The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on December 1, 2004. Those in attendance were Chairman Francis Altemose, II, Jim Sterrett and William Bourke, Secretary/Treasurer Donna Verdes, Solicitor Ed Scacchitti, Zoning Officer Dot Trauger, Zoning & Planning Assistant Bev Riker and area residents. Chairman Altemose, II called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM.

Chairman Altemose, II introduced Joseph Lodics from the Monroe County Transportation Authority. Mr. Lodics was responding to a petition spearheaded by Betty Terrell-Cruz to bring public transportation to Tunkhannock Township. He gave a short presentation including an overview of the current routes of public transportation and a proposed route that would include Tunkhannock Township. He will coordinate with Betty to set up focus groups to decide the times and locations of bus stops. Francis pointed out that the new firehouse would be an excellent location for a meeting, and possibly some of the development clubhouses. The Transportation Authority will arrange for transportation to the focus group meetings. They will arrange for a meeting sometime after the holidays.

The following minutes were presented: November 3, 2004 regular monthly meetings, November 13, 2004 budget work sessions, November 17, 2004 Special Meeting and November 17, 2004 and November 29, 2004 work sessions. Motion by Chairman Altemose, II to approve the minutes as written. Motion seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. After comments and a date correction on the November 3, 2004 minutes from October 6 to November 3. Motion passed unanimously. Executive Sessions followed the November 17 work session and preceeded the November 29 work session to discuss Personnel and Legal Issues.

Matters Arising – Selective Insurance bill from last month in the amount of $5045.00. The memo portion should have read:

$4897.42 yearly auto insurance for Fire Company

$ 147.58 balance of workers comp insurance charged to Fire Company

We apply their share based on the yearly premium. Their portion of the yearly bill is applied to a monthly bill to allocate their expenses in the appropriate line items. The memo portion in last month's bill was a typo.

Capital Reserve Balance in Treasurer's Report - The Board of Supervisors has decided that since it is not a customary practice, at this time, we are not going to make any changes for the remainder of the year and will review the request again next year.

PA One Call Bills - Concerning charging the contractors for the monthly PA One Calls, The Board of Supervisors feel at this time it would not be cost effective to get reimbursed for these fees. The bill on average is $20 - $25 per month. Last month, for example, there were 26 calls at 95 cents each. It's costlier to retrieve the 95 cents than to absorb it as a township expense.

Henning Property DCNR Grant Terms and Conditions - There are approximately 15 pages of general terms and conditions that are available for review (i.e. contractor responsibilities, non-discrimination/sexual harassment clause, contractor integrity provisions, etc.) More specific terms and conditions would be specified if the grant is received.

Treasurer's Report: Treasurer Donna Verdes presented the Treasurer’s report

General - Receipts $167,591.94

Disbursements $ 77,305.48

General Balance $536,074.57

Liquid Fuels - Liquid Fuels Balance $462,728.87

Motion by Supervisor Bourke to accept the treasurer’s report. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. There being no comments, motion passed unanimously.

Bills in the amount of $72,988.32 were presented. Motion by Chairman Altemose, II to approve the bill list. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. After comments and questions, motion passed unanimously.

Announcements – Supervisor Sterrett announced that the Tree Lighting & Santa's Coming to Town will be on December 5, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. Supervisor Bourke announced that a letter was sent to Kevin Toolan, Tobyhanna Army Depot's Public Affairs Officer, requesting that he send invitations to families of those folks who have relative deployed in Iraq to come to our tree lighting.

In addition, Supervisor Bourke thanked Marlene Kovalefski for the beautiful handmade ornaments she donated for the Township Christmas tree. The ornaments were on display.

Supervisor Sterrett announced that The Silver Companies meeting with Kidder and Tunkhannock Townships would be held on Thursday, December 16, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. at Kidder Township Municipal Building. Also, on December 2, 2004 at 5:30 p.m. there will be a budget meeting at Tunkhannock Township Municipal Building and on December 23, 2004 a special meeting will be held to adopt the proposed General Fund Budget at 5:30 p.m. at the Tunkhannock Township Municipal Building.

The office will be closed on December 24 & 25 and on December 31, 2004 and January 1, 2005.

The meeting schedule was read.

After a question about The Silver Companies, Chairman Altemose gave a brief overview of their proposed project. The project is a 55+ Active Adult Community and the location is in Kidder & Tunkhannock Townships off Route 903. The plans are for approximately 1000 homes and at the time, The Silver Companies are in the very preliminary stages. He encouraged everyone to attend.

