A group of Delaware township residents looks over a proposed zoning map. (Photo by Josh Wengler)
By Josh Wengler
DELAWARE TWP – After years in development and a hearing that lasted just over a year, Delaware Township could be just one step away from passing its controversial new zoning and land development ordinance.
The issue has been in the news for well over a year as the township’s planning commission tried to best present the will of the township populace. The rub comes in the fact that the building community and large landowners see the draft ordinance as antithetical to economic growth in the community.
Steven Vitale, representing the Pike County Builders Association at the hearing, and who is also a member of the Pike County Planning Commission and a licensed engineer, has been lobbying for changes to what he considers onerous over-regulation in the draft proposal since day one. He says the draft ordinance still contains numerous development-strangling initiatives that have never been addressed by the township, despite long wrangling on his part and others’.
There was a hearing on the zoning initiative in December of 2008 in which officials put off passage of the ordinance until the long list of issues presented at the hearing could be addressed. Tuesday’s hearing was the continuation of that original hearing.
In addition to Vitale, several others from the Pike County Builders Association and a number of interested landowners also came out to voice their opposition to the proposed regulations.
Vitale explained at the hearing that, of a list of 58 items of particular concern presented to the planning commission by the builders, only 8 have been addressed. He and Ed Nikles, also of the builders association, both called on the planning commission to respond to their challenges in writing, with line by line corrections of the provisions addressed.
Most prominent among the arguments against the proposed ordinance are riparian buffer requirements and new lot size requirements designed to maintain open spaces. The builders say the 100 foot buffers required around wetlands and other waterways would render many lots in the township unbuildable, and new lot sizes would do the same. Their contention is that as those lots become unbuildable they will be abandoned, becoming a tax burden rather than a tax benefit to the township.
The planning commission and supporters of its position say when the township’s comprehensive plan was developed there was overwhelming support for environmental conservation initiatives to protect the rural character and high resource quality enjoyed by everyone in the township, and they believe regulating development the way they are will serve the will of the majority in the township.
According to township planning board member Francine Byrne, “The fact that there were only a few large landowners and builders in the room points to the fact that the ordinance fits the will of the township.”
“The Builders feel like they are being rudely ignored,” Vitale said. “They submitted a list of 58 items of concern last year, of which 8 were partially addressed. The other 50 items appeared to have been ignored. The builders asked, as they had at earlier times, to have a workshop with the planners. Further they requested at least a written response to each of the 50 items. The builders did not like the commission’s position that no action on those items was a response to their concerns. Eventually the planners agreed to respond to the builders, but it is unclear if any workshop will occur.”
“We have had significant input on this from the beginning,” said Planning Commission Chairman John Henderson in his opening remarks. “Some written, some screamed; But there has been plenty of public input in this process.” Holding up each of the three revisions of the ordinance to emphasize the commission’s response to the public pressure, he said if the final document made 51 percent of the township happy, he would consider the project a success.
After hearing the litany of revisions proposed by speakers at the hearing, the planning commission and the consultant preparing the ordinance agreed to make many of the changes. After being pressed several times by Len Crescimanno, the president of the Builders Association,
Henderson did agree to have a written response to builders’ concerns drafted, but official motion to convene a workshop or set a date for the next meeting on the long road to adoption of the new ordinance will have to come from a regular meeting of the planning commission.
A mid-afternoon fire consumed a Delaware Township home Saturday afternoon. Nobody was home at the time of the blaze.
The fire, estimated by Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Steve Kaneski and Delaware Township Fire Chief Jeff Graber to be caused by an electrical malfunction, began in a bedroom and engulfed the roofline by the time fire crews arrived to battle it around 4:30 p.m.
Kaneski, who investigated the remains of the Sproul Road house Sunday, said he concurred with Graber’s assessment that the fire was likely caused by an electrical short, though when he was interviewed Monday, he said they had yet to pinpoint exactly which device was at fault.
“It was essentially a room and contents fire,” Kaneski said, “But it got to the roofline, and made it an almost total loss.”
DINGMANS FERRY — At their once-a-year meeting to determine the salaries of township employees who are also supervisors, Delaware Township auditors trimmed the pay and benefits of all three supervisors.
In Delaware, all three supervisors are employed by the township; Ted Parsell as roadmaster, Ileana Hernandez as secretary/treasurer, and Bob Luciano as an administrative assistant.
Luciano was hit hardest by the cut; his fulltime, $44,000 a year job was cut to 15 hours a week at $20 an hour, on an as-needed basis. At the township’s reorganization meeting last week, there was a call to eliminate Luciano’s job altogether after a statement from Luciano’s opponent in last November’s election, Delaware resident Max Brinson, read a letter questioning the need for the administrative assistant position.
