Saw Creek Ponders Suing Lehman
Over Short-Term Rental Ordinance
By Wayne Witkowski
BUSHKILL — Just a few days after receiving notice of a possible lawsuit challenging Lehman Township's enforcement of short-term rentals, the Board of Supervisors approved advancing a zoning amendment that effectively bans any new short-term rentals in all residentially zoned areas.
The amendment is being forwarded to the township and the Pike County planning commissions for approval.
"Saw Creek's attorney has threatened the township with a lawsuit that was sent to us in draft form," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Rob Rohner after last Thursday's bi-monthly meeting. "This is made to scare and intimidate us. ... It did the opposite."
Rohner said the lawsuit, if it is filed by Saw Creek Estates Homeowners Association attorney Nick Haros, would be heard in federal court as a violation of the U.S. Constitution.
That was the only elaboration Rohner offered on the issue. Haros did not return an email for explanation and comment..For more information subscribe to our paper.
New Owner Wants To Make
TQI 'A Community Center'
By Dakota Hendricks
MILFORD — Businessman Bill Rosado says he has bought the Tom Quick Inn and is restoring the venerable Broad Street presence to its former glory as a community center and restaurant.
Rosado said repairs have begun on the restoration of the Tom Quick to what it was like 15 years ago. There are no plans to radically alter the existing building; he prefers to restore buildings to what they were as each one has its own "history."
The plan is to complete initial repairs to the roof, modernize and update the kitchen, and restore the outside of the building for a mid-November 2020 opening. The restaurant will open first using the extra space from the event hall etc. to accommodate COVID safety restrictions. Rosado said with the event hall included, the Tom Quick Inn would be able to seat 150 people in a semi-casual environment. The menu will be a "modern American menu" with some unique dishes from the Tom Quick Inn's previous menu. Rosado hopes to have weddings and other events at the Tom Quick beginning next year.
There are further renovations planned for the next two years. The 14 upstairs hotel rooms are being renovated, the downstairs sports bar will be replaced with a virtual golf room with a country club vibe, an upstairs rooftop bar will be built and a pool installed behind the building. Rosado envisions the Tom Quick Inn as being a community center as it once was, "elegant" while still being "approachable and enjoyable." .....For more information subscribe to our paper.
PCCF Earns Best Practices Award For Pa. Small Jails
By
MILFORD — The Pike County Correctional Facility (PCCF) received the Best Practices Award in the small jail category from the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP).
CCAP recognized the jail's Model Recidivism Reduction Programs.
The Best Practices Award was presented virtually during the October 21 Pike County Commissioners meeting to PCCF Warden Craig Lowe and his staff by Janine L. Quigley, CJM, warden of the Berks County Jail System and Chair of the CCAP Committee on County Criminal Justice Systems for the 21st Century.
"I would like to thank CCAP for this distinct honor. I also thank the Commissioners, Prison Board, volunteers, staff, Reentry Coalition and our contracted employees for making our facility programs a complete success," Lowe said. "Together we continue to help offenders get back on their feet and have successful outcomes. I am proud of our team and thank everyone for working together for the betterment of others."
Beginning in 2002, to reduce recidivism at a local level, PCCF proactively developed and implemented a unique suite of offender programs, which have been successfully providing tools for personal betterment, preparation for release and rehabilitation. "Under the leadership of Warden Lowe and Assistant Wardens Robert McLaughlin and Jonathan Romance, the team at PCCF works hard every day to maintain a disciplined and safe correctional environment while providing offenders with tools for societal success upon release. We congratulate Warden Lowe and his dedicated team on this well-deserved honor," said the Pike County Commissioners.........For more information subscribe to our paper.
PennDOT Holds Parking Spaces Hostage In Milford Sidewalk Dispute
By Dakota Hendricks
MILFORD — After a change in leadership, PennDOT is reneging on an agreement with the Borough Council forcing them to either lose 11 parking spaces or lose funding for their Sidewalk Restoration Project.
PennDOT restrictions have stalled the project so long that the Borough is concerned they could lose funding if they do not begin the construction. After two years of discussion, the previous PennDOT inspector negotiated an agreement with the Borough that PennDOT would not force the closure of around 40 parking spaces if the Borough made several alleyways one-way. The Borough passed the ordinance, purchased and installed the signage and is now being forced to close parking spaces regardless due to line of sight policies.
Councilwoman Adriane Wendell said she is very frustrated with PennDOT's actions lately, and at a previous meeting Wendell expressed her frustrations after PennDOT plans for paving resulted in a yearlong battle over flooding along Cherry Alley.
The Borough received two Cherry Alley estimates on potential solutions. One includes putting in extensive drainage and the other involves cutting the pavement, creating a swale and redirecting the water into a long trench. Councilman Rob Ciervo said he would like to see an engineering review of the entire area, because moving forward with either of these plans without review could lead to further problems that the Borough would be liable for.
