Reorganization Meeting

Board Members in Attendance:  Lee Jamison, John Shaffer, Gary Martenson, John Pardue and Thomas Kerrigan

Board Guests in Attendance:  Joseph Sileo, Solicitor; Joseph Stanco, CEO; and Francine Miller, Secretary/Treasurer

Meeting Called to Order at 7:30PM with the Pledge of Allegiance and recognition of re-elected supervisor John Shaffer for another six-year term.

Jamison noted that the meeting had been duly advertised, and requested nominations for election of officers for 2004.

Shaffer nominated John Pardue as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2004, 2^nd by Kerrigan.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Martenson nominated T.J. Kerrigan as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2004, 2^nd by Jamison.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Pardue motioned to set the meeting time for the second Monday of the each month at 7:30PM at the Municipal Building, 2^nd by Kerrigan.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Pardue motioned to set the work session on the Wednesday prior to monthly meeting at 7:30PM at the Municipal Building, 2^nd by Kerrigan.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Martenson motioned to appoint John Shaffer as Road Master, 2^nd Pardue.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Shaffer motioned to appoint Lee Jamison as Assistant Road Master, 2^nd Martenson.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Martenson motioned to appoint John Shaffer as Recycling Coordinator, 2^nd Kerrigan.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Kerrigan motioned to appoint Gary Martenson as Police Commissioner, 2^nd Jamison.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Shaffer motioned to appoint Paul Polcha as Emergency Management Coordinator, 2^nd by Martenson.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Kerrigan motioned to appoint Ron Koldjeski as Vacancy Board Chairperson, 2^nd by Jamison.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to appoint Francine Miller as Secretary/Treasurer at an hourly rate of $10.62, which included a 2.1% increase, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motion to hire the following employees at rates indicated:  Foreman – Richard C. Thompson, Jr., Hourly Rate $15.04 includes a 2.1% increase; Laborer – Ralph L. Kettle, Sr., Hourly Rate $11.73 includes a 2.1% increase; Police Chief – Robert P. Reese, Hourly Rate $18.37 includes a 4% increase as per his contract; Wage Tax Collector – Bonnie Sherman, Wage Rate at 4% of collected taxes; Recreation Center Employees – Cleaning- David Bellante, Hourly Rate $7.35-Employees – Curt Bogart, Hourly Rate $7.50; Teresa Morgan, Joseph Orzel, and Cindy Phillips Hourly Rate $6.50; Code Enforcement Officer – Joseph Stanco at a salary of $5521.05 which includes a 2.1% increase; Township Maintenance – Robert Thompson, Hourly Rate of $8.24; Cleaning Person – Francine Miller, at an Hourly Rate of $7.35, 2^nd by Pardue.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Martenson motioned to appoint as Township Engineer, Milnes Engineering at the same rates as 2003, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Martenson motioned to appoint as Township Solicitor, Ufberg, Tressler, & Sileo, L.L.P. at the same rate as 2003 until Sileo submits a proposal with new rates, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to appoint as Sewer Enforcement Officer & Assistant, Os Patton and Dan Kaleta respectively at the rate increase as per Resolution 2003-1, 2^nd by Martenson.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Shaffer motioned to appoint Emmett Sherman, Ronald Krafjack, William Striepeck and Thomas Pearce as recycling assistants at an hourly rate of $7.50, 2^nd by Martenson.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to appoint George Gawrys to audit the books for 2004, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to appoint Keith Eckel, Ray Keller and David Jacoby as Township Auditors to set the pay rate of working supervisors, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Shaffer motioned to set the paid holidays for fulltime employees for 2004 as follows:  Good Friday (Friday, April 9, 2004), Memorial Day (Monday May 31, 2004), Independence Day (Friday, July 3, 2004), Labor Day (Monday, September 6, 2004), Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 25, 2004), Christmas Day (Friday, December 24, 2004) and New Year’s Day (Friday, December 31, 2004) 2^nd by Pardue.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Pardue motioned to select Penn Security as the Township Depository of Funds, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Commission / Committee Vacancies

Planning Commission>Kerrigan motioned to appoint Greg Raino to the Planning Commission for a 4 year term, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor. 

