Jul 10, 2002 By April Straughters 3 min read

LUZERNE TWP. – The township supervisors want to meet with Brownsville council officials to discuss decision-making for the jointly owned Brownsville-Luzerne Park. “We know nothing about that park,” said Supervisor Ron DeSalvo said. “Brownsville is the only ones who know what’s going on.”

DeSalvo said township supervisors knew nothing about proposed logging at the park until they read about it in the newspaper. Noting that the logging could earn the park up to $75,000, he said the park’s advisory board should not handle money matters, nor should Brownsville handle such matters without the involvement of the township.

The supervisors voted to send a letter to Brownsville Borough council to set up a meeting to discuss matters involving the park.

“Someone with the park or the borough should contact us. We need to know what is going on there,” DeSalvo said.

According to De Salvo, the park’s advisory board is composed of five Brownsville and five Luzerne Township residents, but he said sometimes Luzerne’s representatives are left in the dark.

He said the township needs to be brought up to date on money matters involving the park and liability insurance issues. He also said the advisory board should be audited and it should be made clear who handles the money there.

DeSalvo said Brownsville gives $3,000 to the park for operation, while the township gives $1,000 and provides labor and repairs sometimes up to $5,000.

Supervisor Ted Kollar said the township recently put in $2,000 worth of work trying to remedy a flooding problem with the park’s pond.

DeSalvo said the township invested $10,000 in the park for road repairs and to have playground equipment installed.

“My main goal, I’d like to see some playground equipment installed,” DeSalvo said.

In other business, the supervisors said they will interview the last four applicants Thursday for the joint comprehensive plan proposal with Redstone Township. DeSalvo said the two townships will meet to award the proposal, and that meeting date and time will be advertised when it is set.

He said officials are hoping to award the project to someone by Aug. 1. The proposal should take 15 months to complete, he said.

DeSalvo said the proposal is to plan for expected growth due to the Mon/Fayette Expressway. He said the proposal will suggest proper zoning for housing and industry development as well as traffic studies.

“With the Mon Valley Expressway, we expect things to change and we want to be ready,” he said.

The supervisors will hold a special meeting Monday at 3 p.m. for the sale of bonds for the general obligation note for the new state prison.

The supervisors will meet next on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m.