Townships compare notes at annual meeting
Matamoras. The scarcity of available land, and hundreds of unmapped roads and bridges among the challenges faced by townships in Pike County.
| 07 Oct 2019 | 02:28
From left: Gina Ehrhardt from PA Rep. Mike Peifer's office, Andrew Seder from PA Senator Lisa Baker's office, and PA Rep. Rosemary Brown (
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Ginni Linn, executive director (
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Representatives from local townships turned out at the convention. (
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That the group looks to the future, and is willing to help all townships, makes all the difference, said Ginni Linn, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors.
She addressed township officials at the association's annual convention held Oct. 4 at the Best Western Inn at Hunts Landing. Townships represented at the meeting included Blooming Grove, Delaware, Dingman, Green, Lackawaxen, Lehman, Milford, Palmyra, Porter, Shohola, and Westfall.
Mike Sullivan of the Pike County Economic Development Authority said corporations want to come to Pike -- until they see the scarcity of available land.
They want fresh property, not castoffs from other corporations, he said. He pointed to the decline in the county's population and said there was a need to facilitate manufacturing in the county.
Marcellus Mini Grants are available to Pike County municipalities for trail enhancements, park and recreation development, and river access improvement. Jessica R. Yoder at the Pike County planning office, 570-296-3500, will help townships secure a grant.
Dan Yelito of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) reported that he has been working on a transportation plan, local asset inventory, and mapping infrastructure that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation did not have, and found 800 bridges and roads that were never mapped out.
Vendors surrounded the meeting room, and each spoke briefly in the early afternoon.
PA Rep. Rosemary Brown said she was happy for the opportunity to connect with township officials.
“I recognize the importance of these open and clear communications," she said. "It’s common sense that when we communicate together stronger, we can better organize our work efforts and achieve greater results. We also can ensure effective policy changes that at the end of the day help our residents in their daily lives.
"Local government is such an important piece of our Commonwealth and I thank the township supervisors and staff who dedicated their time at this meeting today, to garner information and additional education.”