New flood plain regs rile officials

SHICKSHINNY – A year after the 2011 flooding, council acted Tuesday night to table a proposed flood plain maintenance ordinance, pending further discussion with solicitor Jeff Malak.

Council's action followed protests by councilmen Mike Steeber and Gary Morris that federal, state and county bureaucrats are attempting to inflict newly designated flood plain elevations on Shickshinny with borough officials having no means for recourse.

It was alleged that flood elevations on maps generated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are 10 feet higher than what was designated following the flood of 1972.

"When they raised the dikes in Wilkes-Barre they knew they were condemning Shickshinny and West Pittston to more flooding," Morris said, "and now we're being subjected unfairly to a new set of regulations."

Steeber said, "We're being penalized by the dike system in Wilkes-Barre."

Secretary/treasurer Melissa Weber reminded council that by the latter part of this month, it faces a state Department of Community and Economic Development deadline to adopt an ordinance. When a roll call vote was called, however, councilmen Steeber and Jim Wido abstained, Morris and Barry Noss voted no, as did council President Rosalie Whitebread.

Steeber told Weber, "Get our solicitor involved in this."

In other matters:

• Noss said renovations on the municipal building are three-quarters complete; borough personnel should be fully moved in by the end of this month.

• It was announced Weber plans to retire as secretary/.treasurer at the end of this calendar year. Council acted to develop a set of qualifications and verbiage to advertise for a successor.

• Council voted to advertise the sale of a shotgun, which has been in the possession of the police department.

• Mayor Beverly Moore reported funding issues for a proposed boat launch/dock at Crary Park are still under discussion with officials of the state Fish and Boat Commission.

• Weber also reported FEMA has offered to the borough a $57,000 loan at 1 percent interest.

• After debate, it was decided that fines for handicap parking violations will be $300.