The annual "cleanup" program for 2018 in Harford Township is scheduled for the first full week of June, the 4th through the 8th.  The Township will pick up loads of just about anything you want to be rid of, with preference for metals that can be sold to help pay for the program.  There are exceptions.

The cleanup program will not accept electronics.  Passenger car and light truck tires are acceptable, but household trash and garbage are not.

Call in advance to reserve a large pickup truck load for the low, low price of $60 (same as last year), which Township Secretary Carolyn Jennings said should cover the cost of the service.

The cleanup schedule was decided at the Township Supervisors' meeting on April 17th, attended by a moderate "crowd," most of whom were there simply to observe.  There were exceptions.

The Supervisors gave the floor early to the Township's auditors, led by Connie Breese, who read her team's report as submitted to the state and county.  The auditors commended Ms. Jennings's record keeping, but listed a few things they would like corrected:

• Spending sometimes outruns the budget without corresponding formal resolutions
  
  
• Fuel consumption records lack sufficient detail;
  
  
• Potential conflicts of interest arise when Supervisors do not recuse themselves from some decisions that may affect them individually;
  
  
• Financial statements should be reconciled by someone other than the Secretary/Treasurer;
  
  
• The Township lacks a proper personnel manual.
  

The Supervisors are still trying to decide whether to rent, lease or buy a roller, for the roads.  Dustin Walker got proposals from Caterpillar, John Deere and Medico.  He immediately discarded those from Cat and Deere as too expensive.  A 5-year lease from Medico would be slightly cheaper than renting, cost a bit more than $1,700 per month, and offers an option to buy, as long as hours can be kept below 800 per year; Mr. Walker said the old Township roller gets only about 250 hours a year.

Supervisor Kyle Payne has said that he would prefer to buy new.  On the other hand, he said he had talked with Gibson Township, who were not happy with the smaller Case machine they bought new.  Supervisor Sue Furney said she thought a lease sounded like a good option.

After giving one contractor an opportunity to clarify its bid last month, the Supervisors accepted bids from Brown and from Romanski to supply cinders for winter road traction.

The Supervisors signed for a 5-year renewal of the sewer system's "stream discharge" permit under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) as drawn up by JHA, the Township's engineers.

The Supervisors entertained two representatives of the local baseball organization, this year affiliated again with the Little League.  They thanked the Township for its support in the past, and reported a full complement of teams scheduled for the summer (if it ever gets here).  They then asked the Supervisors to consider forming a "parks and recreation committee" under its own auspices that would allow the Township to apply for grants to develop the ballfields into a general community park, with a playground and perhaps a walking path, to make the facility "more available for the general community."  They said that Gibson and Clifford had created such committees, and Ms. Furney said that she would contact those municipalities to determine how big such an organization would be, and how to get it going.  Mr. Walker said that a survey of the ballfield might be useful to see what the Township really has to work with.

The Supervisors have been trying to find qualified people to hire as road maintenance staff.  Asked the status of 4 applications that had been received earlier in the year, Mr. Payne said, "I don't think they have the qualifications we need."  The Township needs people with CDL certification, and in particular, who can operate a grader.  The Supervisors recently signed an agreement with a staffing agency that might help in a pinch.

Mr. Payne also reported on a meeting with the Conservation District and Cabot Oil & Gas about runoff from Plank Road onto U.S. Route 11.  He said that the mud had been cleaned up by the company.  The Supervisors are also considering asking DTE Energy to consider spiffing up Stevens Road, which is said to be suffering from heavy truck traffic.

And last but not least, Dale Ferger, of all people, thanked the Supervisors for filling some areas of Lower Podunk Road with stone to remedy a problem in his neighborhood.

The Harford Township Supervisors meet in public session on the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:00pm in the Township office on Route 547.

The annual Baden –Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award Dinner was held on April 14, 2018 at the Elk Lake High School Gymnasium. Hosted by the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, the dinner is held each year to honor those who have been significant in the community and exemplify the ideals of the Boy Scouts of America. This year's recipient is Lance Benedict, Sheriff of Susquehanna County.

More than 150 members of the community were in attendance to honor Mr. Benedict. Senator Lisa Baker, former State Representative Sandra Major, Judge Jason Legg and Susquehanna County Commissioners Alan Hall, Elizabeth Arnold and MaryAnn Warren were in attendance.

