STROUD TOWNSHIP, PASTROUD TOWNSHIP, PA
Calendar and Notices
Topics
Address Project and Markers
Cherry Valley Community Supported Agriculture
Crime Watch/Anonymous Tips
Disclosures, Act 44
District Court and Magistrate Changes
Election Districts, Polling Places, Political Signs
Electronics Recycling New State Law eff January 24, 2013
Fire Department
Fluorescent Bulbs Recycling
Mandatory Recycling
Misc.
Newsletter
Open Records
Park Reservations and Fees
PennDot Detours
Public Meetings
Septic System Care
Sign Ordinance amendment(Commercial, not 911 Project)
Snow Emergency and Snow removal Hints
Taxes
Tenant Registration
Yard Waste and Compost Facility
Stroud
Township Newsletter
The
Stroud Township Newsletter Spring 2013 edition was mailed around April 6th and is also
now available on this website in PDF format.
Monroe County 911
Address Change Project
The
Stroud Township Volunteer Fire Department is no longer accepting orders for address
markers. Residents that have not gotten markers yet can purchase them at local stores. The
following are known to have sold them recently: Cramer's Home Centers in East Stroudsburg,
Lowe's on Rte. 611, and Steele's Hardware in Tannersville. The purchase and mounting of
the marker is the responsibility of the resident. For details on the re-addressing
project and how to be compliant in displaying your address, please go to: www.township.stroud.pa.us/address.htm
.
Remember to report your address change to the Monroe County Assessment Office. It is a different office and uses a different computer system than
the County 911 Control Center which assigned the new numbers. Use this Address Change form.
Fax or mail it to their office at: Monroe County Assessors at 1 Quaker Plaza, Room
102, Stroudsburg, PA 18360-2171. Fax # is 570-517-3854. Be sure to SIGN it.
New Electronic Recycling Ordinance: The
State of Pennysylvania has made it illegal to dispose of electronics in your regular
household trash effective January 24, 2013. For further details, see article in pdf format. You can call DEP at 800-346-4242 to find where you can take
them, or wait until Stroud Township's Spring Cleanup, May 1 through 4, 2013 to dispose of
the items then.
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.
Township Park Use, Non-Resident Fees, and, Pavillion and Ballfield
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.
The Stroud Township Park Ordinance is still in effect as
well as pavilion rules and field rules.
There is now a usage fee for Brodhead Creek Park and Pinebrook Park
on Rte. 191 for Non-Residents of Stroud Township.
Fee per vehicle on weekends and holidays
between May 19th and September 9th, 2012 (up to 8 occupants) $20
Additional vehicle occupants $5 per
person
Motorized Cycles $5 per rider
No fees for non-motorized cycle riders or
for PA licensed fishermen (when fishing)
No fees for Stroud Township residents and
residents of reciprocating Monroe County PA municipalities.
Proof of residency will be
required.
Also, please note, that fishing in the pond at Brodhead Creek Park is only allowed for children under 12 and special needs adults.
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! Due to the new Voter ID requirements, you will be asked to present a
photo ID at the polling place you are registered to vote in. A recent court injunction has
made the requirement to be given a provisional ballot if you do not have an ID to be put
on hold until next year. Poll workers will be required to ask you for photo IDs for the
spring 2013 election, but if you do not have it, you will still be allowed to vote if you
still live at the same residence you are registered to vote in.
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. You
have to vote in the district you are registered 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.
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'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.
Amendment to Sign
Ordinance Passed March 20, 2012
Some
of the noteworthy changes are as follows:
2. Electrically-activated
changeable signs are permitted: 1) on a ground sign where 3 or more public school
buildings are located (Chipperfield Drive campus) and 2) on a canopy over drive-through
service lanes where customers remain seated in a vehicle. In the event of an
emergency, these signs can flash to alert emergency responders and the public.
3. Projecting wall signs up to
12 square feet, or its content, can be changed manually 3 times in a 24-hour period.
These kinds of signs are intended to give business owners more ability and
flexibility to advertise while at the same time reduce and replace portable signs which
are not permitted.
Guided by legal counsel and court cases, the ordinance amendment was crafted to provide
more effective signage for the township’s growing and diverse business community
while maintaining our community’s character and to establish provisions for the use
of electronic technologies in certain signs, thus preventing a costly legal challenge to a
sign ordinance deemed exclusionary.
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!
Septic System Care Saves
Repair Costs
Keeping your septic system working properly to prevent an
expensive system replacement depends greatly on what you put down your drains and the
frequency of pumping your septic tank. Visit www.township.stroud.pa.us/tips.htm to
learn about scheduling pump-outs and what common household liquids can ruin your septic
system. Find out what other precautions you need to take to keep the system working well.
Your system is malfunctioning if you see water around the edge of your drain field
or have sewage backing up into your home. There are low cost Pennsylvania loans that you
can get to fix septic problems. Contact Sewage Enforcement Officer H. Beers, Inc. to learn
more (570) 421-3362.
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 member, e-mail cvcsa@ptd.net or write to Cherry Valley CSA, Josie Porter
Farm, 6514 Cherry Valley Rd., Stroudsburg, PA 18360. For more info on the CSA, go to
www.cherryvalleycsa.com
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. Stroud Township has enacted an Ordinance that will change the amount collected to
$52. Those who earn less than $12,000 annually 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.
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.
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.
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)
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
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.
Return to Stroud's Main Page
05/13//2013