Hearing on proposed hotel is rescheduled for Texas Township

HONESDALE, PA — For the want of a stenographer, a meeting was lost.

Someone on the Texas Township Board of Supervisors forgot to order the services of a public stenographer to take down the testimony and minutes at a public hearing on a conditional use permit which is being sought by the Route Six Development Corporation.

The hearing is part of the group’s efforts to construct a hotel/restaurant complex on the property next to Home Depot in Indian Orchard in Texas Township. The proposal was to share Home Depot’s roadway for an entrance/exit.

“A stenographic record must be taken in public hearings on permitted use application in case someone will oppose the project and take it to court,” said township attorney Tony Waldron.

The meeting was postponed to Monday, May 12, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

Port to benefit from state government efficiency grants

ALBANY, NY — The City of Port Jervis has received a $386,400 state grant to help it improve government efficiency. It will use the funds to enter into an inter-municipal agreement for the joint acquisition and shared use of capital equipment with Middletown, NY. The proposed equipment, a combination sewer jet/catch basin cleaner and trailer mounted camera/rover, will enable these communities to monitor, clean, repair and maintain their stormwater and sanitary sewer systems. This investment in new and upgraded equipment and new technology will assist in cost savings, increased operating efficiency and reduced labor output in the maintenance of critical infrastructure.

The grant is one of 67 totaling $13.7 million that will help improve efficiency and lead to savings for taxpayers through partnerships among local governments. The grants will be awarded under the Shared Municipal Services Incentive program

Slots ease Pike homeowners’ tax burdens

PIKE COUNTY, PA — State Rep. John Siptroth, D-Monroe/Pike, has announced that slots gaming in Pennsylvania has generated enough revenue for area homeowners to share in nearly $613 million in school property tax relief this summer.

“Homeowners in Pike and Monroe counties are especially affected by high property taxes due to growth in the area,” Siptroth said. “I’m pleased that the amount of estimated relief they will receive from gaming revenues is nearly three times the state average.”

The school property tax relief per homeowner in the Delaware Valley School District is estimated to total $379.

Siptroth expects the amount of relief to be greater next year as gambling revenue increases.

For more information visit www.pde.state.pa.us/oroptax.

Not fair game

TUSTEN, NY — Steven Wood, 37, has been charged with two misdemeanors and two violations in connection with unlawful shooting of a turkey out of the window of his vehicle.

Wood was on Mahls Pond Road in the Town of Tusten when he shot from his car at a bearded male turkey on May 1, opening day for turkey season. He was observed by other hunters, who contacted the New York State Environmental Conservation Police. After being interviewed by Environmental Conservation Officers, Wood was charged with having a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle and shooting over a public highway, misdemeanors, and taking wildlife while in or on a motor vehicle and failure to tag a turkey upon taking, both violations.

Wood appeared in Tusten Town Justice Court where he settled for a civil penalty of $702.50.

Airports receive grants to improve safety

WASHINGTON, DC — Sullivan County International Airport in Bethel has been awarded a federal grant of $149,150 and Joseph Y. Resnick Airport in Ellenville has received $373,730 to help improve the safety of their runways.

Sullivan County International Airport will use its grant to improve the runway safety area at Runway 15-33. These funds will be used for design and land acquisition. Improvements to the runway safety area will help the runway meet federal safety standards.

Joseph Y. Resnick Airport will use its grant to construct a taxiway to the T-hangar taxi-lane segments A and B. The taxi-lane segments being constructed with these funds are necessary to serve as access to future T-hangers.

Fremont supervisor to be Dem party chair

MONTICELLO, NY — In accordance with the bylaws of the Sullivan County Democratic Committee, co-chair and Town of Fremont Supervisor Jim Greier will replace Time Hill as chairman. Hill died on April 20 after a battle with cancer.

The new co-chair will be Darryl Kaplan of the Town of Thompson.

Greier will remain in office as chairman through the end of 2009. The party will select a replacement for Hill as county election commissioner at a later date.

Damascus Township names supervisor’s replacement

DAMASCUS, PA — Jason Roberts of Calkins, PA was named to replace Arthur “Jim” Freiermuth who resigned his position on April 3. Freiermuth said he was resigning for reasons of health.

After holding a meeting in the township for residents to offer suggestions for a replacement, the two remaining supervisors, Jeff Dexter and Chuck Grady, later selected Roberts.

Roberts will serve out the first year of Freiermuth’s term and have his name on the ballot in November in order to finish the supervisor’s remaining three years.