HONESDALE, PA — It started on a high note, but the October 13 meeting of the Honesdale Borough Council quickly became one of grim reality. At the top of the meeting, Mayor Jack Bishop presented awards to Elizabeth (“Betty”) Baerenklau, Virginia (“Ginny”) Motsko, and Kathy Highhouse for lifetime service to special-needs children. Moments later, the council saw itself portrayed as the Grinch that moved Halloween. But there was worse to come, as it was revealed that Honesdale is almost in the red, with insufficient funds to meet its end-of-year expenses.

When, at last month’s meeting, the council obliged a public request to hold the borough’s official celebration of Halloween on Thursday, October 30 (to accommodate a Friday, October 31 Wayne Highlands High School football game), it didn’t foresee the firestorm of protest that decision would unleash. It soon became obvious that, for many in Honesdale, Halloween is a holiday almost as sacrosanct as Christmas. In fact, almost all who spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting likened it to Christmas, noting that the celebration of Christmas never deviates from December 25. Bishop tried to strike a compromise, saying that this year it could be celebrated on both Thursday and Friday nights, but the council ultimately stuck with its original decision to hold the official celebration on Thursday night.

The first hint that Honesdale is perilously close to being unable to meet its fiscal obligations came when Borough President James Brennan informed Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Rich Doney that DPW overtime hours necessitated by snow removal needs between now and December 31 must have prior council authorization. That authorization is to be obtained via a phone call from Doney to Brennan in advance of DPW work assignments. Doney requested a clarification of the policy, asking, “Does that mean if the police or fire departments call me at 2 a.m. and request immediate snow removal that I have to call you to have it okayed?” Brennan answered, “Yes, that’s what it means.”

Finance committee chair Scott Smith’s negative reaction to police chief Rick Southerton’s report requesting purchase of 20 ballistic (bulletproof) vests, an emergency generator (to service police and borough offices during power outages) and new computers for the police department left no doubt that the borough has money problems. When Smith questioned the immediacy of each request, Jennings retorted that the vests were mandatory, as the warranty on the department’s current ballistic vests will expire at month’s end. Jennings also said that the $14,500 total cost of vest purchase will be offset by $5,000 in grant money. The generator would cost $5,284, and the computers $5,958. Smith urged restraint in all purchases. And Brennan added that the borough would either have to curb its expenditures or raise taxes.

Seeking 14 volunteers to assist them in operating Grace Episcopal Church’s Warmth in the Night (WIN) shelter, Reverend Edward Erb and his wife Sue told the council that the shelter will be open 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. December 1 to March 31, whenever the outdoor temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and also during extreme weather emergencies. The only free shelter in Wayne and Pike counties, WIN serves both a hot evening meal and hot breakfast, offers hot showers, and has a registered nurse on call. The shelter averages one to four guests per night and, contrary to popular belief, most of them are not homeless, just cash-strapped homeowners unable to pay fuel and utility bills. Prospective volunteers can contact Reverend Erb at 570/241-2685.