The Tunkhannock Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on November 3, 2004. Those in attendance were Supervisors Francis Altemose, II and William Bourke, Solicitor Ed Scacchitti, Zoning Officer Dot Trauger, Zoning & Planning Assistant Bev Riker and area residents. Supervisor Jim Sterrett was absent. Chairperson Altemose, II called the meeting to order at 7:29 PM.

Supervisor Bourke stated that the Township had no responsibility in regard to the election lines. The Board would not be taking any comments regarding the Election. Please call Monroe County Board of Elections at 570/517-3165.

The following minutes were presented: October 6, 2004 regular monthly meetings, October 18, 21, 25 and 30, 2004 budget work sessions, October 20, 2004 Special Meeting and October 20, 2004 and November 1, 2004 work sessions. Motion by Supervisor Altemose, to approve the minutes as written. Motion seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There being no comments, motion passed unanimously.

Matters Arising – Motion by Supervisor Bourke to change Ordinance # 2004-108 Contractors Licensing to Ordinance # 2004-110 which was adopted on September 15, 2004. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. There being no comments, motion passed unanimously.

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

General - Receipts $164,549.68

Disbursements $472,413.39

General Balance $401,945.84

Liquid Fuels - Liquid Fuels Balance $502,981.21

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

Bills in the amount of $117,628.64 were presented. Motion by Supervisor Altemose, II to approve the bill list. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. After comments and questions, motion passed unanimously.

Announcements - Supervisor Altemose, II announced that the Clymer Library Book Mobile will here on November 12, 1-2 pm and that we need volunteers to join the Veteran’s Memorial Committee.

Meeting Schedule: - Supervisor Altemose, II read the November Meeting Schedule. Supervisor Bourke announced the November 6, 2004 budget worksession has been changed to November 13, 2004 at 8 a.m.

Old Business:

Stoltzfus Joinder Deed – Samuel S. Stoltzfus and Barbara S. Stoltzfus had requested to join three lots on Route 115 and Old Route 115. The proposed deed was reviewed by the Sewage and Zoning Departments, as well as the Solicitor and all is in order. Motion by Supervisor Altemose, II to adopt Resolution 2004-108, approving the joining of lots on Route 115 and Old Route 115. Tax ID numbers 20/12/1/56, 20/12/1/57 and 20/12/1/3. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. After comments and questions motion passed unanimously.

Clymer Library Representative – Supervisor Altemose, II announced that Mr. Bill Chatam has kindly volunteered to be the Clymer Library Township Representative. Motion by Supervisor Altemose II to accept Supervisor Sterrett’s resignation as the Clymer Library Township Representative. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There being no comments. Motion passed unanimously.

Motion by Supervisor Altemose, II to appoint Bill Chatam as the Clymer Library Township Representative. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. There being no comments. Motion passed unanimously.

New Business:

Appointment of Public Accountant – Supervisor Bourke explained that in the past few years, the Board of Supervisors felt that the audit should be completed by a professional CPA with experience doing municipal audits and they would like to continue this practice. Motion by Supervisor Bourke to appoint Kirk, Summa & Co. to complete the 2004 audit of the Township accounts. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. Comments and questions included Maureen Sterner asking if we advertised the intent to appoint. Secretary Verdes explained that it did not need to be advertised per the Solicitor. Solicitor Scacchitti explained that it’s a professional service and in his opinion because the Supervisors were not abandoning their Board of Auditors it was not necessary to advertise the intent to appoint a public accountant. After further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

DCNR Resolution – Supervisor Altemose, II explained that this was a Resolution required by DCNR to be submitted with the grant application applying for funds to purchase the Henning Property for Open Space. Motion by Supervisor Altemose, II to adopt Resolution #2004-109 desiring to undertake the following project titled "Fern Ridge Bog, Henning et al". In which the Township is applying to DCNR for a grant for the purpose of carrying out said project and if the grant is awarded that Tunkhannock Township agrees to the terms and conditions of the grant. Seconded by Supervisor Bourke. Following a lengthy discussion, motion passed unanimously.

Alternate On-Lot Sewage Systems – Supervisor Bourke explained that there is going to be Alternate On-Lot Sewage Systems that will be approved by DEP in the future. This ordinance ensures that if these systems are installed a maintenance agreement is required and will not be the Township’s responsibility. Motion by Supervisor Bourke to adopt Ordinance # 2004-111 requiring the execution of a written agreement between the Township and any residential lot owner seeking to install a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved Alternative On-Lot Sewage System. The agreement provides for the proper installation and maintenance of the system and to comply with the terms and provisions thereof. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. After comments and questions, motion passed unanimously.

Special Meeting - Motion by Supervisor Bourke to schedule and advertise a Special Meeting of the Board of Supervisors for Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 5p.m. to consider the adoption of an ordinance to incur non-electoral municipal debt in the amount of $300,000 to purchase the Gradall and to reimburse the general fund for the purchase of the Volvo truck. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. Supervisor Bourke explained that the terms are not finalized yet. He gave generalized terms which are 3.76% fixed interest rate and the term of the loan is 10 years. After comments the motion passed unanimously.

