Several months ago the Blue Ridge School District entered into an agreement with Quad3 Group of Wilkes-Barre to perform a site-wide study of the district campus.  At their meeting on September 25th, the School Board accepted a proposal by the company to perform a boundary survey of the property at a cost of $14,250, and chose an option to perform an aerial survey for another $14,600 (over a more costly “field survey” option) for a total of $28,850.  The project is intended to allow the district to get a more up-to-date assessment of what it owns and its condition.  One can assume that drones or other aircraft may soon be seen overflying the campus.

Board members considered a relatively brief business agenda, followed by a workshop on an unseasonably warm late September evening, all made more palatable by Linda Cole-Koloski’s exceptionally creamy chicken corn chowder.  Among some routine personnel actions, the Board also approved an agreement with Bayada Home Health Care, Inc. to provide substitute nursing services as needed at a rate of $45 per hour.

Board President Chris Lewis split the business meeting from the follow-on workshop with an executive session that he said considered some student discipline and contract issues.

During the workshop, Business Manager Brian Dolan reported on progress evaluating the district’s water supply.  The main well is being comprehensively tested; the secondary well will get similar attention.  He also said that the district considered employing someone to take responsibility for the wells and the regular testing of the water.  However, he said that the cost of certification and on-going training made it more reasonable to contract with Farnham and Associates of Abington for these functions.  Farnham is conducting the tests on the wells following the disruptions this past summer.  The capacity of the wells and the quality of the water supply becomes especially important as the campus becomes a designated disaster recovery site.

Brooke Slocum, Chair of the Board’s Policy Committee, reported that the selection of valedictorian and salutatorian for graduation will be changed.  A few months ago, a student appeared before the Board requesting that the selections be made on full-year performance.  Until now the selections were made based on 3rd quarter grades.  The new policy will base selections on full-year, 4th-quarter grade reports.

And Mr. Lewis reported that the district will receive a grant of $15,000 from the estate of his grandfather, Frederick D. Lewis, Sr. to be applied to the purchase and installation of the digital signs approved by the Board earlier this month.

The Blue Ridge School Board will meet again for a business session on Monday, October 2, 2017 beginning at 7:00pm in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.

Thompson Borough encountered multiple problems with a contracted company to plow snow over the past few years and requested a meeting with the Thompson Township Supervisors to see if they were willing to maintain the Borough roads during the upcoming snow season.  Township Supervisors voted unanimously to sign the contract to provide services to the Borough for plowing and cindering during the Supervisor’s meeting held on October 3rd.

Supervisor Alex Komar reported grading and raking of all Township roads were completed.  Currently they are working on replacing a pipe on Ogden Road, once this job is finished the road crew plans to replace a pipe on Brown Hill Road, and add pipe to Irk Road.

A resident who has been attending the meetings requesting the Supervisors relocate a sluice pipe that was moved many years ago was informed by Supervisor Komar they will be monitoring the situation.  He said he spoke with a lawyer from the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), and what he suggested they do, since the pipe was moved before the current supervisors were in office, is to monitor the area.  Supervisor Komar stated he will be taking pictures and keeping track of how bad the water problem is.  That is all he is able to do at this time, and he assured the resident he hasn’t forgotten about the reported issues.  The resident said he appreciated the information, and thanked him for following up on his complaint.

Supervisor Rick Wademan stated Joe Hunt and Associates (JHA) issued one Construction Permit, and two Occupancy Permits over the past month.  Supervisor Susan Jenkins stated there is a person who is clearing land and planning to put up a carport; unfortunately he is doing this on another person’s property and without a permit.  Supervisors discussed this situation for a few minutes and determined the encroachment was between the two property owners, but work without a permit is the responsibility of the Township Supervisors.  They are considering creating a code enforcement ordinance with the authority to fine people who are building without permits.

The Dirt and Gravel Grant awarded to the Township by the Susquehanna County Conservation District for fiscal year 2017, enabling them to make repairs on Barton Road has been approved for an extension until September 30, 2018.

