Osterberg takes final borough bow

Joe Casmus will serve out the remainder of his term MILFORD — Retirements, resignations, appointments highlighted borough business at last Monday's Milford Borough Council meeting. Borough Council President Matt Osterberg read his letter of resignation effective December 31, 2011. Osterberg was elected to the Pike County Supervisors in the November election and will be fulfilling this new position. "For the past 25 years I have been honored to have served on this board. Milford will always be a special place to me and to have the trust of the citizens and the countless members of this board has truly been a high point in my life," said Osterberg with tears in his eyes. Before presenting Osterberg with a plaque for his years of service Milford Mayor Robert, Bo, Fean took a few minutes to "roast" him. Fean said he had thought about keeping the roast to just five minutes but didn't know what he would do for the other four minutes and 30 seconds which drew laughter from the audience. Fean spoke of Osterberg's accomplishments during his time on the council. "Some would say he was a fiscal conservative but I'd just say he was cheap! Matt has been around so long when he was cleaning out his desk he found a stage coach ticket from the Hiawatha!," said Fean. Fean presented Osterberg with a 25-year service plaque and read a formal proclamation naming Dec. 5, 2011 Matthew M. Osterberg Day in the Borough of Milford. Also leaving office were: Councilwoman Linda Fean (Bo Fean's wife) who did not seek re-election, Tom Hoff of the Milford Water Authority for 15 years, and Donald Potter, as borough constable. Joseph Casmus, newly retired Delaware Valley High School 11-12 principal, has offerred and been accepted to serve out the remainder of Osterberg's council term. Casmus had been employed by the school district for 34 years prior to his retirement in June. He will begin serving on January 1, 2012. In other business PennDOT is going to allow the borough to store their winter salt and anti-skid at the Penn DOT salt shed on US Route 6, near Interstate Highway-84. In return for this the borough agreed to plow and salt a one quarter mile long section of Milford Beach Road (S.R. 2013). According to the borough's head of Streets and Lights, Councilman Vinny Accordino, they had been storing this material at the Milford Township Administration Building in one of their three salt barns. He said the township asked Milford Borough to find another place as they need all three salt barns for themselves. "This will save us from building our own salt shed. I don't even know where we'd find a place to build one in the borough," said Osterberg. "Penn DOT is also going to mix the salt and anti-skid and load our trucks for us," reported Accordino. The borough will get a required PCL&P permit for its holiday lights. Councilman Ed Raarup told the council they are going to have to apply for a temporary permit from the utility to put up their Christmas lights. The alternative is installing an electric meter at each utility light pole in the borough. "This could be very expensive for us and the permit is only about $25," said Raarup. The council also set the dates for holiday lighting as the first Saturday after Thanksgiving until January 15 of the next year. Councilman James Price announced there would be no increase in borough taxes for 2012. "We have our budget and we are in very good financial shape," Price told the council and the public audience. Mayor Bo Fean also read his annual Christmas Message and the meeting ended cake, holiday decorated cookies, and some wonderful tasting strawberry punch made by outgoing Councilwoman Fean.