New Business:

Harris Fire Escrow Returned - Chairman Altemose, II explained that we had received $10,000 to be placed in escrow until such time as the property was demolished. Guardian Inspection and Tunkhannock Township Zoning inspected the property and noted that the work was completed property. Therefore, the funds in the amount of $10,001.64 (including interest) were returned to the Harris'.

Gulliksen/Mokshefski Land Development Plan - This plan is for a yard & lawn service business in conjunction with a firewood business already in operation on the opposite side of Route 115. The business is family owned and operated.

The Tunkhannock Township Planning Commission recommended approval of the Planning Module and they recommend conditional approval of the Land Development Plan at their November 17, 2004 public meeting with certain conditions.

Chairman Altemose, II made a motion to approve the Gulliksen/Mokshefski Planning Module. Supervisor Sterrett seconded the motion. Following questions and comments the motion passed unanimously.

Chairman Altemose, II made a motion to approve the Gulliksen/Mokshefski Land Development Plan with the following conditions on the plan:

1. A more precise location of test pits and reserve sewage area should be shown. DONE

2. The owner's certification should be executed. This will be done when the mylars are complete.

3. The following note should be added to the plan: "The property owner must apply to the Township for a sewage permit prior to undertaking the construction of an on-lot sewage disposal system" DONE

4. All plan revisions that have been performed since the original plan submittal should be noted under revisions. DONE

Supervisor Bourke seconded the motion. After questions and comments, the motion passed unanimously.

Reports: Chairman Altemose, II reported that the EAC, COG and EMA minutes are posted. If we received the Joint Open Space minutes, they are posted.

Bill Chatham reported that the Clymer Library is at the mercy of the state because they cut public funding this year and they were very thankful that Tunkhannock Township came along with approximately $14,000 to support the Clymer Library. There was some concern that Tobyhanna Township had not anted up funds, but they have promised to ante up $20,000. The library is looking to see if Tunkhannock Township could increase their funds; however, they were very happy to have received what they did.

Supervisor Sterrett reported that there was no EMS meeting in November and there will be no EMS meeting in December. Jim apologized for not attending the School Board meeting due to Township business.

Supervisor Bourke reported that there was no meeting of the Regional Comprehensive Land Use Planning Committee, the November meeting for the Joint Building Codes Committee was cancelled and that the Pocono Mountain Regional Police were called to a house in Tunkhannock Township for a possible suicide. They were able to apprehend the man and no one was injured.

Donna Verdes reported the Township Planning Commission minutes were posted and Bruce Walder reported that the Monroe County Task Force minutes were posted.

Public Comments: Pat Moore commented about the Moyer Christmas Tree Farm, availability of copies of the budget, the potholes on Hellers Lane, that a letter should be sent to PennDot about their plowing plan, any updates on the Bethlehem Water Authority situation, any updates on Tunkhannock Trails and finally a letter should be sent to Dick's on Route 115.

Dick Van Noy commented on PennDot and suggested inviting them to our meeting. Bruce Walder reported that Long Pond Road from Route 940 to Kuhenbeaker was scheduled to be reconstructed in 2005 and from Kuhenbeaker to Route 115 in 2006. In addition, next year new guide rails are to be installed on the Hellers Lane bridge and the Long Pond bridge by the racetrack.

Betty Terrell-Cruz thanked the people for supporting the "Touch of Home" project, asked for prayers for Guy DeAngelis who is very sick, commented on the newly paved section of Route 115 where water runs down and the road is deteriorating. She also thinks it would be a good idea to invite PennDot to our meeting and that she will write and everyone should write to PennDot. She also commented on the tax millage. Bill reported that we were looking at two millage changes, one for the fire company and one for the library, but none for the Township.

Marge Nowinski commented on the Henning property and that it should remain an Industrial zone.

Gary Verdes passed.

Hank Danneker commented on the tax mill increase.

Maureen Sterner commented on the millage rate and how it affects the general fund, anyone interested in buying our extra hours for Pocono Mountain Regional Police, water and boat rescues in the Township. George Ewald commented that the last water rescue was last year in Emerald Lakes and it was a drowning. Maureen also commented on the generator and felt it was inadequate.

George Ewald commented on the Henning Property and volunteered to go there with a backhoe with the SEO to determine if it was a buildable property. He was looking for a waiver of trespass to enter onto the property.

Supervisor Bourke made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Supervisor Sterrett seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously.

There being no further public comments, Supervisor Bourke made motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. Motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.

Donna Verdes

Secretary