Recreation Committee>Jamison motioned to appoint Ron Imdorf by recommendation of the Rec Committee for a five-year term, 2^nd by Martenson.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Kerrigan motioned to reappoint Jamison as Board Representative to Abington Area and Lackawanna County COG, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to appoint Francine Miller as Voting Delegate to State Convention, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Jamison motioned to name as advertising medium, the Abington Journal as principal advertiser and the Scranton Times as second advertiser, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Motion by Jamison to set the rate for requested copies to .25 per copy.

Motion by Jamison to adjourn the reorganization meeting and resume with the general meeting at 7:48PM, 2^nd by Kerrigan.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Continued from Reorganization Meeting

Board Members in Attendance:  Lee Jamison, Gary Martenson, John Shaffer, John Pardue and T.J. Kerrigan

Board Guests in Attendance:  Joseph Sileo, Solicitor; CEO Joseph Stanco, Francine Miller, Secretary/Treasurer

7:50 P.M. -- General Meeting Called to Order

Public Input:  Mr. Jeff Thompson came before the Board to discuss the problem he is still having with the damage to his property from the storm on September 4, 2003.  Discussion consisted of Mr. Thompson having contacted different government agencies and being told that the Township should help him and the Township has been told the opposite.  Concerns were heard about whether the bridge by Elmer Swartz was a county bridge or the Township’s.  Jamison explained that FEMA had researched the issue and got back to the Township that the bridge was indeed a county owned bridge.  Mr. Thompson requested a copy of the map that lists the bridges.  After much discussion, it was decided that if Mr. Thompson could get a name and phone number of someone from FEMA then at least one supervisor, the FEMA rep., and Mr. Thompson could have a conference call or meeting to find out what can be done, if anything.

Approval of Minutes: Motion by Martenson to approve the minutes from the general meeting on December 8, 2003, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor. 

Announcements:  There will be a special hearing to discuss the proposed zoning map change concerning Woodhaven Crest’s PRD on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 at 7:00PM.

Correspondence: Correspondence is available with the Secretary’s office during regular business hours for review.

Standing Committee Reports: POSTED - Planning Commission Minutes, Recycling Report, and Police Report.

Road Master:  Shaffer reported that while plowing, a curb was hit and broken.  The public was reminded that curbing is not allowed in the right of way.

Planning Commission:  No report because there was no meeting in December.

Recycling:  Shaffer reported 4 ½ ton of recyclables.  He also explained that this refuse contract that the Township is looking to sign was not pulled out of the air, it was something that has been discussed.  Also, recycling will only occur on the first and third Saturdays of the month, no extra Saturday.

Recreation Center:  Sandy LaCoe reported that the park project should be ready to go out for bid by the end of January.

CEO Report:  Stanco reported that he did a site inspection of Milwaukee Cycle and that ¾ of the building is completed.  No trees have been planted because of the weather but will be planted in April.  The trailers are still an issue.  Pascale stated to Sileo that a site detail map would be sent within a couple days.

Gone Away Farm:  Stanco reports that Gone Away Farm will be in to the Planning Commission on January 28, 2004 for a conditional use and he will set the hearing for February 9, 2004 at 7:00PM.

Beaver Pond Road Driveway:  Stanco reported that the new owner of the property would cut the driveway back.

Valley View Drive:  Secretary to call DEP since they have still not responded to phone calls or letters and ask that they contact Stanco.

Solicitor Report:  Sileo reports that he will be having a meeting with Woodhaven Crest’s attorney, Irwin Schneider and Bruce Coyer to discuss the plans.  Also, Sileo will ask if the plans are a formal or informal submission.

Hidden Valley Estates:  It was decided that the Township should send the engineer to the property to get a cost estimate on doing the work. The Township could then request additional bonding.  Sileo will review the file.

Unfinished Business

Garbage Contract:  The Township will hold a public meeting on January 20, 2004 at 7:30PM with a representative from Waste Management to answer any questions residents may have concerning the garbage contract.

New Truck:  Specifications for a new four-wheel drive truck were decided.  Motion by Pardue to sign Resolution #2004-1 to start the procedures to purchase a new truck, 2^nd by Shaffer.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Bills were discussed and signed.

Public Input: None

Being no further public input and discussion, Shaffer motioned to adjourn the meeting, 2^nd by Jamison.  Motion voted, all in favor.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:30 PM

Respectfully submitted by Francine Miller