During an ensuing vote on whether or not to eliminate the position, Luciano and Parsell voted to keep the job, while Hernandez voted to get rid of it.
Hernandez and Parsell also had their salaries and benefits cut by about five percent each. Notably, their number of vacation days was capped at 25, or five weeks. Parsells had been getting seven weeks, while Hernandez had been getting six. Both have been employed by the township for more than 20 years.
According to the Pennsylvania Second Class Township Code, one of the jobs of the auditors is to “determine the compensations for the current year…for supervisors employed by the township.” Auditors are elected officials; the three Delaware Township auditors are Chairman Dennis Lee, Secretary Gail Wershing, and Mike Dickerson.
Supervisor Bob Luciano still has a job at the Delaware Township municipal building despite a protest from some residents and a fellow supervisor. (Photo by Susan Koomar)
By Susan Koomar
DINGMANS FERRY – It was another close call for Bob Luciano.
First came Luciano’s 26-vote win to retain his seat as Delaware Township supervisor in November’s election.
Then came Monday’s township reorganization meeting and a 2-1 vote to retain Luciano’s job as administrative assistant.
Supervisor Ileana Hernandez voted “no,” and later explained, “I don’t really need an assistant at this point. I thought the job could be eliminated or made part time. It has nothing to do with job performance.”
Luciano is a Republican. Hernandez is a Democrat. Neither official attributed the controversy to partisan politics. Voting with Luciano was Republican Ted Parsell, who was named chairman of the board of supervisors as part of the reorganization. Parsell is employed as township roadmaster. Hernandez is employed as township secretary/treasurer.
The meeting featured a letter read by resident Max Brinson – Luciano’s Democratic opponent in the November race – complaining that Luciano’s roles as both supervisor and administrative assistant are redundant.
“As working supervisors who are full-time employees of the township, you have an obligation to insure that all township positions are serving the needs of the township residents,” Brinson began. “You also have an obligation to refrain from making employment a political favor.”
Luciano, 57, is a former welder for Con-Edison who worked his way up to township supervisor after 14 years as a zoning officer followed by service on the planning commission. After being elected supervisor, Luciano was appointed to the full-time job of administrative assistant, which paid $43,000 last year – a salary set by the township auditor.
Luciano said his job exceeds the tasks a supervisor would be able to accomplish as an elected official who attends monthly township meetings but has other work obligations.
“There are things that have to be handled every day,” said Luciano, who said he has dealt with much of the financial matters related to the township’s purchase of Camp Akenac. Handling loans and banking are part of Luciano’s job description, but Brinson said those tasks are defined as a supervisor’s responsibility under the state code for townships.
Luciano did not respond publicly to the letter read by Brinson at the meeting. Five residents signed the letter.
During his campaign, Brinson questioned the wisdom of having all three supervisors employed by the township, although such a situation is permitted by state law and not unusual.
“There is a strong potential for conflict of interest when all three supervisors are dependent on the township for employment,” said Brinson, a math teacher at Middletown High School.
Delaware Township's 16th annual Christmas Tree. (Photo by Jerry Goldberg)
Ronne Tenner, accompanied by Brian Krauss performed some holiday songs. (Photo by Jerry Goldberg)
By Jerry Goldberg
DINGMANS FERRY — Delaware Township celebrated both Chanukah and Christmas with the lighting of a Menorah and a large decorated evergreen tree at the Municipal Building on Wilson Hill Road this past Saturday evening at 6 p.m.
The township supervisors and Recreation Commission as well as the Milford Quilters brought the evening of holiday happiness to well over 100 townspeople from children to adults. Dingmans Choice & Delaware Bridge Company donated some funds to supplement those provided by Delaware Township for the holiday event.
Town Supervisor Ted Parsell welcomed everyone for an evening full of musical entertainment presented by Ruth Hadley of High Note Vocal Studios and several of her most outstanding vocalists.
The Milford Quilters had tables set up at the back of the township hall where children were able to participate in some craft-making projects. Hot dogs, cold beverages and hot chocolate were available for all attending at no charge.
Hadley introduced soprano Ronne Tenner accompanied by guitarist Brian Krauss. Tenner and Krauss performed a few holiday songs. Ann Romano, six years old, did a solo performance and sang a holiday song for the audience.
There were also other performers from Hadley’s vocal studio including several young girls dressed in reindeer outfits who sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
Shortly after the musical program the Menorah was lit showing two candles for the second day of the eight day Jewish holiday of Chanukah.
