REORGANIZATION MEETING OF THE TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
January 7, 2008
The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their 2008 Reorganization meeting in the Municipal Building, Long Pond Road, Long Pond, PA. Those in attendance were Chairman Van Noy, Supervisors Sterrett and Sterner, Acting Solicitor Dan Lyons, Assistant Secretary Maria Wieand, Zoning Officer Kate Lambert, Sewage Officer Bev Riker and area residents. Chairman Van Noy called the meeting to order at 4:34 PM.
An executive session was held prior to January 7, 2008 and during this meeting for legal and personnel reasons.
Public Comments: None
Office Nominations:
Motion by Supervisor Van Noy, to appoint Supervisor Sterner as temporary Chairman and to appoint Maria Wieand as temporary Secretary for purpose of reorganization. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. There being no comments motion carried unanimously.
Acting Chairman Sterner stated that nominations were now open for 2008 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Sterner nominated Richard G. Van Noy as Chairman. Supervisor Sterrett seconded the nomination. There being no other nominations a motion to close was made by Supervisor Sterrett and seconded by Supervisor Van Noy. There being no comments motion carried unanimously.
A motion by Supervisor Sterner to elect Richard Van Noy as 2008 Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, two in favor and Supervisor Sterrett opposed and stated his reasons. The motion passed on a two to one vote.
Chairman Van Noy stated that nominations were now open for 2008 Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Van Noy nominated Supervisor Sterner, seconded by Supervisor Sterrett and the motion passed unanimously. There being no other nominations the motion to close was made by Supervisor Sterrett, seconded by Supervisor Van Noy and carried unanimously.
A motion to appoint Maureen Sterner as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisor, seconded by Supervisor Sterrett. There being no comments or questions the motion passed two in favor one opposed being Supervisor Sterrett who then stated his reasons.
Chairman Van Noy made his opening comments stating 2007 was not our best year for the Board of Supervisors nor were Public Relations. We had difficult with our finances when our Secretary/Treasurer left and an acting Treasurer took over. There should have been numerous accounting procedures instituted that weren’t, but they have been instituted for this year. We will not dwell on the past but we will talk about the positive future. The comments section of the agenda will not have a time limit, but remember to respect each other. The right to express your thoughts and opinions will be granted but if it carries on, the Chairman of the meeting has the control to stop you and move on. We have begun a purchase order system, time clocks for all employees will be instituted, Resolutions will be passed for all major purchases and we can not continue to run with a deficit and we are going to do our best to stay within the operating budget. Thank you to Attorney Dan Lyons for stepping in as acting Solicitor at this time. We will be interviewing for a new solicitor and we hope that Attorney Lyons will apply.
Appointments:
A motion by Supervisor Sterrett to appoint Maria Wieand as the 2008 Secretary/Treasurer, and seconded by Supervisor Sterner. There being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously.
Comments prior to appointments: Today our Sewage Enforcement Officer was asked if she would accept her reappointment with conditions stated on a letter that she received on Friday January 4, 2008. Chairman Van Noy asked her if she declined the position today and Bev Riker stated she did not decline the appointment but declines to sign the letter. There are stipulations she doesn’t agree with, and is not willing to accept or sign this letter. If anyone from the public would like to see the letter she has it in her truck, see her after the meeting. Supervisor Sterner asked Bev Riker if she is accepting the position as SEO with the stipulations in the letter. She responded she refused to sign the letter. Supervisor Sterner said that was not the question and Bev replied, I decline to sign the letter.
A motion was made by Supervisor Sterner to appoint Bev Riker as SEO with the conditions we have presented to her. Based on that motion will you accept the appointment, Bev responded the decision to reappoint me is in your hands. On a recommendation from Council the Board announced a recess for an executive session to discuss this personnel matter. Supervisor Sterner withdrew her previous motion, and makes a motion to appoint Bev Riker as SEO with the conditions set forth in January 4th letter addressed to her, seconded by Supervisor Van Noy. There being no comments or question the motion passed two in favor and one opposed being Supervisor Sterrett. She commented she will not respond at this time without talking to her Lawyer first, and our Solicitor commented that she doesn’t have to accept and she needs to respond within a timely fashion. That time frame being unknown by Attorney Lyons, he will check on this for us. Bev commented that if it helps at all she did have a call into Labor Relations and her Lawyer.
Appointments: A motion by Supervisor Sterner to appoint the following:
Bruce Walder as Road Master
Kate Lambert as Zoning Enforcement Officer
Dorothy Trauger as Planning and Grants Administrator
Jeryl Reinhart as Alternate Sewage Enforcement Officer
Bob Zipp as Percolation Technician
Dan Lyons as Acting Solicitor
Kevin Harrison as Township Engineer
Sarah Bue-Morris as Alternate Engineer
Ned Ramm as Vacancy Officer
Richard Van Noy as Council of Government Representative
Bruce Walder as Council of Government Road Task Force
Richard Van Noy as Supervisor Representative to Pocono Mountain Regional Police
Mike Gillen as Resident at Large for Pocono Mountain Regional Police
Richard Van Noy as Supervisor Representative to Tunkhannock Township Vol. Fire Co.
