Board okays purchase talk on three-lane site

WESTFALL — The shopping is done and it’s time to buy, school officials said last Thursday. Amidst the political debate of the upcoming school board elections, the Delaware Valley Board of Education last Thursday directed negotiations to begin on the purchase of 38.94 acres off U.S. Route 6/209, opposite Altec Lansing and behind Honesdale Gas. The land would accommodate a new elementary school. No range of cost ceilings was revealed, but board Solicitor Michael Weinstein said, “We can safely say it will be less than $4.7 million,” the offering price discussed last month. Negotiations would take place with owners Joseph Biondo and the CBH (Chant-Biondo-Helms) Holding Company. The board also authorized Burkavage Engineering to conduct due diligence survey work. The authorizations were approved by a 5-3 vote, with Deborah DuCharme, Bob Goldsack, and Ed Silverstone in opposition. Member Pam Lutfy was absent. The vote came despite the efforts of candidates in the upcoming fall elections to postpone the decision until the new board is seated. Diane French, who was the leading spring primary vote getter, posed the question. She appeared with Taxpayers United running mates John Kupillas and John Wladar, who were making their first appearance at a board meeting. Before an executive, closed session that preceded the land vote, French made the request on behalf of the three candidates, saying it seemed likely there would be changes in the board. “We’ve wasted money on (a failed purchase of the) Santos (Farm). We don’t want to waste more ... Other options need to be investigated. Our (elementary school) population is declining,” she said. Superintendent Dr. Candis Finan reported earlier that primary and elementary enrollments were down more than 80 students, while high school and middle school numbers increased by less than 50. “We need something, sure (we do), but $4.7 million for land - I don’t think so. I don’t want to waste $80,000 to $100,000 (for engineering costs) like we did on Santos,” French said. Member Frank Colletta was adamantly in favor, responding, “We need another piece of land.” Long-range planning committee Chair Sue Casey, who has been the primary sponsor of the purchase, agreed. “This piece is the right piece for 2022 (population estimates).” She said the $4.7 million figure French quoted was “misinformation.” Board President John Wroblewski said, “The board has a little more intelligence than you give us credit for.” Rejecting French’s request, he concluded, “When you get elected, you’ll have to decide on things even when your term is expiring.” John Kupillas left the meeting early for work. His wife Pat asked, “Why not build on land you already have ( in Dingman)?” She termed the land purchase as “craziness.” Board members replied saying elementary children from MillRift would not do well on a 50-minute bus ride to Dingman. Casey reported Monday that survey work on the recently acquired Marquin property in Dingman shows it contains 70 to 90 buildable acres, “enough for a high school and middle school.” The land discussion devolved into a politically charged, point-counterpoint about the board’s record on tax increases and spending in recent years. After he recognized Wladar as a candidate, board member Jack Fisher noted, “I haven’t seen you guys here before.” “That doesn’t matter. I know what’s going on,” Wladar rejoined. Following the authorization vote, Delaware Valley Elementary School Principal Sonya Cole thanked the board. “I was mortified at the idea of sending MillRift, Matamoras and Milford children to Dingman. You sit here for good education and that’s not good education,” she said. The board also finalized another, much less controversial land purchase Thursday. In a unanimous vote, they agreed to the $1 purchase of a 55-acre tract of land abutting the school athletic stadium, adjoining Milford Landing and Wal-Mart. The land, which was offered by Richard Snyder and his Samall Associates of Milford, is in the Delaware River flood plain and is not suitable for habitable structures. Director of Secondary Education Dr. Tom Finan suggested that the land would provide for needed expansion of athletic and practice fields. The board next meets in a Sept. 6 work session, at 7:30 p.m., in the Westfall administrative offices.