PA Uniform Construction Codes Provide Standards and Frustration

Transcription

Pocono Business Journal
Seven Bridge Road, RR# 5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
THIS MONTH
• Wall Street West....................page 3
• Legislative Updates...............page 4
• PBJ Columnist
In The Commercial Zone........page5
• Stormwater Management.....page 7
• Professional Profile
RGB Home Builders......... pages 8–9
• Real Estate Survey..............page 13
March 2006, Vol. 2, Issue 3
Construction & Real Estate
PA Uniform Construction Codes
Provide Standards and Frustration
QUOTE
Haste in every business
brings failures.
Herodotus
OBSERVE
1
8
12
17
28
30
Civil Right Act enacted (1875)
International Women’s Day
Plant a Flower Day
St. Patrick’s Day
Organize Home Office Day
National Doctor’s Day
QUESTION
How much money is deposited
in Monroe County banks?
See PMCC Business Magazine ad
for the answer on page 10.
please recycle this paper
www.pbjonline.com
Photo Credit: Sherry Krail
Feminine Empowerment Month
Coulby Dunn, builder with Mountain View Homes in Greentown and president of the Pike County Builders Association, speaks candidly
about the implementation of the Uniform Construction Codes in Pennsylvania.
By Kathy Ruff
Enforcement of Pennsylvania’s statewide building code
continues to create challenges and controversies since its
inception in April 2004. The Uniform Construction Code sets
minimum building standards across the state.
“We were somewhat surprised that when the code actually went into effect in April of 2004, 91% of the municipalities in the state opted to administer and enforce the code,”
says Barry Ciccocioppo, spokesman for the Pennsylvania
Department of Labor and Industry. “Only nine percent have
opted out, so the enforcement is happening at the local
level.”
Since Pennsylvania has 2,567 municipalities, enforcement at the local level has created anything but uniformity.
“At this point about 37% of the opt-in municipalities have
kept code provisions that go above and beyond the UCC,”
says Ciccocioppo. “They are permitted under the law that
was passed to do so, as long as those changes are equal to or
exceed the language that’s used in the UCC requirement.”
That lack of uniformity undermines what many perceived
to be a consistent building standard.
“As a builder, I’m finding different townships are
a little more stringent than others in terms of how
the code is enforced,” says Coulby Dunn, president of the Pike County Builders Association in
Milford and builder with Mountain View Homes,
Greentown.
“There’s a lot of ambiguity in terms of how and what’s expected
of the builders. I do find a difference between those that hire their
own code enforcement officers and ones that hire an inspection
company,” says Dunn.
Like Dunn, members of the Pocono Builders Association
would like to see more consistency in code interpretation as well
as the permitting process.
“There is a lot of variability across municipalities,” says Don
Hannig, president of the Pocono Builders Association, Stroudsburg, and vice president of Spread Eagle Development Corpora-
see CODES page 6
Professional Profile - RGB Custom Homes Builds a Good Reputation
page 8
2
Pocono Business Journal | March 2006
MONTHLY MISSIVE
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Twin Willow Publishing Company
Seven Bridge Road
RR#5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-9209
570.223.9910 | fax 570.223.0911
www.pbjonline.com
PUBLISHER / EDITOR
Marynell Strunk
REPORTERS
Ken Clark
Ann Gerfelder
Christian Pope-Campbell
Kathy Ruff
CONTRIBUTORS
Kevin Shivers
The challenging part of the March issue was trying to fit all the material into the paper. Construction and
real estate is hot-stuff in the region. Growth has been exponential and the local construction and real estate
industry has boomed. The regional economy is benefiting in many ways, yet the Poconos is having its growing pains. This month’s feature gives readers several perspectives on the enacted Uniform Construction Code,
followed by another piece that updates you on Act 167, the stormwater management policy. Interested in the
future of real estate? The Professional Survey question provides you with projections on Pocono real estate
from industry experts. This month the Professional Profile highlights RGB Custom Homes, a Pocono home
builder who has worked diligently towards a good reputation and is now reaping the rewards with a wall-full
of building awards.
The March issue of the Pocono Business Journal will launch a ‘business blog’ and rotating monthly columnists. This month, Michael Baxter will be sharing his knowledge about commercial real estate and making
himself available beyond the newspaper to discuss real estate through the PBJ Blog. All readers need to do
is visit and register at www.pbjonline.com/blog to enter into a dialog. The paper will be introducing more
columnists in upcoming issues.
As the paper continues to grow, let’s keep moving forward together by keeping PBJ updated with press
releases, story ideas, special business events and anything you think the business community would be interested to read about.
One last thing…..come visit us at the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce Business Expo and
meet the PBJ staff. We’ll be at Booths #110 – 111. Hope to see you.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you and putting together another issue that will address your business
needs and continue to inform, inquire and inspire.
Marynell K. Strunk
Publisher/Editor
[email protected]
PHOTOGRAPHER
Lynne Bookey
John DeSantis
Perry Hebard
Sherry Krial
TABLE OF CONTENTS
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Danielle Eberhardt
ARTICLES
COPY EDITOR
Deborah Schiffer
• Poconos Part of Wall Street West . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
• Difficulties Rise in Stormwater Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
• Professional Survey Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Jason Trump
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
CIRCULATION
Caryn Fogel
COPYRIGHT: PBJ is protected under the federal Copyright
Act. Reproductions of any part by any means or facsimiles
without the express written permission of the publisher are
not permitted. Reprints of PBJ articles are available. For
rates and information visit http://www.pbjonline.com/reprints.html. PBJ cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material, manuscripts and photographs without the
inclusion of a self-addressed stamped envelope. Information
in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be
reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed. Submission of information does
not guarantee inclusion. PBJ is published monthly from
offices located at Seven Bridge Road, East Stroudsburg, PA
18301. PBJ serves business owners, managers and professionals in the four county Pocono region: Carbon, Monroe,
Pike and Wayne. Subscriptions are available for $25 per
year or $50 for two years. POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to: Pocono Business Journal, RR#5 Box 5198, East
Stroudsburg, PA 18301
• RGB Custom Homes Builds a Good Reputation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
DEPARTMENTS
• Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
• Focus Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
• Legislative Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
• PBJ Columnist: In The Commercial Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
• PBJ Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Advertisers Index
ASSI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Associated Libraries of Monroe County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
SUBSCRIPTION FORM
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please mail subscription form along with check made payable to:
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RR#5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-9209
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Thank you for choosing Pocono Business Journal
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Brooks Accounting Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Buck Hill Golf Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chant Realty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Core People Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Engle, Hambright, Davis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ESSA Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Eye Associates of Monroe County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Kitchen Tune-Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Michael Baxter & Associates Commercial Real Estate. . . . . . . . . . 8
Pocono Mountains Business Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Pocono Mountains EXPO 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Sherman Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Stone, Cyphers, DeAngelo & Hornberger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3
NEWS
Poconos Part of Wall Street West
By Ken Clark
Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Carbon counties will be
“Gateway Counties” in the implementation of “Wall
Street West,” a federal initiative to disperse major financial operations away from New York City as a shield
against terrorist attack.
In the course of the program, a local workforce
will be built through training of new recruits and the
re-training of current employees at banks and brokerages
to staff the new “back office” operations throughout a
nine-county region. Such offices are required to be built
on power grids separate from those of their corporate
owners, and be no more than 127 miles away. Susan
Shaffer, Work Force Development Manager for NEPA,
said Pocono counties, which are closest to New York
City, will be among the first to be developed.
Under terms of the Workforce Innovation in
Regional Economic Development program (WIRED)
mandated by the Securities and Exchange Commission,
the Northern Pennsylvania Alliance (NEPA) announced
receipt of a $15 million grant, to be disbursed to nine
northeastern counties over the next three years. The nine
counties will compose a steering committee to guide
development in the region. Ben Franklin Technology
Partners will serve as fiscal agent in the disbursement of
funds.
Shaffer said it still is too early to say how many financial firms, presently headquartered in New York, will
be represented, or how many new information technology jobs they will make available.
“The first thing we have to do is look at the businesses or organizations that are within that sector and
identify the positions that are of most significance to
them and the skills within those programs,” she said.
“Then we get a talent pool within
what those organizations have
identified.”
Shaffer said as the program
rolls out, and Wall Street firms
start to establish regional operations, job opportunities will open
up, both for existing employees
interested in transferring from
New York and for “under-employed“ or “dislocated,” but
highly qualified, personnel now
looking for work.
Jeffrey Box, Acting President
and CEO of NEPA, said after the
9-11 attack on the World Trade
Center, the federal government
set out to ensure that subsequent
attacks would not be able to close
down Wall Street. With that, the
idea of the back-office centers,
subordinate to their main operations but able to take over if
corporate headquarters are taken
out, was born.
“The idea is to have these
firms back up and running, literally in a matter of minutes,” he
said.
Area universities, including ESU, are likely to be called
into participation in the training
program.
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Clearview Builders Property
Sale Expects to Pay Debt
By Ken Clark
Commercial real estate broker Michael Baxter
has been chosen by Monroe County Judge Jerome
Cheslock to handle the sale of three properties owned
by jailed Brodheadsville home builder Dennis Slayton.