Afterwards everyone had hot dogs and drinks while the kids busied themselves at the craft table.
Then it was announced that all should head outside for the lighting of the 16th Annual Christmas Tree. When everyone was gathered around the 35-foot-tall evergreen decorated with colorful lights the countdown began. Five, four, three, two, one and the tree was lighted to the delight of all. Both kids and adults applauded the lighting of the beautiful tree.
A few minutes later Santa Claus arrived, followed by a treat of some holiday deserts back inside the township building.
By about 8 p.m. everyone headed home in preparation for their own holiday festivities.
Six-year-old Ann Romano sang a holiday song for the audience. (Photo by Jerry Goldberg)
The craft table was a popular spot at Delaware Township's holiday celebration. (Photo by Jerry Goldberg)
More than 100 people gathered in Delaware Township to usher in Chanukah and Christmas. (Photo by Jerry Goldberg)
Good Health Pharmacy on Route 739 is the only pharmacy located in the Dingmans Ferry zip code.
DINGMANS FERRY – Delaware Township officials congratulated the owner and four-member staff of the new Good Health Pharmacy at a grand opening celebration on Saturday. The business, located in the Dingman’s Medical Building on Route 739, is the only pharmacy located in the Dingmans Ferry zip code. Free delivery within a 10- to 15-mile radius is offered, as well as free pick-up of prescriptions from local doctors. Pharmacist Tony Jannu says prescriptions are filled “in minutes, not hours.” He says the shop includes a variety of over-the-counter medications and matches the prices of local competitors.
Township Supervisor Ileana Hernandez praised the new venture as one of the essential businesses needed for the convenience of residents. Delaware Township is one of the most heavily populated municipalities of Pike County.
The hours for Good Health Pharmacy are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. Phone: (570) 828-7494.
DINGMANS FERRY — A .5 mill township tax increase for property owners in Delaware Township to help township emergency services was withdrawn this past Wednesday, November 18, in a special budget meeting held at the township building.
The tax increase was going to support both DTVAC (Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps) and Pike County ALS (Advanced Life Support). The tax increase was approved the week earlier at the November 11 Township Supervisors Meeting.
After the approval of the tax increase there was some public outcry over tax dollars going to PCALS, an organization that has paid employees, unlike the all-volunteer DTVAC. There were also some concerns that two township officials, supervisor Ileana Hernandez and Tax Collector Mary Lou Corbett, are on the board of PCALS.
PCALS is a mostly volunteer organization but due to a lack of volunteerism has had to hire paid employees. PCALS began providing emergency services to Delaware Township residents in 2003 and currently has over 20 employees.
The request for the .5 mill tax increase was withdrawn by Corbett, president of Pike County ALS, at Wednesday’s meeting. Corbett was elected to her post as tax collector in 2005 and again in the recent November 3 election for another four years.
The original request for the implementation of the .5 mill tax was proposed in a letter addressed to the supervisors dated October 23, 2009. The letter was signed by both Corbett and David Stone, current president of DTVAC, and said that the monies generated would be split between the two organizations.
In an interview with Township Supervisor’s Vice-Chair Ileana Hernandez she told the Press the tax increase was taken out of the proposed budget for next year. At Wednesday evening’s meeting, Hernandez said that the tax had previously been approved to facilitate further discussion at the budget meeting.
When asked if her position on the board of PCALS is a conflict with her position as a supervisor, she responded, “Before I took the position with PCALS I cleared it with the board.”
Bob Luciano, chairman of the Delaware Township board of supervisors, said in an interview with the Press, “The proposed tax increase was discussed at a board budget meeting a month ago but has since been rescinded by PCALS. The money would have gone to DTVAC and they would have dispersed it to PCALS themselves.” He said there were 8,000 to 9,000 residents in Delaware Township that depend on both DTVAC and PCALS.
Jane Neufeld, president-elect of DTVAC, cautioned at the Wednesday meeting that the township needs to plan for the future of emergency medical services, and also expressed frustration that opposition to the tax was based largely on misinformation. It was a sentiment echoed by Stone, the current president of DTVAC.
“I wish people who had questions would have the common courtesy to ask about them, rather than bloviate,” said Stone.
The men vying for a seat as Delaware Township supervisor are both community-minded and oppose the controversial new library tax proposed for Pike County. The similarities pretty much end there.
Incumbent Republican Bob Luciano, 57, is a former welder for Con-Edison who worked his way up to township supervisor after 14 years as a zoning officer followed by service on the planning commission.
