was fun working together with everyone putting the plans into action and next year it will be bigger and better.  He stated he is overjoyed additional people are expressing an interest to be included in next year’s event and have already contacted him.

The Montrose Police Department Secretary, Alice Walsh handed out MPD Frisbee’s, pens, pencils, key chains, coloring books, crayons and stickers. 

Ella Lewis won the bicycle for the 6 and over

Selah Lewis won the helmet for the 6 and over category

Phillip Robertsons won the backpack!

Children and Youth donated two girls’ bicycles, two boys’ bicycles, two girls’ helmets, and two boys’ helmets to be raffled off.  Naomi Cook won the bicycle for the age six and under category, and Ella Lewis won for the six and over.  Jackson Holbert won for the boys six and under category, and Eli Berg won for the six and over.  Reann Barnhart won the six and under category helmet, and Selah Lewis won the six and over helmet.  Colin Chmil won the six and under category helmet, and Kelly Benedict for the six and over.

Cheryl Wellman and Mary Rosengrant from Susquehanna County 911 Call Center

Jessyka Watt watches intently as Laura Wulff paints her hand

The District Attorney’s Office donated a backpack to be used by children from Kindergarten through sixth grade.  Phillip Robertson was the lucky winner of the backpack.

Council President Rick Ainey proposed to Council they revisit Resolution number 07202017 concerning approval of an R License for Pump and Pantry to sell beer.  President Ainey, during New Milford Borough Council's meeting held on August 3rd stated he didn’t think the majority of Council members agreed with the decision of July 20, 2017.  He said there was quite a bit of misinformation provided to some Council members who were present to vote, and after the meeting information was clarified.  President Ainey stated members of Council who could not attend the July meeting expressed they would have voted yes.  After a few moments of discussion it was decided they would hold a special Council meeting on Thursday, August 31st at 6:30 p.m. to review the request and vote again on the Resolution. 

New Milford Borough was granted fifty-one thousand dollars to fix Peck Hill Road from the Dirt & Gravel Grant provided by the Susquehanna County Conservation District (SCCD).   The project was completed using only thirty-three thousand dollars, and SCCD thanked Council for coming in below the projected cost.  President Ainey stated they were also notified their request for approximately twenty-four thousand dollars from the Dirt & Gravel Low Volume Road Grant for Summit Street was approved.

Mayor Scott Smith stated National Night Out went very well; it seems the kids had a great time with the Silly String.  He said was it good to see the Police and Fire Department conversing with the community.  Commissioner Maryann Warren stated they had a good number of giveaways and everyone left with something.

Councilwoman Donna Cosmello informed Council a kick-off meeting with PennDOT regarding plans to put in sidewalks and curbs along Main Street was held.  She stated President Ainey attended the meeting along with the Northern Tier Alliance, Susquehanna County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (SCHRA), Commissioner Alan Hall, and Commissioner Maryann Warren.  Councilwoman Cosmello said the best option they have is to move forward with the plans since curbing should be completed before PennDOT paves.

Council needs to decide the location to start and end the sidewalks and curbs, what company will be the engineer of record, and who will write and administer the grant application stated Councilwoman Cosmello.  Council spent a great deal of time during the meeting going back and forth with suggestions, alternative actions and plans.

It was unanimously agreed Main Street Sidewalk and Curbing Project would move forward.  Council will proceed with the engineering study for Main Street, and they can create phases once this is completed.  Councilwoman Cosmello was unanimously granted the authority to contact Milnes Engineering Inc. and sign any paperwork needed to start the project.  She will also contact SCHRA to see if Bobbi Jo Turner would be able to administer the grant application to PennDOT Transportation Alternative Program (TAP), which is due by September 18th.

Council is looking to amend a section in the Floodplain Ordinance increasing the square feet of an accessory structure from two hundred square feet to six hundred square feet.  Council motioned and unanimously approved advertising the intent of amendment to be published in the newspaper.

A resident of Thompson Township raised a concern during the monthly Supervisors' meeting held on August 2nd regarding a sluice pipe that was moved a number of years ago.  He stated it was moved and it shouldn’t have been since it’s now on the wrong side of the road, and causing all the water to drain onto his property.  Supervisor’s Alex Komar and Rick Wademan stated they were not involved with Township business when this occurred, but they assured the resident they would take a look at the location of the pipe to see what, if anything, they could do.

Supervisor Alex Komar stated they topped Bear Swamp Road, and they would have to purchase more material to do Calendar and Lake Road.  He reported they fixed the drain on Lake Road, and they will continue repairing the township roads as needed.

There were no permits issued during the month of July by the Township or by JHA reported Supervisor Wademan.

A resident in attendance asked the Supervisors how they could differentiate from obtaining a permit from the Township or JHA.  Supervisor Wademan stated if the structure is less than nine hundred square feet, with no electric hookup they would obtain the permit from the Township; anything over and/or with electric would need to go through JHA.

Supervisor Rick Wademan stated they were looking to consolidate outstanding loans and he received a quote from First National Bank for two point three five percent on a three-year loan.  Supervisor Komar stated he would like to obtain a quote from their current bank before making any decision. 

The Supervisors accepted Ken Goldsmith’s resignation from the Planning Commission with regret.

Mike Matis expressed an interest in serving on the Planning Commission to fill the now vacant seat, and was unanimously appointed.

The Freight Liner loan was paid off and the title was received, stated Secretary Kim Wallace.

Secretary Wallace stated a letter was prepared for the Supervisors to sign requesting an extension from Susquehanna County Conservation District regarding the Dirt & Gravel Grant for Barton Road.  The weather has held up the project and Supervisor Komar stated they were not able to start when planned due to the weather.

The Rails to Trails completed engineering specifications for the trail project in Thompson Township wasn’t presented to the Supervisors before the work started, stated Supervisor Wademan.  At the meeting he read a letter a representative from Rails to Trails sent, which stated Fox Engineering in New Milford completed the paperwork that was delivered to the Supervisors.  The letter also stated the project was required to be completed by September 30, 2017.  The Supervisors didn’t have a problem with the project, their concern was the possibility of snowmobiles riding down Erk Road.  Supervisors Wademan, Komar, and Susan Jenkins along with residents in attendance viewed the engineer's drawing.  The trail is handicap accessible, and non-motorized but the snowmobile trail is alongside it when it meets Erk Road.  Supervisors stated the snowmobile trail goes over the bridge, while the walking trail includes Erk Road.  Supervisors are worried the snowmobiles will also ride up the road, and were upset they weren’t able to voice their concerns before the project started.

Supervisors received a notification from the Hillcrest Group informing them another air quality test for the electric generation plant will be conducted.  The plant has yet to be erected, but plans are in place for Potter Hill, at the State Route 1004 location.

The next scheduled meeting will be held on September 6th at 7:00 pm. All residents are welcome.