Slayton, who faces 52 counts of theft stemming
from work paid for but never delivered to several of
his clients, lost the properties when the court ordered
that they be seized and sold to pay off $1.1 million
in debts owed to Pennstar Bank and other creditors.
Slayton is incarcerated in the Monroe County Correctional Facility, awaiting trial in the case.
The properties to be put on the market include
the office building in Brodheadsville from which
Slayton ran Clearview Builders, an undeveloped
38-acre parcel of land in Tannersville and a home on
Woods Way in Hamilton Township. Baxter, who specializes strictly in commercial properties, said he is
seeking a residential Realtor to list and sell the home.
Baxter said the Slayton office building and the
38 acres will go on the market upon completion of
a comparative market analysis to determine their
worth.
“There are a couple of different ways we may
go with this,” Baxter said. “One would be go with
the market analysis and have a specific asking price
(for each). Or, we may offer them as a package with
sealed bids.”
The 38 acres just off heavily traveled Route 611
are held under the “Clean and Green” program which
guarantees a property tax break as long as the acreage remains undeveloped – a scenario Baxter said is
not likely to hold.
“I doubt very much if anybody would purchase
the property and want to keep it in Clean and Green,
EHD’s risk-control team helped this contractor eliminate
because the value is in developing
the property, not just holding onto it,”
he said. “Especially since it appears
there is a level of municipal approval
for a 32-unit townhouse development
on the back of the 38 acres. That
definitely enhances the value and
would be a big reason why somebody
would not want to put it in Clean and
Green.”
Baxter said proceeds from the
sale should pay Slayton’s debt in full.
a jobsite hazard (workers falling through chase holes in
precast concrete housings) while putting a lid — literally
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4
Legislative Updates
By Kevin Shivers
PA House Votes To Reduce Lawsuit Abuse
The PA House State Government Committee in
January approved Senate Bill 435, legislation sponsored
by Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre) repealing the unfair
legal doctrine of joint and several liability. The measure
now heads to the full House for consideration.
Under the doctrine of joint and several liability a
defendant found only one percent liable in a lawsuit can
be forced to pay for 100% of damages. Small business owners often are caught in these costly lawsuits as
personal injury attorneys cast vast nets in search of a
defendant with the “deep pocket.” SB 435, known as the
Fair Share Act, replaces joint and several liability with
“comparative responsibility,” which requires a defendant
to pay damages based on his or her proportionate share
of responsibility. If a business owner is 10% liable, s/he
would be required to pay 10% of the damages awarded.
Rendell’s Budget Raises Spending
In February, Gov. Ed Rendell unveiled his 2006-07
state budget that proposes raising state spending over
the current fiscal year by $1.1 billion to $25.4 billion – a
nearly five percent increase. The plan includes $10 million in research and development tax credits and raises
the cap on net operating loss carry-forwards to $3 million.
The plan does not propose to lower the Personal Income
Tax (PIT), the rate that working Pennsylvanians and most
small employers pay. Including the proposed 2006-07
budget, state government spending has risen almost 23%
since 2003 – more than double the rate of inflation. In
2003, NFIB’s Research Foundation reported that state
budget problems are rooted in lavish spending, not lower
taxes. In Pennsylvania, state spending rose 53% in real
dollars per resident between 1986 and 2000, more than
ten percentage points faster than the national average.
EDITORIAL
Senate Approves Property Tax Reform Plan
In February, the Pennsylvania State Senate approved
Special Session House Bill 39, a reform measure that
would enable communities to shift school funding dollar-for-dollar from property taxes to earned income taxes.
Special Session House Bill 39 now goes back to the
House for consideration.
This latest tax reform effort, called the Pennsylvania
Taxpayer Relief Act, is being billed as a plan to bolster
the Commonwealth’s existing Property Tax and Rent
Rebate Program to provide relief to an estimated additional 281,000 Pennsylvanians, and do it in a way that
recognizes the vast diversity of circumstances that exist
in school districts across the Commonwealth according to
Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill.
The Pennsylvania Taxpayer Relief Act:
• Provides the opportunity for significant school real
estate tax relief, beginning in 2006;
• Doubles the size of the Property Tax and Rent Rebate
Program for low-income seniors in Pennsylvania; and
• Implements the backend referendum – voter controls
on future property tax increases – in every district
across the state.
The new plan would reduce taxes by giving school
districts the option to increase their Earned Income Tax
(EIT) rate in exchange for a reduction in their property
taxes. Districts that do not elect to do so would be required to place a referendum question on the 2007 ballot,
to allow taxpayers to authorize such an increase.
Legislation to Regulate Business Faxes
The PA House Consumer Affairs Committee heard
Come for the
Class Size.
©Copley News Service. Visit Copley News Service at www.copleynews.com.
testimony on HB 476 that would restrict a business’ ability to communicate with its established customers and
could give rise to “shotgun” lawsuits by unscrupulous
attorneys seeking to exploit state law.
House Bill 476 would require businesses to obtain
written permission from all customers before sending any
fax communications. In a letter to the committee, NFIB
noted the requirements of the bill would place significant
financial burdens on small business owners in order to
comply with the regulations. NFIB also questioned the
cost to small business owners by requiring them to obtain
written permission before faxes could be sent. Forcing
businesses to send permission slips through the US Postal
Service mail would dramatically raise the cost of doing
business and slow the wheels of commerce. NFIB also
advised the committee that the legislation would inevitably lead to increased litigation by attorneys trying to cash
in on business uncertainty regarding compliance with
the new regulations. NFIB presented evidence of one
solicitation where potential clients were enticed with a
marketing flyer that read: “Get Paid for Faxes!” The flyer
described how clients would be paid fifty cents for each
unsolicited fax page.
Kevin Shivers is the PA State Director of
the National Federation of Independent
Business (NFIB). Founded in 1943, NFIB is
the nation’s largest small-business advisory
group, representing the consensus views of
its 600,000 members in Washington, D.C.
and all 50 state capitals. To join NFIB, call
866-314-7621. For more information on
NFIB/Pennsylvania, go to www.nfib.com/PA.
NOTE TO READERS: Opinions expressed in any
commentary published in PBJ are not necessarily a
reflection of the opinions of PBJ. Likewise, PBJ will
not be held responsible for any suggestion or advice
published by PBJ and PBJ assumes no liability
for actions that result based on such material. The
publisher and staff welcome your opinions on issues.
Write to PBJ at the address listed on the inside front
cover or e-mail [email protected].
PBJ BLOG
Get Recognized.
East Stroudsburg University is small enough for you to meet professors or friends over
coffee, yet has all of the perks of big universities. Choose from 68 undergraduate and 20
graduate degree programs, all led by top notch faculty who take the time
to get to know you. Internships are available in every program—a great
way to put your knowledge to the test. Whether you’re a freshman or
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www.pbjonline.com/blog
5
NEWS
Understanding the Municipal Approval Process PMC Turns on Lights
Michael Baxter
www.pbjonline.com/blog
Even as a business owner, your experience with buying and selling commercial real estate may be limited. It’s
likely your understanding of property values is based on
a residential real estate model: the seller places a value on
the property, the buyer negotiates a price based on his or
her perception of the value and a deal is reached. But when
it comes to buying or selling commercial real estate there
are a number of factors that significantly impact property
value; most significantly, the complex municipal and regulatory approval process.
Although it’s well known that individuals involved
in developing raw land are required to work through this
approval process, many buyers, sellers, and even some real
estate agents don’t realize that many municipalities require
a similar approval process when purchasing an existing
building if the purchaser is changing the use of the building. This situation can be further complicated if the current
use of the building existed prior to the adoption of the local
ordinances and is in a “non-conforming” status. Understanding these issues in advance can save time and money
and is often the key to a successful sale.
One reason the process is so challenging is that within
the Pocono Business Journal’s coverage of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, there are more than sixty
separate municipalities, each with its own set of ordinances,
Michael J. Baxter, CCIM is the Broker/Owner of
Michael Baxter and Associates located in Tannersville. You
can BLOG him at www.pbjonline.com/blog
and Begins Countdown
Photo Credit: John DeSantis
In The
Commercial Zone
procedures, time requirements and definitions. While it’s
not realistic to be intimately familiar with all of these regulations, your agent should have a reasonable knowledge of
the procedures, the boards, and the agencies that are part of
the process. Generally, these agencies include the Township or Borough Planning Commissions, Supervisors or
Council, Zoning Hearing Boards, Conservation District,
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Both the buyer and seller of commercial real estate
need to be prudent when selecting representation. Accurate
knowledge of the municipal approval process will affect
the composition of the Agreement of Sale and its terms and
conditions. These factors will have an impact on structuring
the necessary financing, an integral part of any real estate
transaction.
If you are the seller, consider that a significant percentage of the buyers and developers come from outside the
area. This makes a strong case for your real estate professional to have the ability to navigate all parties aptly
through the process.
