Disgusting dumpster foiled home sale, resident says
By Charles Reynolds
MILFORD — The trash, odor, and insects surrounding the Grand Union (Milford Farms) dumpster is a problem, says Zen Walls of Ann Street in Milford Borough.
Wall, who is trying to sell his home, said his realtor told him some interested parties decided not to pursue the property because of the disgusting condition of the dumpster. They also felt it reflected poorly on the community itself, he said.
A letter from Wall's realtor, Dorie Gunderman of Weichert Realtors, echoed his sentiment, stating: the “condition of the dumpster is going to be a big problem selling this property.”
He told Milford Township supervisors he had first contacted the supermarket, and then the state health department, which referred him to the local codes department. But he said he was unable to find any such an agency. He then sent a letter to the supervisors, which he read at the meeting.
He wants the dumpster moved away from nearby homes and the store to be more vigilant in keeping the area clean.
He stressed he was not criticizing the store itself or its hard-working employees. But, he said, “This ongoing neglectful condition poses not only an eyesore but a possible health hazard situation.”
Supervisor Don Quick agreed with Wall about the problem, which the township has previously addressed. He asked Bob DiLorenzo, the township zoning officer, to contact the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Health, and the Department of Agriculture.
“Among those agencies, I'm pretty sure we'll get a satisfactory response," Quick said.
Quick said runoff from the dumpster — raw sewage, in effect — could be an environmental problem because it runs into storm drains that lead to the Delaware River.
Tax incentives for business
Pike County Commissioner Matthew Osterberg, representing the Economic Development Agency, said the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Abatement (LERTA) program would allow the township to offer tax incentives to new businesses wishing to locate in the area, and to established businesses wishing to expand.
The incentive program is designed to bring business — and tax revenue and jobs — to the area. It would provide a 90 percent tax reduction for the first year, 80 percent for the second, 60 percent for the third, 40 percent for the fourth and 20 percent for the fifth.
Osterberg said he is in weekly talks with businesses interested in coming to the county. Shohola, Blooming Grove, Delaware and Lackawaxen have already signed on to the program.
Quick said the biggest sticking point was that the school district — the “lion's share of the taxes” involved — had not set a blanket approval for the municipalities who want to implement the program. The district might decide not to allow the tax breaks, even if the township approved them, he said.
The commissioners voted on a resolution to adopt the program, even though they had already done so for four municipalities that had adopted the initiative.
Osterberg said the school district had nothing to gain from denying Milford Township when the district approved the program for other municipalities.
In other business
Owner removes cars — Kyle Welsh of Automotive Revelations says he is now in compliance with township code, with all excess cars removed from his property. The supervisors had received complaints that the business on Route 6 was not in compliance with its conditional use permit by allowing far too many cars on the site and advertising more than one business. Welsh said the other business was actually a subcontractor working in his shop, and that the confusing sign had been removed. Quick said Walsh needed to continue adhering to the terms of his conditional use permit, and that further problems would result in punitive action.
Land use change — Tommy Murante of Community Self Storage asked for a conditional use change on behalf of a new tenant, Robert Mitchell, who will be leasing space in his business. Mitchell will be operating an Internet-based used car business called Dream Autoworks, leasing office space and a parking lot for a few cars. The supervisors approved the change contingent on Mitchell receiving a license to sell cars in Pennsylvania.
Next meeting — The next meeting of the Milford Township Supervisors will be held 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, in the township administration building on Routes 6 and 209. A change to the state's retirement benefits and a discussion of “some minor ordinance changes” were deferred to that meeting.