Kathleen E. Carey
Daily Times, Primos, Pa.
(TNS)

Mar. 4—Delaware County wants to turn the Briarcliffe fire station into a multi-use county community resource center, and as such has entered into an agreement of sale to purchase the Darby Township building for $705,000.

Council unanimously approved entering into an agreement of sale to buy the building at 767 Beech Ave.

According to the agreement of sale, closing is scheduled for April 30. However, county officials cautioned it may take longer than that.

“I’m happy to see that we’re moving forward with it,” county Councilman Richard Womack said of the county community resource center, adding that it will be a great asset in that part of the county.

Womack was formerly a Darby Township commissioner before assuming his county seat in January 2022.

In April, the Briarcliffe Fire Company moved to disband following the revelation of racist statements and comments from firefighters came to light during a discussion after an online meeting.

After a Jan. 27, 2022, online meeting, some Briarcliffe members were heard but not seen engaging in an hour and 45 minute conversation after the initial meeting.

Comments ranged from racist and insensitive comments about Black firefighters to mocking the name of Fanta Bility, the 8-year-old who was shot by former Sharon Hill police following an Academy Park High School football game in August 2021.

After the comments came to light, Darby Township officials suspended the Briarcliffe Fire Company and notified county emergency dispatchers that it was placed out of service.

Two other fire companies serve Darby Township: Goodwill and Darby Township No. 4.

County Emergency Services Director Timothy Boyce outlined the intention and the need for a county community resource center.

“The goal really here is … a champion county resource center in southeast Delaware County,” he said. “During the pandemic, obviously we struggled very much with the storage of PPE (personal protective gear), getting materials out to our community members and we still struggle with storing material.”

He explained that a 12,000-square-foot space in Granite Run had been donated to the county during the pandemic for the storage of materials such as masks, diapers and sanitizer. However, that is no longer available.

“By asking for this facility, the major ask is that we establish a warehouse and distribution facility in partnership with the health department,” Boyce said. “They are going to use it as a point of distribution if we have another pandemic or flu. They also see it as an opportunity to put an educational space in the community.”

‘Makes a lot of sense’

He noted that the facility is already compliant with Americans With Disabilities’ Act regulations, has ample parking, is along a bus route, already has a meeting room, is climate controlled and has bathrooms.

The plan is to use 5,000 square feet of the space for warehousing needs and the other 5,000 for offices, meeting and training spaces.

Councilwoman Elaine Paul Schaefer said the space has potential beyond warehousing and distribution.

“I feel like this is a really multi-use space in a community in a part of the county where a lot of these services are demanded,” she said. “So it makes a lot of sense to make this investment.”

Officials said the space will be beneficial as the county prepares to dive into harm reduction work after being earmarked to receive $63 million from the opioid settlement, which must be spent in 18 years.

Rick Green
The Keene Sentinel, N.H.
(TNS)

Mar. 4—MARLBOROUGH — Residents will vote on a variety of articles on March 14 during Marlborough’s annual elections and town meeting.

Here’s a look at what’s on the warrant:

Budget proposal: $2,578,963, up $135,852, or 6 percent, from the $2,443,111 budget voters approved last year.

If all warrant articles pass, the tax rate would increase by an estimated 30 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, according to Town Administrator Ellen M. Smith.

Hot topic: Voters will be asked to consider raising $550,000 to buy a fire truck, $400,000 of which would come from bonds, $75,000 from the fire equipment capital reserve fund, $66,000 from various other funds and $9,000 from donations. A three-fifths affirmative vote is required for passage.

Other warrant articles: In another article that requires a three-fifths majority to pass, voters will decide whether to raise $100,000 through bonds for stormwater projects. This is for engineering associated with installation of stormwater infrastructure in the downtown area of Church and School streets.

Also proposed is raising $25,000 for the police cruiser reserve fund, $20,000 for the highway equipment fund, $20,000 for the municipal facilities fund and $10,000 for the fire equipment fund.

Contested races: Julie Farhm and Charley Wright are running for a 3-year term as library trustee.

Elections: Tuesday, March 14, 1 to 9 p.m., Marlborough School, 41 Fitch Court

Meeting: Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m., Marlborough School

Rick Green can be reached at RGreen@KeeneSentinel.com or 603-355-8567

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(c)2023 The Keene Sentinel (Keene, N.H.)

Visit The Keene Sentinel (Keene, N.H.) at www.sentinelsource.com

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Adrian Rodriguez
The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.
(TNS)

Mar. 5—San Anselmo is planning to use $2.92 million in American Rescue Plan Act money to fund building maintenance projects.

The pandemic relief funds are proposed to cover most of the costs for five projects, including the planning, design and renovation of Fire Station 20 on Butterfield Road. The Town Council will consider the spending plan at its meeting on March 14.

Mayor Steve Burdo said the council was set to discuss the plan at its meeting on Feb. 28, but the discussion was continued because of a late-running session.

“These funds are going to be going a long way,” Burdo said. “Staff put together a list of infrastructure projects and determined what would be the best use of the money and what’s most needed in town.”

The town staff is recommending allocating $1.27 million toward the project at the fire station.

“The facility has a significant amount of deferred maintenance including dry rot etc. and needs to be renovated,” the staff report says. “An upgrade to the facility will also help accommodate the shift to a 3-person engine in the future.”

Marin County Fire Department Chief Jason Weber, who also leads the Ross Valley department, said the allocation is “very much appreciated.”

“This will help make some well-needed changes and accommodate our additional staffing in the future,” he said.

Town officials are also recommending putting $600,000 toward the Town Hall and library roof and heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrade. The roof and HVAC system are nearly 50 years old. The new HVAC system will be all-electric and energy efficient.

Another $500,000 is allotted for the remodel of the second floor at Town Hall.

“This will include design, layout and equipment that will reduce the likelihood of transmission of COVID-19,” the staff report says.

Other allocations include $180,000 for painting at the Robson-Harrington House and $375,000 toward project management costs.

Overall, the town has been allocated $2.984 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. In 2021, the town spent $55,299 in relief funds on a county homeless housing program and $43,000 on technology for Town Hall to conduct teleconference meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The staff recommendation would obligate the remaining federal funds. The funds must be spent by the end of 2026.

“We will need to discuss them as a council to see if there is anything needed to be changed or added to the projects recommended by staff, but these are good, appropriate uses of the funds,” Burdo said.

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(c)2023 The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.)

Visit The Marin Independent Journal (Novato, Calif.) at www.marinij.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

VIDEO: As lithium-ion battery fires continue to break out across New York City, Congressman Ritchie Torres is proposing new legislation to establish safety standards at the federal level. Torres, a Democrat representing parts of the Bronx, says that the proposal is aimed at preventing fires like the five-alarm inferno that tore through a borough supermarket on Sunday when an e-bike battery burst into flames.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WPIX-TV CW 11 New York City

VIDEO: The FDNY is still putting out hotspots after a fire destroyed a supermarket and laundromat in the Bronx over the weekend. Investigators were working Monday to try to figure out if the lithium-ion battery responsible for a fire that burned through a supermarket and homes in the Bronx was not approved.
- PUB DATE: 3/7/2023 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WABC-TV ABC 7 New York