$1 Million Tabbed For Veterans

Absences, Baggy Pants Draw District's Attention

Thursday, August 08, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 2A 





WYOMING Error on 1992 project threatens future grants &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council said it must act quickly or risk losing future grant moneyAt a work
session Wednesday night, council debated what action it must take in response
to what the state Department of Community Affairs called misuse of a 1992
grant. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In 1992 the borough applied for a $15,000 grant and was told it had to come
up with 50 percent, or $7,500, to add to the grant money, bringing the total
amount to $22,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The grant plus the borough's money were intended to fund the building of
two baseball fields and a recreational park across from the Midway Shopping
center. The site is the former Colonial Village, an upscale housing
development destroyed by the 1972 flood. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The DCA is telling us that labor costs couldn't come out of the $22,000,
but who was supposed to pay for the labor," said councilman Clem Zekoski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One resident disagreed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I called the DCA office in Scranton and they told me the borough knew that
labor cost couldn't come from the $22,000 when they received the money," said
Degnan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Borough solicitor Mark Pelak said many boroughs now hire professional grant
readers because of the complexity of the grants. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "There was a misunderstanding somewhere and now we have to find out where
so future grants aren't at risk," said Pelak. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although a motion to reach a decision on the 1992 grant was tabled at last
month's meeting, council said a decision will be reached by early next week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council said a representative from the department will meet with council by
Tuesday or Wednesday next week. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council will hold its regular meeting on Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I hate to say this but I don't see any progress being made," said Degnan.
"We're no further than last month or last year." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Wyoming Error On 1992 Project Threatens Future Grants Council Said It Must Act Quickly Or Risk Losing Future Grant Money.