Supervisors unanimously approved requesting bids for the fuel, heating, propane and servicing the two furnaces located at the Township building.

The next meeting will be held on November 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

State Police at Gibson have charged Cassandra Mercincavage, of Thompson, PA, for the death of 49-year-old Robert W. Hubal, of Potter Hill Rd, Thompson, PA.

On October 1, 2017, Troopers from the Gibson station responded to Hubal's residence after he was discovered deceased by family members. Troopers subsequently confirmed the victim was Robert Hubal. Injuries to Hubal indicated that he was likely shot in the head and torso; however, no weapon was located at the scene. Hubal's vehicle, a 2003 Dodge pickup, was also missing. Information discovered that Mercincavage had been living with Hubal, but their relationship had recently ended. Investigators believed Mercincavage may have taken the Dodge Pickup.

The investigation led investigators to a hotel in Moosic, Lackawanna County, where Mercincavage was located and interviewed. Troopers also located the victim's Dodge pickup, abandoned nearby. A firearm believed to have been used in the commission of the crime was also recovered.

Based on the investigation that was conducted by the PA State Police, the Susquehanna County District Attorney's Office and Coroner's office, Mercincavage was charge with one count of Criminal Homicide for the death of Hubal. She was arraigned at DJ Jodi Coroner's Office in New Milford.

The PA State Police are confident that this was an isolated incident and that there is no danger to the public.

New Milford Borough Council members spoke at length during their meeting held on October 5th discussing the proposed sidewalk and curb project.  Some Council members felt proceeding with both the curbs and the sidewalks simultaneously would hold up the progression of the sidewalks.  Councilwoman Donna Cosmello received the proposal from the engineering firm to generate engineered drawings to include sidewalks and curbs for a total of sixty-seven thousand five-hundred dollars.

Resident Eleanor Lempke stated she would like to see curbs installed on Main Street, especially at the intersection of Route 492 since curbs would not only protect the sidewalk, but it would provide an aesthetic scene when driving into town.  She stated she contacted PennDOT a number of years ago and obtained the specifications for a curb since she was considering constructing one in front of her home at that time.

Council President Rick Ainey stated if they chose to put in curbs, PennDOT would require residents to obtain a driveway permit.  A good deal of the businesses would loose a lot of their open spaces such as Green Gables, and T C Starter and Generator since PennDOT has precise specifications for curbs.  President Ainey projects people will be complaining about the curb restriction and that would hold up the sidewalk project.

In the end, Council voted for Councilwoman Cosmello to obtain a price from the engineer for him to construct the drawing just for sidewalks and they would review the two proposals and make a decision.

Councilwoman Teri Gulick proposed the Borough purchase a camera for the Great Bend Police Car.  She stated Chief Record is trying to obtain funding to purchase one for each of their two vehicles, and since Great Bend Police is contracted by New Milford Borough she would like Council to approve a purchase of one camera at a price of one thousand dollars and gift it to the Great Bend Borough.  Council unanimously approved the camera purchase.

The Great Bend Hose Company will be going to Blue Ridge School to meet with students from preschool up to the fifth grade on October 12th.  Council unanimously approved providing their usual donation to the hose company.

Mayor Scott Smith informed Council the Parade of Lights will be held on October 28th, with lineup at 6 p.m. and step off at 6:30 p.m.  Council stated they will be participating in this event and acknowledged they had enough decorations for the truck.

President Ainey stated he has been researching the criteria for the Community Development Block Grant Program for Johnson Street.  He has six more homes to visit, and four of them need to be within the guidelines.  He’s hopeful, but not positive they are going to be able to apply for the grant based upon the specific criteria of the grant requirements.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church is celebrating their two hundredth anniversary this Saturday, October 7th.  President Ainey suggested Borough Council do something special to honor the longevity of the church.  Council unanimously approved sending a gift of two hundred dollars to St. Mark’s for their anniversary.

