MINUTES OF THE TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING JUNE 11, 2008

The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their Regular Meeting on June 11, 2008.  Those in attendance were Chairman Richard Van Noy, Supervisor Maureen Sterner, Supervisor James Davenport, Secretary/Treasurer Maria Wieand, Solicitor Dan Lyons, and area residents.  Chairman Van Noy called the meeting to order at 7:01pm.   

Minutes Presented:               May 7, 2008                  Regular Meeting

                                                May 28, 2008                Work Session           

Motion by Supervisor Sterner to approve the minutes and seconded by Supervisor Davenport.

There being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously. 

Executive Sessions were held:

                                                May 28, 2008 after the work session

                                                June 11, 2008 prior to the regular meeting. 

Comments or Questions on Agenda items:              None 

Matters Arising:         None 

Treasurer's Report:    

 Maria Wieand reviewed items we need to clarify for the CPA to complete our 2007 audit.  We need to look in the archives for the missing receipt books that Ms. Riker stated went into a box and in a closet or upstairs in archives.  We have not been able to locate them yet.

Motion by Supervisor Sterner to accept the Treasurer's Report, and seconded by Supervisor Davenport. After comments and questions, the motion passed unanimously. 

Bill List:

Maria Wieand presented the bills being presented tonight in the amount of $26,139.32, motion by Supervisor Sterner to pay the bills and seconded by Supervisor Davenport.  Comments and questions were addressed and the motion passed unanimously. 

Announcements:       

June 14, 2008 Flag Day Dinner Celebration at TTVFC 6pm to 11pm @ the Fire House sponsored by T.O.M.                       

Old Business:

- Memorandum of Understanding – Austin T. Blakeslee:  Our solicitor reviewed insurance coverage needed with our provider and verified we need to name Tobyhanna Township as additional insured on our policy and us on theirs. No work will be done without consent of the other Township, and there is a 90 day withdraw period. The revised memorandum of understanding is being submitted tonight with the above mentioned changes and recommended for approval by our Solicitor. Motion by Supervisor Davenport to adopt Resolution 2008-129, Toby-Tunk Park Memorandum of Understand for the Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area.  Seconded by Supervisor Sterner, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.  

- Regional Comprehensive Plan: The Intergovernmental Cooperative Implementation Agreement between Coolbaugh, Tobyhanna, Tunkhannock Townships, and the Borough of Mount Pocono, known as the “Municipalities” is to encourage responsible development that respects the region’s sensitive environmental features and special rural character, enhances the character of the Municipalities, efficiently uses public infrastructure and strengthens the regional tax base. Supervisor Sterner made a motion to approve Resolution 2008-132, the Coolbaugh, Mount Pocono, Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock Region Intergovernmental Cooperative Implementation Agreement.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, there being no comments or questions the motion passed unanimously. Chairman Van Noy did note that our Township spearheaded this back in 2003 and we were one of the mover and shakers for getting this moving forward, and we are now the last Township to approve this for implementation. 

- Stoltzfus Land Development:  Our Solicitor gave a review and he stated the letter of credit is acceptable from Ag Choice for $77,715.00 for Phase I. The developer’s agreement has been signed by the Stoltzfus’s and ready for the Supervisors signatures. “Phase I” completion date is September 1, 2008 and “Phase II” June 1, 2009. The proper letter of credit is now on file for Phase I, and an update to the letter of credit will be required for Phase II. Supervisor Davenport made a motion to approve Resolution 2008-133 Stoltzfus minor subdivision to complete phase I by September 1, 2008, and Phase II by June 1, 2009, with the required letter of credit for each Phase. Supervisor Sterner seconded, and after comments and questions, the motion passed unanimously. 

- Moyer Corrective Deed:  Solicitor Lyons made contact with Brett Riegel and the Moyer’s are requesting we pay their legal fee of $250.  Supervisor Sterner motioned to tell the Moyer’s we are not paying their legal fees and if they don’t sign the corrective deed we file the corrective deed from Township to Township. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, solicitor Lyons requested we get the ok from DCNR that a Township-to-Township-corrective deed is acceptable and we should get that in writing from DCNR.  There being no additional comments or questions the motion passed unanimously. 

- Liaison for speaking with the press: Access to reliable, accurate, readily available information about the Township and a good working relationship with the media is important.  This is why a Media Liaison who gives informed accurate information and advice to the media is needed for the Township.  Supervisor Sterner made comment to the article that was done on our DPW and the department that was in the Township News magazine and distributed to all municipalities in the state of Pennsylvania. It is the Supervisors responsibility to know what is being published about the Township and since the article was incorrect and not clear in all its facts.  Motion by Supervisor Sterner to appoint Supervisor Davenport, as Media Liaison for the Township of Tunkhannock.  Questions and comments were addressed and the motion was seconded by supervisor Van Noy and carried unanimously.  

- Representatives needed: The Township has the following openings for volunteers on the following committees:  Representative for PMREMS (Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services), Committee Chairperson to help organize Tunk-Fest 2008, and Representatives to serve on the EMA (Emergency Management Agency). Motion by Supervisor Sterner to advertise in the Journal for the above listed volunteer openings and to post on our web site.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport and carried unanimously. 