These potential challenges underscore the need for
sellers and buyers of commercial real estate to work with
an experienced commercial real estate broker. There have
been many cases where a buyer, represented by a residential Realtor, has completed a purchase but has not been able
to gain approvals because the Realtor lacked the background to provide the proper guidance.
When buying or selling commercial property, hire a
real estate professional who has knowledge of, and experience with, the municipal approval process. You can check
the credentials of your commercial real estate broker by
contacting the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Institute, www.ccim.com, a non-profit entity
responsible for accrediting commercial real estate brokers.
The Pocono Medical Center ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute has scheduled its first cardiac procedure for May 2.
East Stroudsburg - At an evening Valentine’s Day ceremony,
Pocono Medical Center president and CEO Richard Henley
announced the name of the hospital’s new cardiac facility and
turned on red lights that outline the new building, marking
the start of a countdown until the first cardiac procedure is
performed there on May 2. In addition, a red heart will shine
on the hospital’s tower for the next 90 days.
The new cardiac facility, which is part of PMC’s
101,000-square foot building and renovation project, will be
known as the ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute. Two years
ago, ESSA Bank and Trust made an extraordinary donation to
PMC that helped launch the project.
In his welcoming remarks, Henley noted that the new
cardiac facility is the only one in Monroe County and the surrounding region. “Right now, our residents get their cardiovascular care outside of the area,” he said. “They will no longer
have to travel for that care; it will be available right here at
home.” He added that PMC has a rich history of service to the
people of this area. “We began in 1915 as The General Hospital. We are as committed today, as we were back then, to our
mission of caring for those who are sick, preventing illness,
promoting wellness and restoring health. The new ESSA Heart
and Vascular Institute will take that care, which we have been
so proud to provide, to the next level.”
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A complete evening of Irish Entertainment. Doors will
open at 5:00 where dinner will be available, along with
shopping with Fitzpatricks and a Tricky Tray hosted by
Gallagher School of Irish Dance. This fun time is then
followed with a 7:30 show featuring an array of Irish
dancers with talents ranging from beginners to worldqualifying dancers along with the international award
winning ceili playing, great vocals, fantastic originals
and a rocking rhythm from Celtic Cross. Come join us
for this incredible night on Saturday, March 11 for
only $15. A portion of proceeds will benefit Gallagher
School of Irish Dance.
524 Main Street
Stroudsburg, Pa 18360
570-420-2808
www.ShermanTheater.com

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6
NEWS
tion, East Stroudsburg. “There are inspection companies
and inspectors who are very good at turning around
stage inspections and permits. There are others that seem
to be understaffed and/or have limitations on which days
of the week they are willing to come out and inspect.
Unfortunately in our business, we can’t always manage job sites to accommodate two days a week of stage
inspections.”
Builders also see inconsistencies in how inspectors
interpret the code, and inspectors see problems in how
builders submit plans to inspectors.
As a contractor for 20 years, Shawn Bolles, building
code official for Dingman Township and
West Fall, Pike County, recognizes the issues from both perspectives.
“It has been a mess,” says
Bolles. “I think it’s great they
took a step forward in actually
implementing the building code,
but I think we were better off
without it. At least my township
was, because we were enforcing
things.”
The UCC requires building inspectors
to review a plan within fifteen business
days or the plans are deemed approved, a
challenge in areas such as Dingman Township where over 275 homes were built last
year. While proficient builders provide the
detailed plans required for structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and energy
components, others do not.
“I’d say 75% of them have no clue
about structural weight loads, which is
all part of the code,” says Bolles. “They
don’t have to be engineers or architects,
but if they are going to start putting beams
in someone’s house to carry loads, they
should have some kind of responsibility to
design them.”
Bolles believes the code does not address a lack of education in the construction industry.
“The builder is supposed to build the
house, construct it to the minimum code
and we are more of what you call a spot
checker to assure he is doing his job,” says
Bolles. “I’m trying to stop the liability
issues they are taking on by doing things
incorrectly.”
Education lies at the core of the challenges in enforcing the UCC, and area
professional associations are taking steps
to address that issue. The Pocono Builders Association has sponsored forums and
workshops where contractors and code officials discuss the problems, a process that
promotes education for everyone.
“With the UCC we have experienced learning curves for the all
parties involved in the building
process,” says Laurie Lourie,
executive officer of the Wayne
County Builders Association.
“The UCC has created the need for continued education among builders, whether
it is to learn new standards or to learn and
understand the new inspection requirements set forth in the UCC. Continuing
education is a good thing for all professionals, and our association supports that
by providing our members the opportunity
Photo Credit: Perry Hebard
CODES ... cont. from page 1
Don Hannig finds scheduling an inspector can, at times, be difficult.
to take courses relating to these topics.”
The Pennsylvania Builders Association acknowledg-
es the need for changes to the UCC to address implementation issues.
“We think two key elements are needed to make
improvements to the Code,” says Scott Elliott, Pennsylvania Builders Association spokesman. “First, the
language in the code needs to be clarified in some sections to eliminate confusion by all parties. Second, there
needs to be ongoing education for builders and code
inspectors so that both groups better understand their
roles and obligations under the UCC. All of these issues
will be addressed as everyone gains more experience
and as we make the UCC law better.”
In the meantime, inspectors and contractors will need
to do the best they can to work within a system that
needs adjustment.
7
NEWS
Difficulties Rise as Stormwater Management Plan Comes to Municipal Level
By Kathy Ruff
After nearly five years in the works, Monroe County
Commissioners finally approved the county’s model stormwater management ordinance in December 2005. Previous
stormwater management plans adopted in the early 1990s
focused on controlling water volume to prevent flooding,
while current regulations also consider water quality.
Act 167 focuses on stormwater management practices to
plan for possible impacts of development such as flooding,
erosion and non-point source pollution washed into waterways.
Despite the approval, advocates face an uphill battle as
the approved model ordinance leaves the controversial issue of stream and wetland buffer setbacks to the discretion
of the individual municipalities. Buffer setbacks remains a
contentious issue between environmental and development
factions.
“Probably the most significant change they made was
eliminating the requirement for buffers,” says Craig Todd,
district manager of the Monroe County Conservation District. “It doesn’t eliminate it in the sense that the opportunity doesn’t exist for a municipality to adopt the buffer,
but it eliminates the requirement to be in compliance with
Act 167. If a municipality were to adopt a model ordinance
to eliminate the stormwater management plan that didn’t
include buffer provisions, as the commissioners approved
it, they would still be in compliance with Act 167.”
Monroe County submitted the plan to the Department
of Environmental Protection for approval. If DEP approves
the county’s model ordinance, municipalities will have six
months to adopt an ordinance consistent with the plan or
amend their existing stormwater regulations to reflect the
new requirements.
“To date several municipalities have adopted the buffer
provisions in other regulations as with zoning,” says Todd.
“Some municipalities are currently considering adopting
the ordinance even though the department hasn’t approved
it yet.”
The Conservation District will encourage municipalities to consider buffer provisions since it believes they are
a very important component to a stormwater management
strategy that will also protect water quality.
which does nothing but increase costs,” says Craig Smyth,
“The plan is a science-based plan,” says Todd. “But
transferring science to public policy has always been a
president of Clemleddy Construction in Hawley, Wayne
trick. Now it’s time for municipalities to step up to the plate
County. “There are a lot of hoops to jump through as far as
and consider what their vision is for their municipality in
the state is concerned in order to minimize the stormwater
the future and adopt regulations to implement that vision to
from running off your developed site.”
Clemleddy just constructed a 34-acre development with
make it a reality.”
That reality including buffer provisions would work to
thirteen lots that required three detention basins, a groundkeep increased stormwater from affecting existing developwater recharge system and an elongated permit approval
ment and disturbing the flood plain.
process.
“A flood plain has a function of mitigating stormwater,”
“Detention basins are mosquito breeders, and we have
says Eric Bartolacci, environmental planner with the Mona big problem with West Nile,” says Smyth. “The state
roe County Planning Commission. “Most flood plains allow
agency was so overburdened and understaffed that what
you to build a home in a flood plain as long as you allocate
probably should have been done in 60 days took more like
the structure one foot above the flood plain, whether that’s
120 or 180 days. We definitely have to manage the stormdone by backfilling, putting on stilts, or whatever. When
water, but I just think that it could be done a little more
you backfill into the flood plain, you decrease its ability to
efficiently.” Similar to other developers, Smyth believes the required
hold that extra water and you are pushing that water somewhere else, which widens or elevates the flood plain.”
systems are overkill in many areas that could do just as
“There are a lot of things in play, but it all boils down
well with silt fences, stabilizing soils and proper grading.
to more of a recognition of the consequences of non-point
source pollution and development pressures, and that leads right into the Poconos
and Lehigh Valley areas,” says Mark Carmon, community relationship coordinator
for the northeast regional office of the
Department of Environmental Protection.
“We understand the needs of the development community and construction industry. But at the same time, they need to be
cognizant of the fact that there are certain
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the regulations are overkill.
“Things are overbuilt and over-thought,
8
RGB Custom Homes Builds
It’s not hard to understand why RGB Builders has
earned industry distinction for fine custom home building. For 20 years the firm has stood on a solid foundation of
honesty, hard work, and quality product.
