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KINGSTON TWP. — Supervisors approved a motion authorizing the township manager, solicitor and zoning officer to proceed with the demolition process of three single family homes.

Township Zoning Officer Bill Eck said a $140,000 grant acquired from the Office of Community Development to fund the removal of the blighted properties at 97 Harris Hill Road, 195 and 198 South Memorial Highway.

“From 2002 to-date, we have removed 53 condemned structures (in the township),” Eck said.

In other news, supervisors, split by a 3-2 vote, will move forward with plans to install security measures to the township’s Yard Waste Support Facility.

Kingston Township supervisors Melissa Chamberlain and Frank Natitus voted against the motion at Wednesday’s municipal meeting that would permit security cameras, signs and a part-time seasonal employee to monitor the Yard Waste Support Facility. Other deterrents such as fencing and a gate are already in place.

The added security is meant to prevent commercial haulers from using the site, but also to be in compliance with the Dallas Area Municipal Authority’s guidelines, previously debated by Chamberlain.

In December, supervisor-elect Chamberlain told supervisors the security measures are not required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. At the December meeting, she said she spoke with Chuck Rogers in the northeast office of DEP and learned the township was following guidelines established for a composting facility similar to DAMA’s site on Route 118 in Lehman Township.

She contested the expense of the security items at the December meeting.

The Kingston Township Yard Waste Support Facility has been in operation for over 17 years and had issues with unauthorized people taking municipal materials as modified stone is stored on the property.

Township supervisors will hold a Public Work Session at 7 p.m. March 7 and the next regular meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. March 9 in the municipal building at 180 E. Center St., Shavertown.

By Eileen Godin

[email protected]

Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.