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Happy birthday to David Michael Longfoot!

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Syrian family of seven living in Kingston struggles but is happy to be here

ASHLEY &#8212; Tensions ran high as the borough council once again talked about the Huber Breaker property during its monthly meeting Tuesday night.During the meeting, Zoning Officer Andy Kratz asked the council about the borough buying a property on West Hartford Street. Council Vice President Frank Sorokach then complimented Kratz about a packet of papers containing test results from the Department of Environmental Protection, stating a finding of no asbestos in the breaker soil.After back-and-forth conversation between Kratz and councilwoman Donna Schappert about having the DEP come to talk to council and the public, councilman Joseph McGlynn stepped in, reminding the council &#8220;DEP suggested to us that we would be better off if the borough would try to take the property over.&#8221; <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/501421/ashley-officials-worried-over-safety-pollution-issues-at-huber-breaker-site" target="_blank">The company owning the breaker, Paselo Logistics LLC, has stirred up controversy recently by leaving debris strewn around the property</a>, as well as owing over $25,000 in back taxes to the borough, Hanover Area School District and Luzerne County.Kratz asked if he could have Alarcon &#8212; an asbestos removal company &#8212; do a free estimate of clean-up before the borough steps in to try and take ownership of the property because the cost of clean up may outweigh the value of the site.&#8220;If it&#8217;s a free estimate, I&#8217;m in favor,&#8221; Councilman Gerald Maldonado said when Council President John Gibbons asked for the council&#8217;s vote on allowing the estimate.McGlynn, visibly frustrated over the property, wants an estimate of clean up &#8220;regardless if it costs $100 or $500.&#8221;&#8220;We have to start making a stand and doing something,&#8221; McGlynn said.The council will make a final decision about bringing a clean-up team in at the next meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Ashley Fireman&#8217;s Park, 160 Ashley St.In other business, the council:&#8226; awarded bids &#8212; upon subject to review &#8212; on the demolition of two former bars: Sonny&#8217;s at 23 S. Main St. and Chickeroo&#8217;s or &#8220;Chick&#8217;s&#8221; at 114 S. Main St. to Brdaric Excavating Inc., Luzerne, for a combined total cost of $19,000.&#8226; approved the final draft of land development for J.P. Halliday Enterprises LLC.&#8226; tabled the final revisions of the budget as well as a resolution to set the 2016 tax rate: 4.85 mills &#8212; a mill is $1 in tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value &#8212; until the financial committee is able to give a last read through. Sorokach said the committee will have the final budget next meeting.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Melanie Mizenkommizenko@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>The next council meeting will be held 6:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Ashley Fireman&#8217;s Park, 160 Ashley St.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</shirttailMeta></div>

Tensions over Huber Breaker dominate Ashley Borough Council meeting