Democratic challenger Max Brinson, 53, teaches math in Middletown, N.Y. and, with his wife, owns Dingmans Ferry Bed and Breakfast.
Luciano invites voters to come to township meetings, participate in the budget process and find out first hand what’s going on.
“There’s nothing to hide,” said Luciano, who said supervisors have made township operations more transparent with open work sessions and budget meetings that began back in July.
But Brinson says the township can do a better job of communicating with residents. He calls it “simply intolerable” that the official township Web site has been out of commission for months.
The key issue for Brinson is his independence. He questions the wisdom of having all three supervisors employed by the township, although such a situation is permitted by state law and not unusual.
“There is a strong potential for conflict of interest when all three supervisors are dependent on the township for employment,” said Brinson. “I will continue to be a full-time teacher at Middletown High School. I’ll be an independent voice and I won’t be beholden to anyone for a job.”
Both candidates stress fiscal responsibility and say they want to prevent tax hikes while maintaining township services. Luciano said the township may actually be able to reduce its tax rate in the new budget.
He touted the township’s purchase of Camp Akenac with about $700,000 of a $1,070,000 mortgage on the property now paid. The loan will be fulfilled in 11 years rather than 20, Luciano said.
“The purchase of the camp was a big issue but people fell in love with it,” he said.
Brinson said the camp purchase is an example of supervisors exercising their considerable power without sufficient accountability to residents.
“I think ultimately Camp Akenac is going to be a great benefit to the township. The problem is the way in which the purchase was made. It was done without public input. The way it was done felt like a betrayal to many residents,” he said.
Brinson, a native of Abilene, Texas, moved to Delaware Township 12 years ago. Luciano began spending summers in the township when he was 10. He has been a supervisor for six years.
Delaware Township is one of Pike County’s most populated municipalities with more than 5,800 registered voters. Republicans have an edge in the township and Luciano is endorsed by the Pike County Young Republicans and Pike County Commissioner Chairman Rich Caridi. But Brinson said he’s mounting a viable challenge.
Sunflowers attract bees and brighten the garden in late summer. (Photo by Susan Koomar)
By Susan Koomar
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP –It’s a summer of blooms and bounty despite blight in the community garden here.
Delaware Township supervisors established the Smith-Harker Community Garden in 2002 with help from the Penn State Cooperative Extension. This spring, 12 new vegetable patches were planted. Thirty gardeners tend 22 patches total.
“It’s peaceful. It’s really delightful,” said Supervisor Ileana Hernandez. That’s despite the time she and master gardener Carol Padalino were chatting when a bear came ambling across Wilson Hill Road. They quickly shut the garden gate, but the bear was no bother.
Gardeners are now harvesting potatoes, kale, squash, herbs and more. Most of the tomato crop was destroyed by blight but the garden is still filled with the vibrant color of red peppers, red-stemmed Swiss chard, sunflowers and perennials.
The original community garden visionary was resident Wanda Serrano, who secured a donation of fencing from Wal-Mart. Carol Padalino got involved after she retired from teaching art in the Delaware Valley School District.
“It was a blank canvas for the artist,” said Hernandez.
Padalino began with an herb garden that’s now fragrant with lavender and mint. Inmates from Pike County Correctional Facility installed stepping stones. Padalino used the “lasagna method” to prepare her next plot. She placed newspapers and organic material down to kill sod during the winter.
“The soil is just beautiful – so soft,” she said. She planted a butterfly garden followed by a perennial border.
“All of the plants were either donated (by residents) or from Pocono Environmental Education Center or from home,” said Padalino.
Laura Von Zittwitz moved to the township and asked if there was space for a vegetable garden.
“When I think of gardens I think of vegetables I can eat,” she said. Von Zittwitz will soon sew winter wheat to prevent soil erosion during the dormant months.
The garden includes a patch called “Three Sisters” following a Native American tradition of planting corn surrounded by beans and squash. Bean stalks climb up the corn stalks as broad-leafed squash plants shade the ground to preserve moisture.
The township purchased a rototiller and helps volunteers maintain the garden.
“It is the township’s property but you are the township,” Hernandez said to gardeners Padalino and VonZittwitz.
Asparagus and rhubarb growing outside the fenced gardens are remnants of the 149-acre Isaac Smith property settled in 1879. Descendent Russell Smith, a veteran of World War I, farmed the land until his death in 1966. The township then bought the property.
For information, contact the township at (570) 828-2347.
Resident Carol Padalino examines a drawing of the original Smith Farm, now home to Delaware Township offices and a community garden. (Photo by Susan Koomar)
Red peppers are ready for harvest.
