Damascus Township Board of Supervisors Meeting
20.May.2024
-by - Mark Casner
Attendees: The Chair Joseph K. Canfield,
Vice Chair Scott Rutledge,
The Zoning Officer Ed Lagarenne,
Supervisors Alex Tucciarone, Steve R. Adams,operational supervisor,
Secretary Treasurer Melissa Haviland
Damascus Community Center folks (D.M.C.C.)
and others.
2024-01
Motion to adopt ordinance 2024-01.
Motion to move ahead passed.
M.O.U.
Motion was passed to move ahead with a Memo Of Understanding,
Wayne County and Damascus Twp will jointly sponsor the food pantry.
Alternative Energy
The motion was made to Amend the Alternative Energy Section of the Zoning Ordinance.
The Solar Project that was discussed at the last public meeting (April 2024)
was dealt with this evening.
The recommendation, which was accepted, was to have the Damascus Planning Commission look over the fourteen proposals and give guidance. The proposals came from the public input at the last public meeting and included Emergency Plan, Issue of grazing, how to deal with Medium Sized Solar Arrays, The Clean and Green funding, and the Panels not being impervious.
The list of proposals is being submitted to the Planning Commission and it was explained that there will be convened on behalf of the planning commission an Ad Hoc Committee without quorum, which will review and advise.
Report from Steven R. Adams, Operational Supervisor
UDC Grant --The UDC Flier Is mostly completed, including the QR code.
After another review it will be ready.
As previously reported, Emergency Preparedness will be discussed in the flier
as will the new park, and some useful “how-to tips”.
Dirt and Gravel project: Proposals to complete the project on Edward Road. The Dirt and Gravel
project on Edward Road will proceed once the 3rd quote is received. Two quotes have been received so
far.
Road and bridge work has been done this past month including the following:
Road and bridge on Stonehouse Road, a culvert replacement, also on Stonehouse Rd.
Brush work on Canfield Road, a repaired hole on Chicopee Rd, and
-A Fix is needed on Davis Road so as to provide access to the property.
Page 2
Parks and Recreation Report
Amphitheater -
Special events may be coordinated through Melissa Haviland (1)
And there was also discussion that additional insurance will be needed for some events.
LSA GRANT (2)
The application was submitted some time ago and the
answer is expected next week.
Next Parks and Recreation meeting- May 30 at 7 pm,
at 60 Conklin Hill Rd., Damascus, PA 18415
Upper Delaware Council Report
The Pipeline to NYC to be repaired. Work starts soon. This is the third attempt. (3)
Additional water will be diverted to the Delaware River.
The Pipeline would not be in use May to October 2024.
Pipeline will be closed from October 2024.
Delaware River Basin Commission:
In June the DRBC is scheduled to visit Narrowsburg and the second-quarter business
meeting will be at the Tusten Theater on June 5 at 10:30 a.m. and in addition,
after meeting with local officials in the morning, there will be a public meeting in the
same place, at 12 noon, Tusten Theater, 210 Bridge St., Narrowsburg.
Space is limited and preregistration, is encouraged . ( 4)
The DRBC is running a food drive as well.
Food Drive recipients will be the Narrowsburg Ecumenical Food Pantry, Sullivan County Federation for the Homeless and the Wayne County Food Pantry Program.
Donations will be accepted up to and including June 4 at the Union in Narrowsburg at The Union, as well as The Western Sullivan Branch Public Library - Tusten-Cochecton Branch, (198 Bridge St,
Narrowsburg, NY 12764), Pete’s Market 120 Kirks Rd, Narrowsburg, at The Bat Factory restaurant in Hancock NY and the Wayne County Library in Honesdale. There are quite a few other locations where canned or packaged food may be dropped off. These other locations can be found at the DRBC website (5) and it will be possible to bring canned or boxed food for donation to the meeting June 5.
Footnotes
1 https://damascustwp.org/facilities.html#park
2 https://www.qvcog.org/announcements/local-share-account-lsa-application-details-announced
3 Some background - https://riverreporter.com/stories/nyc-to-give-delaware-aqueduct-update,144517?
4__ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/open-public-comment-session-second-quarter-2024-tickets-891627159837?aff=oddtdtcreator
5__https://midhudsonnews.com/2024/05/14/delaware-river-basin-commission-collecting-items-for-food-dri
ve-on-june-4/
Page 3
Milanvile Ranger Station
New grass/wildflower mix being tested at the Ranger station.
Lawn Moving may not be needed if test is successful.
Damascus Manor Community Center report
DMCC community room is available to rent. (6)
Spring has come. The first monthly Pancake Breakfast was held on May 11 at the DMCC
-Damascus Manor Community Center. The Menu was Pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, applesauce, juice, coffee, tea. May 11 was also Recycling Day there.
Attendance at the pancake breakfast was very good this time.Money was raised for a 50/50 split between DMCC and Damascus Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps.*
The pancake breakfast will be held the second Saturday of each month, June through October 2024, with recycling the same day.
The DMCC community committee met on April 23 and was scheduled to meet May 21.
(*) The newest ambulance, called ”Damascus 2”, took it’s maiden voyage on May 20,
with it’s first service call. The dedication ceremony will be soon.
Conditional Use Request for Specialty Shop. - Butcher Shop
Application filed for Conditional Use, 306, Development Standards of Damascus Township Zoning
Ordinance as amended. Appl filed by Sean and Jennifer Whitmore. Subject property is at 211 Keesler
Rd (tax map parcel # 07-0-0197-0050), containing approx 15 acres, in The Rural Residential Zoning
District.
Copy of application is on file at Damascus Twp. Municipal Building, 60 Conklin Hill Rd, Damascus PA.
After some discussion about hours, (for example cattle deliveries after 6 p.m.)
The Motion to approve conditional use passed.
6 https://damascustwp.org/docs/DMCCApplication.pdf