It’s official: Chelak wins

MILFORD, PA — Milford attorney Greg Chelak has won the primary election nominations on both the Republican and Democrat ballots in the closely watched race for the new second Judge position on the Pike County Court of Common Pleas. Guccini had initially been announced as the winner in the Democratic primary, but those results were overturned on the basis of counting errors in Westfall Township and Delaware Township District Two. The Pike County Elections Office discovered the errors during a vote canvass conducted days after the May 15 Primary Election. Chelak’s victory on both ballots essentially assures that he will be the next Pike County Judge since he will now run unopposed in the general election in November.

Under Pennsylvania election law, a judicial candidate is allowed to cross-file, which means run on both the Republican and Democrat ballots in the primary election. Chelak received 65 percent of the Republican vote, 51 percent of the Democrat vote and 61 percent of the overall vote to garner both nominations in the primary election held on May 15.

Library construction grants again available in New York

ALBANY, NY — For the second year in a row, the New York State Legislature has allocated $14 million in capital funds for public library construction in the state budget. Applications with complete instructions to access these funds are now available at the New York State Library website at www.nysl.nysed.gov/libdev/construc/index.html.

The minimum grant award is $2,500 for a minimum total project cost of $5,000. The grant could fund up to 50 percent of a project. Eligible project expenditures include the acquisition of a site and an existing building suitable for conversion to library purposes, construction and renovation or rehabilitation of a facility. Routine maintenance is not fundable, but libraries are encouraged to improve library access to persons with disabilities.

The deadline for receipt of applications will be set by each system. Local libraries seeking funding are encouraged to contact their system as soon as possible. The library systems must submit all applications received to the State Library by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 14.

Republicans question gambling expansion

HARRISBURG, PA — House Republicans are criticizing Democratic calls for an expansion of gambling in Pennsylvania, a move Republicans say is premature. The Democrats’ plan would open slots parlors to table games such as blackjack, poker and roulette. The proposed legislation would set a price of $10 million on a one-year table game license, and tax table-game revenue an additional 26 percent. Proponents have not yet offered estimates regarding how much revenue the state would receive.

Noting that most of the 14 slots facilities licensed last year aren’t even open yet—four are open with the fifth set to open soon—opponents say that table games bring an added risk of creating addicts, as they tend to be marketed toward younger players.

Sullivan County finally gets sales tax increase to eight percent

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The increase in the local sales tax in Sullivan County to 4 percent took effect on June 1, creating a combined state and local tax rate of 8 percent. The increase had been under discussion for some years as a way to help balance the county budget, but had been resisted for some time by both State Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, whose approval was necessary to get approval for the tax at the state level. Both finally acceded to the requests of Sullivan County legislators earlier this year. Proponents had argued that without a sales tax increase, some much-needed programs, such as the resurfacing of 10 miles of roads, would be put off for another year.

The change affects the tax collections and payments of those who make taxable sales or deliveries to customers, or who make taxable uses, in Sullivan County.

UDPC holds anti-power line fundraiser

LACKAWAXEN, PA — The owners of the Inn at Lackawaxen will host a fund raiser for the Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition (UDPC) to help pay the legal expenses incurred in the legal battle against the NYRI power line. The event will be held Friday, June 15 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at The Inn at Lackawaxen. Tickets cost $25 per person.

Hinchey to hold NYRI meeting at Sullivan West

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) will host a meeting at Sullivan West High School from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) proposal for a “National Interest Electric Transmission Corridor” (NIETC) in upstate New York. The NIETC designation would help clear the way for New York Regional Interconnection’s (NYRI) power line plan, and could result in takings of land by right of eminent domain.

Hinchey has invited DOE officials to attend the June 9 hearing, but has yet to receive a response from DOE Secretary Samuel Bodman or anyone else at the agency. He chose to hold a public meeting on the proposed electric transmission corridors after the DOE failed to schedule any public forum in any part of New York that would be directly impacted by NYRI’s proposal for a nearly 200-mile-long power line. Instead, hearings were scheduled for New York City and Rochester.

“The Department of Energy may not want to hear from the people of New York who would be impacted by NYRI’s proposed power line, but they will most definitely hear from us en masse,” said Hinchey.

Hinchey has arranged for a stenographer to attend the June 9 hearing so that all comments from the public can be recorded and submitted to the DOE for the agency’s consideration. In addition, the congressman will collect any written testimony that the public submits at the Sullivan County event and then deliver that testimony to the DOE’s headquarters in Washington, DC.