Owner Bob Brown decided to build a home for
himself in 1986. Traveling three hours from Albany, NY
where he worked in road construction Monday through
Friday, he’d come home to the Poconos each weekend
and on holidays to work on his first home. With no formal training, he cleared his property and started to build.
“I always followed my father around the house as a kid
and as I got older began helping him with repairs,” says
Brown.
“The building skills just came to me
naturally. It just makes sense to me how
things should be done.”
Before the house was fully framed, it was sold – so
he finished it for the new owner and started another for
himself. That house sold too - and so began the homebuilding services by Robert G. Brown (RGB).
Beginning with 1,200-1,300 square foot ranch
homes, several were sold before framing was complete.
He moved on to build a variety of relatively small spec
homes that also sold quickly. It wasn’t until 1989 that
Bob finally completed a house for himself.
His first ten to twelve houses were virtually one- or
two- man projects, with Brown doing everything from
laying block and roofing to handling the drywall, electric,
and plumbing. He
worked out of his home
and completed about
four or five houses each
year.
The business took a
major turn in 1989 that
Brown attributes, in part,
to some good advice
from his accountant,
who said that since he
had learned the work
process of each building
trade first-hand, it was
time to stop doing everything himself and to start
hiring people to
work for him. “It was
a big step for me,” remarked Brown, “but I
Pictured left to right are brothers Joe and Bob Brown
soon learned that those
who specialize in framing
could in fact frame faster and better than I could. And the
same holds true for the other trades. Using specialized
tion of RGB Custom Home Builders was spreading and
contractors, I was providing a better and a more timely
word of mouth recommendations brought new customers
product to my customers.”
to their door. In fact in 2001, Brown purchased a tract
Another significant change was the decision to locate
of land now known as Twin Lake Estates. The 130-lot
and build an office. After assisting Brown with projects
property is a project still in progress and showcases some
in the past, his brother Joe joined the company full time,
of Brown’s finest work -- it alone contains ten of RGB’s
and now does much of the on-site construction. Brown’s
award-winning projects.
wife Annie served as bookkeeper, receptionist, and
secretary while caring for their infant son Danny in the
“I was on top of the world,” says Brown. “My family
office. And the business continued to grow. The reputawas happy, my business was growing. Life was great.”
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Within a year of opening the office, he went from building four or five houses a year to building more than a
dozen. He began hiring staff and continued to nurture his
relationships with expert contractors.
There was time now to work on other areas of the business such as professional development. Brown became
active in the building industry organizations such as the
Pocono Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders. He applauds them for being
respectable organizations that encourage builders to
maintain good building and ethical practices and advocate
successfully on behalf of their membership. Brown also
belongs to a group called Builder 20, comprised of noncompeting professionals from around the country who
share best practices and brainstorm on challenges they
face.
All the positive momentum ended when Brown lost
his wife, Annie, to a sudden illness in 2002. He tried to
turn the world upright for his children Danny and Sam
by relying heavily on the support of family and friends.
Eventually life resumed some sense of normalcy.
The RGB team now consists of thirteen staffers,
along with over one hundred sub-contractors; many are
like family. Brown speaks proudly of the skills and talents
each co-worker brings to the table. The philosophy and
guiding principles of the firm are based on the Golden
Rule we all learn as children.
“We treat our customers and build our
houses they way we’d like things done
if we, ourselves, were the customer,”
remarks Brown. “We send out critique
requests after each project. I want input
on customer relations, the product endresult and the service received during
the project in an attempt to always do
better.”
He’s been rewarded with glowing reports that reinforce the company motto: “A Builder To Believe In.”
Although RGB specializes in custom homes that
average over 3,000 square feet, he recognizes the need
for more affordable housing in the Poconos. “The key to
making affordable housing available in the region rests
largely with local municipalities,” he observes. “Local
zoning ordinances need to be examined to ensure that
density issues and the needs of the residents served are
being addressed.” Brown is optimistic that the Pocono
region will continue to grow at a fast rate and the need for
quality housing will continue to grow as well. He feels
that the negative media attention given some Pocono
builders has not really hurt the industry as a whole.
“There are many good builders in the Poconos,” he notes.
“People looking for a great builder really need to do their
homework and ask a lot of questions. It can be a lot of
work, but worth it in the long run.” RGB is currently
working on three subdivisions of high-end homes and
three commercial projects.
Bob Brown is a lucky man. He and new wife Josie
stay young keeping up with their children Danny, Sam
and Shannon; and they just recently welcomed their
daughter Emily into the world. Brown loves what he
does and looks forward to going to work each day. It’s
his insatiable quest that drives him to continue to provide
superior homes to Pocono families.
“We take a great deal of pride in our
ability to work hand in hand with specialized craftsmen during the planning,
designing, and construction phases of the
home building process,” he said.
Joe and Bob Brown review plans for a future project.
Company Name:
RGB Custom Home Builders, Inc.
Key Personnel:
Robert G. Brown, President
Joseph J. Brown, Vice President
Location:
Corner of Business Route 209 and Airport Road,
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Product/Service:
Custom Built Homes
Business Established:
1986
Number of
Employees:
13
Awards:
13 Pocono Builders Assoc. Awards in the last two years,
including the Award of Excellence “Best in Show” for two
years running
Web site:
www.rgbhomes.com
Interesting Company
Statistic:
That you CAN have fun going to work even in a fast- paced,
high-pressure environment.
9
10
NEWS
Photo Credit: Submitted by ESU
$582,700 of the state’s $6 million
investment is going to Northeastern
Pennsylvania institutions of higher
education. Wilkes University was
also a recipient of KIZ grant funds.
The grants will be used to fund technology transfer and commercialization initiatives at its thirteen member
institutions. College Misericordia
also accepted an $82,700 Starter Kit
Grant to attract world class researchers to support their speech pathology/
assistive technology program.
The $6 million investment is
Accepting checks for Keystone Innovation Grants from Governor Edward G.
split between Keystone Innovation
Rendell are, from left, Dr. Jessica S. Kozloff, president, Bloomsburg University
Starter Kits and Keystone Innovaof Pennsylvania; Dennis Yablonsky, secretary, PA Department of Community and
tion Grants. KIZs are a part of the
Economic Development; Dr. Robert J. Dillman, president, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania; and Dr. Jody Harpster, interim president of Shippensburg
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s
University of Pennsylvania.
economic stimulus package. KIZs
are designated zones that are established in communities that host institutions of higher
East Stroudsburg - Dr. Robert J. Dillman, president of
education. These zones are designed to foster innovaEast Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, accepted a
tion and entrepreneurial opportunities by gathering
check from Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell
and aligning the combined resources of schools and
for $250,000 in the form of Keystone Innovation Grants
businesses.
on behalf of the Lackawanna, Luzerne and Pocono
Department of Community and Economic
Mountains Keystone Innovation Zones (KIZ). These
Development Secretary, Dennis Yablonsky, said the
grants were announced on January 11 and are part of the
Keystone Innovation Starter Kits Grants will generate
state’s investment of $6 million to Pennsylvania’s colsignificant returns, including the education of our most
leges, universities and academic medical institutions.
talented graduate students and new jobs for Pennsylva“These grants will be matched dollar for dollar by
nians.
our colleges and universities. This will result in over $1
For more information about the Keystone Innovamillion being invested in technology-based economic
tion Zone program please call NPTI at 570-341-8099.
development across the region,” Chris Haran, CEO,
EPABJ_2-9-06.qxd 2/14/2006 3:52 PM Page 1
Northeastern PA Technology Institute, said.
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Tobyhanna and Boeing
Pledge Partnership
Photo Credit: Submitted by US Army
ESU Receives $250,000 In Grants
Tobyhanna Army Depot - Tobyhanna Army Depot and
Boeing Company representatives signed a Pledge of
Commitment to seal an agreement for working together
to foster a partnership for future programs. The document affirms that Tobyhanna and Boeing may partner on
any applicable project. Seated, from left: Frank Zardecki, deputy commander; depot commander Col. Tracy
L. Ellis; and Mark Bass, Army systems programs vice
president, Boeing. Standing: Ron Cappellini, director
of Business Management; Frank Prabel, depot partnership programs manager, Boeing; and Peter Thompson,
business development manager, Boeing. Tobyhanna
Army Depot is the Defense Department’s largest center
for the repair, overhaul and fabrication of a wide variety
of electronics systems and components, from tactical
field radios to the ground terminals for the defense satellite communications network. Tobyhanna’s missions
support all branches of the Armed Forces. About 4,400
personnel are employed at Tobyhanna.
11
NEWS
BCNEPA Donates $750,000
to Pocono Medical Center
East Stroudsburg - Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) has contributed $750,000 to Pocono
Medical Center (PMC) in East Stroudsburg to support
the hospital’s ongoing computerized patient safety initiative. To ensure the highest quality of care and safety for
its patients, PMC has implemented a state-of-the-art
system that monitors, verifies, and controls the entire
process of medication delivery to its patients. PMC is
currently entering the last of the three-phase initiative
that began in 2004 with the goal to eliminate preventable
medical errors.
