Proposed Ordinances for Public Review & Comment
December 17, 2021

There are two proposed Ordinances which have been recommended by the Delaware Township Planning Commission to the Board of Supervisors for approval:

1.  Short-Term Rental Ordinance

2.  Noise Ordinance

Please click on the link above to review the proposed ordinances or you can request a copy at the Township Office.  The Board of Supervisors will listen to public comment on the proposed ordinances on Wednesday, January 12, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. during the regularly scheduled workshop.  Meetings take place at 116 Wilson Hill Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA.  Attendance via zoom is also available.  Please request the zoom link by Monday prior to the scheduled meeting via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dingman: 37 Percent Of Calls Go To Delaware
Pike County Dispatch
By Wayne Witkowski

DINGMANS FERRY -- Mark O'Brien, chief of the Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Company that also provides round-the-clock ambulance service, discussed with Delaware Township supervisors during their workshop on Wednesday last week prior to their regular meeting about his company's response as a backup emergency services alternative for Delaware Township residents when other local services are unavailable.
O'Brien had sent a letter earlier in the fall to the supervisors requesting a $27,500 donation from the township to cover costs for medical responses for Delaware Township residents. In that Oct. 19 letter, O'Brien said the donation would help alleviate expenses from the "37 percent of the incidents responded to in Delaware Township" by Dingman ambulances.
"We can't hardball if patients are not covered by Medicare or Medicaid," said O'Brien during the workshop, although he said that his company does remind patients that, if they receive a reimbursement check from Medicare of Medicaid, that they sign it over to his company.
O'Brien handed out a rundown of services to the supervisors during his presentation, which includes the number of responses when Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps services are not available due to their limited schedule and fewer personnel.
"We don't mind coming down (to Delaware Township)," said O'Brien. "Our issue is of the 'out of service' (by DTVAC) for their number of hours."
In his report, O'Brien indicated that his ambulance company from Jan. 1 through Nov. 22 received 163 calls to Delaware Township, 107 of them when DTVAC was unavailable or on other calls for service, and another 49 when they were called and then the call was cancelled.
O'Brien said there are times in the seven occasions when DTVAC and the Dingman Township ambulance corps arrived at the same time and the patient prefers service from Dingman.
"We try to take into consideration those requests and we'll do that (honor those requests) as long as they're not way out of the way, like to hospitals well into New Jersey or something like that," said O'Brien. He said his company next year may examine broadening into Advanced Life Support Services.
O'Brien said most emergency transports from Delaware Township go to Bon Secours or Newton Medical, which is the nearest New Jersey hospital, and some are brought to Lehigh Valley-Pocono.
O'Brien said his company's staff is mostly paid professionals, many supplied by CNG manpower services company of Milford, although there also are a few accredited volunteers. He said his ambulance division has maintained a favorable relationship with CNG. The $17 hourly rate for paid staff is expected to increase in 2022, said O'Brien, who pointed out a number of medical volunteers has been steadily dwindling around the area over the years. Township Solicitor Tom Farley elaborated on that dilemma, saying that limited availability for many who need to work for pay to support their families over the years has led to the decline of volunteers across the state and the reliance on salaried positions..
"The days of volunteers are gone," said Farley, who has a deeper perspective as a solicitor to another township in the county and with Pike County. "I think this county is reaching the same conclusion, slowly but surely, because volunteers aren't coming."
Funding for Dingmans ambulances comes largely from the township budget to cover personnel while medical insurance coverage from patient care goes to maintaining and updating ambulances and medical apparatus. O'Brien said the total budget for his ambulance corps next year is expected to run between $700,000 and $800,000.
Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson asked what is the daily cost for operations at Dingman and O'Brien said it runs $1,000 a day.
Dingman's ambulance corps is headquartered at Log Cabin Road, although there has been discussion about opening a second station at Buist Road. The corps operates two ambulances but there are supplemental services on weekends when there is heavier call volume.
"We want to make sure we can make the call to Delaware Township in 10 minutes," said O'Brien, which is generally the obligatory response time for ambulance services.
DTVAC president Carl Will, also invited to the workshop, did not attend and supervisors agreed to table any action until getting more complete details from the township's own ambulance service.
Henderson also announced at the regular meeting that supervisors will vote on the 2022 Fiscal Year Budget at the next regular meeting on Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Also at the meeting, supervisors unanimously approved spending $7,393.93 of federal American Rescue Plan funds to the township for new computers from CDW-G company through the state COSTARS cooperative purchasing program. Henderson questioned the need and township Administrator Krista Predmore recommended two new computers for two township departments -- Emergency Management and Sewage Enforcement Officer/Zoning Enforcement Officer and the third would be on standby.
In a 2-1 vote, with Henderson opposed, supervisors also approved through ARP funding the $999 purchase of Meeting Owl Pro that provides better broadcast coverage of Board of Supervisors meetings. "I'm opposed to spending (about) $1,000 for (accommodating) a small group of people," said Henderson.

