Last summer the Blue Ridge School Board hired the architecture and engineering firm Quad3 Group of Wilkes-Barre to conduct a survey of the district’s physical attributes and make proposals for future development and configuration.  At their workshop on October 3th, members heard a presentation by Samuel Scarantino of Quad3 offering some suggestions as a result of preliminary surveys and characterized as a first phase of the project.

Mr. Scarantino brought with him a set of aerial photographs, one showing the campus simply as it is now.  The other one showed a new layout that would add about 150 parking spaces.  It would also convert the existing baseball field to a softball field.  (The area now occupied by a softball field is under consideration for use by the nascent Susquehanna County Recreation Center.)  He described the drawing as a “conceptual site plan,” and said it promised to be more “pedestrian friendly.”  Board members asked about the drop-off and pick-up configuration.  The plan shows a simpler flow of traffic along a more-or-less circumferential driveway.  There were also several questions from Board members about the location and size of the Elementary School playground.

The Board will have some time to study the proposal – possibly including a walking tour – before Quad3 undertakes the next phase, developing a more detailed project proposal, which might be used for acquiring permits and such.  A boundary survey is already under way.  The Board has yet to allocate funds for any construction based on whatever plans emerge from this process.

The workshop also heard from Cassidy Howe, Breanna Post and Lydia Andusko, a bashful trio of flute players who attended a week-long music program at Marywood University this summer.

Floutists (from left) Cassidy Howe, Breanna Post and Lydia Andusko

Facilities & Grounds Committee chair Edward Arnold had no report.  Instead, Business Manager Brian Dolan reported that Farnham & Associates declared themselves satisfied with the performance of the repair water well; testing will continue on the secondary well.  He also reported that the new sign down the hill directing traffic to the campus will be replicated with an identical sign on U.S. Route 11.  He then said that the stone enclosure for the new digital sign to be installed at the entrance to the campus is expected to cost upwards of $15,000, considerably higher than originally estimated.

Mr. Dolan was also recognized for his certification as a “professional business manager” by the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officers.  He was also presumably one subject of an executive session held before the workshop that Board President Chris Lewis said covered Act 93 issues.  Act 93 is a state law covering compensation for school officials.

Brian Dolan (left) receiving his certification as a “Professional Business Manager” from School Board President Chris Lewis

Jessica Wright, chair of the Board’s Transportation Committee, reported appreciation among bus drivers for the T-shirts and pins awarded in gratitude for their service.

Matthew Nebzydoski, Principal of Curriculum & Instruction, was not available to report on career development.  It seems he broke a collar bone or two in a cycling accident and is recovering from surgery in good humor.

Superintendent Matthew Button called on Special Education Director Casey Webster to outline her department’s need for an additional position.  A brief table showed Special Education enrollment varying from as low as 94 in 2016 to a high of 148 in 2012.  She said that the current load is about 127 and rising.  A single emotional support teacher now covers 3 different areas and appears to be overloaded, and class sizes are nearing suitable limits.  According to Mr. Button, the Board will be asked, perhaps at its next business meeting a week hence, to consider adding an additional position to the Special Education staff for at least the remainder of this school year.

The workshop was considerably enhanced by Linda Cole-Koloski’s creamy homemade potato and ham soup.  The Food Service Director prepares homemade soups for student lunches every day … and sometimes for Board workshops.

The Board will meet next for a business session on Monday, November 6, 2017 beginning at 7:00pm in the cafeteria in the Elementary School.

The Great Bend Borough Council meeting on November 2nd was typical of its traditional free-for-all, with 4 or 5 conversations going on at once throughout, and Council President Rick Franks alternately trying to control the chaos and standing back out of the way, or occasionally even joining in.  Mr. Franks was decisive about one thing, however, no one was going to see the budget they are working on until they formally adopt it in December.

A preliminary budget is usually drawn up by Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan using prior budgets and year-do-date expenditures as a foundation.  Council will gather for a special session on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 beginning at 6:30pm to hash it out.  Some idea of the direction the budget is taking should become at least a little clearer then.

Otherwise, the November meeting covered a typically mixed range of issues.  It started off with a colloquy with B. J. Giangiulio of H.A. Thompson Insurance, the broker that handles all of the Borough’s insurance.  He gave a rundown of each of the Borough’s covered assets and asked for any changes or updates.  All Borough buildings/structures are covered at replacement cost for a value up to $791,000.  Other coverages are for actual cash value, and include 2 police cars, a Ford truck, a zero-turn mower, and miscellaneous equipment and tools, all at various deductibles.