Through the McKesson Automation Inc. medication delivery system, when a physician orders a medication, bar-code technology and computerized dispensing
cabinets ensure that PMC caregivers provide patients
with the correct drugs, in the precise dose, through the
specified route and at the proper time. In addition, the
Computerized Patient Order Entry and Electronic Medical Record systems eliminate pharmacy order transcrip-
HR Tip of the Month
Can you provide great work and still get a reputation for
bad service?
tion and legibility issues by replacing the manual order
entry at the pharmacy level with an electronic entry from
the physician.
“The McKesson system will greatly reduce errors
and increase patient safety at Pocono Medical Center,”
said Marian Moran, Vice President/Chief Information
Officer, Pocono Health System. “We are extremely
grateful to Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania,
as their generous support of this initiative ensures that
Pocono Medical Center can continue to take a leadership
role in patient safety,” she added.
After phase three of the initiative has been completed, PMC will join an elite group of hospitals in the
United States that have successfully implemented this
closed-loop medication system. The BCNEPA grant
was the result of a collaborative submission by Pocono
Health Foundation grant writer Angela Beers and Ms.
Moran.
Yes. It happens with unprofessional voice mail messages,
not promptly returning phone calls, not showing up on
time, not finishing work when promised, not answering
customer’s questions, billing customers incorrectly, or
being a little “prickly” when answering questions.
Instead:
• Understand what every customer expects for good
service and exceed expectations.
• Clarify expectations and timelines before beginning
work.
• Act on feedback from clients to improve future service.
• Thank clients for their business.
Tom Hackett, COO
Please visit PBJ at the Pocono Mountains Chamber Expo
March 15th & 16th
Booth #110 - 111
Eye Associates
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Appointments:
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476-1114
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12
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
March 1 – March 10
Microsoft WORD Level I, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. Call for fees. The
University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 9417582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 1
PA CareerLink, Tannersville, O’Net Computerized Assessments, 9:00
– 10:00 a.m.; and Career Assessment Review, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. by appointment only. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.
pa.us.
March 2
BNI (Business Network International), Bartonsville, 7:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Howard Johnson, Rt. 611 and I-80 Exit 302B, Bartonsville. Contact
Karen Sherrill, (570) 895-4242.
March 2
Pike County Chamber of Commerce, Milford Business Council, Dimmick Inn, 8:00 a.m.
Call (570) 296-8700.
March 2
PA CareerLink, Tannersville, Why Should I Hire You?, 9:00 – 10:30
a.m.; and Microsoft Word Basics, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Call (570) 6202850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 2 – March 9
MARCH
Noon, by appointment only. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Microsoft Excel Level I, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582,
or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 13
Computer Basics, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 2:00 p.m. Call (570)
620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 13
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, Business Card Exchange,
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., The Legendary Tannersville Inn, Tannersville.
Hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and networking. Advance registration
$10 Chamber members, $20 non-members. At the door, $15 Chamber
members, $25 non-members. Call (570) 421-4433.
March 13 and 15
Desktop Publishing Certificate, Final Class, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call
for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education,
(570) 941-7582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
Understanding Copyright, Trademarks, and Fair Use, University of
Scranton’s Center for Continuing Education (CCE), 9:00 a.m. – 4:00
p.m. Fee $225, includes lunch and materials. Call (570) 941-7582 or
visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 2 – 13
Get to Know Your Computer, The Center for Business & Industry,
Northampton Community College, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Mondays and
Thursdays, Fountain Court Campus in Bartonsville. Fee: $117 includes
all materials and textbook. Contact Jennifer Kszak at (610) 861-5331
or visit www.northampton.edu. To register over the telephone using a
credit card call (877) 543-0998.
March 3
BNI (Business Network International), Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30
a.m., breakfast. Fee $9.00. Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee–
on– Delaware. Ed Kmetz, Pure Sight & Sound, Inc. (570) 992-2992, or
visit http://www.bninj.com/cgi– bin/viewchapter.cgi.
Flash MX 2004, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of
Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582, or visit
www.scranton.edu/cce.
Macintosh Computers Operating Systems, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call
for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education,
Real Estate 14 hour License Renewal (at Moosic), 8:30 a.m. – 4:00
p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing
Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 6 – April 24
Visual Basic Level IV, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or
March 7
Job Search Attitude and Barriers Assessment, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.
pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Microsoft Excel Level I, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582
Gentex Corp. Project, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or
JavaScript Level III, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or
March 7 – April 4
Data Networking, The Center for Business & Industry at Northampton Community College, Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. on
NCC’s Main Campus in Bethlehem. Program covers converging voice,
data and video communications. The training prepares students for
the online Convergence Technology Professional (CTP) certification.
Call for fees. Contact Jennifer Kszak at (610) 861-5331 or visit www.
northampton.edu.
March 8
Résumés and Cover Letters, PA CareerLink, Tannersville. 9:00 – 10:30
a.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Microsoft Excel Level I, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582
Microsoft WORD Level II, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. Call for fees. The
March 14
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, Women in Business,
12:00 Noon. Best Western Pocono Inn, Stroudsburg. Topic: Women’s
Resources presented by Lois Heckman, Sponsored by Diane Crespo
of David Richmond Insurance Agency. Cost $13 Chamber members in
advance, $16 non– members and walk– ins. Call (570) 421-4433.
March 14
Interview Basics, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Call
(570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 23
BNI (Business Network International), Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30
a.m. Howard Johnson, Rt. 611 and I– 80 Exit 302B, Bartonsville.
Contact Karen Sherrill, (570) 895-4242.
March 23
HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) Workshop, The
East Stroudsburg University Center for Research and Economic Development (CFRED), 8:30 a.m. – 12 Noon, Henry A. Ahnert, Jr. Alumni
Center Community Room, Smith and Mary Streets in East Stroudsburg. Cost is free. Monroe County businesses interested in learning
about the HUBZone certification process and other programs that can
benefit their business should plan to attend. For more information, contact Mary Frances Postupack, chief operating officer of ESU/CFRED
at (570) 422-7920 or David Kern at (570) 655-5581.
March 23
Sustainable Trail Design Workshop 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monroe
County Conservation district, Environmental Education Center, 8050
Running Valley Road, Stroudsburg. Cost $30 and includes lunch. The
workshop is for professional and volunteer trail planners, builders
and maintainers. Discover trail layouts that not only shed water, but
provide varied experiences to trail users, essentially the Art of Trail
Building. Call (570) 629-3061 or (570) 629-3060 or visit www.mcconservation.org.
March 23
Mock Interviews, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Must have attended the Interview Basics Seminar. Call (570) 620-2850
or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 24
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, East
Stroudsburg University, Koehler Field House, 3:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Admission $2 per adult, $1 for children 12 and under. All proceeds
benefit an ESU Scholarship Fund. Call (570) 421-4433.
March 15
Career Exploration and Assessment, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00
a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.
pa.us.
XML, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton,
Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit www.
scranton.edu/cce.
March 16
Howard Johnson, Rt. 611 and I– 80 Exit 302B, Bartonsville. Contact
March 16
E-Résumés, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Call
(570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 17
Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce, Monthly Breakfast, 7:30
a.m., Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort. Advance registration $8 Chamber
members, $12 non-members. At the door, $10 Chamber members, $16
non-members. Call (570) 421-4433
March 24
Fireworks MX 2004, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or
Quickbooks, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for fees. The University of
Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit
March 27
Computer Basics, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 2:00 p.m. Call (570)
620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 28
Résumé Formats, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Microsoft ACCESS Level II, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Call for fees. The
March 29
Career Exploration and Assessment, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00
a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.
pa.us.
March 29
The Alternative Board® (TAB) is opening its meetings to area business
owners who wish to be matched with peer executives so they can serve
on a Peer Advisory Board. 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at First National
Bank of Hope, Blairstown, NJ. There is no charge for this event.
Advance registration required as seating is limited. For more information and to pre-register contact Marcy Turkington at (973) 940-2020 or
visit www.tab-nwjerseypoconos.com.
Howard Johnson, Rt. 611 and I– 80 Exit 302B, Bartonsville. Contact
March 17
on– Delaware. Ed Kmetz, Pure Sight & Sound, Inc. (570) 992-2992 or
Macintosh Computers Troubleshooting, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for
fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education,
QuarkXpress 6.5, 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m. Call for fees. The University of
Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit
Real Estate 14– hour License Renewal, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Call for
fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education at
Hawley, (570) 941-7582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
on– Delaware. Ed Kmetz, Pure Sight & Sound, Inc. (570) 992-2992, or
March 10
March 21
Résumé Critique, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00
March 22
Noon, by appointment only. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Strategic Management of Resources – CPIM, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 9
March 10
Certification in Production and Inventory Control, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00
p.m. Call for fees. The University of Scranton, Center for Continuing
Education, (570) 941-7582 or visit www.scranton.edu/cce.
