Their last public meeting of 2017 on December 4th was one of their shortest – barely more than 20 minutes – but then the only business for members of the Blue Ridge School Board was to swear in new and re-elected members, then organize themselves and adopt a meeting calendar for the new year. They won’t meet in public again until January 15, 2018. Shortly thereafter they will begin looking at a new budget.
Newly elected members Mindi Carr and Joseph Andusko, along with re-elected members Chris Lewis and Jessica Wright were sworn in by notary Lorrie Detwiler at the direction of temporary Board President Edward Arnold, who then proceeded to accept the sole nomination for permanent president. And so, Chris Lewis was re-elected by his colleagues for another year at the head of the horseshoe – after swapping chairs with Mr. Arnold, who was promptly re-elected Vice President.
New Blue Ridge School Board member Mindi Carr
New Blue Ridge School Board member Joseph Andusko
Mr. Lewis welcomed the new members to their “thankless and selfless positions” on the school board. He said that he would be spending the time until the next meeting configuring the Board’s committees for the new year, and asked for input from members. He also reported that discussions are under way about the digital sign and its supporting structure in an attempt to get the quoted cost more in line with what the Board was originally led to expect. And he said that an executive session would be held on January 5, 2018 to consider Superintendent Matthew Button’s contract.
Mr. Lewis then adjured members to refrain from publicly discussing sensitive matters, in particular regarding contract negotiations with the Susquehanna County Recreation Center organization over the lease or purchase of land. While he said that discussion of some matters would be “illegal,” duly elected public officials may discuss most topics openly if they wish, although there are certainly some matters that must not be disclosed, and others that warrant discretion.
There were only a few drinks and snacks available at the meeting: stay tuned for the next winter workshop.
Multiple complaints from residents were addressed at the Thompson Township Supervisors meeting held on December 6th. The first issue-disputing neighbors at Wrighter Lake, with one resident putting up a pergola, which was reported to the Township as a gazebo. The Supervisors sent the resident a letter stating a structure was put up without a permit. The resident who put up the pergola came to the meeting with pictures of the structure, and a map of her property. She stated her neighbor claimed it was too close to her property, but she informed the Supervisors she owns a twenty-five foot right of way between the properties. After Supervisors Rick Wademan, Alex Komar and Susan Jenkins reviewed the information the resident presented they determined a permit was not needed and it was an issue between the two neighbors to settle.
A resident who did not come to the meeting, but contacted the Supervisors asking for help with a neighbor who was blaring music too loud sporadically day and night. They stated it was a nuisance by disturbing their peace and asked it there was anything in the Township codes to prevent this. State Police have been called, but the music is turned off before they show up. Supervisors stated there is nothing they could do to help them and they would have to continue calling the State Police.
Supervisor Komar stated the road crew fixed all the potholes, and the snow equipment is installed on the trucks. There are multiple trees that need to be trimmed alongside the roads and they will be working on the trimming in the next few days.
All paperwork for the Emergency Management Agency has been submitted to the county, reported Supervisor Jenkins. She informed all in attendance there is a product called the Grab and Go in the October issue of the AARP magazine that would be used for emergencies when you need to leave you home in a hurry. The product is a backpack with sections for basic electronics, personal needs, clothing, medications, paperwork, food and drink and cash.
Supervisors during the meeting unanimously adopted the 2018 Budget with projected expenses of two hundred seventy six thousand, three hundred dollars. There will be no real estate tax increase for 2018, but Supervisor Wademan stated an increase might be necessary for 2019.
Joellen Green turned in her resignation from the Planning Commission in which she served on for over fourteen years. Ms. Green stated she would be more than willing to assist a new Secretary learn the procedure. Supervisors and residents in attendance thanked her for her service to the Commission and the community.
JHA issued one permit in the month of November to a resident at Wrighter Lake for a carport. They also informed Council via mail there would be an increase to their rates for 2018.
The next Supervisors meeting will be January 3, 2018.
Formally adopting a budget for 2018 seemed almost like an afterthought at the December meeting of the Great Bend Borough Council on the 7th, especially since they really haven’t decided how they’re going to pay for their police. But that will come at a special workshop a week hence.
Rick Franks opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a silent minute of remembrance on this Pearl Harbor Day. Many agenda items were carried forward, as some of them have for years, and some will be carried forward yet again.
But first, Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan told her charges that they would need to update an ordinance covering the floodplain that encompasses a fair portion of the little town’s scant acreage, being as it is in a crook of the Susquehanna River. According to the attorney for the county Council of Governments (COG), as it now reads the ordinance requires compliance with floodplain regulations for any construction anywhere in the Borough. It should be changed in 2 places to add language like “within an identified floodplain area” to make it more specific and less onerous. Ms. Guinan said she would make the changes and submit to Council next month so it can be advertised and then adopted.
