NEW CABLE AGREEMENT WILL PROVIDE FULL COVERAGE
By Lisa Mickles
Pike County Dispatch, p. 1  – October 17, 2013

DINGMANS FERRY – The Delaware Township Board of Supervisors held two public hearings relating to finalizing the franchise agreement with Blue Ridge Cable and revisions to their political sign ordinance.

At last Wednesday’s meeting, Chairman Tom Ryan announced that after five years of trying to negotiate with Blue Ridge Cable (BRC), the township now has an agreement in place.  Ryan said for the past two years since he took office, they have worked to obtain an amicable franchise agreement with BRC while also providing everyone in the township with accessibility to their services.

“It was our goal to serve the under-served residents with cable service,” said Ryan while noting that the township held a public hearing and it was the consensus of the attendees to move forward with the objective.

BRC will now pay the township 1.5 percent of gross revenues derived from cable services provided by the cable company.  This will mean a 1.5 percent reduction on what BRC users are currently paying on their monthly bill.  The contract is for a five-year period and will ultimately provide full coverage for all residents currently residing in the township.  Currently, there are four areas of the township that do not receive cable services unless the residents paid for the installation of poles and lines, which is some cases would cost each of them thousands of dollars.

Resident and Township Auditor Chairman Dennis Lee questioned the supervisors on what the cost would be to the township to install the necessary lines to provide access to the underserved areas.  He also questioned the township’s responsibility in providing cable service to future property owners.

Accordingly to the agreement, since BRC owed the township money from three years of unpaid home shopping commission and advertising revenue, the township’s cost to provide services to all of its residents was reduced from $55,152 to $28,367.  The township’s cost will be paid through the 1.5 percent franchise tax, which the supervisors said could be reduced by one half of a percent once the underserved areas finally have cable access.  BRC is responsible for $23,070 of the cost for installing the necessary poles and cable lines.

Solicitor Tom Farley also said that they are hopeful that adding the new BRC coverage area, it will provide access to new homeowners throughout the township.

POLITICAL SIGN ORDINANCE

The supervisors approved revisions to their political sign ordinance but not without some last minute changes due to concerns from the public regarding a fee that was on the township’s application for political sign permits.

The revised ordinance stipulates that signs may not exceed 24 square feet, may not be placed where they could create a traffic hazard, cannot be placed on Delaware Township property, and must be removed “within a reasonable time” after a primary or general election.

In addition, the township’s political sign ordinance shall be superseded by the Pa. Election Code, the state statutes that regulate political signs and/or federal statutes that regulate political signs.

Resident Liz Forrest expressed her concern about the revised ordinance and how it did not address political issue signs.  Township Solicitor Tom Farley responded that those type of signs such as “no fracking” signs could be considered under temporary signs in the township’s ordinance, which allows for posting of a bond. 

The revised ordinance also addressed that any violation by a party would be subject to enforcement powers from the township under the temporary sign portion of the ordinance, which requires a bond for the timely removal of a temporary sign.

Resident Jane Neufeld, who has been a strong opponent against the political sign ordinance that was passed in August, urged the supervisors to reconsider the requirements for posting of a bond prior to installing signs.  She said that there should not be a charge to place political signs on one’s own property or someone else’s property.

She also said that it was not clear in the ordinance that a bond would be required.  The bond requirement is listed on the application for political signs, which requires a $300 payment.  Farley said that the supervisors were planning to reduce the amount to $50.  He also explained that the check would not be cashed but that they would hold it in case the signs were not removed in a timely manner.  The reasoning behind the monetary requirement was to put some teeth in the ordinance so that political candidates would remove their signs within a reasonable time frame.  There was also concern on the additional expense it would cost if a township employee would be required to physically remove the signs.