March 9
Salary Negotiation, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 – 10:30 a.m.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
a.m., breakfast. Fee $9.00. Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee-onDelaware. Ed Kmetz, Pure Sight & Sound, Inc. (570) 992-2992 or visit
http://www.bninj.com/cgi-bin/viewchapter.cgi.
Job Applications, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00
Noon. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Microsoft Word Level 1, The Center for Business & Industry,
Northampton Community College, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. on Mondays and
Thursdays, Fountain Court Campus in Bartonsville. Fee: $117 includes
all materials and textbook. Contact Jennifer Kszak at (610) 861-5331
or visit www.northampton.edu. To register over the telephone using a
credit card call (877) 543-0998.
Howard Johnson, Rt. 611 and I-80 Exit 302B, Bartonsville. Contact
nersville, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.
pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
Learn to Use Your Computer, 9:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. Call for fees. The
Job Search Attitude and Barriers Assessment, PA CareerLink, Tan-
March 30
March 30
How to Prepare for a Job Fair, PA CareerLink, Tannersville, 9:00 a.m.
– 10:00 a.m.; Filling Out Job Applications, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.;
and Dress to Impress 11:00 a.m. – 12 Noon. Call (570) 620-2850 or
visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
March 30
The Alternative Board® (TAB) is opening its meetings to area business
owners who wish to be matched with peer executives so they can serve
on a Peer Advisory Board. 7:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at First National
Bank of Hope, Blairstown, NJ. There is no charge for this event.
Advance registration required as seating is limited. For more information and to pre-register contact Marcy Turkington at (973) 940-2020 or
visit www.tab-nwjerseypoconos.com.
March 31
a.m., breakfast. Fee $9.00. Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee-onDelaware. Ed Kmetz, Pure Sight & Sound, Inc. (570) 992-2992 or visit
http://www.bninj.com/cgi– bin/viewchapter.cgi.
March 31
Noon. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us.
13
NEWS
Professional Survey Question
the transaction with appraisals. The biggest challenge
we see is getting control of the infrastructure. Traffic,
sewer and water are problems that need to be addressed
now. Monroe County will continue to grow as more
and more people discover the charm of the Poconos, but
people need to work to maintain that quality.”
By Christian Pope Campbell
“What are your predictions for the future of
commercial and residential real estate in the
Pocono region?”
R.J. “Bob” Starrett
Associate Broker
Michael Baxter & Associates
Commercial Real Estate
Tannersville, PA
“The greater Pocono region is in a pivotal period in
terms of overall development. Driven by a variety
of marketplace dynamics, the region will experience
significant commercial development over the next ten
years. Commercial growth, contrary to generally held
public opinion, follows residential growth. When the
commercial enterprises perceive that the demographics
will generate sufficient revenues, they will build. Unlike
the past, the Pocono regional economy will not experience undue fluctuations. We now have a solid residential base with increasing socio-economic strength. We
are no longer a seasonal economy. The only negative
factors affecting commercial growth are infrastructure
issues, where we have inadequate highway, water and
sewer system availability. Residentially, housing prices
will level off and may even adjust downward just a
little. Higher interest rates and less buyer demand is the
cause.”
Tom Baker
Owner and President
Coldwell Banker Lifestyles Realty
Lake Ariel, PA
“The real estate market is starting to level off somewhat.
It will remain strong through 2006 and hopefully beyond. We do a lot of business in the second-home market and in the communities, which continue to be strong.
The fast-rising prices over the past couple of years are
just about over, but prices are not plummeting either.
The Pocono area is still growing at a rapid pace particularly in Pike, Monroe and Wayne counties and there is
no indication this trend will stop in the near future with
plans for casinos coming to the area and creating more
jobs. We are looking forward to this strong real estate
market to continue.”
Jayne Albert, ABR, CRS, GRI
Broker/Owner
Jayne Albert Realty
East Stroudsburg, PA
“We see nothing but growth in the Poconos, although the
pace of that growth has yet to be determined. While we
saw the traditional dip in the beginning of December, the
market rallied during the transit strike. When New York
has a problem, Pennsylvania sells real estate. Building is
up all over the Poconos, but as good land becomes less
and less available, that will slow down. The average
price of a home in the Poconos has increased in the last
ten years. We are seeing a lot of $250,000 and up buyers but we are not seeing as much frenzy buying as last
year. Buyers and sellers are becoming more educated,
which is a good thing. It creates fewer problems during
Photo Credit: Lynn Bookey
Pocono Business Journal reporter Christian Pope Campbell spoke with a number of Realtors in the area about
their predictions for commercial and residential real
estate in the Poconos. Here’s what they had to say….
Davis R. Chant
Chairman of the Board
Davis R. Chant Realtors
Northeastern PA, Northern NJ and
the Hudson Valley of NY
“The history of real estate is location, location, location.
Without a doubt, the Pocono region is one of the top
areas in the US, with Monroe County being the second
fastest growing county in Pennsylvania; Pike County
to the east being the fastest growing county in Pennsylvania; across the river, Orange County, NY, being the
fastest growing county in New York state; and likewise,
Warren and Sussex counties to the south of the Poconos
being two of the five fastest growing counties in New
Jersey. The market for commercial and residential real
estate are driven by the tremendous growth that is taking
place in our region. Based on the strong demand for
residential units in northern New Jersey and the Hudson
Valley of New York, our region offering more affordable housing, excellent schools, and a great quality of
life will continue to grow; and as the residential grows
so will the retail and commercial grow. Our real estate
market is in excellent shape for many years to come.”
Contact PBJ
for
Introductory
Ad Rates.
www.pbjonline.com
e-mail: [email protected]
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Tara Reade
Realtor
Realty Executives
Stroudsburg, PA
“Over the past several years, re-sale prices have risen
sharply in this area. Proposed gaming and ongoing
economic development programs will likely keep prices
and volume up. With much new building proposed there
are economic and impact factors to consider. There are
concerns as to whether we have the roads and infrastructure to adequately service the current and future
residents. The Pocono Mountains is no longer just a
vacation destination but an area that many want to call
home. Although dramatic increases in property prices
may level off, I believe sales will remain strong.”
Dominick J. Sacci
Vice President/General Manager
Wilkins & Associates Real Estate,
Inc.
West End and Mt. Pocono offices
“Our stats show that in Monroe and Pike counties, property values have increased 14 percent each year over the
last three years. Although home sale prices were up,
we’ve seen that stabilize and level off in the last year.
We predict that stabilization will continue, with a modest 5-7% increase in home sales in 2006. Commercial
real estate sales and development will continue to grow
out of necessity and result in more restaurants, stores
and service centers. Although the growth in the Poconos
appears to be rapid and explosive, it’s actually growing
at a gradual rate that is healthy and strong.”
Celebrating Its
19th Year!
Make Plans NOW
To Be Part Of
The Region’s
Largest Business
& Community
EXPO!
• Build awareness of your
business organization
• Showcase your newest
products/services
• Meet potential customers
face-to-face
• Enhance your business image
• Network business to business
March 15 & 16
Koehler Fieldhouse
East Stroudsburg
University of Pa.
Reserve Your Space
TODAY!
Call Miriam
(570) 421-4433
14
FOCUS LISTS
BUILDER ASSOCIATIONS
Company
Carbon Builders Association
PA Builders Association
Pike County Builders
Association
Pocono Builders Association
Wayne County Builders
Association
Address
325 Alum St., Lehighton, PA
18235
600 N. 12th St., Lemoyne, PA
17043
Phone / Fax
Website
Contact
Title
570-379-1099
fax 570-379-1032
www.carbonbuilders.com
Mr. Dan McLean
President,
Board of Directors
www.pabuilders.org
Mr. Scott Elliott
Community Relations
www.pikecountybuilders.com
Mr. Coulby Drunn
President,
Board of Directors
www.poconobuilders.com
Mr. Don Hannig
www.waynecountybuilders.com
Mr. John Olson
800-692-7339
fax 717-730-4396
104 Bennett Ave., Suite C,
Milford, PA 18337
570-369-5589
fax 570-686-9059
556 Main St., Stroudsburg, PA
18360
570-421-9009
fax 570-424-6764
P.O. Box 378, Hawley, PA
18428
570-775-7393
fax 570-775-0105
President,
Board of Directors
President,
Board of Directors
Source: Pocono Business Journal Survey
BOARD OF REALTORS
Company
Carbon Builders Association of Realtors
Pike Wayne Association of Realtors
Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors
Address
180 S. First St., Lehighton, PA
18235
P.O. Box 157, Hawley, PA
18428
RR 5 Box 5207A, Stroudsburg,
PA 18360
Phone / Fax
Website
Contact
610-377-8121
fax 610-377-1767
www.carboncountyrealestate.com
Kathy Henderson
www.pare.org
Janet Gallagher
www.poconorealtor.com
Robert Boehning
570-226-2300
fax 570-226-3189
570-424-8846
fax 570-424-9167
Source: Pocono Business Journal Survey
Pocono Business Journelr 2-21-06.qxd
2/21/2006
12:19 PM
Page 1
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POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Environment & Green Business
www.pbjonline.com
• Keeping commercial development in the Poconos environmentally responsible
• Tips to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in the workplace
• Waste Management in the Poconos. Where does our garbage grow and go?
