HONESDALE, PA — Honesdale Borough Council plowed through a forward-looking agenda at its June 18 special meeting, setting in motion legislation, programs and projects with long-range implications for the borough.

The council voted unanimously to advertise a proposed Quality of Life ordinance designed to reduce or eliminate the large number of zombie houses and blighted properties within the borough. Enforced in conjunction with a property maintenance ordinance already on the books, the new ordinance is expected to counter a trend of property devaluation and to burnish the borough’s image for visitors and residents alike. A proposed amendment of a 1948 ordinance, which inadvertently did not allow police officials to use firearms in the borough, will also be advertised. The council expects to adopt both ordinances at its July 9 meeting.

The council voted 5-1 (Bill Canfield was absent) to approve execution of a legal services agreement with Wayne Highlands School District (WHSD); James Jennings cast the opposing vote. At the council’s June 11 meeting, WHSD Superintendent Greg Frigoletto asked the council to support a $150,000 grant application on the district’s behalf. The grant money, if awarded, will be applied to the district’s nascent careers program, funding construction of a greenhouse for the agriculture curriculum. Because the grant is available only to municipalities, partnership with the borough is essential for district eligibility. Borough solicitor Rich Henry advised the council to charge the district a $5,000 administrative services fee, which he estimated would be the borough’s actual cost to complete the application.

Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH) asked the borough to endorse its application to PennDOT for relocation of the crosswalk leading from the parking lots beside the Lackawaxen River to the hospital’s new main entrance. That entrance, part of a $40 million expansion begun last September, can be viewed at www.wmh.org/news/his toric-groundbreaking-set-september-8th/. Henry asked the WMH representative if signage would direct visitors crossing the pedestrian bridge from the parking lot on the far side of the river to a walkway accessing the crosswalk. “I think wandering through the parking lot on the hospital side of the river could be more dangerous than crossing Route 6 outside of the crosswalk,” said Henry. Having received assurance that the requested signage would be put in place, the council voted unanimously to execute the PennDOT form necessary for relocation of the crosswalk.

In personnel changes, the council voted unanimously to hire Suzanne Fredericks as part-time borough hall office assistant, at $10 per hour. With four members in favor, Bob Jennings’ initial indecision turned to a reluctant yes, and James Brennan abstaining, the council voted to dismiss code enforcement officer Dan Hnatko.