Montrose focuses on equipment needs

BY STACI WILSON

The majority of Montrose council’s first meeting of the new year, Tuesday, Jan. 3, was spent on reorganization and discussing street department needs.

Mayor John Wilson administered the oath of office to newly elected councilman Tony Pickett, along with council members Tom Lamont, and Randy Schuster. Julanne Skinner, who was also elected to serve on council, was sworn in earlier Tuesday by Susquehanna County President Judge Kenneth Seamans.

Lamont was chosen to serve as council president with Todd Chamberlain selected as vice president.

Council will continue to meet the first Monday of the each month at7 p.m.; and the third Monday of each month at7:30 p.m.If the Monday falls on a holiday, the meeting will be held on the following Tuesday evening.

Following an executive session, council noted the probationary employment status for borough patrol officers Justin Sprout and Levi Tiffany had ended and wages for both officers were raised to $13 per hour – base patrolman’s wage.

Council then moved to give a three percent raise to all borough employees.

Ken DiPhillips, head of the street department, said council needed to consider replacing the Ford 550 truck – currently used for plowing.

DiPhillips said he had been looking into truck options and financing and the sale of the current truck along with available liquid fuels money would cover about half the cost of a new borough vehicle.

He will continue to investigate buying options for the borough. A new truck – even if ordered now – would not be ready for delivery until mid to late summer, DiPhillips said.

A water drainage problem onPost St.is starting to undermine the edge of the road, DiPhillips said, and causing water to run into the parking lot of the Hinds Oil building, creating a potential icing hazard from the run-off in the parking lot. He was given permission by council to fix the problem.

Police Chief Dale Smith answered council members’ questions regarding the Dec. 31, 2011 crash which damaged a borough police car in New Milford Twp.

At the time of the meeting, damage to the police vehicle had not yet been assessed.

Smith said both officers on the scene, although not in the vehicle at the time of the crash, were taken to the hospital for evaluation but were not injured.

Smith said that if the vehicle was totaled he would see if any of the equipment was salvageable.

Skinner asked what council’s recourse would be if the equipment fails six months down the road after being moved to a new vehicle.

Smith said he would have the light bar checked out before making any recommendations.