STROUD TOWNSHIP, PASTROUD TOWNSHIP, PA
Calendar and Notices
Topics
Cherry Valley Community Supported Agriculture
Concerts and Community Dance
Crime Watch/Anonymous Tips
Disclosures, Act 44
District Court and Magistrate Changes
Election Districts, Polling Places, Political Signs Please remember to vote on Tuesday, May 17th!
Fire Department
Fluorescent Bulbs Recycling
Mandatory Recycling
Misc.
Monroe County 911 Re-Addressing Project
Open Records
Park Reservations
PennDot Detours
Public Meetings
Septic System Care
Snow Emergency and Snow removal Hints
Spring Cleanup
Taxes
Tenant Registration
Yard Waste and Compost Facility
District
Court Location and Magistrate Changes: The Stroud Township District
Justice Court has changed it's location to within the Stroud Township Municipal
Center. Please use the building's fron door, not the side entrance. District Justice
Thomas Shiffer retired in January after 27 years serving Stroud Township. District Justice
Debra York will temporarily preside over Stroud Township's court cases until April 30th
when someone else will be appointed. An election in November will determine who the
replacement judge will be.
Stroud Township Spring Cleanup Schedule 2011
Wednesday, April 27th through
Saturday, April 30th 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Gaunt Rd. Maintenance YardNo Sunday HoursPLEASE
BRING PROOF OF STROUD TOWNSHIP RESIDENCY.
Stroud Township residents are invited to bring unwanted junk and clutter from their homes
and properties to our Gaunt Road Township Maintenance Yard, located one half mile north of
the Stroud Mall on Rt. 611.
Fees: Car Load $5; Mini-Van $10; Utility Van or Pick-up Truck $20;
Utility Trailer load (single axle) $50, (tandem axle) $75; Dual Wheel Truck $75
Tires: Car $5 each, Truck (20”+) $10 each Appliances requiring freon removal are $20
each
NO CHARGE FOR: home computer components and home electronics including VCR’s, DVD
players, stereos, televisions, printers, fax machines.
NO CHARGE FOR: automotive batteries, automotive waste oil, yard waste, branches, brush,
and grass clippings. MATERIALS NOT ACCEPTED: Any materials deemed hazardous including
automobiles, dirt, cement, paint cans with contents, paint thinners, pesticides,
herbicides, loose nails or screws, or contractors refuse!
PennDot Detour Routes for Route 80 due to
Stroudsburg Borough's 7th Street Bridge Replacement and other Congestion Issues
As a service to Stroud
Township residents, we are posting PennDot's Route 80
traffic detour routes during the bridge replacement as well as other congestion.
Yard Waste & Compost Facility: Stroud Township operates a Yard Waste Compost Facility at our Gaunt Road Maintenance Building located off Route 611 one half mile north of Stroud Mall. Residents may bring leaves, grass clippings, tree branches, limbs and brush to the facility for chipping and composting during daylight hours only. Compost and garden mulch is made at this location and is free to township residents with proof of residency when available. There is a fee for assistance in loading your vehicle. There is a new Compost Facility Fees Resolution setting fees for commercial and non-Stroud resident use. Burning Leaves is Prohibited in Stroud Township by local and federal DEP regulations!
Reminder-
Tenant Registration is required for all landlords, owners, or property managers of any
non-owner occupied dwelling in Stroud Township. Whether
it is rental of a single family house, an apartment within a house, or a multi-apartment
dwelling, one form is required for each unit and submitted annually
by May 31st or within 30 days of a change in occupancy. One form is required for each unit. There is no fee. The
Tenant Registration Ordinance was passed last year and can be read on-line at http://www.township.stroud.pa.us/TenantOrd5-2010.pdf
Registration of
residential tenants will aid in equitable distribution of tax levies, emergency services,
zoning and code compliance, proper waste disposal and recycling. For
more information or help in filling out the form, call (570) 421-3362 and ask for Sharon
Grover or Daryl Eppley.
Completed
forms can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the township as listed on the form.