Maureen Sterner as Emergency Management Administrator
Maureen Sterner as Emergency Medical Services
Richard Van Noy as Regional Comprehensive Land Plan Use
Pat Kager as Clymer Library Representative
Richard Van Noy as Regional Open Space Committee
Richard Van Noy as Building Codes Enforcement Supervisor Representative
Kate Lambert as Building Codes Enforcement Township Representative
Dot Trauger as Secretary for Planning Commission
Jim Sterrett as Supervisor Representative to Planning Commission ****DECLINED*****
Ellen Lott as member for 4 year term to the Planning Commission
Kevin Harrison as Engineer for Planning Commission
Dan Lyons as Solicitor Planning Commission
Jim Sterrett as Supervisor Representative for Agricultural Security Advisory Committee ******DECLINED*******
Mike Gillen to Zoning Hearing Board for a 3 year appointment
Ray Schwartz to Zoning Hearing Board as Alternate Member for a 1 year term
Richard Van Noy as Supervisor Representative Environmental Advisory Council
Richard Van Noy as 911 Advisory Committee Supervisor Representative
Dot Trauger as 911 Advisory Committee Township Representative
Seconded by Supervisor Van Noy, comments were heard from Supervisor Sterrett as follows: he is opposed to Kate Lambert as Zoning Enforcement Officer because she has a tendency to become defensive when people question her ability and her knowledge. He is also opposed to appointing Bruce Walder as Road Master for the simple reason that he could be somewhere else making better money and more appreciated. Supervisor Van Noy commented that he has done a fantastic job getting the roads up to date and having wonderful Department of Public works employees. The motions passed two in favor and one opposed that being Supervisor Sterrett to the two positions noted above but he votes for the other appointments.
The following positions have yet to be appointed:
Emergency Management Coordinator
Tobyhanna Tunkhannock Creek Watershed Association Representative
Building Hearing Board Resident at Large
Environmental Advisory Council Associate Member
Economic Development Committee
Select Depositories for Township Funds:
Motion by Supervisor Sterrett to appoint PLGIT Intergovernmental Fund, The First National Bank of Palmerton, PNC Bank, and Morgan-Stanley as depository for checking, money market, savings accounts and CD’s for all funds. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, there being no comments the motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to appoint any of the Supervisors Maureen Sterner, Jim Sterrett and Richard G. Van Noy as the representatives to draw down by resolution any drafts, bonds or other obligations that may come before the board. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett, there being no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Motion by Supervisor Sterrett to authorize the Solicitor of the Board and specifically right now Dan Lyons to hire experts on regulatory items that may come before the Board only with prior approval of the Board of Supervisors. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett, there being no comments, the motion passed unanimously.
Certify Delegates to the State Convention:
Motion by Supervisor Sterner to authorize the Board of Supervisors, Secretary and anyone else the Supervisors’ deem necessary to attend the State Convention in May. Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett, there being no comments, motion passed unanimously.
Establish the Treasurer’s Bond:
Motion by Supervisor Sterrett to set bond for the treasurer at $2,000,000.00. Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, there being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously.
Set Salaries: Motion by Supervisor Sterrett to set the 2008 salaries as follows:
Secretary/Treasurer $19.00
Road Master $22.68
Zoning Enforcement Officer $15.83
Sewage Enforcement Officer $18.72
Planning & Grants Administrator $18.15
Percolation Technician $150.00 per percolation test
Ken Henning Tax Collector 5%
Auditors $10.00 per hour
DPW & Maintenance is set by the Contract adopted 1/3/08 for a three year period beginning January 1, 2008.
Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, there being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously.
Announcements:
Committee Openings are as follows: Economic Development Committee (EDC)
Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC)
Meeting Schedule:
January 8, 2008 @ 3:00pm Auditors Reorganization
January 16, 2008 @ 4:30pm Planning Commission Reorganization/Regular meeting
January 23, 2008 @ 7pm Board of Supervisors Work/Regular Meeting
Public Comments:
Peg Yencho- Asked about solicitor status and how will we advertise and is it acceptable to have one lawyer for both Planning & Supervisors. Planning & Grants explain this and what is different, and did salaries of all employees go up? Did any other positions change other then Dot & Maria?
William Byron-Asked that the Supervisors get together and have a group hug, put the past behind and move on.
Jim Davenport-Passed
Marjorie Nowinski- I feel the people who bought the FEMA trailer should pay for it.
Maureen Sterner- Is the electronic equipment still in the trailer?
John Kadany-pass
Sean Stevens-Can we get a copy of salaries & items to be voted on prior to the meeting on the website? Can we sell the trailer to the firehouse for one dollar?
George Royael-pass
Cheryl Royael-has a comment for Mr. Sterrett when he was first elected he promised to make something first on his agenda, but she elected not to comment and passed.
Jim Sterrett-Made a statement about the Sewage Enforcement Officer that she had the courage to stand up for her rights as an individual. He feels she was down graded and denied a raise. He also commented on how he and Road Master Bruce Walder took the infrastructure of the Township to a high standard and hopes this will continue since this was taken out of his hands.
Steve Kager-Thanked the Board for instituting purchase orders, Resolutions, keeping the budget under control and it’s good to see the right hand and the left hand knowing what’s going on.
Motion to adjourn by Supervisor Sterner and Seconded by Supervisor Sterrett, the motion passed unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 5:12pm.
Maria S. Wieand
Secretary