CLARKS GREEN — At the Clarks Green Council meeting, February 19, solicitor Al Weinschenk said that Council received a correspondence from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) regarding the final flood hazard determination for areas within the borough. He mentioned that the letter was dated February 5, 2020.
He recalled when the preliminary determination came out back in either 2012 or 2013. He said that during that time, there were a few areas that were subject to flooding. He said that the flood insurance report will be available along with a flood insurance rating map, which will identify areas if any that are special flood-hazard areas. “What this does is to allow residents within those flood-hazard areas to be able to participate in a national flood insurance program and be able to obtain flood insurance for their properties,” he said.
Weinschenk advised the borough to adopt the floodplain management regulations that meet the federal requirements.
“We need to, within the next thirty days, provide to DCED (Department of Community and Economic Development) either a draft ordinance or copies of our existing ordinances, which comply with the requirements,” he said.
Weinschenk mentioned that he will coordinate with the engineers to see which ordinances they need to provide to DCED or modify an existing ordinance.
Also in his report, Weinschenk mentioned that there’s a new zoning ordinance, which needs to be adopted or considered by the borough. He said that he attended a meeting last week involving the adoption of the zoning ordinance by the municipalities that participate in SAPA (Scranton-Abingtons Planning Association).
He said that there will be an amendment of the SAPA agreement, which will lock the municipalities into this zoning or participation of SAPA for three years. He said that the draft zoning ordinance is different from the existing ordinance. He said that there are changes needed to be made.
“It’s my thought that perhaps a committee should be formed to work with me and with Mr. Parker (zoning officer George Parker) to review the proposed ordinance,” he said. Weinschenk said that the planning commission needs to made a recommendation to Council to approve the ordinance or not. He said that he hopes to have a subsequent meeting with the planning commission in two weeks and later introduce the ordinance.
Councilman Dave Rinaldi added that the requirement for the zoning ordinance is 45 days. He said that the planning commission gave a tentative schedule to have the ordinances being adopted by the end of May. He explained that’s why they plan to introduce the ordinance in march so they will have more than 45 days to adopt it. Council president Joe Barrasse asked Weinschenk if the planning commission could meet on the same night as the regular Council meeting on Wednesday, March 18. Weinschenk agreed.
Also in his solicitor’s report, Weinschenk read Resolution No. 3 regarding a Memorandum of Understanding between the borough and the Lackawanna County Conservation District. He said that the purpose for it is to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation of streams, promoting stormwater management, managing agricultural security areas, and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the resident of Clarks Green. Council voted to approve the resolution.
In his public works report, Rinaldi said that DPW (Department of Public Works) foreman Dave Kohinsky told him that the body of the new Ford 550 truck is nearly ready. He said that Powell’s Sales & Services Inc. had to do a breakdown to see which individual attachments will be put on the truck. Barrasse said that the Ford 550 is currently at Gibbons Ford and will be delivered to Powell’s. “Once the dealer delivers it to Powell’s. we’ll have to submit a payment to the dealer and then the insurance will have to be effective on that date,” he said. Treasurer Alan Hughes said that the first vehicle, a Ford 350 truck, will be $75,000. He suggested to make a payment from the capital fund for that, and to discuss the Ford 550 when it needs to be paid. Also, Barrasse mentioned that Council asked the borough engineers to help them with the SSES (Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Survey) project from the borough’s PA Small Water & Sewer Grant. He said that the engineers performed a prioritization and work flow.
In his ARWA (Abington Regional Wastewater Authority) report, Rinaldi announced that former member of Clarks Summit Council Frank Besten was appointed a new member of ARWA at Clarks Summit’s meeting on Wednesday, February 5. He said that Besten filled the vacancy of Wayne Miller, who resigned at the end of the year. In his personnel report, Councilman Keith Williams mentioned that he will review the personnel manual, which was last amended and adopted in 2014.
“We’ve changed several policies since,” he said. Williams suggested to Council to go through the manual and see if there are any policies that need to be amended. In his mayor’s report, Mayor Ken McGraw thanked Council for voting for the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board (AAJRB) to reopen the Abington Senior Center.