Supervisors voted down a motion for a $19,715.64 electronic welcoming sign to the township that also would post township information out of ARP funds.

Supervisors also agreed to re-advertise for letters of interest for a vacancy on the Delaware Township Recreation Commission and to advertise for letters of interest for a vacancy on the township Planning Commission and for township auditor after accepting the resignation of elected auditor Mike Dickerson.
A township Emergency Preparedness Forum, conducted by Emergency Management Coordinator George Beodeker, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 11, at the municipal building. It starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs in two parts, one for homeowners associations and the other for local businesses.
At the workshop, supervisors discussed with interest a letter submitted by resident Linda Schwall requesting a "round glass convex mirror" to be installed on Route 739 facing and across from Doolan Road." Supervisors pointed out that a number of fatal accidents have occurred in that area.
"Coming out of Doolan Road trying to make a left hand turn has become pretty risky due to the increased traffic, speeders and bends in the road (from both sides), making for limited visibility of oncoming traffic," the letter reads. "I called the township building regarding my request and was told that I would have to call PennDOT. PennDOT simply told me 'no.' No reason given.
"So I am resorting to contacting the Board of Supervisors in hopes that you might agree that this t-intersection is not as safe as it used to be for those drivers making left hand turns onto Route 739, and might be willing to use your influence over the 'powers that be' to simply have an inexpensive convex mirror installed (there)."
Henderson said he discussed the matter the following morning over the phone with Schwall,
"PennDot would not allow such mirror in their right of way. We therefore can do nothing about a mirror," said Henderson. "However I suggested that we remove more dirt from property we own, increasing the sight distance to the left when attempting a left turn from Doolan Road. That idea will be forwarded to our engineer for review."
Supervisors also agreed to send a letter to Pike County that it will apply for a scenic rural preservation grant to help subsidize its park plan. Funds from that grant also could go toward the township's comprehensive plan.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 19, 2021

State Route 2002 (Wilson Hill Road) in Pike County will be Closed on Monday, November 22 for Repairs

Dunmore, PA – SR 2002 (Wilson Hill Road) in Delaware Township, Pike County will be closed to make slide repairs beginning Monday, November 22^nd. The road will reopen in the summer of 2022.

The detour is as follows:

• SR 2002 (Wilson Hill Road) to SR 2001;
• SR 2001 to SR 739;
• SR 739 to SR 209; and
• SR 209 to SR 2002 (Wilson Hill Road)

Motorists can check conditions on major roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.gov/District4.

Information about infrastructure in District 4, including completed work and significant projects, is available at www.penndot.gov/D4Results.

Follow local PennDOT news on Twitter and like the department on Facebook and Instagram.

MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Ruddy, (570) 963.4044

Twp. Passes Dilapidated Properties Ordinance
By Wayne Witkowski
Pike County Dispatch - November 10, 2021

DINGMANS FERRY -- The National Park Service is in the process of demolishing some dangerously rundown buildings in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area that are not historic landmarks.
Lehman Township passed an ordinance in 2018 addressing repairing or razing neglected buildings in the township.
Now, Delaware Township has a similar ordinance regulating shabby buildings.
The Board of Supervisors, after a brief public hearing during last week's bi-monthly regular meeting , passed Ordinance 801 regarding dangerous or dilapidated properties.

