News

June 9, 2009

Residents protest W. Wyoming project

Four residents tell council that they did not sign access pact for mitigation plan.

CAMILLE FIOTI Times Leader Correspondent

WEST WYOMING -- Ferretti Drive residents Tom and Linda Ciampi, Charles Umphred and Cynthia Kennelly protested a proposed water mitigation project at Monday’s council meeting.

The couples, whose homes are located at the end of Ferretti Drive, said they did not sign a “land owner access” agreement, which would make way for the installation of a storm pipe that would run along the length of a large wetlands area on their property and down the length of Ferretti Drive.

The storm pipe, if installed, would help to funnel runoff from higher elevations that affects several residents on the lower end of Ferretti Drive and the Exeter Park section of Exeter and channel it to a pump on Fifth Street in West Wyoming.

The borough has applied for a $151,000 Growing Greener grant for the project, council member Eileen Cipriani said, adding that the state Department of Environmental Protection is aware that the Ciampis, Umphred and Kennelly did not sign the access agreement.

“You didn’t provide your consent, so we’re not going to go through your property,” she said.

Nick Perugini, who lives on the lower end of Ferretti Drive and is affected by runoff, said he and several other residents support the proposed plan. “The project is well-designed, and we believe the plan will not affect the level of the pond,” he said.

Borough Solicitor Linell Lukesh said she and council would address the appropriate agencies with the residents’ concerns. “No taxpayer dollars have been spent on this project,” she pointed out.

In another matter, Ralph Kovaleski complained about an ongoing problem with a rundown warehouse across the street from his home on Holden Street.

“The place is a dump,” he said, adding that the building is surrounded by high grass, some windows are broken, and it is littered with garbage. Most recently, Kovaleski said, a rat, which came from the building, walked across his driveway.

“Who’s gonna take care of that?” he asked.

Council President Richard Yarosavich, said the building’s owner, Gary Johns, started cleaning the place up, but stopped. He said he would consult with the borough’s code enforcement officer, Sam Marranca, regarding the matter.

In other business, Mayor Joseph Herbert announced that the West Wyoming Morning Star American Legion Post 904 will hold an American Flag disposal service on Flag Day, June 14, at 8:30 p.m. in Dailey Park on Shoemaker Avenue.

Also, council voted to hire Barry D. Hosier from West Pittston as a part-time, on-call, as-needed police officer, effective when all necessary paperwork has been properly verified.

Council reminded residents that yard waste must be placed in open containers or paper bags. Yard waste that is placed in plastic bags will not be picked up.

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