CLARKS GREEN — At the Sept. 18 borough council meeting, Mayor Patty Lawler honored the Shade Tree Commission for being named “Tree City USA” for the 11th year in a row by the National Arbor Foundation. She read a letter of recognition written by Congressman Matt Cartwright, congratulating the commission.
“As I recognize your community in celebrating this status as Tree City USA, I am reminded of the critical role about the program and the Arbor Day Foundation,” Lawler read from the letter. “Last year alone, Tree City USA collectively planted over 720,000 trees. A terrific start to an unprecedented effort to plant 100 million trees by the year 2022.”
Lawler praised the Shade Tree Commission for its hard work.
“They are not only the members and the brains,” she said. “They are the planters.”
Lawler mentioned the commission is looking for new members.
Also in her report, Lawler said she sent congratulatory notes to Father John Lapera and the parishioners of the Church of St. Gregory on the church’s expansion, praising the planning commission for its work on the project
In his solicitor’s report, Al Weinschenk announced that Ty Cremer, property owner of 304 N. Abington Road, executed a property release in favor of the borough and the borough’s insurance carrier released any liability with respect to the permit issued in error. He said the new permit has been issued, Cremer received a highway occupancy permit and signed a release.
“Everything seems to be or is in order for the borough to issue a check, which was previously approved in the amount of $2,500 to the property owner,” he said.
Weinschenk said he and treasurer Alan Hughes will issue the check.
In his public works report, Councilman Joe Dougherty mentioned two bids for the project on Hill Street and Abington Road. He said MTW Construction bid $14,250 and Baranich Excavating bid $13,275. Weinschenk corrected the bid specifications, which called for an 11-inch pipe, but in actuality requires a 12-inch pipe. The council voted to award the contract for the replacement of the catch basin on the corner of Hill Street and Abington Road to Baranich Excavating.
Dougherty also announced the highest bid for the 1981 international dump truck was $3,050 and the council voted to approve the bid. Dougherty then mentioned Wince Construction will start construction on Yale Blvd soon.
In her refuse and recycling report, Councilman MJ Igoe reported she wants to include recycling information from County Waste in flyers inserted in the leaf bags so residents can be mindful of what people can and cannot recycle. She also said up to five bags per household can be picked up each week.
“When they’re (residents) out of the paper leaf bags, they can put their yard waste in plastic bags,” she said.
In his ARWA (Abington Regional Wastewater Report), Councilman Dave Rinaldi mentioned the sinkhole, which was between the headworks and main pump buildings, has been repaired and said the total of the repair was $6,330.
“It’s been determined that, more than likely, the cause of the sinkhole was a downspout that was emptying in the area,” he said. “That (downspout) has been relocated.”
Rinaldi also said the flow meters will be relocated in the beginning of October, reporting the authority had a meeting with borough engineers to select manholes for next year’s readings.