The Food Management department at the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center prepared the meal and numerous gift baskets and donations were made by the SCCTC programs as well.

Dr. Alice M. Davis, SCCTC Executive Director stated, "The Career and Technology Center is honored to participate in this annual event; Sheriff Benedict is certainly a worthy recipient."

Honoree Sheriff Lance Benedict and SCCTC Executive Director Dr. Alice M. Davis

A typically brief monthly meeting of the New Milford Township Supervisors on April 18th heard a pitch from a financial services company, rejected an outrageous bid for a used loader, and was puzzled about permits for a couple of quarries.

The Supervisors listened to an offer from the Dunmore office of the Edward Jones Investment company for help in getting better returns on the township's "reserves."  Brian Goldsack is patrolling local municipalities looking for new business.  He has done his homework, recognizing that Pennsylvania law doesn't offer municipalities like second-class townships many options about where their excess cash can be invested; all such investments must be federally guaranteed and very safe.  Moreover, townships like New Milford need a fair amount of liquidity so that money is available when needed – like for a loader machine, for example.

Mr. Goldsack proposed a package of certificates of deposit (CDs) that could offer higher interest returns than local bank deposits.  Municipalities like New Milford Township generally don't have large "reserves" of funds available for investment.  But Edward Jones, being a large company, can find CDs from anywhere in the country offering the best rates.  The catch is that CDs lock up funds for a period of time, and the shorter the time, the lower the rate.

The Supervisors and Township Secretary Julene Graham said that they would study the proposal and have an answer by the following month's meeting.

The township received one offer of a used loader, to be used as backup for the primary machine, for over $143,000.  They are looking for a used machine in the price range of $30,000-$40,000, so the bid was rejected and further offers are solicited.

The Township received notice of a permit granted by the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for two quarries to something called Bluestone Mining Company.  The quarries are known as WMQ New Milford Quarries 1 and 2.  Nobody seemed to know where these quarries are located.

Ms. Graham was absent in February, and now the township's records are locked up in a recalcitrant computer system, so the monthly financial statements – known in New Milford Township as the "budget" – haven't been available for the past 2 months.  Look for more information next month.

Which would be at the May meeting scheduled for the 16th, beginning at 7:30pm at the township office on U.S. Route 11 north of the borough.

It was unanimously approved during the Susquehanna School Board meeting held on April 18th to send three administrators for training.  Superintendent Bronson Stone stated Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) training will entail how to respond to a violent incident.  The program will provide pertinent information to the attendees; they in turn will bring back strategic methods learned to staff and teachers.

Superintendent Stone reported Title 1 Night was held, having a great turnout, the largest to date.  He also reported the following information: Title VI funds have been depleted; a six point thirty-four percent increase in healthcare benefits; and the elementary reading program will be home based this year.  Superintendent Stone also commended the board with their commitment to safety.

Business Manager Gary Kiernan provided good news to the board informing them there will be no increase for Campus Safety and Security provided by Lanesboro PD, or for the current Delta Dental Plan.

Head of Maintenance Kevin Price requested Teresa Corse, Erika Swanson and Sandra Boughton Gall to work as summer maintenance crew.  Mr. Price also requested William Moser as a substitute maintenance worker.  The School Board unanimously approved all requests.

Mr. Price provided information to retrofit the seventeen lights in the parking lot with LED bulbs.  This conversion would save, at the minimum twenty thousand kilowatt hours per year. 

School Board members unanimously approved May 8th as Teacher Recognition Day and will sponsor a light breakfast.

Unanimously approved was a donation to Barnes-Kasson Hospital for their annual golf tournament.  Superintendent Stone said it was the least they could do since the staff at Barnes are actively involved in providing healthcare services to the school.  He said they are very lucky to be located so close to a healthcare system.

The Business Office will be preparing bids to be advertised for the parking lot resurfacing, and a new utility tractor.  Mr. Price stated he was interested in the John Deere 3039R tractor, with a two-stage snow blower attachment.

Scott Glidden submitted paperwork with Intent to Retire effective the end of the 17/18 school year and it was unanimously accepted.

The Jr. High Assistant Softball Coach, Varsity Football Cheerleading Coach and the Football Coach have submitted resignations that were unanimously accepted.

School Board members appointed the Wayne County Recorder of Deeds to serve the district as the Realty Transfer Tax Collector for the 2018-2019 school year.