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SAPA asks for Phase II budget

Mauri Rapp Abington Journal Correspondent

As the Scranton-Abingtons Planning Association transitions from the Phase I planning phase, board members are asking each of SAPA’s 11 municipalities to be prepared to budget for the Phase II implementation phase.

However, at SAPA’s meeting on Oct. 29, Coordinator Denise Powell said that it would be difficult to determine how much each municipality would need to set aside for the plan’s implementation for several reasons. For one, she said, the state budget delay leaves members unsure of how much the Commonwealth will allot for each municipality. Also, because the comprehensive plan is a new concept for each municipality involved, Prowell said that each municipality may be unsure on how much each part of the implementation phase would cost.

Prowell suggested that each municipality set aside approximately $2,000 to $4,000 for plan implementation. “This doesn’t mean they have to spend it,” said Prowell. “But they should plan to budget for it.” Funds would probably be used for operating expenses and consulting, said Prowell. She added that each municipality would probably want to hire a SAPA coordinator for their own use.

SAPA chairman Lee Jamison said that each municipality must also plan to be more involved in the implementation phase in order to work toward the vision set forth by the SAPA plan. “It’s going to be a necessity that each municipality is going to have to be much more diligent looking forward than they were looking back.”

The comprehensive plan provides guidelines for land and economic development within the 11 member municipalities, which include South Abington, North Abington, Abington, West Abington, Glenburn and Newton townships, the boroughs of Dalton, Dunmore, Clarks Green and Clarks Summit and the city of Scranton.

An additional meeting will be held Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at Clarks Green Municipal Building to finish reviewing comments.