• Professional Profile: How environmental factors affect a Pocono business
15
PBJ REGISTER
NEW CORPORATIONS
The Corporation Bureau at The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of State has informed
the Pocono Business Journal that it is in the
process of revising the database access for this
information. Therefore New Incorporation listings
will not be available until further notice.
FICTITIOUS NAMES
The Corporation Bureau at The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, Department of State has informed
the Pocono Business Journal that it is in the
process of revising the database access for this
information. Therefore New Incorporation listings
will not be available until further notice.
DEEDS
(January 2006 - Over $200,000)
Carbon County
S&W Partners to Spencer Pyne. Location:
Franklin Township. Price: $299,244
Louis Caimi to Jason Dicioccio. Location:
Franklin Township. Price: $268,500
William Morley to Ronald Simone. Location:
Kidder Township South. Price: $285,000
David Kurtz to Christopher Mueller. Location:
Thomas Michael, Jr to Don Verdiani. Location:
Alfred Lemanski to Larry Markley. Location:
Lehighton Borough. Price: $300,000
James Owens, Jr. to Richard Tantala. Location:
Penn Forest Township. Price: $255,000
JP Morgan Chase Bank to Benjamin Szlachta.
Location: Penn Forest Township. Price:
$328,000
Jocelyn Emery to Robert Burzynski. Location:
Brian Waselus to Mele Bros Realty. Location:
Timothy McEllroy to Scott Breinig. Location:
Towamensing Township. Price: $315,000
Monroe County
Aurora Loan Services Inc. to Michael Walters
Location: Barrett Township; Price: $251,000
Cabiri, Bawol to Steven Monk, Location: Chestnutt Hill. Price: $306,000
Wachovia Bank to Dariusz Kardasz, Location:
Chestnut Hill, Price: $220,000
Solar Wong to Allison Farmer, Location: Chestnut
Hill, Price: $286,000
Robert Bruno to Michael Carra, Location: Chestnut Hill, Price: $249,000
Nationwide Realty to Garrett Ingram, Location:
Coolbaugh: $225,000
Sharon Martin to Christopher Birkhead, Location:
Coolbaugh, Price: $265,000
Mike Carson to Ronald Legare, Location: Coolbaugh, Price: $353,000
Caroline Filtz to Elizabeth McGettigan, Location:
Seldon Vaughn to Frank Quinteros, Location:
Joseph Destephano to Tomas Rijo, Location:
Christine Hanks to Vide Realty Group, Location:
Nicholas Hoskins to Isabel Andujar, Location:
East Stroudsburg, Price: $325,000
Goerge Shiposki to Thomas Falocco, Location:
Jackson, Price: $235,000
Big Pocono Development Company to Anthony
D’Alessandro, Location: Jackson, Price: $280.000
Ian Bancroft to John Harrington, Location: Jackson, Price: $280,000
Keith Dunn to Georgine, Peffley, Location: Jackson, Price: $315,000
George Schmelz to Jay Krishna Corp.Location:
Pocono Twp. Price: $600,000
George Starner to Timothy Scanlon, Location:
Pasquale Marcelletti to Schlier, Location: Pocono
Twp. Price: $450,000
Giacomo Davanzo to Carol Drape, Location:
John Leone to Anna Pensabene, Location: Pocono
Burton Burrows to Kenneth Rommel, Location:
Polk Twp. Price: $225,000
Herman Bosche to Robin Wyatt, Location: Polk
Gary L. Heckman to Timothy Blaha, Location:
Polk Twp. Price: $228,000
Good Living Technologies LLC to Andrea Tucker,
Location: Price Twp. Price: $238,000
Relocation Advantage to Anthony Sorbello, Location: Middle Smithfield Twp. Price: $213,000
Carol A. Viechnicki to Lydia Garnett, Location:
Middle Smithfield Twp. Price: $245,000
Steven Potash to Rebecca Bear, Location: Middle
Smithfield Twp. Price: $240,000
Chanh Tran to Elvin Sanchez, Location: Middle
Margaret Ahnert to Ha Ra Corp. Location: Middle
Kartin Maximo to Daniel Feldman, Locaiton:
Ross Twp. Price: $288,000
Elizabeth Greco to Steve Luciano, Location: Ross
LTS Builders to William Nyarko, Location:
Danial Scudder to Warren Lemay, Location:
Marvin Singer to Jonathan Rivera, Location:
Jeffrey Warren to Jackett, Location: Smithfield
Tan Ley to David J. Lewis, LLC, Location:
Middle Smithfield Twp. Price: $250,000
C&M Homes at Shawnee to Derek Kinney, Location: Smithfield Twp. Price: $391,000
Jose Miranda to Joseph Vega, Location: Stroud
Rino Mermini to Charles Lincoln, Location:
Stroud Twp. Price: $330,000
Lawrence Higgins to Kalliope Valadakis, Location: Stroud Twp. Price: $242,000
Maurice Moreno to James Hennessy, Location:
James Ertle to Crossroads Mall, Location: Stroud
Karin Mordt to Ulfife Aydemir, Location: Stroud
Glenn Detrick to Gerald Gay, Location: Stroud
Twp. Price: $2.7 million
Hugh Mahoney to Michael Hunt, Location:
Robert Morrow to Shirley Yetter Slutter, Location:
Naumann Andreas to Charles Henley, Location:
Bertha M. Shiner to Dig-in Developers, Location:
Tobyhanna, Price: $275,000
Zdenko Grgas to Anthony Stigliano, Location:
Martin Rulapaugh to Juan Bravo, Location: Tobyhanna, Price: $253,000
C&M Homes to Richardo Cruz, Location: Tobyhanna, Price: $354,000
Glenn Wira to Michael Yannaco, Location, Tobyhanna, Price: $207,000
Edgar Sarino to Colleen Maloney, Location:
Carolyn Nebbia to Richard May, Location:
Tunkhannock, Price: $238,000
Robert Poaletti to Efraim Crespo, Location:
Adriatik Sefa to Randy Edwards, Location:
Kal Tac to Bruce Searight, Location: Tunkhannock, Price: $262,000
Pike County
Peter and Abigail Ahnert to BGS Associates. Location: Lehman Township. Price: $425,000
Joseph Falcone to Lawrence Kurzer. Location:
Blooming Grove Township. Price: $465,000
Efrain Reyes to Jeanette Klecar. Location: Dingman Township. Price: $285,000
Mario Melchiorre to Joseph Shallo. Location:
Delaware Township. Price: $266,000
Bryan Siegfried to Mark Wheeler. Location:
Greene Twonship. Price: $275,000
Catherine Chammings to Gregson Sewell. Location: Westfall Township. Price: $361,000
Alana Siracuse to Karl Seven. Location: Milford
Township. Price: $375,000
Luise Earlin to Donna Hamilton. Location: Milford Borough. Price: $875,000
Patricia Pavy to Keyne LLC. Location: Shohola
Glenn Strys to Gerald and Judy Ross. Location:
Carlos Ramos to Leon Bell. Location: Lehman
Karen Kosydar to LouAnn Polewski. Location:
Greene Township. Price: $307,400
Charles Schmalze to Robert and Blanche Illenberg. Location: Blooming Grove Township. 2
Price: $85,000
Sunnylands Inc. to Stella Gross. Location: Dingman Township. Price: $325,380
Gerald Sternbach to Todd Friedman. Location:
J&S Real Estate Properties to Martin and CarolAnn Gallas. Location: Lehman Township. Price:
$296,820
Kalian at Poconos LLC to Edgar and Judith Oster.
Location: Lehman Township. Price: $283,798
Kalian at Poconos LLC to Mary Jane Torres.
Location: Lehman Township. Price: $263,976
Glenn Strys to Patricia Lally. Location: Blooming
Grove Township. Price: $321,130
Hildegard Kuhl to James Harris. Location:
Greene Township. Price: $262,000
Gregory Ortwein to Paradise Too LLC. Location:
Palmyra Township. Price: $278,000
Charles Sjogren to Joseph and Millie Fischer.
Location: Dingman Township. Price: $335,000
Sunnylands Inc to Vladimir Wardell. Location:
Dingman Township. Price: $285,380
Martin Studd to Russell Gittle. Location: Lackawaxen Township. Price: $585,000
Sunnylands Inc. to William Adagio. Location:
Dingman Township. Price: $255,500
Michael Castellini to Deeyan Ramnarine. Location: Delaware Township. Price: $257,400
Kevin Taylor to Robert Ackerman. Location:
Lehman Township. Price: $260,000
Nadene Long to Peter Larkin. Location: Dingman
Jill Fackenthal to Lawrence and Joanne Moretz.