Council has been in a quandary about the intersections of several Borough streets with U.S. Route 11, a state-maintained thoroughfare that serves as the town’s Main Street. Councilman Ben Franks reported that it seems to him that they don’t need to consider replacing the sidewalks after all, an expense they didn’t want to have to cover. No decision was reached.
Council member and fireman Mike VanGorden reported that the Great Bend Hose Company will not take responsibility for burning the huge accumulation of yard waste at Greenwood Park. Ms. Guinan volunteered to contact RHL to see if they could cart it away for mulch.
A lengthy discussion ensued about the town’s ancient backhoe. Council has been offered $2,500 for it, but Jerry MacConnell thinks it might be repaired, and can and should be used. Mr. VanGorden said that Five Star was contacted about repairs. They responded that the machine isn’t worth $5,000, and parts alone to repair it would be about $4,000 – and that was only for parts they could get. “Goodluck finding the other parts,” he was told. Mr. MacConnell said that they had found parts on eBay before, and asked for a second opinion from a local mechanic. At present, the machine is under cover in one of the parks, a derelict that the maintenance staff of one is not inclined to use.
Some on Council are still interested in one of those nifty radar signs that tells you what your speed is: they want to do something to slow traffic on Main Street. Ms. Guinan has told members that the lowest price she has found for such a gadget is $2,000. Police Chief Jon Record said he wanted to research the matter further; he said he had heard that Vestal, NY police had withdrawn the one they had from service and wanted to know why.
Mr. Record was asked about recent legislation that would allow local municipal police to use radar (in Pennsylvania only the State Police are currently allowed to use radar to monitor vehicle speed). He said that so far the legislation has not yet been enacted. If and when it is, the Borough would have to install warning signs at both ends of town, and the equipment would not be cheap to purchase and maintain, and would have to comply with a host of regulations.
The Borough’s small part-time police force is under some stress. “I need help,” said Chief Record. One of his officers has accepted full-time employment elsewhere; he will continue to work in Great Bend, but only on second shift, and at reduced hours. So the Borough will have to find another officer, and Mr. Record isn’t sure where he’s going to find one. He has asked Council for $15 per hour for his officers, but members are reluctant to go that high, given the budget constraints they have imposed on themselves. Council President Rick Franks wondered at a sudden $3 per hour raise. Others noted that the Borough Secretary hasn’t had a raise in years.
Great Bend police now start at $12 per hour. According to Mr. Record, the highest paid is at $13.50 per hour – except for himself as chief at $14 per hour. He said he would take only $15.01 per hour if he could start new Borough officers at $15. He also reported that Montrose just boosted their starting police salaries to $16 per hour.
Mayor Jim Riecke and some others recently met with representatives of New Milford Borough, which rents Great Bend police at a current rate of $33 per hour. They asked New Milford to raise their contribution to $36 per hour to cover increased costs, and a possible increase in officer salary. New Milford Borough just accepted the increase; according to Ms. Guinan the contract between the Boroughs would have to be updated to reflect the change.
But the salaries of the Borough’s police officers are still in contention, and thus the special workshop on December 12 (beginning at 6:30pm) to hash it out. Council is not willing to increase taxes, so whatever they come up with will have to fit within the budget they just adopted, which projects expenses for the police at $42,500 for 2018. The contribution from New Milford, and fines collected from violators covers some of that, but not all by far.
Given these considerations, an appeal from the Blue Ridge High School Music Department for a contribution for audio equipment – including a band shell at a projected cost of about $15,000, fell on deaf ears in Great Bend Borough.
Great Bend Borough, like all other municipalities in the state, received a letter (accompanied by a sample resolution) from the Pennsylvania Family Council about Act 42 of 2017 that allows for the establishment of 10 so-called “mini casinos” in the state. Under the new law, municipalities can choose to prohibit the siting of such an operation within their jurisdiction, but they must do it by resolution and notify the state by the end of this month. However unlikely such a thing might be in Great Bend Borough, Council decided to go ahead with the resolution to keep casinos out of town.
Council gave final approval to amendments to its parking ordinance that proscribe parking on most Borough streets within 48 hours of a 3-inch snowfall. Penalties, which can be imposed by any police agency, range from $50 for a first offense, up to $200, plus towing charges, if necessary. The mayor can also declare a snow emergency to invoke the ordinance.
And Council will try to get quotes to refurbish the lighting in the Borough building. Some of the old fluorescent fixtures are failing, but the cost will be determined by the type of lighting and whatever modifications and painting might be required to install it.
Mr. Franks took the opportunity to thank Maureen Crook for her service on Council. “She will be missed,” he said.
And last but not least, Council in a unanimous roll call vote accepted a budget for 2018 that calls for no new taxes to support expenditures estimated at a total of $234,500.
The Great Bend Borough Council will reorganize itself (with one new member) on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 beginning at 6:00pm. The regular January meeting will follow on Thursday, January 4, 2018 beginning at 7:00pm.