General information:
1) One
registration form per residential dwelling unit.
2)
There is no registration fee.
3)
Landlords are required to
complete, sign and return the form to the township. Tenants
can assist by providing their applicable information on the form to their landlord.
4)
A landlord’s failure to
file a completed form or their filing of a false report can result in a fine up to $1,000.
For more information or help in filling out a form, call the township at (570) 421-3362
and ask for Sharon Grover or Daryl Eppley.
Stroud Township
sponsored FREE Concerts and Dance
June 26th, 6 p.m. - Trinity Centennial Band
- Jay Albertson Park on Wallace Street behind the Municipal building. Look for the tents.
Go back in time with a traditional old fashioned
“Band-Concert-In-The-Park” presented by the Trinity Centennial Band, “A
Community Band for the Pocono’s”. Now in its 19th year, this large ensemble is
always a favorite of attendees. Partially funded by PPA.
July 17th, 6 p.m. – Riverside Rhythm -
Jay Albertson Park on Wallace Street behind the Municipal building. Look for the tents. A
fantastic swing and big band, comprised of experienced, versatile musicians.
August 20th, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Smokin’ Oldies
Community Dance - Rte. 191, Brodhead Creek Park
Do you enjoy listening to 50’s Doo Wop and 60’s Oldies tunes? Then head to the
park and bring your lawn chair and dancing shoes. The “Remember When” oldies
band renditions of those favorite oldies sound surprisingly close to the originals and
will get you movin’ and a groovin’. A pavilion will be cleared of picnic tables
to use as a dance floor. Refreshments will be available.
Enhanced
9-1-1 Address Changes Coming to Stroud Township Residents
Stroud Township is working on the next phase of the Enhanced 9-1-1 Addressing
Project by drafting the Ordinances required by the County. This project was initiated by
the Monroe County Control Center to give residents and businesses an easily locatable
address.
The first step was adding new buildings
and developments to 2005 aerial photos and data sheets provided by Monroe County. This
information was then sent to L.R. Kimball, a consulting firm hired by the county, to add
to their maps and database. Kimball reviewed our information along with surrounding
municipalities looking for duplicate or similar street names, rural routes, and other
addresses that were difficult to locate due to odd numbering. Kimball sent plot maps,
address lists, and an updated road list to the Township office for the next step in this
process. The plot maps displayed all named and unnamed roads and the new physical
address numbers. The address list contained the owner’s name, current mailing
address, and the new physical address. The road list contained all duplicate and
sound-alike road names which could be a problem for an emergency response team. All
unnamed roads have been named, and any duplicated names were assigned a new name.
Historical research was done for the areas requiring new names so that the street names
will be meaningful and appropriate. L.R. Kimball has printed new plot maps and
forwarded them to the U.S.P.S. (Post Office) for review and approval.
The final step in this project will be for the County to notify
each Monroe County resident of their new physical address. The Monroe County Re-Addressing
Project is moving along, albeit more slowly than anticipated. About half of Monroe County
residents have been sent letters notifying them whether their address is changing or not.
In late fall of 2011, Stroud Twp. residents are expected to receive their notices from
both the County and the U.S. Post office advising if there are any number or street name
changes. Instructions on how to display the numbers and their specifications will be
included. Please visit www.monroeco911.com to see samples of the letters and the
latest schedule.
Some addresses will remain the same, while others, especially those
with RR, RD, or lot number based addresses will change. Large developments like Penn
Estates and Blue Mountain Lakes will still use their central mailing addresses, but the
homes will each have a new physical address so that emergency and delivery vehicles can
find them.
The Stroud Township Volunteer Fire Department is
considering selling compliant markers as a fundraiser Watch here and at www.stroudfire.org
for details as we receive them. The purchase and mounting of the marker is the
responsibility of the resident. We do know that the
sign has to be at the point where the driveway intersects with the roadway in a
“rural application.” Your residence may not be visible from the roadway
due to inclement weather, night conditions, or any other obstruction, so that is why a
sign must be placed by the roadway and be visible from both directions.