Proposed change of banks for the General Fund from PLIGIT to PNC – Motion by Supervisor Bourke to transfer the General Fund account from PLGIT to PNC Bank to take advantage of a more attractive rate of interest and other benefits to the Township not provided by PLGIT. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. Supervisor Bourke explained that the interest earned with PLIGIT is 0.94% and by transferring to PNC the interest rate will be starting at 1.66%. He stated that it would be just the checking account for the General Fund. We would receive a letter stating that all of our funds would be insured and the Township would get free checks. After comments, motion passed unanimously.

Reports:

Supervisor Altemose, II stated that there was no meeting for the EAC and Joint Open Space. The COG and EMA minutes were posted. The Clymer Library and EMA minutes are pending.

Supervisor Bourke reported there were no meetings for the Regional Comprehensive Land Use plan and Joint Building Codes Enforcement. Pocono Mountain Regional Police Board will meet on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for a budget meeting and then the regular meeting will be at 7p.m. We have no report for the Tobyhanna/Tunkhannock Creek Watershed. The Monroe County Task Force Minutes are posted.

There being no further business, Chairperson Altemose, II opened the floor to comments.

Mike Gillen commented on storage containers, i.e. tractor trailer on Route 115 and a Babylon garbage truck.

Marjorie Nowinski commented on municipal waste on property. She saw a municipal truck dump sewage at an empty house on the Kuhenbeaker Road.

Maureen Sterner commented on purchase orders and the Capital Reserve fund to be included on Treasurer’s Report. She also wanted to comment about Election Day but was told it would not be discussed. Per the solicitor, the Board has the discretion to limit the subject matter during the public comment period.

Betty Terrell-Cruz – Asked the Supervisors for a letter of support to be sent to the Monroe County Transit Authority in regard to the expansion of the Route 115 bus route. She spoke about the Operation Touch of Home Drive and drop off points for packages to be sent overseas. She further commented on violations and procedures and if a violation exists that threatens in anyway the safety or health of anybody in this Township that there will be something done about it. Supervisor Bourke stated that he would like to hear that the violation is called in at the time someone saw it and not discussed at a meeting like this 25 days later. The Township can’t do anything about it 25 days later and if someone sees a violation to call us immediately. Don’t wait to walk in this door when there is a Supervisor’s meeting to say there is a problem. Betty further stated that no matter when the violation is reported she wanted someone to investigate and wanted to be assured that the problem would addressed and stopped.

Pat Moore – Thanked Jim Sterrett for opening the old fire house so that the facilities could be used during the wait to vote. Halloween party, thank you to Jim, Donna and other staff members. Remarked about the rough time Donna was given. She thought the party when rather well, the children had a good time and would be in favor of having those people that think they could do a better job stand up and prove themselves next year. Supervisor Bourke mentioned that a letter went out to those individuals asking them to come in front of the Board to express their concerns. She offered her apologizes on behalf of whoever for the way that Donna was berated that day and thought it was uncalled for. In regard to her concerns regarding Penn Dot Plowing – She found out that Penn Dot should not be the target but the governor since it was a budget cut. She asked resident’s and the Board to send letters to the governor, state reps and senators regarding the plowing situation asking to have the situation reversed. She further commented on the paving on Heller’s Lane, she requested the road master take a look at it because there seems to be dips and was concerned that snow plowing would damage the newly paved road.

Marie Rivera – Commented on the Gradall parked on a residential property on Kuhenbeaker road. Supervisor Bourke responded that the road master asked if it could be parked there to save time of moving equipment back and forth from Hypsie Gap Bridge and that it was a common practice. Regarding the election she felt that anyone who turned out to vote had found out that there were a lot of friendly residents who enjoyed each others company in spite of the wait.

Richard VanNoy – He felt a lot of people thought it was the Township’s fault and that the Supervisor should contact the media to let people know that it was not. He also thanked the Fire Company for the food and drink.

Gary Verdes – commented on the Halloween party incident, he wanted everyone to know that they were not residents of this Township and should not have been here to begin with and this should be addressed in the future.

Robert Price – wanted to know how long Hypsie Gap Bridge would be closed The Supervisors stated that it was opened today.

Dewayne Lawrence – Lives in Sierra View and wanted to know if the Township could put fencing up along the pipeline or what could be done regarding the four wheelers running through his development. It was suggested that the he get information from the Association as to who they spoke to regarding this situation. Also Dot Trauger responded that it was individual residents' who own the properties where the four wheelers are gaining entry and that the Township couldn’t install fences on private property. Although she could help determine who the property owners were with his help and that maybe he could contact them in regard to putting up a fence.

There being no further public comments, Supervisor Bourke made motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Supervisor Altemose, II. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Donna Verdes

Secretary