Penn Forest Township supervisors got an earful from two township residents regarding recent building inspections. In both instances the construction in question had taken place years before and in the case of Judy Rogers of Penn Forest Streams, two property owners ago.

Rogers appeared quite upset by the situation she related to the board. According to Rogers, the inspector showed up at her home unannounced and "without proper identification." She claimed the man was dressed rather "slovenly and definitely unprofessional.""He insisted on being let in to inspect the electric" she said, but after leaving her house he continued to walk around her home "frightening the children."Rogers reported that she asked him to leave her property. She later received a letter from the township building inspector claiming that her enclosed porch did not meet code and that it needed to be repaired or taken off.According to Rogers the porch was enclosed by the original owner of the property in 2004. Rogers stated that she contacted the original owner, who informed her the porch had been inspected and passed when the work was done.A Mr. Rizzo of Albrightsville also addressed an issue regarding a belated building inspection. Rizzo built a deck on his home at the same time his home was under construction. Rizzo, who was prepared to produce receipts for all of the materials, permits and such on the job, said he contacted the township multiple times to have the various inspections performed on the deck."I called for the inspection on the footers, and no one came to inspect," Rizzo said. "I called a second time and no response; the third time I called I was told that the inspection was done and that the footers had passed inspection, so we proceeded to pour the cement."He later called to have the deck inspected and again had to call several times to be told that the inspection was complete.Rizzo just received a letter from the township building inspector claiming that his deck did not pass inspection, because the inspector could not determine the depth of the footers.Chairman Paul Montemuro asked Rizzo if he had a Certificate of Occupancy for the property. Rizzo said that after the home and the deck were completed, there was a final inspection and he had a CO.Montemuro expressed his opinion that if the CO was issued, the issue of the inspection of the deck was moot. Solicitor Gary Mousseau advised that it would be best if the supervisors took up the matter with the inspector later in the week, and requested the township undertake to contact the property owners after speaking with the inspector.Rogers also addressed the board of supervisors as president of the Penn Forest Streams Homeowners Association. According to Rogers, the concrete bulkhead at the junction of Route 903 and Fern Road is in desperate need of repair. She claims that PennDOT directed her to the township.Montemuro, apparently familiar with the situation, advised Rogers to review the HOP permit from PennDOT. He pointed out that in the fine print of the permit "PennDOT graciously grants Penn Forest Streams permission to enter onto PennDOT property to fix it themselves."According to Rogers, the repair will cost approximately $10,000.Also addressing the board during public comment was Bruce Steigerwalt, P.E., on behalf of Camp Adams. Camp Adams is run by Youth Services of Bucks County. The camp has had an ongoing problem with one of its sewage fields. DEP is requiring Youth Services to provide a planning module as part of the process to get final approval on the project. Since the system is in dire need of repair (sewage is currently leaching out of the field), Steigerwalt is requesting permission to proceed with repairs while preparing the planning module.According to Steigerwalt, township SEO Keith Valentine has been involved with the project and that Youth Services has paid for every test and permit needed so far. Supervisor Alan Katz expressed his concern that in the past, major projects such as this have cost the township a lot of money due to engineering and attorney review. Katz asked that the discussion be tabled until attorney Mousseau and the SEO have a chance to determine if there will be any cost to the township to comply with Steigerwalt's request."I don't want this to be a burden on the taxpayers" said Katz.Robert Miller of Towamensing Trails addressed the board during public comments, taking issue with the board's approval of a $1,000 donation to the Friends of the Penn Kidder Library Center. Miller pointed out that in Coolbaugh Township the library had gone $750,000 over budget. Miller claimed that is was only a matter of time before the Penn Kidder library came to the township begging for more money. Miller doesn't believe that the township needs a library or computer access."Everyone has Internet on their cell phones" claimed Miller.Supervisor Christine Fazio was quick to point out that Miller was mistaken and that many local residents do not have smart phones or even access to Internet in their homes."Many senior citizens can't make it to the Dimmick Library," said Fazio, "and don't even know how to use the Internet."Supervisor Katz defended the township, stating that the donation was "nominal" and nothing more than the township would normally give to the animal shelter or any other similar activity that serves the township's residents.The township has received the Volunteer Fire Relief Association allocation for 2012 in the amount of $79,775.04. A motion to split the amount between Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and No. 2 passed.The Amusement Tax revision was tabled until the November meeting.The applications for the Parks and Recreation Board are ready and the positions will be advertised soon. Supervisor Judy Knappenberger said that the five-year term was too long and suggested that the terms should be staggered. The board members all agreed.The township will be sending Montemuro and employee Joseph Hudock for mandated flagger training. The township is required to have trained and certified flagmen at all road construction sites.The township's share of costs for the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee this year is $1,287. This year the committee's budget includes $25,000 for attorney fees associated with potential legal actions to be taken against Centax for failure to collect over $20 million in Act 32 Earned Income Tax.The township will be advertising for approval of the adoption of Ordinance 2012-13, Municipal Certification. The certification will be provided during property transfers to certify to the buyers that the property being transferred is free of all township liens and all permits are complete.NAVITAT Pocono Land Development is on the planning commission schedule for Oct. 22.A budget workshop is set for Oct. 18 at 6 p.m.Trick or treating will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m.