River rivals unite

Damascus Township joins UDC after 20 years of opposition

By TOM KANE

DAMASCUS, PA ? There were some who swore it would never happen.

But on July 21, 2008, a historic day for the Upper Delaware River Valley, the Damascus Township Board unanimously approved joining the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) after over 20 years of scornful rejection and, sometimes, bitter haggling by residents and township officials.

The idea of joining the UDC has been in the works since Berlin Township took up the idea of joining the other New York and Pennsylvania town and township representatives in monthly meetings where issues surrounding the river are discussed. The three-member supervisors board, elected in November 2007, was more open to the UDC than past boards, so its chairman, Jeff Dexter, went to see Berlin Township to hear what they had to say about it.

None of the townships in Wayne County were members, while Pike County’s Shohola, Lackawaxen and Westfall townships joined decades ago. All of the New York river towns are members.

Another reason for the reversal is that a survey of township residents taken two years ago in preparation for the comprehensive plan indicated that over 65 percent approved of joining.

Additionally, two monthly meetings ago, two of the old township fathers, who attend every board meeting and who were supervisors in past years, suddenly said that it was time to revisit the issue. That remark, which had a lasting effect, laid groundwork for this decision.

Finally, pushing the envelope toward joining were the remarks at the July 21 meeting by George Fluhr, former long-time supervisor of Shohola Township and a long-standing member of the UDC, who read a long list of advantages that his township gained with membership on the council, which includes grant money for planning and other projects.

Fluhr’s logical and persuasive reasons pushed the Damascus board so effectively that they voted after his presentation and unanimously approved joining. Provided Berlin joins, that leaves Manchester and Buckingham townships as the only remaining Pennsylvania municipalities not in the council.

“There’s a lot to gain and nothing to lose for a town to join the council,” said Bill Douglass, UDC executive director. “All the groups in the council are working together to preserve the resources of the river valley. There’s the towns, the Delaware River Basin Commission and the National Park Service all working together. No entity is ruling over any other. We welcome Damascus and are happy for their decision.”