A brush pile in Greenwood Park was started following a recent storm to give Great Bend Borough residents a place to dispose of fallen limbs – not to mention whole trees.  The pile seems to have grown beyond manageable size, possibly by contractors capitalizing on a convenient disposal site – not to mention simply trash.  At their October meeting on the 5th, Borough Council members struggled with what to do about it.

Council member Jerry MacConnell decided that it was time to “start reducing that pile.”  There are now signs at the pile, but some thought a fence should be installed.  A volunteer offered labor if a chipper could be made available.  In the end, Council decided to advertise for a contractor to remove the accumulated debris.

In VFW Recreation Park, maintenance of the ballfi eld has been bothering Council, which wanted an agreement with the Little League club defining who is responsible for what.  Council President Rick Franks read from a letter from Alan Hall that described work shortly to be completed to renovate the restrooms.  Mr. Hall said that the ball club is ready to sign an agreement with the Borough, and will take responsibility for the maintenance of the field.

Mr. MacConnell reported on a conversation he had with state Senator Lisa Baker about water drainage from Interstate 81.  The issue has been on the agenda for many years – probably since the highway was built.  Ms. Baker promises to take the matter up with PennDOT if she can get a report on the history of the problem from the town’s perspective in as much detail as possible.

Council agreed to purchase new swings for Greenwood Park.  Simple tires no longer being acceptable, the swings will be purchased from a catalog.

Council has been told by PennDOT that the machine necessary to remove and replace the aprons joining some of the borough’s streets with U.S. Route 11 (Main Street) cost too much.  So Councilman Mike VanGorden will poll some contractors to find out the best way to accomplish the goal with the available resources.

Council voted to purchase 15 new displays for the light poles along Main Street for the Christmas season at a cost of about $6,000.  The fire company has traditionally installed the decorations, and Mr. VanGorden, the fire company’s representative on Council, seemed happy with the decision.  Each of the units is 5 to 8 feet tall.  The old decorations will be stored.

Last month Council became aware of a problem with vehicles parking on some of the town’s streets that might interfere with snow plowing during the upcoming (but barely discernable) winter.  Searching the records, the borough’s solicitor, Frank O’Connor proposed some amendments to an existing ordinance that would

• Prohibit parking on village streets for 48 hours following a snowfall of 3 inches or more;
  
  
• Boost the fines for violations;
  
  
• Authorize the major and Council president to have violators towed;
  
  
• Authorize the town’s police to enforce the ordinance.

Council will advertise the changes with the intent of implementing them at the November meeting.  Notices will be posted around town warning of the new regulations.

Police supervisor Jon Record offered his report for the month that showed a couple of traffic stops, and a “public drunkenness” incident at the pond at the edge of town.  Council members gathered ‘round a map to verify that the borough did indeed own a pond – near the tracks where they pass under the Main Street bridge near the motel.

Mr. Record also reported about $439 in expenditures for the month, including $200 to certify Katie Vennie, the newest officer.  The borough’s officers are also contracted to New Milford Borough and collected 96.5 hours there, at $33 per hour.

In cooperation with the county District Attorney, Mr. Record asked to install a “drug box” at the police station in the borough garage.  A slot would be cut into the outside wall allowing anyone to deposit unused drugs at any time.  The location would be monitored by lights and a camera.  The DA would be responsible for the box and its contents.  Such a facility is thought to be the first of its kind in the state.  Council gladly agreed to the project.

Along similar lines, the borough’s police will be participating in the “drug takeback” program at the police station on Elizabeth Street between 10am and 2pm on October 28, 2017.  Any and all drugs will be collected, no questions asked, but needles will not be accepted.

Mr. Record was also asked to focus some attention of his officers on speeding along Main Street, particularly on Fridays.

At the tail end of the public meeting, Mr. Franks called an executive session that he said was for “employee issues.”

The Great Bend Borough Council meets on the first Thursday of each month in the Borough Building (aka the Blue Ridge Senior Center) beginning at 7:00pm.