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VOLUME 27, NUMBER 14
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Mid-January, 2023
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HVAC replacement means big bills for Tobyhanna Township by Seth Isenberg
PERUSING PLANS: Members of the Tunkhannock Township Planning Commission study the Route 115 Associates land development plan, as members of the team face them to answer questions. JP: Ruth Isenberg
Tunk Planning Commission first look at warehouse land development plan by Ruth Isenberg The first Tunkhannock Township Planning Commission of 2023 started with a change in leadership. Kevin Wieand was elected as chair, on a secret 5-4 vote over prior chair Alex Jackson, who was elected as vice-chair. Township secretary Tina Kernan was re-elected secretary by unanimous voice vote. The Planners will meet again in work session at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, then as needed every
fourth Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. A Zoom option will be available. The business portion of the meeting opened with discussion of a letter received from the attorney for Route 115 Associates asking to have board members Jackson and Ellen Lott disqualified from consideration of its land development plan, charging bias on their part because they voted against their original proposal. On advice of their solicitor, attorney Jim Tressler, the board rejected the petition,
noting that the Planning Commission is an advisory, recommending body only, and does not have decision power. Even so, Lott spoke and recused herself from voting on the matter, saying she works hard to be unbiased and objective, and voted against the original application because she felt it was incomplete. However, she did not want to give Route 115 Associates any basis for a challenge to any upcoming decisions. Jackson did not recuse himself but said See Tunk Planners, page 2
Tobyhanna Township is looking at a big bill to replace its aging heating and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Some of the system installed in the 1970s is still in use, and the most recent major upgrade was in the 1990s. It now heats and cools unevenly, and inefficiently. MartinRogers Engineering Consultants of Wilkes-Barre has been retained to spec-out what the required improvements to gain reliability and efficiency, along with better indoor air quality. Supervisors will be looking to use American Rescue Funds to do the work, at a cost to well-exceed $500,000. Randall Levine P.E., president of MartinRogers, attended the Tobyhanna Township supervisors’ meeting on January 17 and answered questions. Levine agreed to have his firm prepare bid specifications for the work, at a cost of about $40,000. As an addition to the agenda, supervisors received a letter of resignation from long-time tax collector Linda Woehrle, who has served since 1982. This was
accepted, and supervisors will now have 30 days to appoint a replacement to serve until the next municipal election. Letters of interest should be submitted to Tobyhanna Township, 105 Government Center Way, Pocono Pines, PA 18350. In reports, the township’s use of Pocono Mountain Regional Police in 2022 ended the year 88 hours over, not far off 2021’s estimate. The Pocono Summit Volunteer Fire Company is working towards buying “a mini pumper,” but has learned the manufacturer of the truck they want does not participate in the PA Co-Stars buying program. Council voted to authorize township manager Robert Bartol to obtain bids. During the most recent snowstorm, the township’s 5500 dump truck went into a ditch while plowing. It is in for repairs. It’s also been decided to offer the DPW’s well-used about 8 year-old Gradall for sale, and there was discussion about how to price it on Municibid. Supervisors appointed Keystone Consulting Engineers of Kresgeville as See Tobyhanna Twp, page 2