Although
the County has been told that the U.S. Post Office may still deliver mail to the current
address for up to a year after the change, some legal documents by law must be changed
sooner. For instance, an address change must be reported for a driver’s license to
the DMV within 15 days. If you have internet service, you can do this on-line www.dmv.state.pa.us.
However, please note that your notification letter
from the county may state on it, do not report this change for 60 days, so count the 15
days from when the 60 days ends.
Until you receive your address letter, we are recommending that you refrain from
ordering large quantities of items such as stationery, business cards, bank checks, etc.,
at this time unless it is absolutely necessary. Your address may change, and then you will be faced with having
to re-order these types of items again.
Stroud Township's policy is to comply with the Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law (Act
3-2008). Supervisor Daryl Eppley is Stroud's Open Records Officer. A form is required to be filled out for the information
requested which you can print out from this site, or pick up at the office at 1211 North
Fifth Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. For questions about the form or policy, call Mr.
Eppley at 570-421-3362, or email him at stroudde@ptd.net.
Snow
Emergency: A snow emergency will be declared when snow has accumulated to a
depth of three or more inches and requires snow removal or treatment. Emergencies will be
declared by the Roadmaster and will be announced on all local radio and TV stations.
Vehicles must be removed from township roads so that the roads can be plowed. Violators
will be subject to having their car towed and/or paying a fine. See Ordinance 119.
Making Your
Neighborhood Safer
If you’ve been reading the newspaper and see that there is more crime in our area,
you may feel that your previously safe neighborhood is becoming increasingly at risk.
There are things that you can do to enhance the safety of your neighborhood.
Foremost is to be aware of your surroundings and get to know and talk to
your neighbors. Watch out for their homes and children like you would want them to look
out for yours. When you see something that looks suspicious and you think a crime is being
committed, call the Stroud Area Regional Police at 570-42l-6800.
There is also an On-line Anonymous Tips Form at www.sarpd.com/tips.htm and Anonymous Tip phone
#570-424-7002. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
For reporting information anonymously about a serious crime or wanted person, call Monroe
County Crime Stoppers at 1-866-370-1518. You could be eligible for a cash reward!
Consider forming a Crime Watch as a first line of defense. A group in E.
Stroudsburg meets the last Wednesday each month at 7 p.m. and could give you tips on how
to proceed, such as keeping a log of suspicious activity. They meet at the Police
Commissioner’s Hall, located next to the Stroud Area Regional Police Department, 100
Day Street, in East Stroudsburg.
Graffiti on buildings, bridges and overpasses,
which may or may not be gang related, should be reported immediately to the Stroud
Township Municipal Center at 570-421-3362. A representative from our office will take
pictures and forward the information to the Monroe County Gang Task Force office. The
property owners will be notified and asked to have the graffiti removed as soon as
possible.
Reward for Apprehension of Park Vandals
If you see anyone putting graffiti on park property or causing other types of damage,
please call 992-9911 immediately. Follow up with a phone call to our office at 421-3362.
Cell phone photos or license plate numbers would be helpful. If the vandal is
successfully prosecuted, you will receive a $500. reward!
Township Park
Reservations
Stroud Township has delegated the handling of
pavilion and field reservations to Stroud Regional Open Space and Recreation
Commission at 15 Day Street. You will have to obtain and fill out the application,
provide proof of residency, and fees to the SROSRC. Stroud Township Park Ordinance are still in effect as well as
pavilion rules and field rules.
Cherry Valley
Community Supported Agriculture
Stroud Township has a partnership with organic farmer Heidi Secord for her to run
a Community Supported Agriculture program in Cherry Valley on Township owned agricultural
preservation property. If interested in becoming a 2010 member, e-mail cvcsa@ptd.net or write to Cherry Valley CSA, RR1 1375
Stroudsburg, PA 18360. For more info on the CSA, go to www.cherryvalleycsa.com or www.township.stroud.pa.us/cvcsa.htm
Taxes
Taxes are paid annually in two separate billings, one for Municipal and County Property
taxes and the other for Stroudsburg Area School District taxes.Taxes are payable to: Tax
Collector Wendy Bogart Shiffer, and can be mailed to 1212 Christopher St. (rear),
Strouds-burg, PA 18360. To receive a receipt, enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.
