HONESDALE, PA — Enhancements to infrastructure and the beautification of the borough were the main talking points of the Honesdale Borough Council’s previous meeting on July 19.

Stormwater management

Flooding has been a problem in the borough for years, but work is being done in an attempt to turn the tides.

A stormwater study is being planned for the area. Councilman James Brennan read from a series of bids from engineering firms that elected to take on the project. The first base bid came from Barry Isett & Associates for $46,000. Others were Entech Engineering for $124,000, JHA Companies for $12,800 and Labella Associates for $26,775.

Chairman of the Honesdale Area Stormwater Task Force James Jennings approved a motion to await further instruction from engineer Gene Ruzanski.

Keystone Community Funding Program

The council deliberated over the borough’s future designation under the Keystone Community Funding Program. This designation would allow them to receive loan funding from the Keystone Communities Implementation Grant. The funds from this grant are primarily used for the improvement of building façades.

Borough council member Mike Augello expressed some trepidation for the participation in the program moving forward. He remembered encountering a similar project on North Main Street when he served on the planning commission.

“I’ve always had some issues with that, as a business owner and as a personal landowner myself in the borough... Anything that’s being done to any façade or any building has to go through a bureaucracy to be reviewed. Which means A, it slows down anyone trying to do remodeling work. B, it means that they will probably incur costs well beyond expected. That’s my personal opinion,” he said.

He suggested reaching out to the 24 other communities in Pennsylvania that underwent a similar project to get their thoughts on it.

Greater Honesdale Partnership President Brian Wilken agreed, saying that designation puts one’s town at “the top of the heap” when it comes to receiving grants. “If we can work together and make that happen, and take advantage of some grant opportunities and give Honesdale a fresh face for the next 20 years, that’s a great opportunity for all of us,” he said. “I’m just glad that we’re all working together towards a better Honesdale. In the end, we’ll come up with a decision that’s right for [the] town.”

The pool is open!

The Honesdale area pool is now open for business as of July 21. The hours of operation are currently Wednesday to Friday from 1 to 3:30 p.m. On weekends, it will be open 12 noon to 3:30 p.m.

According to councilor James Jennings, the schedule can be expanded in the event of more lifeguards being hired.

Rates for the pool are $5 per adult and $3 per child. Borough residents can have the fee waived if they present ID displaying a street address.