The ordinance aims to "protect the life, safety or general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the Township of Delaware from structures damaged by fire, wind, water or other causes so as to have become dangerous."
Its intent is to "prevent injury to members of the public or adjoining property from parts that might fall or injure them."
Many of these properties either were abandoned or the owners were evicted through foreclosure.
Board of Supervisors Chairman John Henderson responded to a question on how the township would respond to those problems and said the township must get a complaint from a neighboring resident.
When that happens, the owner of the property will receive a written notification and have 30 days to remedy the problem or repair the building. The owner can be granted an extension "for good cause."
If action is not taken within that time, the owner will receive an order to vacate the property from the township and the property must be secured.
If action is not taken, the township will secure the property and submit a billing of costs to the owner with a 10 percent penalty. In cases where no further action is taken by the property owner, the township can move forward with demolition, if necessary.
When asked afterward if there are dilapidated structures in the township, Henderson said, "Yes." When later asked if it is a prevalent problem, Henderson said there are "quite a few" structures in disrepair.
The board also is moving forward with updating building ordinance 201 in compliance with the recently updated federal Uniform Construction Code (UCC) after supervisors discussed that matter during a workshop preceding the regular meeting.
Supervisors at the regular meeting also approved the first payment to Wayco Inc. for $11,834.80 for the Log & Twig Road Culvert Replacement Project. It also approved renewal of the athletic field service contract with TruGreen for $7,100. They agreed to advertise for a township cleaning contract for all township facilities for the 2022 fiscal year.
After interviewing her during the workshop, the board during the regular meeting approved Donna Laux to fill a vacated seat on the Recreation Committee.
A $300 donation to the Pike County Developmental Center also was approved. Small donations were given in prior years to PCCD except last year because of COVID-19.
Also at the meeting the board approved Roadmaster Vince Flatt to drive truck 1 to and from work beyond regular business hours, beginning Nov. 1, which would make him readily available to respond to emergency calls.
Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society was approved use of the municipal hall from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 4 for its annual meeting and luncheon. The society does not meet at its building at Akenac Park during winter months.
However, the board unanimously refused LightsConnect Yoga from use of the building on Wednesdays and Fridays from Oct. 15, 2021 through May 15, 2022. Before the vote, Henderson commented, "This may be for profit, which is not something we normally do." Supervisor Jane Neufeld said that organization may want to look into renting a hall elsewhere.
During the workshop the board also interviewed Joseph Dunn for a Zoning Hearing Board vacant position after he had submitted a letter of interest. Dunn, who recently relocated to the area, said he offers 30 years of construction experience and his familiarity with rules, regulations and codes. "I just want to be part of the community," said Dunn, who continues to work daily in New York City.
"With his background, he could be a valuable member of the zoning board," commented Neufeld.
Dunn also said he wants to be involved with the township's volunteer fire company and spoke afterward with Emergency Management Coordinator George Beodeker, who also is president of the fire company.
Beodeker spoke at a budget workshop after the regular meeting about the fire company's allocations, which he said it is "not asking for anything additional" from the township budget. Beodeker's Emergency Management Department as well as Liquid Fuels and the Recreation Committee were discussed and funding will be unchanged in the budget.
Beodeker said he is planning to schedule two meetings in the weeks ahead before the end of the year: one with the public and one with community business people.
Henderson announced at the end of the regular meeting that the Pike County Office of Emergency Management is partnering with Wayne Community Health Center to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Pike County Training Center every third Wednesday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon. The next one is Nov. 17. All brands of vaccine will be available for first, second or booster shots as applicable. Advance registration is required by calling the Wayne Community Health Center COVID Hotline at (570) 253-8197 or registration can be done online at www.wmh.org.