BOROUGH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
GENERAL INFORMATION QUESTIONS
Q: I/we are new to Clarks Summit. Is there a book/publications that can provide us with information?
A: Yes, the Abington Business & Professional Association (ABPA) publishes an excellent booklet known as the "Guide To The Abingtons". You can obtain a free copy, at the Borough Administrative Offices, 2nd Floor, 304 South State Street, Clarks Summit.
Q: I am disabled, what has the Borough done to make access easier for me? A: The Borough, and Borough Council is very sensitive to the needs of disabled citizens. Access to all Borough Meetings is available using the elevator to 2nd Floor, from the Spring Street entrance. All bathrooms are handicap accessible in the Borough building, and marked with Braille placards. The bathrooms and meeting area are also retrofitted with strobe lights, to announce a fire alarm to the hearing impaired.
Borough Council has amended the Borough's Traffic & Motor Vehicle Ordinance, several times to identify and create handicapped parking spaces for our residents. They have also created a handicapped "drop off & pickup" space on South State Street.
Borough Council has also retro-fitted all traffic light intersections in the Borough (except State & Grove Streets, which will be done in 2006) with visible and sound devices to aid pedestrian crossing. When Borough paving contracts are awarded, curb cuts are installed for wheelchairs.
Q: Does the Borough offer any special programs to residents during the year?
A: The Borough offers the following programs: Street Sweeper (Usually the first two weeks of April); Brush Pick-up Program (Usually April through October), Leaf Pick-up Program (Usually mid-October to late November). During spring and summer, leaves should be placed in bags and put out on Thursday or Friday with your regular garbage. In the fall, we attempt to keep the bulk of leaves out of the landfill and our program recycles the leaves that are picked up. The Borough DPW Department circles continuously throughout the municipality and vacuums the leaves that have been raked to the curb.
LOCATION
Q: I know I live in Clarks Summit, that is how I receive my mail. A: You MAY reside in the Borough of Clarks Summit, or you may not. The Clarks Summit Post Office delivers mail to many communities in Abingtons (Clarks Green Borough, Newton, Ransom, South Abington Township, etc.). It is best to determine the municipality in which you reside, since this can affect your taxes, trash collection, emergency responses, permits, voting, etc.
Q: What is the big deal about getting a number on my house? A: Having your house numbered (large enough to be seen from the street) is required. These numbers assist emergency personnel/units in finding your home quickly. Also, many of the Abington communities have similarly named streets/roads. Working together, and with the Clarks Summit Postmaster, this no longer occurs; however, this does cause problems with some emergency responses.
REPAIRS/PERMITS
Q: My driveway is breaking up. Do I need a Permit from the Borough? A: If you are replacing an EXISTING paved driveway this is routine maintenance and a Permit is not required.
Q: My deck is rotting. Do I need a Permit? A: If you are REPAIRING an EXISTING deck this is routine maintenance and a Permit is not required. HOWEVER, if this deck is expanded in any manner from the original size a Permit is required. If you are unsure of any building question, please check with the Borough Offices at 586-9316!
Q: I am upgrading my electrical service from 100 amps to 200 amps. Do I need a Permit? A: For RESIDENTIAL properties, no permit is needed to upgrade the service. HOWEVER, if you are adding new wiring or outlets, please contact the Borough because permits may be needed.
For ALL COMMERCIAL properties, yes, the Borough issues Electrical Permits. Once the Permit is issued inspections are conducted by the Borough's Codes Enforcement Office. Once the work is completed and a final inspection done and approved, the Borough will issue a Certificate of Use & Occupancy.
TAXES
Q: What do I get for my local/Borough taxes? A: There are numerous Borough services provided from the tax base. These include, but are not limited to: 24 hour a day, seven day a week police coverage/patrols; payment to the Clarks Summit Fire Company No.1, Inc. for fire services; the collection of trash and recycling; the maintenance of Borough buildings and parks; the maintenance of Borough streets and snow/ice removal operations; the repair/replacement of storm water systems; the payment and management of Borough Pension Systems; the payment of Borough Insurance coverages, etc.
Q: Why do I have to pay property taxes; can't the Borough go after more state and federal grant money? A: The Borough does pursue federal and state grants. Borough Council has directed the Borough Manager/Secretary to monitor and apply for all possible funding. It should be noted here that these state and federal grants are funded through your tax dollars paid to a different level of government.
TRASH/RECYCLING
Q: I just moved into the Borough, where do I get those blue recycling containers? A: Each household is authorized for one (1) free container. They may be obtained at the Borough Administrative Offices, 304 South State Street.
Q: They picked up my trash/recycling but left the other the other trash cans. What do I do? A: Call J.P. Mascaro (the contracted collector) at 1-800-243-7575 and ask to speak with the Dispatcher. He/she has radio contact with the trucks and will arrange to make the missed collections.
Q: I just saw the men throwing my recycling into the garbage truck, what do I do? A: Notify the Borough Office at 586-9316. Since the Borough is under contract with J.P. Mascaro to collect the trash and recycling, they are paid each month for their services. This cost is "off-set" (in a small degree) by an annual state performance grant. Annually, the Borough must report to the Department of Environmental Protection its "certified" recycling tonnage. Recyclables thrown into a garbage truck, reduces the Borough's tonnage and its annual payment from the state. In addition, by placing recyclables into a trash truck, it just produces more unusable waste into the area Landfills!
Q: When is the Spring/Fall clean-up this year? A: There is no longer a collection just twice a year. Borough Council, in its contract with Mascaro, now provides bulk item pickup on a weekly basis. You no longer have to keep that old water heater or sofa for six months waiting for the pickup. If you have a bulky item, please contact Mascaro at 1-800-243-7575 and ask for the Dispatcher. Advise them of your address and the item(s) to be picked up that week.
Q: I just took off my old/rotten deck and placed the boards near the street and the garbage truck just drove right by it. A: That is correct. The garbage truck will NOT take construction debris. You should arrange for a dumpster with a private hauler.
Q: I have an old refrigerator (or air conditioner, or humidifier, or freezer) how do I dispose of it? A: You must have the freon removed first. A plumber/HVAC Technician can remove the gas and then will place a sticker on the item. With the sticker in place, the trash truck will pickup the item.
Q: I have old paint and want to get rid of it. What do I do? A: Remove the lid and let the paint dry COMPLETELY! In a solid form the paint may be placed out with your trash.
VOTING
Q: I am new to the Borough and am unsure of where I should go to vote? A: Please call the Lackawanna County Voting Registration Office at 963-6737.
Q: My son/daughter just moved away to college, where do I obtain an Absentee Ballot? A: Absentee Ballot Applications are available at the library, State Liquor Stores, and by calling the Lackawanna county Voting Registration Office at 963-6737.
Q: How do I register to vote? A: Registration of voters is maintained at County (Lackawanna County) in Scranton; however, the Borough does have voter registration applications. These can be obtained at the Borough Offices, 304 South State Street.
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