If you prefer to pay in person, Tax Collector Office Hours effective March 1st, are:
Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Other
times may be available by appointment)
Directions to 1212 Christopher St.: Going north on
Fifth Street, make a left onto Clearview Ave. Make the third left off Clearview onto
Christopher. It is the first house on your left past the intersection of North View Rd.
There is an Earned Income Tax (EIT) of 1.25% (.0125)
if you reside in Stroud Twp., and an Emergency & Municipal Services tax of $10.
(formerly OPT- Occupational Privilege Tax) if you work in Stroud Twp. These taxes
are collected by Berkheimer Tax Administrator (610-599-3139). If your employer is
not witholding these taxes from your paycheck, you can pay with a form at tax time.
The state has once again changed the name of the local tax from OPT to the Local Services
Tax for 2008. Stroud Township has enacted a new Ordinance that will change
the amount collected to $52. Those who earn less than $12,000 will be exempt. The
fee wil go towards emergency services, including medical, police and/or fire services,
road construction and/or maintenance, and/or reduction of property taxes.
Assessment related questions should be directed to the
County Assessment Office at 570-517-3133. For delinquent tax questions call the Tax Claims
office at 570-420-3500. More tax info can be
found on our tax webpage.
Our office has extra Earned
Income Tax (AKA Berkheimer) forms are available for you to pick up if you did not get one
in the mail for each person who had earned income for 2007 or 2008 in your household.
Mandatory
Recycling
It is state mandated that Stroud
Township residents recycle. Grant money is received from the state based on what
percentage of our trash picked up by our trash haulers is recycled. This can help off-set
taxes, so it pays for all of us to recycle both monetarily and environmentally.
Each resident may have two recycling containers from the Township for curbside pick up by their trash haulers. They can be picked up at the Township building (1211 Noth fifth St.) once you have made arrangements with your trash hauler to pick up your recycling. Each hauler has specific pickup dates for recycling and has specific items that they accept for recycling.
In addition to
your trash hauler picking up recyclables, you may also drop them off at the REACH
Recycling depots. They are the blue bins located on Rte. 447 in Analomink. There are
separate bins for each of the following: newspapers, corrugated cardboard, glass, mail,
magazines, aluminum cans, metal cans and #1 and #2 plastics. It is important not to mix
plastics other than #1 or #2 as these will contaminate the load and make it useless.
Newspapers can be bundled in brown paper bags but not plastic. Household or office paper
should be put in brown paper bags so they do not blow around and litter the area. No
household items, trash, garbage or clothing should be left at the bins as that is
considered littering and can result in a fine. If the recyclable items do not fit into the
correct bin due to it being full, please do not leave it or put into another bin. Please
stop by again on another day.
Stroud Township Provides Special Recycling of Energy Saving
Fluorescent Bulbs
Recent campaigns to reduce energy consumption have increased the
popularity of Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs). These bulbs contain about 5
milligrams of mercury. Although this is a small amount compared to old thermometers which
contained 500 milligrams, it is still a hazardous amount. Fortunately, the mercury is not
released unless the bulb breaks during handling or disposal. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) recommends special recycling and disposal of these CFLs. Stroud
Township is offering residents free recycling of CFL bulbs in the Township office at 1211
North Fifth Street. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and retailers to expand
recycling and disposal efforts, so hopefully stores that sell them will soon accept them
also.
If you break a CFL bulb, the EPA recommends that special precautions be taken to protect your health. First, open up windows in the room and shut off central heat or air conditioning. Leave the room for at least 15 minutes. When you return, scoop up the glass and powder with heavy paper. Then, place it inside a glass jar with a metal lid, or seal it in a plastic bag. Use sticky tape like duct tape to get the smaller residue. For carpet, you can then vacuum, but you must immediately put the vacuum bag or debris into a sealed bag, as well as use damp paper towels to wipe out the vacuum canister. All of this can be brought to the Township building for disposal. If the bulb broke on a hard surface, after picking up the larger pieces as described above, instead of vacuuming, use damp paper towels to pick up the residue and put in sealed bag.
