No meeting on FIMFO

BARRYVILLE, NY — A proposed meeting on the Camp FIMFO project in the Town of Highland will not occur, with the town and the applicant preferring a written application. 

The National Park Service (NPS) requested that the Upper Delaware Council (UDC) set up a meeting to discuss the Camp FIMFO project, a $40-million-plus renovation to the Kittatinny Canoes campsite. The NPS has determined that elements of the project as currently proposed do not conform with the River Management Plan. The UDC agreed to arrange such a meeting at a Tuesday, June 13 meeting of the project review committee. 

The Town of Highland requested a written determination in advance of any meeting, and the applicants made the same request through the town, says NPS Superintendent Lindsey Kurnath. Kurnath anticipates that the determination will be in writing for the July meeting of the Town of Highland Planning Board. 

Prescription medication programs protected

HARRISBURG, PA — Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) on June 19 voted for a bill—ultimately approved by the Senate—that would protect Social Security recipients who might lose access to two state prescription medication programs. The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives for consideration. 

The PACE and PACENET programs help Pennsylvanians age 65 or older to afford their prescription medications. Eligibility for the programs is based on income. Senate Bill 607 would protect PACE and PACENET participants who might be pushed beyond the eligibility limits due solely to a cost-of-living increase in Social Security payments. Pennsylvanians on Social Security received an 8.7 percent cost-of-living increase in their benefits for 2023.

Cartwright comes for coffee

NORTHEAST PA — Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-08) will host a series of upcoming Coffees With Your Congressman events until Monday, July 10 in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties. The public is invited to attend. 

The upcoming schedule of events includes coffee time at Milford Borough Hall, 109 West Catharine St., Milford, on July 8 at 1 p.m; and at the Hawley Silk Mill, 8 Silk Mill Dr., Hawley, on July 9 at 10 a.m. To RSVP for one of the events, email Tammy.Aita@mail.house.gov.  

Distracted driving legislation for PA

HARRISBURG, PA — Legislation prohibiting the use of cellular and other handheld devices while driving passed on June 22 in the Senate, according to the bill’s prime sponsor, Sen. Rosemary Brown (R-40). 

Fatalities involving distracted driving in Pennsylvania reached a 10-year high in 2022, with 80 deaths. Senate Bill 37 enhances driver responsibility by prohibiting the use of handheld cell phones or other communication devices while operating a motor vehicle.

New PA discrimination regulations approved in PA

HARRISBURG, PA — The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission announced new regulations, expanding the definitions of “sex,” “religious creed” and “race.” The regulations will become effective within 60 days, on August 16. The new regulations expand the definition for the protected class of “sex” to include pregnancy status, childbirth status, breastfeeding status, sex assigned at birth, gender identity or expression, affectional or sexual orientation and differences in sex development. This definition has been used as a guideline since 2018. The new regulations also expand the definition for the protected class “race” to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles. Finally, the regulations more clearly defined “religious creed” to include all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief. 

Roscoe budget revote passes

ROSCOE, NY — After Roscoe Central School District lowered the proposed 2023-24 budget by more than $450,000 and brought the proposed tax levy increase to the calculated tax levy limit of 3.23 percent, voters approved the nearly $10.3 million measure 190-67 on June 20.

The $10,288,047 budget only needed a simple majority (50 percent+1) of votes in favor for approval. The first budget proposal was defeated 144-136 because it lacked a supermajority (60 percent) approval, which was required because the proposed tax levy increase of 11.54 percent was above the district’s tax cap.

Steinberg added to memorial wall 

ALBANY, NY — Assistant Chief William “Billy” Steinberg’s name will be added to the New York State Firefighters Memorial Wall at a ceremony in Albany on October 10, at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, according to published reports. The event, in its 26th year, is open to the public. Steinberg died in the line of duty on January 15, 2022 at a fire that was caused by Mohammed Islam of New York City. While Islam had been arrested and charged in two previous arsons, he was released due to the state’s bail reform laws. Because of this incident, “Billy’s Law” was introduced in the state Senate and Assembly to close the felony arson loophole and allow judges to issue bail for defendants charged with felony arson.

PA broadband gets $1.15 billion

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-8), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced on June 26 that Pennsylvania will receive $1.61 billion for broadband upgrades from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. More than $42.5 billion has been allocated nationwide and the method for deployment to the states.  Initial proposals must be submitted to the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority (PDBA) by the end of the year. 

DEC active in Sullivan County

DEC REGION 3 — On May 11, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Investigator Jeanette Bastedo located an online ad offering a five-and-a-half-foot Asian water monitor lizard for sale. Bastedo reached out to the seller via email posing as an interested purchaser and made plans to meet the seller on May 16. DEC officials met with the seller, took the animal into their possession and issued an appearance ticket for illegally selling a wild animal as a pet, a misdemeanor due to the purchase price. 

On May 24, DEC Environmental Conservation Officer (ECO) Jonathon Walraven received a call from the Hurleyville Fire Department in the Town of Fallsburg, reporting an unlawful open burn of solid waste. The fire had expanded beyond the waste pile and engulfed a beaver lodge. Walraven contacted ECO Ricky Wood and asked that he bring K9 partner CJ to the location. Wood responded and successfully deployed K9 CJ to run a track to a nearby residence. Officers determined the caretaker of the property, who lives at the residence, was responsible for the fire. The officers ticketed the man for the unlawful open burn of solid waste, unlawful disposal of solid waste and unlawfully disturbing a beaver house. The tickets are returnable to the Town of Fallsburg Court in July.