Shawnee Woman Running For
State Auditor General
SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP — Rose Marie Davis has handled audits for multi-billion-dollar entities in the government, education and private business sectors, so she is not intimidated by the daunting challenge if elected to the state Auditor General position in the upcoming Primary and General elections.
"I've seen all types of accounting operations and organizations – federal, state and local entities," said Davis, who serves as vice chairman of the Smithfield Township Board of Auditors as a resident of Shawnee Village in nearby Monroe County.
She also works with a financial management consulting business out of her home, collaborating largely with Galleros Robinson LLP in New York City.
She has handled audits for the City of New York as well as New York State and recently for the City University of New York (CUNY) system, all entities dealing with finances well into the tens and even hundreds of billions of dollars.
Davis also has worked in the government sector in the office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a few years in the mid 1980s shortly after graduating from Texas Woman's University in Denton Texas where she studied political science and law.
She completed degree work in political science along with accounting in pursuit of her CPA.
But Davis liked the allure of the big city and overseeing big bankrolls as she eventually moved to the New York area to work in the financial area for the public accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
She also has worked as an internal auditor for Continental Grain Co., known more recently as ContiGroup, headquartered on Park Avenue in New York City.
So why would Davis want to take a different route of campaigning against at least five other Democratic candidates and two Republican hopefuls in her first shot at an elected position?
Details on her candidacy can be viewed on www.rosieforpa.com.
She considers herself the "best and most qualified candidate" in a field that includes a nonprofit leader from Lancaster County, a former Philadelphia deputy mayor, a city controller from Pittsburgh and another former city controller from Philadelphia on the Democratic side along with two candidates on the Republican side, a Lancaster County Commissioner and Dauphin County Controller......For more information pick up a copy at a local vendor or subscribe.
Budget Adjusted For Replacing
Township Building Roof
By Wayne Witkowski
DINGMANS FERRY — The first phase of financing and the work on the Delaware Township municipal building roof is under way, supervisors announced at their latest board meeting last week.
Supervisor Jane Neufeld pointed out revisions to the 2020 budget including setting aside $105,443 for replacing the roof, which was not originally listed in the potential spending for 2020. It brings that total to $174,175.
"When they (H&P Construction) submit for a CO (certificate of occupancy permit) in a few weeks, they'll put in for final payment when they get it," said township Administrator Krista Predmore after the meeting
The potential spending already earmarks $5,000 to repaint the building, $24,162 for security cameras on township property, $29,870 to replace a Public Works vehicle and $8,900 for Blue Ridge Communication contract fees.
The additional funding for the roof replacement is available in the General Fund surplus to be assigned to potential spending, said Neufeld.
Supervisors during the meeting unanimously approved a motion for the first payment of $53,190 for the roof replacement to low bidder H&P and a change order of $12,887 for it to install a continuous snow guard, which was decided by the board after the bidding process was completed.
"The revisions are minor," said Neufeld of the budget changes. They include $4,509 more toward the Recreation Fund, bringing it to a $141,600 total. It covers the financial shortfall of income from recreation events minus spending.
The revisions include $7,181 more toward wages and $1,000 less toward General Government Administration.
There also is $392,436.08 allocated into the reserve for potential work in 2021 on Myck Road......For more information pick up a copy at a local vendor or subscribe.
Kindergarten Registration
DINGMANS FERRY — Kindergarten registration will take place on March 9 and 11 at the Dingman-Delaware Primary School for students who will attend the Dingman-Delaware Primary School in the 2020-2021 school year.
Students must be five years of age on or before September 1, 2020 in order to register.
A letter explaining the process and what you will need to bring to the registration will be mailed out in February along with an appointment date.
Please contact Rose Marie Sigismondo at 570-296-3130 ext. 3133 or rsigismondo@dvds.org with any questions.
Twp. Resident Fights Two-Family Covenant
By Dakota Hendricks
DINGMAN — Lawyer James Baron argued with the Board about the legality of a covenant restriction for household improvements.
Instead of going through a lengthy process with the Zoning hearing Board for a potential violation and waiting for a determination, Dingman Township has offered homeowners the option to sign a covenant when renovation or construction plans indicate the building could easily be turned illegally into a mother-daughter or two-family living space.
Supervisors said they have had extensive problems in the past with new owners or realtors assessing properties turning the home from a single family to multi-family. A covenant is a legal contract attached to the deed and property, and in this case the covenant prevents property owners from transforming the property into a multi-family home and allows the Township one inspection of the property per year.
The Township wants the Barcia family to sign a covenant because of extensive renovations to the basement of their property including a full range kitchen, full bathroom, a secondary washer and dryer and a recreation area that the Township is concerned could easily turn into a bedroom.
Baron argued that this covenant is not mandated anywhere in Dingman Township Zoning Code and violates his client's civil rights and brands the property title. He said his client would not accept a clause that allowed the township to inspect the property, especially not from an informal policy. The Township suggested rewording the covenant restriction to include a clause that inspections would occur only if the property was to change hands or the township suspected the basement was being used as a second living space. Baron said he would discuss the covenant change with his client......For more information pick up a copy at a local vendor or subscribe.