Damascus fills positions

Linda Drollinger
Posted 8/21/12

DAMASCUS, PA — In just over one hour at its March 16 meeting, the Damascus board of supervisors made several key appointments and put out the word that the township needs volunteers to staff its …

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Damascus fills positions

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DAMASCUS, PA — In just over one hour at its March 16 meeting, the Damascus board of supervisors made several key appointments and put out the word that the township needs volunteers to staff its emergency services and riverfront cleanup efforts.

Of the three candidates for one planning commission vacancy, operations manager Steve Adams said, “These are all good people, and any one of them would make an excellent board member. I nominate Ed Hook because, and I want to say this delicately, he’s of an age to benefit from the mentoring of longtime planning commission board members who may soon be stepping down.” His nomination was approved by unanimous vote.

The board also voted to create a deputy tax collector position for the township, appointing Amanda Sobolak, daughter of incumbent tax collector Barbara VanOrden, to the position. Sobolak’s appointment is conditioned on successful completion of mandatory certification training and subsequent receipt of requisite bonding.

Nominating A.G. Howell to be the zoning hearing board (ZHB) solicitor, ZHB secretary Lynne Freda said, “I think that as a matter of procedure the board has to approve the ZHB’s nominee.” Agreeing, the board approved Howell as the new ZHB solicitor. Turning its attention to the voluntary sector, the board announced opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to play vital roles in the safeguarding of life and the preservation and beautification of natural resources.

Adams said that the Damascus Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps (DTVAC) is seeking certified ambulance drivers and emergency medical responders, with the necessary certification courses to be offered as follows:

Emergency Medical Responder course will begin April 7 at 7 p.m. in the DTVAC building. Pre-registration is required. To pre-register and/or to obtain additional information about the course, contact Matt Kromko at 570/224-6872 or Josh Sheard at 570/729-7809.

An Emergency Vehicle Operations course (EVOC) will be held at Hamlin Fire and Rescue, Route 590 in Hamlin on Tuesday, March 31, Thursday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. and on Saturday April 4 at 8 a.m.

Attendance at all three sessions is required for certification. To pre-register, contact Scott at wcfatraining@gmail.com or call 570/352-2242. Continuing education training may also be available to those who have completed an EVOC course in the past.

Upper Delaware Council (UDC) liaison Jeff Dexter called the board’s attention to the Great Pennsylvania Cleanup campaign that runs officially from March 1 to May 31, but that will kick off somewhat later than usual this year, owing to un-melted snowpack. The UDC is offering a $1,000 grant for youth group cleanup along the township’s 12 miles of riverfront from Callicoon to Narrowsburg. The board is seeking four youth groups, each to reclaim several miles of riverfront and be awarded $250 for its efforts.

In follow-up to old business, Freda asked, “Whatever happened with the campground proposal submitted by Hal and Gladys Kaufmann?” The board answered that, since receiving the board-approved conditions of use for his nonconforming property, Kaufmann has had no communication with any township entity. To which zoning officer Ed Lagarenne added, “If Kaufmann decides to go forward with his application and can document compliance with all conditions of use, he must next apply for a flood plain variance.”

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