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Area students participate in Science Olympiad

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New on DVD: Classic TV show tops new DVD releases March 10

AVOCA &#8212; Council approved a resolution to apply for a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Parks Project recreation grant to make upgrades to local parks.&#8220;A few years ago, we received a grant and we got some new garbage containers and new playground equipment, new benches and we had to update to handicap safety,&#8221; said council member Tom Fritz.Fritz said the purpose of the new grant would be to provide a new scoreboard for the Avoca/Dupont Little League on Mill Street, fencing for the new tee ball field behind the little league field as well as a roof pavilion for the park on Plane Sreet.He went on to say that the council has been in the process of applying for a new grant for the previous two years, but has been denied. The entire process would cost under $20,000 and Fritz and council vice president John Boone are unsure why the grant has been denied.&#8220;The rule is, is if you&#8217;re under $20,000, you don&#8217;t have to match it,&#8221; said Fritz. &#8220;You don&#8217;t put any money in it from the state or the town. If you stay under $20,000, the state will give us that $20,000 grant.&#8221;&#8220;My only guess is DCNR is looking for bigger projects to fund,&#8221; said Boone.Council also signed an architect/owner agreement with PennEastern Architects LLC for the new municipal building that will be built on McAlpine Street.The new building will be constructed on the property on the corner of Main and Vine streets where the Ss. Peter and Paul Church building was located prior to being torn down in early 2014. The church building was closed by the Diocese of Scranton in fall 2011 after the congregation merged with another church in Avoca and the building was sold to the borough for $144,000. The borough then elected to tear the church building down to make way for a new municipal building.Fritz said council received a signature from Chuck Garnett of the United States Department of Agriculture approving the loan for the new building, but more work still needs to be done.&#8220;We&#8217;ll probably have to get another signature off them,&#8221; said Fritz. &#8220;(Garnett) told us he&#8217;s going to have to get another signature from us and that he has more paperwork for us to sign.&#8221;Council also wants to assure residents living on Plane Street are aware that the street is still closed due to the construction of the Interstate 81 overpass and pedestrian walkway. Council is seeking a meeting with contractors and engineers to rectify the situation.In other business, council &#8230;&#8226; Accepted a proposal from Comcast to be the provider for phone and internet services for the municipal building, police department, municipal garage and Little League.&#8226; Approved an agreement between Avoca Borough and the Borough of Moosic allowing the use of the Moosic recycling truck an additional day per week. Residents may drop off recyclables at the Avoca Municipal Garage between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday of each week.&#8226; Approved a new boiler and machinery insurance policy for the Hartford Steam Boiler recently installed at the Community Center on Main Street. The policy will run from March 31, 2015 until March 31, 2016.&#8226; Announced that yard waste pickup will begin on Tuesday, April 21, weather permitting, with an alternate date of Tuesday, May 5.The next Avoca Borough Council meeting will be held on Thursday, April 9 at the Avoca Municipal Building, 752 Main St., with the work session beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the regular monthly meeting following immediately after.

Avoca council applying for parks project grant