Volunteers Carol Padalino (left) and Laura Von Zittwitz tend flowers and vegetables in Delaware Township’s community garden.
The 12,500-mile trip of Laura Von Zittwitz took her to Yukon Territory, Arctic Circle, Alaska and national parks of American's northwest.
Story and Photos by Susan Koomar
DELAWARE TOWNSHIP – The adventure of a lifetime took a Pike County woman to the Yukon, Alaska and the majestic national parks of America’s northwest this summer.
Laura Von Zittwitz began her trip June 23 and traveled 12,500 miles by plane, ferry and mostly by car. She returned to her home near Dingmans Ferry on August 15 with a video diary of more than 50 hours on her MacBook.
“That was such an ice breaker – a wonderful way to capture people and places. People would see themselves on the video. I’d ask them to please say “hi” and they’d chat. I met so many people that way,” said Von Zittwitz.
Her high-tech method of documenting the trip belies the low-tech origin of her passion for forging into remote territory. She always wanted to tour the Yukon and Arctic since she was a child – rushing home from a two-room country school to listen to “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” on her family’s radio. They had no TV.
Von Zittwitz grew up in Canada along the north shore of Lake Erie. She attended college in Michigan and then moved to New Jersey, where she began her career as a teacher. She later earned a master’s degree from Rutgers and became an environmental/transportation planner for New Jersey Transit. In 1991, she moved back to Canada and worked for the city of Toronto.
Von Zittwitz maintains a home in Canada, but took early retirement about five years ago and bought her Pike County chalet to be closer to her children in New Jersey.
“This is the perfect location,” she said, sitting at a dining room table adorned with a bouquet of wildflowers. Von Zittwitz is a horticultural volunteer at Grey Towers, a master gardener with the Delaware Township Community Garden and secretary of the Dingmans Ferry Historical Society.
The wedding of a niece in Whitehorse, Yukon was the impetus for the eight-week tour.
“I thought if I don’t do it now, I never will,” she said.
AAA mapped three TripTiks for her and she incorporated advice from friends who have traveled widely in Canada. She realized her small Saturn with high mileage wasn’t fit for the trip so she took advantage of car deals to buy a Saturn VUE Hybrid.
The new car now has some dings thanks to brutally bumpy 500-mile ride on the Dempster Highway (also known as the Yukon Highway), a gravel road with deep washouts and high ridges.
The rough ride had its rewards.
“It was thrilling to stick my feet in the Arctic Ocean,” said Von Zittwitz. “It didn’t seem that cold.”
Watching grizzly bears fish for salmon in Hyder, Alaska was another highlight. Von Zittwitz adjusted her itinerary to stay there three days. The area has a riverside platform where visitors can watch and photograph the bears.
“One of the bears was not full grown – and not very adept. It took him a few tries (to catch a fish),” she said. “That was just amazing, just incredible. You could see the fish and see them tearing into it. It was addictive to watch.”
Further fueling her excitement was 24 hours of sunlight for more than four weeks of her trip.
“You have boundless energy. You don’t feel like going to bed,” she said.
Von Zittwitz was thrifty when she did stop. She favored campgrounds and roadside rest areas over hotels, even folding down the back seats of her car and sleeping there at times. One notable splurge was a $300 night at Jasper Lodge in the Canadian Rockies.
After driving north to the Arctic Circle and back down through parts of Alaska, Von Zittwitz toured national parks including Glacier, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore. But those attractions were filled with summer crowds. One memorable highlight was meeting a family at Yellowstone and capturing them on her video diary. A few days later, she met the same folks at Mount Rushmore.
The final leg of her trip featured another area of childhood fascination – the pioneer land of Laura Ingles Wilder, whose books were the basis for “Little House on the Prairie” on television.
“I’ve always been a fan of those books,” said Von Zittwitz.
At Walnut Grove/Plum Creek, Minn., she visited “the actual site where the house was, which was very exciting. The plum thickets are still there.”
Von Zittwitz traveled about three weeks with her daughter and sister, but made the rest of the journey on her own. She felt safe thanks in part to having OnStar, the auto safety and navigational system that lets motorists push a button for help.
“You just call and get a person right away,” said Von Zittwitz.
Von Zittwitz recommends OnStar for anyone taking a trip like hers, but the rest of her advice is pretty simple.
“Just get in your car and start driving,” she said, still giddy from the adventure. “Take some camping equipment. That was you can be flexible. Go West. Go North and West.”
Von Zittwitz returned with stacks of maps, guidebooks and brochures.
Her souvenirs include a First Nation (Native American) figure hand-crafted by an Alaskan woman.
