Library tax loses in a landslide

Goldsack wins back Delaware Valley board seat, by David Hulse MILFORD — With all 18 voting districts reporting unofficial results Wednesday, a controversial county library tax referendum went down by a more than four to one margin in Tuesday voting. A late-night Tuesday statement from The Pike County Public Library (PCPL) expressed disappointment that the proposed dedicated library tax was defeated. “Clearly, the voters of Pike County have made a choice today,” said PCPL Board President Maleyne Syracuse. “Unfortunately, without the increased funding from the library tax, we have no other option but to make difficult decisions about service cuts that will be necessary to balance our budget,” she said. On the other side, Pike County Commissioners’ Chair Rich Caridi on Wednesday said that the vote left no doubt that the public did not want new taxes at this time. Caridi said further that the library needs to be more responsive to its obligations as a recipient of $200,000 in county tax money. “We don’t want to hear that they’re a private corporation, a not-for-profit. They need to have accountability.” Caridi said he is asking for a detailed audit of library spending. “People on that board voted $55,000 of taxpayer money for a media campaign. If they want to regain public respect, those same people should pay the taxpayers back out of their own pockets. Caridi said that the board needs to be more representative of the entire county, even should that require an expansion to seat more members. “Those board members must also declare Pike County as their primary residence,” he said. Other races Delaware Township, where a supervisor’s race was contested, did not report results until after midnight. Republican Bob Luciano won handily over Democrat Max Brinson. Apparent winners in the races for four, four-year Delaware Valley School Board seats were: incumbents Pam Lutfy, Sue Schor, who ran on both party lines, and Bob Goldsack, who ran as a Republican. Former member, Jack Fisher, who also had two-party endorsements, was also an apparent winner. Charles Pike was elected unopposed to a two-year school board seat and an unopposed Sheriff Phil Bueki was reelected. Apparent winners in other contested races included: Republican Marjorie A. Wassmer for county jury commissioner; Republican Robert “Bob” Cocchi, who was in a three-way race for Lackawaxen Township Supervisor; and Republican Paul Menditto for Lehman Township Supervisor. In Milford Borough: Republican/Democrat, Matthew Osterberg, and council newcomers Democrat Denise “Denny” Wagner and Republican Vincent Accordino were apparent winners of three open seats. In races for four Matamoras Borough seats: Democrats Joseph E. Sain, Linda O’Donnell, Robert E. Stevens Jr. and Republican Joann Featherman were apparent winners.