The
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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 3
Mid July, 2022
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Tunkhannock Twp. to pursue contractor who damaged road by Seth Isenberg
It’s fawn season: Baby fawns are born end of May through end of June. This baby is about one week old. Photo by Theresa Erbstein
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Tunkhannock Township is likely to go to court against a contractor who unloaded an excavator onto a newly paved road and broke up the asphalt. The contractor tried to patch the damage, but “the work did not meet township standards,” roadmaster Byron Witt explained. A June 30 deadline for the contractor to meet with the township has passed. Township Solicitor Harry Coleman is planning to proceed to court. A decision to support this action was made at the township’s regular supervisors meeting, held at the township building in Long Pond on July 13. The township public works department will reach out to paving contractor H&K to get the repairs completed to standard, using $8,500 from the insurance
claim filed on the damage and supplementing with township funds up to a total of about $20,000 if needed. PennDOT is planning to start its bridge replacement project on Long Pond Road, for the structure just east of the Pocono Raceway property. The project is supposed to start on July 26 and be completed in 2024. During work, the roadway will be reduced to one lane. The Forest Service, who is the tenant in the township’s School House, would like to sign a new long-term lease. They are looking for an upgrade to the bathroom in the building and other improvements. No action was taken. In the treasurer’s report, supervisors approved income of $140,897, expenses of $129,800, and then bills for July of $269,476 (of which $183,825 was August’s
payment towards the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department). The general fund balance for July is $3,260,767. Supervisors voted 2-0-1, Fran DePiano and Kevin Wieand in favor, with George Ewald abstaining, to refund taxes to Pocono Raceway. The Raceway has appealed its county assessment and got a reduction. The township will return to the Raceway $37,887 in township taxes, $3,609 for the fire company, and $2,706 towards the Clymer Library. In other business, supervisors approved conditional uses for additional parking on the Malanyuk lot on Route 115, and to Baykal Logistics to erect a 20-25,000 square foot pole barn on their Route 115 property. See TUNKHANNOCK, page 2
Debra Fulton sworn in as new Mt. Pocono council member by Pat Albano At the Mount Pocono Borough Council regular meeting on July 5, Monroe County Judge Phillip Riley was on hand to swear in Debra Fulton to fill the council vacancy created by the resignation of Aida
Montanez. The term expires December 31. The board listened to a presentation by Rhett Chiliberti from Colliers Engineering on Popeye’s land development plan. Chiliberti discussed a number of waivers which the Board accepted.
Discussion shifted to the Quality-of-Life ordinance. Solicitor James Fareri stated, “Several communities use the Quality-of-Life ordinance, which is a straightforward process to streamline payments of parking tickets and minor violations eliminating mailings.”
The board also considered the borough assuming responsibility for the completion of the Route 611 and Pine Hill signal and improvements project. Ferrari recommended the letter be sent to PennDOT indicating the borough’s intent to move forward on the project.
The board also approved additional hours for seasonal workers; approval of the Fire Protection Contract between the Borough and Pocono Mountain Volunteer Fire Company and authorization of Building Code Official-Bill Burton to move forward on See MT. POCONO, page 4