Dunmore council promotes police sergeant, hires DPW truck driver and hears resident complaints about equipment blocking streets

Dunmore Borough Council on March 9 approved personnel actions, accepted routine financial and department reports, and fielded sustained public complaints about landscaping equipment stored near a cemetery that neighbors say encroaches on borough property and blocks parking.

Council unanimously appointed Police Officer Daniel Kapacs to the rank of sergeant at the start of the meeting; Solicitor Michael P. Perry (represented at the meeting by Matthew Perry) explained Kapacs will seek a disability pension after an on-the-job injury and that Kapacs is next on the sergeant list. "Congratulations," Council members said; Officer Eugene Mentz, speaking for the Police Benevolent Association, noted Kapacs’s 35 years of service.

The nut graf: Beyond ceremonial promotions, the meeting focused on municipal operations: Treasurer Mark Burton reported a net loss of approximately $55,000 for February and year-to-date net income of $103,000; Chief Marchese reported 1,082 police calls for February (up 301 from the previous month); and Fire Chief DeNaples outlined fire-department maintenance items, staffing and a State Fire Commissioners grant for $14,485.63.

Burton said real-estate tax collections were slower during the transition to Berkheimer but that quarterly Comcast franchise fees of $41,000 and $21,000 in miscellaneous revenue helped. He also cited $43,000 in highway rock-salt costs and an $82,000 interest-only payment on the 2021 bond issue.

Public comment centered on two community concerns. Bunker Hill resident Rosemary Santarsiero warned about emergency access if the nearby Mill Street bridge remains closed; Chief DeNaples and council described contingency routing and mutual-aid arrangements. For a second, lengthy complaint, John Cummings and neighbors urged enforcement over landscaping equipment stored at 141 Williams Street that residents say is on borough land and has reduced parking near the adjacent cemetery. "I have lived on Williams Street all my life," Cummings said; he and others said prior remedies have not produced lasting change.

Solicitor Matthew Perry said he would review the prior conversations and magistrate action and follow up: "I will look into it about the conversation that you had with him," he told residents. Council members said the matter had been before the magistrate and that borough staff had observed compliance at times, but several residents and council members said they differed on whether current placement is compliant or acceptable.

Council also appointed Matthew Murray to the Department of Public Works truck-driver classification to fill a CDL vacancy, and conditionally approved a Little League batting-cage cover and lighting project contingent on permit and building-inspector approval; Council voted to waive any permit fees for that work.

The meeting closed after brief council remarks and a call to residents to contact state representatives about the PennDOT bridge process.

Next steps: Solicitor Matthew Perry will review the Williams Street property/enforcement history; borough staff will seek contractor estimates and inspections for the bridge repair plan and will post temporary parking controls where needed to maintain emergency access.