Milford supervisors to fill vacancies

By Charles Reynolds
MILFORD — With the passing of Kenneth Greening last month, the township has vacancies on the supervisors' board and the planning commission.

There were no letters of desire sent in for the planning board, so the supervisors decided to leave the position open. Two people, Ray Willis and Gary Clark, sent in letters of interest to fill the supervisor vacancy.

Willis is currently on the planning board, and Clark, the son of Matamoras mayor Janet Clark, is a faithful attendee of the twice-monthly meetings at the administration building. If the supervisors cannot decide among them before March 8 — which is the case in this situation — they send the letters to the one-man Vacancy Board member Emil Moglia. He then has up to 30 days to make a decision.

According to supervisor Gary Williams, they should have an answer by the next regular meeting date, on March 18.

Septic restrictions
The supervisors appointed Kevin Stroyan to represent Milford Township in a multi-county coalition to keep up with the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and its intention to pass regulations intended to protect streams from nitrate pollution.

Pike County currently has no problem with nitrates, which mostly issue from septic systems and can spread beyond the absorption site. All Pike County waterways are rated Exceptional Value or High Quality.

Supervisors say the new rule will dramatically stymie business and residential growth. According to the credit system proposed by the state, every new construction with an individual septic system would require more than 11 and a half acres of land.

Although not a circumvention of traditional legislation routes, a DEP Rules Promulgation makes public comment difficult. The process allows for the DEP to print a notice in the PA Bulletin — which most residents do not have access to — and sets a 30-day public comment period before it becomes effective.

Stroyan said the state can effectively make a law without legislative debate or comment.

“The average (person) didn't know he needed to comment on it,” he said. “This is how these things get done. And when there's regulations that come through they say there was no public comment.”

During the Pike County Commissioners meeting this week, Commissioner Rich Caridi, who echoed the dismay felt by the township leaders, said that along with a letter to the DEP there will be a sit-down, face-to-face meeting with state officials on March 15.

Dingman Township also recently objected to the new rules.

Business expansion
Thomas Murante of Community Storage on Routes 6 and 209 petitioned the supervisors to add rental trucks to his business. The supervisors approved the request, with approval from the township planners to have only three trucks visible from the highway at both his locations, and one sign adhering to municipality standards. Murante is in discussions with U-Haul, but stated that he would be going with whichever rental truck company offered the best deal.