Location: Dingman Township. Price: $320,000
Wayne County
George Roeder to HMP Management. Location:
Cherry Ridge Township. Price: $315,000
Eugene and Helen Cook to Donald Hageman. Lo-
cation: Cherry Ridge Township. Price: $285,000
Christopher and Julie Ross to Melvin and Lois
Luke. Location: Clinton Township. Price:
$325,000
Peter and Brenda Larsen to Gary and Constance
Popolizio. Location: Damascus Township. Price:
$360,000
Lillian Morgenthaler to Charles and Kathleen
Ferruggia. Location: Damascus Township. Price:
$650,000
Frank and Luz Ottens to Adam Curtis. Location:
Damascus Township. Price: $829,000
Ralph and Eleanor Troutman to Jacques Rimokh.
Location: Dreher Township. Price: $280,000
Dorothy Fenn to Grieve Corp. Location: Hawley
Borough. Price: $402,500
KC Enterprises to NEPA Oncology Ventures.
Location: Honesdale Borough. Price: $260,000
Carversville Development Company to Jerry and
Jane Silvi. Location: Paupack Township. Price:
$412,500
Eugene and Susan Orosz to Ernest Delnoce. Location: Paupack Township. Price: $285,000
Ronald and Joyce Root to Naren and Judith
Gursahaney. Location: Paupack Township. Price:
$615,000
William and Faline Gray to John Lipari. Location: Preston Township. Price: $687,000
Donna Valenzano to Geralda Deoliveira. Location: Salem Township. Price: $458,000
John and Rachel Jones to Robb and Gina Parlanti.
Location: Starrucca Borough. Price: $370,000
FEDERAL & STATE TAX LIENS
(January 2006)
Monroe County
IRS vs. Charles Gasto, $5,799
IRS vs. Musa Tangoren, $58, 146
IRS vs. Joseph Benoit, $13,332
IRS vs. Samueland Melu harris, $13,129
IRS vs.Anna Boninfante, $10,485
IRS vs. Nicholas Cioffi, $63,472
IRS vs. June Fuller, $35, 326
IRS vs. Shantina Delvalle, $7,107
IRS vs. William Kennedy, $14,536
IRS vs. Lippy’s Extreme Sports, Bar, $33,252
IRS v. Theresa and Mark Garcia, $1,223
IRS vs. Joan and Dennis Callahan, $6,910
IRS vs. Errol Muir, $23l9l
IRS vs. Monroe Hearing Aid,. $362
IRS vs. Steven Oltmann, $33,055
IRS vs. Gerald Schicking, $1014
IRS vs. Michael Lefurge, $161,894
PA vs. James Tucker, $1,138
PA vs. Philip Hauser, $2,418
PA vs.Jessee Harrell,$7,413
PA vs. Bett Hadden $1,895
MORTGAGES
(January 2006 – Over $250,000)
Carbon County
Frank DePaulo, Location: East Penn Township,
First National Bank of Palmerton, Amount:
$250,000
Norma Kalkan, Location: Franklin Township,
MERS, Amount: $255,000
Leroy Sorenson, Location: Jim Thorpe Borough,
New Tripoli Bank, Amount: $460,000
Charles Bott, Location: Jim Thorpe Borough,
Mauch Chunk Trust Co., Amount: $335,000
James Davis, Location: Kidder Township South,
Harleysville National Bank & Trust Co.,
Amount: $335,375
Larry Markley, Location: Lehighton Borough,
Jim Thorpe National Bank, Amount: $294,000
Larry Markley, Location: Lehighton Borough,
Jim Thorpe National Bank, Amount: $294,000
Eric Waksmunski, Location: Mahoning Township, Bank of America, Amount: $260,000
Charles Bott, Location: Nesquehoning Borough,
Mauch Chunk Trust Co., Amount: $335,000
Kevin Lemons, Location: Penn Forest Township,
Indymac Bank, Amount: $356,250
Tadeusz Konopka, Location: Penn Forest Township, MERS, 2 Amount: $84,900
Scott Hillegass, Location: Towamensing Township, Harleysville National Bank & Trust,
Amount: $480,000
John Lynn, Sr., Location: Towamensing Township, Seattle Mortgage Company, Amount:
$256,500
John Lynn, Sr., Location: Towamensing Township, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Amount: $256,500
Pike County
Cynthia Sweetapple, Location: Shohola Township, MERS, Amount: $252,000
BGS Assoc. LP, Location: Lehman Twp, Wayne
Bank, Amount: $340,000
Michael Friedman, Location: Blooming Grove
Township, MERS, Amount: $279,500
Scott Shaw, Location: Lehman Township, MERS,
Amount: $278,350
William Adamo, Location: Lackawaxen Township, MERS, Amount: $425,000
Jeannette Kelcar, Location: Dingman Township,
Marvin Eversdyke, Location: Dingman Township,
Christopher Ryan, Location: Dingman Township,
Option One Mortgage Corp, Amount: $294,400
Walter Goodmond, Location: Dingman Township,
1st Mariner Bank, Amount: $320,000
Robert Mutino, Location: Dingman Township,
Sussex Mortgage.com LLC, Amount: $286,700
Vincent Mocelski, Location: Milford Township,
AC Mortgage LLC, Amount: $292,000
Lawrence Ciarelli, Location: Dingman Township,
Gregson Sewell, Location: Westfall Township,
Karl Seven, Location: Milford Township, MERS,
Amount: $265,000
Donna Hamilton, Location: Milford Borough,
Luise Earlin, Amount: $775,000
Michael and Rosemary Gallagher, Location:
Milford Township, Manufacturers and Traders
Trust Co, Amount: $500,000
Donna Capilli, Location: Delaware Township,
Wells Fargo Bank NA, Amount: $268,000
Norman and Debra Geron, Location: Blooming
Grove Township, Wachovia Bank, Amount:
$250,000
Roderick and Denise Santos, Location: Lehman
Township, MERS, 321,300
Haven Development Company LLC, Location:
Palmyra Township, 1st National Community
Bank, Amount: $2,000,000
Klever Chango, Location: Lehman Township,
Ameriquest Mortgage Co., 250,886
Gerald and Judy Ross, Location: Blooming Grove
Township, Option One Mortgage Co., Amount:
$250,886
Elizabeth Kameen-Erickson, Location: Milford
Borough, Roche Surety & Casualty Company,
Amount: $400,000
Leon Bell, Location: Lehman Township, MERS,
Amount: $281,250
LouAnn Polewski, Location: Greene Township,
Marizol Izquierdo, Location: Shohola Township,
Stella Gross, Location: Dingman Township,
Paul and Una Fitzpatrick, Location: Lackawaxen
Township, Dime Bank, Amount: $300,000
Alexandros Theodoropoulos, Location: Milford
Borough, Americas Wholesale Lender, Amount:
$275,000
Robert and Karen Roettger, Location: Palmyra
Township, Honesdale National Bank, Amount:
$250,000
Wayne County
Paupackan Lake Assoc, Location: Paupack
and Lake Township, Wayne Bank, Amount:
$1,255,000
Nicholas and Virginia Sollenne, Location: Paupack Township, Morgan Stanley Credit Corp.,
Amount: $677,700
Jerry Silvi, Location: Paupack Township, MERS,
Amount: $330,000
Delaware River Preservation Co Inc, Location:
Buckingham Township, Wayne Bank, Amount:
$300,000
Dennis Penha, Location: Salem Township, Geralda Deoliveira & MERS, Amount: $336,000
Michael Longo, Location: Lehigh Township,
Dwayne and Paula Kovacs, Location: Paupack
Township, Indymac Bank, Amount: $263,500
Donald and Mary Altman, Location: Lebanon Township, US Trust Co of NY, Amount:
$480,000
Russell and Gretchen Lintner, Location: Palmyra
Township, Dime Bank, Amount: $250,000
NEPA Oncology Ventures, Location: Honesdale
Borough, First National Community Bank,
Amount: $260,000
Marie and Joseph Petruzzi, Location: Lehigh
Township, MERS, Amount: $276,000
Bernard and Linda Gavula, Location: Paupack
Township, Wachovia Bank, Amount: $250,000
Settlers Partners, Location: Hawley Borough,
Dime Bank, Amount: $415,000
Redmond McConnell, Location: Lehigh Township, MERS, Amount: $375,000
Steven and Jean Pearson, Location: Salem Township, Indymac Bank, Amount: $283,000
John Lipari, Location: Preston Township, MERS,
Amount: $390,000
William and Lorraine Conrad, Location: Mt
Pleasant Township, Honesdale National Bank,
Amount: $300,000
Edward and Maria Danberry, Location: Palmyra
Township, Wachovia Bank, Amount: $250,000
Naren and Judith Gursahaney, Location: Paupack
Township, Amount: $325,000
Kevin Appel, Location: Paupack Township,
Eva Flannery, Location: Cherry Ridge Township,
Wachovia Bank, Amount: $250,000
Adam Curtis and Rose Biondi, Location: Damascus Township, MERS, Amount: $624,000
Harry and Kristin Montauredes, Location: Mt
Pleasant Township, Honesdale National Bank,
Amount: $350,000
Harold Reitzig, Location: South Canaan Township, USAA Federal Savings Bank, Amount:
$319,500
Michael and Allyson Cavage, Location: Honesdale Borough, Honesdale National Bank,
Amount: $375,000
MERS = Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems
16