Despite the environmental impact of mercury from millions of these bulbs ending up in landfills, with proper recycling and disposal, the use of these bulbs is still encouraged to reduce greenhouse emissions that are contributing to rapid climate change. CFLs use up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. If every home in America replaced just one incandescent bulb with an Energy Star CFL, in one year it would save enough energy to light one million homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 800,000 cars. For more information, go to www.earth911.org
Battery Disposal
Household batteries except for rechargeable and automotive are ok to be disposed of in
your trash. Rechargeable batteries can be recycled at Home Depot or Radio Shack. Car
batteries can be taken to Sears Auto Dep’t. and other car repair centers for
recycling.
Fire Department
Fund Drive
Stroud Township's
Fire Department is staffed by volunteers. Show you care about supporting these men
and women by making a donation. You will get a decal to display and the
knowledge that you are conributing to fire fighting and rescue equipment that will be
ready to be used in your community if required. Aging equipment, the need for
a new firehouse, and firefighter outfitting and training make this year’s fund drive
especially crucial for keeping the Fire Dep’t. ready and able to fight fires.
Very little tax money goes into the running and maintaining of our volunteer fire company.
The primary source of income is the donations from township residents and businesses
during the annual fund drive. If you don’t receive your envelope shortly, you can
send a donation to Stroud Twp. Volunteer Fire Dep’t., P.O. Box 807, Stroudsburg, PA
18360. Fire Dep’t. volunteers also work on projects such as getting out fire safety
tips, free home safety inspections and free smoke detectors. Visit www.stroudfire.org for more information.
Road Barricades
During road flooding, traffic accidents, downed power lines, or other emergencies, some
roads may be closed by Emergency Management, or the Fire or Police Departments.
Residents should not drive around or move these barriers, which are placed there
specifically to prevent people from entering the area due to hazardous conditions!
False Alarms
False fire alarms
continue to be a problem. If your fire alarm goes off accidentally, call your alarm
company immediately to cancel the fire department response. Three false alarms a year can
cost you more than $300. and wastes the valuable time of our volunteer fire fighters.
Every time they answer an alarm, it takes them away from their job or family. It also puts
needless wear and tear on millions of dollars of fire equipment. Stroud Township Volunteer
Firefighters were recently injured on their way to a false alarm and a fire engine
sustained much damage. Our Air Pollution Control Ordinance #202, Section 3 states that
burning shall be permitted on Saturdays between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The reason
for this is that more volunteer firefighters are likely to be available in the event that
the burning gets out of control. That happens frequently when homeowners do not follow the
simple precautions of wetting down the area around the burning area, having a water hose
close by the fire, or burning only when there is no breeze or wind. Violation of this
ordinance is subject to a $100. fine per occurrence. See
www.township.stroud.pa.us/AirpolOrd202.htm for info. Please check your carbon monoxide and
smoke detector batteries monthly.Free home safety inspections are available - call
421-1330, option 8.
Rental of Fire Hall
Stroud Twp. Fire Dep't. has announced
that the Fire Hall at Arlington Fire Hall adjacent to Stroud Mall is available for rental
for parties and banquets. Please call Rick VanWhy at 570-856-1898 or Kelly Felker at
570-460-1630 for more information. Proceeds benefit the Fire Dep't.
Emergencies
For the latest info. on state or national EMERGENCIES, visit www.state.pa.us
on-line and type in keywords or search words like pandemic or emergency preparedness.
Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Winter storms that knock out electrical power
often result in residents using alternate heating in their homes. Please remember that
supplemental heating units powered by coal or propane require ventilation, such as
opening two windows for a cross draft, each about 2". A typical household
kerosene heater generally does not require as much ventilation, a 1/2" window opening
should be adequate. ALWAYS read the manual that comes with your heater
before using to see how much ventilation is necessary.
