BY STACI WILSON

After only one season, the cover for New Milford’s public pool is in need of repairs. Repairs that a consensus of council members felt should be covered by the warranty.

Council members expressed disappointment with the purchase and said repairs to the cover shouldn’t be needed at all.

Councilwoman Teri Gulick said the cover was used only five months; with Ken Carey, president of the council, saying the cover had not been touched after it was installed until it was taken off the pool at the beginning of the summer.

Borough council opted Thursday, Oct. 1, to have the pool cover repaired, but are continuing to look into available options – including consulting with their solicitor.

Two repair options were presented to council – patching the cover at $306, and replacing the whole panel at $783.

Council said Coral Isle had reduced the cost of the repairs $200 from the initial figures provided to the borough. They opted to expend the $783 and replace the damaged panel.

The pool cover initially cost $6,200 and was installed last year by Coral Isle Pools of Vestal, N.Y. When the cover was removed to open the pool this year, it was damaged, Carey reported to council last month.

The dealership had given the borough until Monday, Oct. 5, to determine how and if they wanted to proceed with the repairs.

At the time of purchase, Carey said he submitted the online warranty information for the pool cover.

However, members of the parks board said they have been getting the “run-around” in trying to get the cover fixed. The manufacturer has said a sale or transaction number in order to track the cover, and that the authorized dealer is responsible for fulfilling the warranty; and the dealer is telling them the manufacturer is responsible for the warranty work.

The borough never received a receipt from the purchase. On file is the emailed cost quote with the check stub to the dealership attached, Secretary Amy Hine reported.

Councilwoman Barb James opposed the move to fix the panel, and volunteered to visit the dealership in an attempt to resolve the matter.

Council will be turning the matter over to the borough solicitor in order to resolve the warranty issue.

During public comment, a resident proposed organizing a “Coffee with a Cop” event where members of the public could come in and ask questions or voice concerns.

When talking about police coverage, another resident asked about possible notifications when there is an increase in thefts in the borough.

The resident said a pair of hedge clippers had been taken from in front of her home between Monday and Wednesday last week. Because she could not pinpoint the exact day or timeframe the tool was taken, she said she did not report it to police.

Council advised her to report the matter.

Councilman Rick Ainey said he had not heard of a recent increase in thefts in the borough and noted, “The little bit of police protection (in the borough) has made a huge impact over the past few years.”

Since 2008, New Milford Borough has contracted with Montrose for local police coverage. A two-year contract between the municipalities was signed in 2014; providing New Milford with an average of 20 hours of week of police coverage at a cost of $27 per hour.

As the current contract comes to a close, Gulick – who acts as council’s liaison with Montrose police – is attempting to schedule a meeting with Montrose council representatives to discuss continuing police coverage.

Leatherstocking representative Katrina Colvin-Stilts updated the borough on the gas distribution company’s build plans.

She said that the DEP and PennDOT permits were in the final stage of the approval process.

Leatherstocking is in the process of purchasing a property on Sutton Road, in New Milford Twp., and constructing a metering station on the site. That would be the start of the New Milford distribution line. Colvin-Stilts reported that the sale was progressing in a positive manner; and many of the necessary easements have been obtained.

She also said the company is still on track to begin construction on Sutton Road this year.

Secretary Hine told council that the long-awaited grant to address storm water run-off and drainage problems on Peck Hill had actually come through in June, but the county failed to notify Susquehanna County Housing and Redevelopment, about the receipt of the grant.

With the possibility of work being done on that road pushed off to next year, council also expressed interest in working on a Dirt & Gravel Road project that would enhance the improvements made with the other project.

New Milford Borough Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of each month at the borough building, located on Main St., New Milford.