Working Out Agility Plan With PennDOT

Pike County Dispatch - Thursday, March 5, 2020
By Wayne Witkowski

DINGMANS FERRY -- Delaware Township has taken the first steps toward an unprecedented service-for-service partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Supervisors at their bi-monthly meeting unanimously approved a resolution executing an Agility Agreement and approved the township to enter into a work plan under PennDOT's recent introduced Agility Program. It came after lengthy discussion during the supervisor's workshop held before the regular meeting.
A PennDOT handout explains "Agility enables PennDOT and its eligible partners to exchange services, equipment and staff without monetary payments. Agility helps PennDOT and its partners to make the most of limited resources while developing strong and rewarding relationships."
Any arrangement need approval by PennDOT's attorneys.
The concept is good," commented Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson when the topic was introduced and explained.
"It's good but can it really come to fruition," wondered Roadmaster Vince Flatt.
One idea is to take an area for storing ground up asphalt and reuse it to pave local road projects.
"They're talking to us to take our space in our yard and then giving us material," affirmed Roadmaster Vince Flatt. He said a similar arrangement was made in Wayne County under RAP (Recycle Asphalt Program) but said no Pike County township had yet to partner with PennDOT in the Agility Program.
"We're hoping to have that RAP agreement here," said township Administrator Krista Predmore after the meeting. Supervisors had talked during the workshop about the amount of asphalt that would be churned up in the Wilson Hill Road project when it comes up locally without having to cart in fresh asphalt.
"It will save wear and tear on their trucks," said Supervisor Jane Neufeld.
Flatt said road shoulder mowing can be handed off in the arrangement. He figured the township could save more than $10,000.
At the meeting, the board approved a motion advertising for letters of interest from any township resident looking to volunteer for staff positions in the township's emergency management organization during declared disasters. There are opportunities in administrative and field positions, a handout reads. A valid Pennsylvania driver's license and background check are required. No experience is required but any background in planning or emergency services is a plus and training will be provided. Letters must be submitted by March 31 to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Supervisors accepted the resignations of Recreation Committee members Dennis Lee and Steve Tarquini. Lee resigned because he is a member of the township's Auditor Board and can not serve on both boards simultaneously. Tarquini was approved by the supervisors at the meeting as a new member of the Zoning Hearing Board, along with Ted Parsell. It means Tarquini likewise had to step down from the Rec Committee. Tarquini's wife -- Terasa -- and Grace Gutschmidt were appointed to the Rec Committee. Jammie Fabela was approved as a member of the Zoning Hearing Board.
Supervisors also approved a motion for use of the township Quarry by the Pocono Environmental Education Center on July 6 from 9:30 a.m. to noon as part of its Sci-Q program. Also approved was the use of township fields 1-4 by Dingman Delaware Little League from April 1 through June 30 from 5-8 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays.
Supervisors at their next meeting on March 11 will conduct a public hearing at 7:15 p.m. on amendments to Ordinance 110 and Ordinance 901 Definitions regarding size and brightness of commercial business signs.
Henderson pointed out during announcements that the township Volunteer Ambulance Corps will host its annual Easter Plan and Bake Sale from noon to 7 p.m. on April 10 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 11.
He also reminded residents that they can apply online for the new mail-in ballot option rather than go the polls for the upcoming Primary and General elections. Go to www.votesPA.com where paper applications can be printed out and mailed to the county election office.

He said the National Park Service reminds residents that River Road in Monroe County will be closed on warmer nights, particularly in wet weather conditions, to protect breeding amphibians.

Township Joins Road Race 'Competition'
The Pike County Dispatch
Thursday, February 20, 2020
By Wayne Witkowski

DINGMANS FERRY -- Road running is back in the southern part of Pike County.
Delaware Township's Board of Supervisors, at their regular bi-monthly meeting last week, approved a 6-kilometer Long Meadow Run that will begin and end in a loop along Long Meadow Chapel from 8 a.m. to noon on May 16. The approval came after a lengthy discussion with Long Meadow Pastor Shawn Coleman during the workshop session before the regular meeting.
"We wanted to have one (road race) two years ago but it was too complicated" to set up and finalize a request with the township supervisors, said Coleman afterward. At that time, the request was discussed but was too close to the proposed date of the event to organize it.
Earlier in the week, Lehman Township approved the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's use of Bushkill Falls Road for a half-marathon scheduled for Oct. 15. Approximately 800 to 1,000 people are expected to run in that event.
The Long Meadow Chapel Run is the local event that is part of the World Vision's "6 K for Water" international day for participants to run or walk. A press release explains the event's observance of the need to bring life-changing clean water to communities who have to travel great distances to get it.