Workmen’s compensation coverage is likely to be most difficult.  A complicated lawsuit (elsewhere in the state) threatens to increase workmen’s compensation premiums statewide by as much as 12% or more.  Great Bend Borough now pays $17,000 per year for workmen’s compensation insurance, which also covers the fire company.

There wasn’t much movement on code enforcement issues, although one person attended the meeting to offer his services as code enforcement officer.  The Borough has “contracted” with another individual (who prefers to remain unnamed but was identified as the New Milford code enforcement officer) to review and try to bring up to date the borough’s current code documents.  Mr. Franks briefly described the process, and said that the man’s offer would be considered once that is done.  Unfortunately, however, Mr. Franks had to report that the document review hadn’t yet started.  He promised to try to get a time frame; Council seemed inclined to try another route if the review can’t be completed in a reasonable time.

Mr. Franks read a letter from the local Little League organization agreeing to take responsibility for the buildings and the field at VFW Memorial Park (the former Recreation Park).  In return, the Little League will have priority access to the facilities during its season.

The accumulation of brush in Greenwood Park seems to have ceased accumulating.  So an estimate of about $200 to install a 200-foot snow fence to inhibit access was set aside.  Council member Jerry MacConnell suggested asking the fire company to burn the pile over the winter.  Council member and fireman Mike VanGorden said that the fire company would like a written request for the project.

The fire company will install the new holiday decorations for Main Street that were decided on last month.  Council decided to keep the old ones, just in case, but Mr. VanGorden said that since the fire company purchased them originally, it would reclaim ownership and perhaps make them available to residents in some fashion. 

Council gave approval to amendments to the parking ordinance that would restrict street parking during snowstorms to allow for snow plowing.  There was some debate about how to inform the public – both residents and visitors – of the new regulations.  Some felt that a newspaper announcement might not be enough; perhaps signs could be installed?  The debate did not seem to come to a decisive conclusion.

Snow removal on Mountain Vista Lane was a concern raised by Mayor Jim Riecke, who lives along the street which is a boundary with Great Bend Township.  Several homeowners on the township side have complained about loads of snow that end up in their yards.  That put borough maintenance employee Cliff MacKenzie in a quandary, as the person responsible for plowing.

Mr. MacKenzie was asked if he could use the borough’s backhoe to move snow in that area, instead of simply plowing it off to the sides of the street.  He said that he didn’t think that would work, especially since, as he put it, the backhoe is “a piece of junk.”  The machine runs, but the hydraulics are shot, and it needs new tires.

In fact, someone has responded to a solicitation, offering to buy the backhoe for $2,501.  Some on Council, however, thought that the backhoe might still be useful if it could be repaired.  Mr. MacKenzie was skeptical, noting that the required parts are no longer available.  Nevertheless, he was asked to try to get a quote from Five Star Equipment of Kirkwood for fixing the machine.

An extended discussion focused around drainage at the intersection of Williams and Franklin Streets.  Mr. MacKenzie had a bid of $1,800 for one approach to the problem, but it seems that the proposed fix would not have been completely satisfactory.  Mr. Franks, who lives on that corner, said that the problem more seriously affects his neighbor across the street.  A deeper concern is that no one really knows where all the drainage pipes run through the borough.  So that matter, too, was set aside for the time being.

The monthly report of the police department was not immediately available.  However, Mr. MacKenzie and police Chief Jon Record reported that New Milford (also covered by the Great Bend Police) had donated $1,000 for purchase of a video camera for one of the police cars.

Council continues to agonize over the various intersections between borough streets and Main Street, which is U.S. Route 11 and therefore under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT).  Suitable contractors are done for the season and won’t have prices for next year until … next year.  It seems that reconstruction of some sidewalks might have to be part of the project, an expensive undertaking that the borough might not be able to afford.  Mr. MacConnell said that the intersections should be the responsibility of PennDOT.  He was asked to use his contacts with legislators to see what could be done.

Ms. Guinan reported on a letter received from the Blue Ridge High School Band thanking the borough for its contribution to the purchase of instruments for its drum line.  The contribution was made over a year ago, but Council was happy that the band appreciated the help.

Assuming that no more information is available on the budget before then, you should be able to hear about it officially at the borough’s next regular meeting on Thursday, December 21, 2017 beginning at 7:00pm at the borough building at Elizabeth and Franklin Streets.