Harford sued by Tingley Lake residents

BY PAT FARNELLI

Harford Township Supervisors announced a lawsuit against the township during their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

The suit, brought against Harford Township by some residents of Tingley Lake, concerns their requests for a new pipe to channel the outflow from the lake in the event of flooding.

The plaintiffs allege that insufficient outflow plumbing caused the lake to flood in 2006, and are suing because a new pipe has not been installed yet.

“We have been working on this project to get funding for a new pipe in Stearn’s Road,” said Supervisor Sue Furney. “We’ve had numerous consultants come and look at it. They just weren’t happy that it wasn’t done immediately.”

Supervisors said that the 2006 was an unusual situation, and that everything flooded. Floodwater even surged down the main street of Harford into homes.

The lawsuit is now in the hands of the township solicitor, attorney Andrew Hailstone of Scranton.

The lawsuit plaintiffs did not attend the supervisors’ meeting.

The supervisors received a project grant from the state Dirt and Gravel Road Program to repair Richardson Road, and a Community Block Grant to repave School Street in Harford.

Although the funding has been received, the work may have to wait until 2011, because it is late in the year. “We have extensions in place if we need to wait,” Furney said.

The supervisors have been seeking grant money for projects whenever possible to avoid an increase in local taxes.

The supervisors signed a Harford Fire Company 2011 agreement, and are working toward updating the sewer system. Part of the town is on public sewer.

Harford Township Supervisors meet at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month at the municipal building.