- Cinder and Mulch for residents:  The Township does not pick up your residential leaves, lawn grass, brush and other yard wastes. Brush and small limbs (No Grass) may be bundled and/or loaded and dropped off at the Township Municipal Yard.  The yard waste collected at the Township is chipped and recycled as "mulch" available free of charge for all Township residents.  The mulch pile is located at the rear of the maintenance building #2 (red brick-old firehouse).  You may come and take buckets or self load your truck at anytime during Township hours.

Cinders: Due to a shortage the Township experienced in 2007-2008, we must discontinue allowing residents to take cinders from the cinder sheds.  We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this policy.  

- Beers letter and balance on surveying bill: After reviewing, the letter received on May 8, 2008, from Robert Beers for the Kim survey.  The balance of $641.15 from the survey quoted and approved in August of 2007 is due Robert Beers. 

Supervisor Davenport motioned to pay Robert G. Beers, Registered Surveyor the balance due him for the Kim property in the amount of $641.15 and seconded by Supervisor Sterner, there being no comment or question the motion passed unanimously. 

New Business: 

- US Department of Labor/wage and hourly investigation:  The Township was notified by the U.S. Dept. of Labor/wage and hourly investigation that a complaint had been filed against the Township.  The investigating official Stephen Fedock performed the investigation and determined that the previous staff from March 2006 to March 26, 2008, had inconsistently paid or granted comp time.  This affected six (6) employees and the reimbursement must be paid by June 18, 2008, taxes must be taken out, a certified letter asking former employees to pick up check, and current employees be given hourly comp time to be used by September 1, 2008.  Supervisor Sterner motioned to adopt Resolution 2008-134 paying previous employee Donna Verdes $532.45, Bev Riker in the amount of $1,017.82, Kate Lambert 35.5 hours rather than $483.85, Dot Trauger 14.50 hours rather than $251.52, Maria Wieand 26.75 hours rather than $393.80 hours and Bruce Yerk 4 hours rather than $54.68.  The total dollar value is $2,734.12, seconded by supervisor Van Noy and after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.  

- Thomas Rambold: Owner of Lots 1222 & 1223 Stonecrest Development had Penn’s Trail Environmental, LLC forward a on-lot sewage management agreement for the system that is being installed at this location.  Our solicitor has reviewed it for legal terms and made minor corrections and has asked Hanover Engineering to review for technical terms as our SEO firm.  Supervisor Sterner made a motion to adopt Resolution 2008-135, accepting the on-lot sewage management agreement for lots 1222 & 1223, located in Stonecrest Development as reviewed and approved by our Solicitor and pending the review from Hanover Engineering. Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.  Once we have the letter from Hanover with their ok, Penn’s Trail Environmental will submit the Management Agreement and $100 annual fee for processing and filing. 

Bethlehem Water Authority: A letter received by the BWA to the Board of Supervisors regarding the leased recreation land and its misuse, the current board began significant clean up to the property and agreed to allow BWA to perform a Environmental Study.  Supervisor Sterner made a motion to pay half of the Phase I environmental study on the property since the previous board allowed the misuse of the land.  Seconded by Supervisor Van Noy, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously. 

PMREMS Septic System: Supervisor Sterner reviewed the items discuss at the last meeting for Pocono Mountain Regional Emergency Medical Services. The building is in need of a new septic system and the committee reviewed and suggested the work be performed by the inter-municipals group of in house workers, IE: DPW and Maintenance crews and equipment.  A motion by Supervisor Van Noy to allow the agility program for materials and or workers to perform the work on the new septic system at PMREMS building.  Seconded by Supervisor Davenport, after comments and questions the motion passed unanimously.   

Reports:

Supervisor Van Noy:     Joint Building Codes – minutes posted

                                    Pocono Mountain Regional Police Board – minutes posted

                                    Pocono Mountain School Board – no report

                                    Tunkhannock Twp. Vol. Fire Co.- no report

Supervisor Sterner:       

                                    Emergency Management- meeting scheduled for 5/17/08  

                                    Emergency Medical Services- no report 

Supervisor Davenport

                                    Dept. of Public Works (DPW) –no report 

Pat Kager                     Clymer Library- No report 

Mike Gillen                   Pocono Mountain Regional Police- no report meeting not held yet 

                                    Monroe County Task Force - no report 

Dot Trauger                  Township Planning Commission - minutes posted  

Public Comments:

Mike Gillen- IML sign on Route 115 indicating location of IML is missing or not there can it be replaced? We will check with our DPW department and follow-up. 

Motion by Supervisor Davenport that an executive session if needed will be held prior to the 6/25 work session and the 7/9 regular meeting for legal or personnel issues if necessary.  Seconded by Supervisor Van Noy and carried unanimously. 

A motion to adjourn was made by Supervisor Davenport at 8:59pm, seconded by Supervisor Sterner carried unanimously. 

Maria S. Wieand

Secretary