Carbon monoxide detectors placed near your oil or coal furnace,
as well as in the room of your supplemental heat source and in a hallway adjacent to
bedrooms, are important precautions in warning you and your family of higher than safe
carbon monoxide levels.
Gasoline
powered generators require even more ventilation, and must be placed and operated
outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust.
Read more information on carbon monoxide from Rick Possinger, Emergency Planning Coordinator.
Calendar of Public Meetings
The public is welcome to attend all meetings.
Meetings are held in the Stroud Township Municipal Building. Please check the newspaper
for dates and times of Special Hearings. Call the office at 570-421-3362
ito confirm.
Supervisors generally meet the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM.
Planning Commission Meetings are usually held the last Wednesday of every month at 7:00 PM.
Zoning Hearing Board Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month, as needed, at 7:00 PM. and if all applications are not heard, they are continued until the following evening (Thursday) at 7:00 PM. On occasion, if the items on the agenda warrant it, a second hearing may be scheduled and advertised for the next evening, Thursday.
Parks and Recreation Board Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the back conference room. (The meeting time and place may change in warmer weather if the Board wants to tour or hold the meeting at a park site. Call to check, if planning to attend.)
Stroud
Township Sewer Authority meets the fourth Monday of each month
at 7:30 PM. (If holiday occurs, it will meet the third Monday)
Election Districts and
Polling Places
Your legal address determines which district you are allowed to
vote in. If you have not voted in 3 years at that polling place, you will have to
re-register!
If you don’t know your district and you are registered, call Voters Registration at
570-517-3165 or look on your Voter's registration card for the District you are in.
Stroud 1 - Stroud Township Municipal Building,
1211 N. 5th St. (Rt.191)
Stroud 2 - Pinebrook Bible Camp Meadowbrook Building, Rte. 191
Stroud 3 - Wesleyan Church, 915 N. 5th St.
Stroud 4 - Hughes Library, Chipperfield & Rte. 611
Stroud 5 - Howard Johnson, Rte. 611
Stroud 6 - Pocono Mountain Bd. of Realtors Office, Business Rte. 209
Stroud 7 - Poplar Valley Methodist Church Annex
Political Signs
- can be erected no more than 15 days before election, and must be removed no later than 3
days after the election.
The maximum sign size is 3 sq. feet. You can have one per candidate on your property, but
there is a 50' distance requirement it must be from a neighboring property's sign for the
same candidate.
Misc.
A SIGN ORDINANCE is in effect! Please
contact Zoning Officer John DeCusatis at 421-3362
for any new sign or changes to exisiting signs.
Litter Patrol and Reporting
Township resident Rich Banks has organized a
volunteer litter patrol to help clean up Stroud Township. If you would like to help him
one day or several days, please call him at 570-424-1657. To report someone who is
littering, call 1-888-LITTERBUG. For more information, please visit www.litterbug.org and www.pacleanways.org
Monroe County has organized a volunteer team to respond to local litter problems, including illegal dumping. New volunteers are always needed, and expected to keep an eye on local roadways and report visible problems as they occur. If possible, personal identification found in litter or dumping should be called into the office for follow-up. Supplies (bags, signs, gloves, safety equipment) will be available through the Litter Control office should you like to go the extra mile and do litter cleanup too. Any found or filled litter bags will be picked up by our Litter Control staff. Please call 420-3525 to report litter or to volunteer to help.
Township Meeting Room Now
Displaying Local Artwork
Stroud Township’s meeting room is now doubling as an art gallery in a partnership
with Pocono Arts Council. A local artist’s paintings are displayed for two months.
Visitors can purchase an art piece through the Arts Council and pick it up at the end of
the show.
Pennsylvania has a website for various types of emergencies. Visit www.state.pa.us on-line and type in keywords like pandemic or emergency preparedness.
The American Red Cross also has emergency planning on-line at: http://www.redcross.org/Return to Stroud's Main Page
04/29/2011