Boy Scouts visit Dimock Township

BY PAT FARNELLI

Boy Scouts from Elk Lake Troop 154 attended a Dimock Township meeting Monday, and learned a little bit about municipal issues in the process.
The scouts needed to attend a municipal meeting to fulfill requirements for a citizenship merit badge. One specific task was to identify an issue being discussed during the meeting, figure out two sides of the issue, and choose which side the individual scout would agree with more.

Monday’s meeting was short and orderly. When the supervisors moved to adjourn, the scouts realized they had not found an issue to explore during the meeting.

Scoutmaster Jim Borosh agreed that no real controversy had presented itself so the scouts volunteered a few issues for discussion at the public meeting.
First, Willie Rudzianski asked about four-wheeler riding on township roads.
Chairman Matt Neenan asked, “Are you for or against this?”
Rudzianski answered, “Against.”

Then a township resident said, “Roads are always an issue.”
“When are you going to start working on the roads?” a voice from the back of the hall asked.

“Us, or the state?” countered Neenan, who said that township road work is now underway, weather permitting.

Township secretary Esther Rayias said that Dimock Township has been fortunate to receiving Impact Fee funding over the past two years.

“If the (proposed state) severance tax goes into effect, we won’t get that money, probably,” she said.

Rayias said that while a complicated formula is used to determine how much, if any, Impact Fee money will be given to a township or borough, every county in the state gets some of the Act 13 funds, including Philadelphia. She recommended the scouts and residents check www.puc.gov and go to the website’s oil and gas section to learn more.

“If our township receives Impact Fee money, we have to send in a form explaining in detail how we used that money,” she said.

Resident Bill Aileo agreed: “If the state goes with the severance tax, the amount going toward communities like ours is likely to go down.”

Resident Ron Teel wondered whether a tax on gas extraction will benefit local areas more affected by drilling. “Where is it going to go?” he asked.

While state roads and some municipalities have required bonding of roads by the gas companies, none of the township roads in Dimock have been bonded. “We have a working relationship with the gas companies, so far,” Neenan said.

Scout leader John Jones asked for a contact local people can write to concerning these and other issues. He was told to contact state legislators.
Neenan said that a letter had been received from the county commissioners, who are trying to open a line of communication with local municipalities regarding road and bridge issues.

The supervisors adopted a resolution indicating their intent to follow the municipal records schedule. Neenan said that the township has a room full of records dating back about 30 years. He said that there are state guidelines which clarify what records need to be filed, and how long documents need to be kept. Some of the unnecessary documents can be destroyed after a certain time period.

The board of supervisors accepted the resignation letter of auditor Kevin Mock, who is moving from the area, effective April 28.

Brandy Golden had expressed an interest in serving as an auditor, and was appointed to that position.

At the April meeting, the auditors presented the findings of the audit they performed on township records for 2013. The auditors’ only concern, according to minutes for that meeting, was the increase in wages and overtime over the past five years.

Neenan said that a number notices of well drilling permits from three different gas companies had been received, all for properties outside the township.

A thank you was received for a $500 donation toward a feasibility study for a county sports complex, which the supervisors approved at the April meeting.

An assessment change from $17,400 to $4,000 was approved for a property owned by A.R. Hibbard.

Resident Jen Teel asked about a neighboring vacant trailer falling into disrepair. She was told that the trailer was recently offered at the county delinquent tax sale, but no bids were received.

Teel also brought a list of 37 names for the Springville-Dimock baseball team, which the township had requested. At the Apr. 7 meeting, auditor Terry Way noted that Teel would be bringing the list of participating Dimock Township youth to the May meeting. The supervisors have made an annual donation to the team each year.

Neenan made a motion to donate $25 per player who lives within the township, which was approved.

Dimock Township Supervisors meet on the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m.