"Each participant's registration fee provides life-changing clean water for one person, so when they participate in the Global 6K for Water, they take that 6K distance (to get clean water) away from people in need," explains a press release provided by Coleman. "100 per cent of the proceeds raised will go to the needs of the people."
It says that anyone wishing to participate can register through the World Vision Website www.teamworldvision.org.
Township solicitor Thomas Farley questioned the insurance coverage but Coleman said the chapel's policy would cover the event.
The 6K would be confined to Long Meadow Road and the supervisors offered to handle traffic control by the township's fire police. But township resident George Beodeker pointed to a handout that day of the Dingmans Ferry Delaware Township Historical Society calendar of events that includes a flea market and yard sale at Akenac Park that day that also would need traffic control that would strain the fire police's services.
"It's a very little traveled road," said Supervisor Jane Neufeld as supervisors agreed to simply close Long Meadow Road for those hours that day. It was included in the motion at the regular meeting to approve the 6K event at the regular meet, which passed unanimously. 
Supervisors also agreed to Coleman's request to waive any township fees for that day "as a non-profit raising resources for a non-profit."
Also at the meeting, the board approved a motion to advertise for accepting letters of interest for a newly created deputy coordinator for emergency management. Beodeker, the township Emergency Management Coordinator, talked about the need for the position during the workshop. Supervisors approved the new position during the regular meeting and said resumes would only be requested when applicants are narrowed to a short list for interviews.
During the regular meeting, Beodeker also gave the Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Company End of the Year Report. He said that 18 percent of calls to the company are for fires, 24 percent for motor vehicle mishaps and 11 percent for EMS emergency calls. The rest were for miscellaneous reasons.
Neufeld asked if the fire company is considering billing the insurance companies for responding to auto accidents as was approved by Lehman Township's supervisors recently. "We'd probably not need township approval to do that," said Beodeker, who added that the revenue from those few occurrences would not be worth the "aggravation that would come from it."
The board also approved a public hearing for March 11 at 7:15 p.m. on amendments presented by the township's Planning Board to ordinances 110 and 901 regarding size and brightness of displayed signs. Supervisors said the amendments are a response to the Weis Markets store under construction as the anchor to the new Delaware Plaza on Route 739.
Also approved was a $1,808.42 change order to contractor H&P Construction Inc. for the municipal building roof replacement project. The approval allows for wider support beams needed for the size of the project. Supervisors also approved payment No. 2 of $48,698.85 to H&P for the roof replacement project.
The board approved $3,106 for F&L Doors Inc. to replace one bay door and service five others on township garages.
It also approved a motion that township Department of Public Works employees who are volunteers for fire companies and emergency services in neighboring municipalities can respond to calls during working hours for township Public Works assignments only if they get the approval of the township roadmaster.
Supervisors approved Roadmaster Vincent Flatt and Chris Kimble to attend Local Technical Attendance Program's three training sessions in Allentown:
- Asphalt Roads Common Maintenance Programs on April 9 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Traffic Calming on April 21 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Speed Limits and Speed Management on Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. to noon.
Neufed also talked about the latest news and information from the Pike County Opioid Task Force on what she regarded as a steadily rising problem. Neufeld commended the extensive data collected by the county which shows that Delaware Township is the second highest municipality for out-of-state deliveries of victims of opioid overdoses to nearby hospitals located in other, neighboring states.
Neufeld said Reality Walks are scheduled for April 23 and May 14 to re-enact scenes of drug overdoses to victims and their families fighting drug and alcohol abuse. She pointed to a Pike County Dispatch article about the Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission opening a Pike County office last month at 10 Buist Road, Suite 201. The office is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and closes at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson announced at the end of the meeting that the Smart Recovery Group for families of those fighting addictions holds meetings on Wednesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the township's Emergency Management Building on 116 Wilson Hill Road.
Henderson also pointed out that residents can apply online at www.votePA.com for the new mail-in election ballot option available to them for the upcoming Primary Election in April and presidential General Election in November. "If you provide an email address when applying online, you can track your ballot," said Henderson. "Paper applications are available to print out and mail to your county elections office as well."

