MINUTES OF THE TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING HELD AUGUST 4, 2004
The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on August 4, 2004. Those in attendance were Supervisors Francis Altemose, II, Jim Sterrett and William Bourke, Solicitor Edmund Scacchitti, Secretary Donna Verdes, and area residents. Chairperson Altemose, II called the meeting to order at 7:31 PM.
Motion by Chairman Altemose, II to approve the agenda. Motion seconded by Supervisor Bourke. Supervisor Bourke asked the public if there were any comments or questions regarding the items on the agenda. Following questions from public the agenda was approved unanimously.
Motion by Chairman Altemose, II to table approving the July 7, 2004 minutes until September’s monthly meeting, motion seconded by Supervisor Bourke. After comments, motion carried unanimously. The following meeting minutes were presented: July 21, 2004 and August 2, 2004 work sessions. Chairperson Altemose, II moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and approve as written. Motion seconded by Supervisor Bourke. After comments, the motion carried unanimously.
Matters Arising: At the July 7th meeting, Dick VanNoy requested that the Supervisor put some pressure on PennDot regarding repairing the state roads. Chairperson Altemose, II requested that he send a letter detailing the roads and the problems.
Supervisor Sterrett addressed a question from the last meeting regarding meetings being posted on the website. He clarified that only general information regarding the meetings is on the web site and it's not updated.
Supervisor Bourke stated that regarding the incidents in Brier Crest Woods he would have the information tomorrow and would contact Mr. Dick VanNoy at that time.
Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Donna Verdes presented the Treasurer’s report
General - Receipts $162,493.34
Disbursements $245,030.96
General Balance $664.406.25
Liquid Fuels - Liquid Fuels Balance $527,015.69
Motion by Supervisor Bourke to accept the treasurer’s report, motion seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. After comments, motion carried unanimously.
Bill List: Bills in the amount of $71,419.25. Chairperson Altemose, II made motion to pay the bills, motion seconded by Supervisor Bourke. After comments and questions motion carried unanimously.
Announcements: Clymer Library Book Mobile will be here at the Township on August 6th between 1-2 p.m and then every two weeks. Service Member Appreciation page on Website. There will be an Armed Services Recognition form on the website or see me after the meeting. This is for family members who live in the Township. We have placed an ad for an Assistance Planning, Zoning and Sewage Officer position. Terry Willard will be leaving us, therefore we are advertising for his replacement. There will be a benefit for Gary Riley. He is the President of the Tunkhannock Township Volunteer Fire Co. and he has a heart problem. He is back on the transplant list and the Fire Co. will be having a benefit dinner for him. It will be August 21 between 5 – 8 p.m.
The meeting schedule for August was read.
Old Business:
Chairperson Altemose, II made a motion to advertise the Vacancy Officer position. Motion seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. After comments, motion passed unanimously.
New Business:
Motion by Chairperson Altemose, II to schedule and advertise a public meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. to consider a proposed zoning change from R-2 to C-2 for the following parcels; that portion of Tax ID#20/12/1/11 Pin# 20630300278473 Norman F. Garner currently zoned R-2. Tax ID# 20/12/1/10 Pin # 20630300262819 Henry Mitrosky. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Chairperson Altemose, II to grant a waiver of Section 404.1 of the Tunkhannock Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance in respect of the Gardner/Stoltzfus Plan Scale Size. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Chairperson Altemose, II to conditionally approve the Gardner/Stoltzfus Minor Subdivision subject to:
Motion by Supervisor Bourke to schedule and advertise a public meeting on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. to consider proposed amendment to the Tunkhannock Township Zoning Ordinance 2002-108: Section 3.87.4 Fence and Section 3.181 Setbacks. The Planning Commission voted to recommend adoption of the proposed amendments. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterrett to give Greg Christine, Director of Monroe County Tax Claim Bureau Blanket approval to sell properties on the County’s Repository list that are in Tunkhannock Township with the condition that Tunkhannock Township receives copies of the list of properties prior to them being put on the Repository list in the event the Township is interested in purchasing the property. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Roy and Carol Bishop are requesting permission to join lots 787 and 788, Section C4B of the Emerald Lakes Development. The proposed deed has been reviewed by both the Sewage and Zoning Departments and all is in order. Motion by Chairperson Altemose, II to adopt Resolution 2004-104 approving the joining of lots 787 and 788, Section C4B, Emerald Lakes for Roy and Carol Bishop. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Bourke to advertise for bulk trash bids for the Fall Bulk Trash Weekend, September 17 – 20, 2004. Seconded by Chairperson Altemose, II. There were no comments. Motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson Altemose, II stated that the Township Open Space Committee was not held, the Joint Open Space was cancelled, the COG Minutes were posted and the EMA was not held.
Supervisor Sterrett that the Clymer Library Minutes were posted and to please take a look at them for coming events. The minutes for the EMS were posted but mentioned that their membership fees were down but holding it’s own. Their trucks have well over 100,000 miles and have requested the Township’s to donate whatever they can toward the purchase of a new truck or to put the old box on a new chassi. They apologized for the not attending Tunk Fest but they were out on calls. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Saturday of each month from now on at locations be announced. The next meeting will be at Mt. Pocono at 8:30a.m. on August 21st and the public is invited.
Supervisor Bourke stated that the Regional Comprehensive Land Use Plan is waiting to put together what they hope will be the final meeting and that they would be able to go forward with their plan for all four municipalities. The Build Code Committee will meet on August 19th at 7 p.m. The Governor has changed some legislature and they need to meet to review it. In regard to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police, he is sitting on the negations team to negotiate the new contract. There is over 200 hours in the bank and will have the hours regarding the race next month.
Terry Willard announced that the Planning Commission meeting Minutes are posted as well as the Watershed report. The Tobyhanna/Tunkhannock Creek Watershed AGM is Tuesday, August 10 at 8p.m. at the Lake Naomi Club. The AGM is open to the public. If your interested in the water, purity and the quality, please attend also at 8:30 they are having a Raptor Display.
Public Comments: Terry Kline - Noticed Tunkhannock Township dump trucks running in the evenings on two occasions. Supervisors’ responded that it was for Heller’s Lane and the road crew is tearing up and replacing the road in the same day. Mae Kline commented about a property not being mowed on Long Pond Road. Maureen Sterner asked what was happening with Mt. Terrace Estates and was informed that She was informed that Mr. Parisi was holding it up at his end. Also she questioned whether there was any grant money received yet for the Building Codes. There hasn’t been any money received. She also asked about the waiver for the Stoltzfus/Gardner sub division. Terry Willard advised that it was in reference to the scale size of the plan.
Other comments (Delores Dannecker) Church on Long Pond Road – tax status - What constitutes a church, they've had 1 cook out and 1 sleep over. Never any services there. Hanson Lutheran Church (MS. Daytime only retreat – not sure if they got tax exempt service. Need to Check w/Dot. No answer at phone number to call. Marie Rivera – Commented that it was the township’s loss in respect to Terry Willard moving. Dick VanNoy echoed that and said that in regarding to the Planning Board he did an excellent job. Irving Midgette regarding the Hellers Lane road project he was informed that the resident's would never be denied access but on August 22 he missed going to play because the road was closed for 2 hours. Supervisor Bourke stated it was actually closed 38 minutes and he checked on that when Mr. Midgette approached him about this. Diane Smith was also concerned with the road being closed especially for emergency services especially since it’s the only road in to that development.
Supervisor Bourke made motion to adjourn. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett.
There being no further comments, Supervisor Bourke motioned to adjourn. Supervisor Sterrett seconded. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting ended at 8:30 p.m.
Donna Verdes
Secretary