Rec Board Feels Pinch Of $4,000 Event Budget
By Wayne Witkowski
Pike County Dispatch
Thursday, January 30, 2020

DINGMANS FERRY -- Dennis Lee and Steve Tarquini of the Delaware Township Recreation Board attended the workshop of the Board of Supervisors prior to its regular meeting last week to discuss allocating more money for township rec events from the budget and to discuss other committee issues.
The discussion, which took up half of the hourlong workshop, began with Lee asking if more than $4,000 can be set aside for the 2020 Recreation events, which have been expanded from seven to 10 for this year. It includes separating the movie night from a night of music into separate events.
"We're trying to do the best we can with the budget," said Lee, who pointed out that last year's events ended up costing $4,610.  "We paid a band $400 last year and it costs $500 to $700 these days to pay for a band that's any good."
"I cannot see how $4,000 can do all of those things," said Recreation Board member Steve Tarquini.
"We want more money to make events bigger and better," said Steve's wife, Terasa Tarquini.
The Recreation Fund, collected from a 1.5 millage rate on property owner taxes, is $141,601 but that also includes line item wages for Akenac Park employees, park operating supplies, repair maintenance supplies, lake management and water systems testing and telephone, Internet and electric services, along with the $4,000 allocation for Recreation programs. There also is added revenue from events that goes toward the fund.
The seven events include the Harvest Fest in September, a Halloween Trunk or Treat and a Christmas event as well as the movie and music nights in the summer.
"There were possibilities for people (from the Rec Commission) to come to the budget meetings to say, 'We need (more) money,' " said Board of supervisors Chairman John Henderson, referring to budget workshops through the fall and the budget approval meeting in December.
Steve Tarquini pointed out that the events schedule was expanded late last year.
Supervisor Jane Neufeld suggested that the Rec Commission move forward with its already approved $4,000 allocation for events and then return to the board at a time when more money may be needed. "But don't wait until the last minute," cautioned Supervisor Rick Koehler.
Lee also pointed out during the discussion that the board has seven members and asked about the reason behind that number. 
Supervisors said it had to be an odd number (for tiebreaking votes). But Lee said there have been other people coming to the meetings as well and why have a board in the first place?
"To have a township event, it has to go through the (Rec) board," said Neufeld as Henderson showed a printed passage indicating that Second Class Townships, which includes Delaware Township, need to have a Recreation Commission under state codes.
Also at the meeting, the board accepted the amended fiscal year 2020 budget that was presented at the previous meeting.
The board also approved the Tri-State Geese Police proposal for environmentally safe Canada goose control at a weekly cost of $400 and an added charge of $100 per nest (removal). Henderson called it "an amazingly effective program" and Roadmaster Vince Flatt said there was a noticeably significant reduction of geese last summer when the program was first implemented.
Delaware Township Fire Company was approved for ice rescue refresher training at Akenac Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 1. Also approved was firefighter operational park training on Tuesday nights as needed from May 5 to Oct. 27 from 7-10 p.m.

Pocono Environmental Education Center was granted permission to use the quarry in the township from 9:30 a.m. to noon on April 12, 15 and 18 for a geology class as well as Delaware Valley Elementary School's request for a kindergarten classes field trip to Akenac Park from 10 a.m. to 1:30 on May 20, with a rain date of the following day.
Pike County Women's Softball League again was approved for use of fields 1 and 3 on Sundays from 3:30-8 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:15-9 p.m. from June 5 through Aug. 9. Supervisors also approved the Couples Fall Softball League use of fields 1 and 2 from noon to 6 p.m. on Aug. 23 to Nov. 22. 
The board tabled a township Planning Commission memo regarding amending Ordinance 110 on signage. Supervisors discussed the matter during the workshop and determined more clarity was needed on defining "window signs" and specifying when political signs are to be taken down after elections, although it was mentioned that timeframe is listed elsewhere in township codes. 
The amendment also would specify the size and brightness of large signs, but the supervisors implied the need for better language on that subject and to meet to further discuss the issue.