Supervisors Sign Treaty With Lenape
By Wayne Witkowski
At the July 18 regular meeting, Delaware Township supervisors signed a treaty with the Lenape Native American tribe recognizing the tribe. Chief Adam Waterbear DePaul presented a large, traditionally styled treaty to the supervisors and they signed a similar one on one standard page drafted by the township. Township Solicitor Tom Farley noted some differences in the township treaty, particularly in terms of tribal observances in schools.
The original Lenape tribe, indigenous to this area, migrated to Oklahoma as part of the Walking Purchase treaty with William Penn back in the 1732 that moved tribes westward and eventually was disputed by historians. Some Lenape tribe members remained in this area and their descendants are the ones establishing a treaty with the township, although that tribe supposedly is not recognized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Tim Singleton, president of the Dingmans Ferry-Delaware Township Historical Society, said the Pennsylvania Lenapes "are not recognized by the tribe in Oklahoma as a true Lenape tribe." Singleton investigated the matter and reached out to the Oklahoma tribe, which finally responded to Singleton 15 minutes before the start of the Delaware Township supervisors meeting and said they can speak the next day. Singleton recommended the township move forward with the signing. "I don't believe that to be accurate," said Singleton of the Oklahoma tribe's refusal to recognize the Pennsylvania tribe. "I recommend the treaty to be signed without hesitation," he said, regarding them as "true Native Americans to this area."
The treaty, which is in effect for four years until July 12, 2027, recognizes the Lenape as original inhabitants of eastern Pennsylvania" and "acknowledge(s) the Lenape people as the indigenous stewards of their homelands and also as the spiritual keepers of the Lena'pe Sippu or Delaware River."
"We do hereby commit to actively supporting our Lenape sisters and brothers in whatever way we are able to."
That includes hosting cultural/educational programs, partnering as caretakers of the Lenape homeland and Delaware River, assisting in Lenape language revival projects and in displays/exhibits of Lenape culture by attending functions and providing volunteer services and support, according to the treaty.
Chief Waterbear DePaul, who resides in Brodheadsville in neighboring Monroe County, said afterward that there is an annual Lenape pow-wow that takes place in Jim Thorpe in September.
Supervisors and the Lenape tribe also share opposition to the National Park Service's pursuit of turning the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), into a national park. Board o Supervisors Chairman John Henderson has said that shared commitment to resist the changeover further encouraged establishing the treaty.
During the meeting, it was learned that drivers of tractor trailers and other large trucks pounding Delaware Township side roads, which is contrary to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation detours of the Milford Road/Route 2001 bridge reconstruction, will face tougher travel restrictions.
Township supervisors at their next board meeting on July 26 are expected to pass a series of ordinances limiting vehicle weight limits to 10 tons during bridge repairs by PennDOT that it projects to be completed sometime in November. Signs have been posted in the past for that weight limit, but are stipulated only for peak winter months when roads are most vulnerable to damage from heavy vehicles.
Another ordinance would limit the length of trucks to 24 feet.
The posted roads would include three township roads: Johnny Bee/Mary Stuart Road, Chestnuthill Road and Myck Road. Myck Road will undergo serious rehabilitation in the upcoming months, including a straightening of the rod's dangerous curves. Delineators recently were installed on the curved stretch of Myck Road.
Truckers will be allowed a half-ton over the posted weight limit. Supervisors agreed that most tractor trailers would have to be empty to perhaps meet that weight limit.
"Once those ordinances are passed, the signs can go up the next day," said Delaware Township Roadmaster Rick Bailo.
Jason A. Snyder, P.E., an engineer employed by the Commonwealth, gave a report to the supervisors during their recent regular meeting on Wednesday last week to discuss the problem of large trucks taking short cuts on township roads around the detour.
All parties said the Pennsylvania State Police agreed to get more involved in patrolling the area to enforce the limits once signage is posted. Snyder said summonses can run to $250. Trucks would receive a $155 ticket for "failure to heed."
A large barricade sign is posted at the corner of Bushkill Rod and State Route 201/Milford Road, warning drivers of the bridge detour 10 miles ahead. Drivers of large trucks heading northbound toward Milford who fail to heed that sign and continue on Milford Road to the closed bridge, must eventually follow PennDOT detour signage. That signage would turn them 10 miles back, then make a right turn onto Bushkill Falls Road and continue on that looping detour to Silver Lake Road.
"Our point is to get the message across," said Snyder.
There will be an allowance only for trucks making a local delivery, fire trucks on emergency calls, forestry vehicles, utility vehicles, school buses and large military vehicles. Bailo said UPS trucks and propane trucks involving local delivery are exempt. "My goal is to make this as simple for the township as possible," said Snyder.
Snyder conducted a study of township roads and said on that day that there were three large flatbed trucks carrying modular homes on township roads.
Bailo pointed out there already is signage posted on Park Road banning trucks to travel past the quarry unless they are making local deliveries. He said the truck traffic on local roads, particularly the three aforementioned roads, has accelerated their deterioration.
Also at the meeting, supervisors accepted the semi-annual report by Delaware Township Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Cairns, who reported a somewhat high number of calls -- 96 -- since Jan. 1. He said "daytime still is very difficult" and there are fewer available firefighters during the daytime because many volunteers commute to their regular jobs outside the area. Despite the decline of volunteerism among fire companies throughout the state, he said three new members have been added to Delaware Township's company and membership is "continually growing," although more members are needed. Members have had 1,300 total hours of training and that they are "asked to be a jack of all trades" for various firefighting duties.
But he said Delaware Township's company "is not set for heavy rescue" like some companies in neighboring townships.
Supervisors, during the meeting, also agreed to pay the second-quarter tax distribution to the fire company for $129,573.92.
Supervisors also approved a third quarter 2023 funding request from Delaware Township Volunteer Ambulance Corp. in accordance with the Pike County EMS grant program in the amount of $107,500 -- a $53,750 split between the township and the Pike County Commissioners Emergency Medical Services Funding. The funding annually matches the equivalent of two mills on property taxes to go toward emergency services.
Supervisors discussed options of either continuing to take the subsidy out of the township's General Fund or to create a separate EMS tax. If the EMS tax exceeds .5 mills, it must go to voter referendum in the November General Election.
Supervisors approved a donation from the Delaware Township Recreation Fund to the Wounded Warrior Project in the amount of $1,037 raised at the first annual Car Show on July 1. Henderson said the event was a "phenomenal success" with a strong turnout.
Supervisors approved paying Theurkauf Design & Planning's invoice of $13,521.82 for work on the Delaware Township Comprehensive Plan update. The township projects the plan to be completed by the end of the year.
Also approved was a $5,000 upgrade of the Delaware Township website to Joomla 4 by Niki Jones Agency.
A quote #Q1715671 from Barcodes in the amount of $1,690.00 for Akenac Park resident stickers was approved.
A municipal hall use request by Wild Acres Lake Property Owners Association was approved for July 14, 21 and 28 from 6-9:30 p.m. for committee meetings.
Henderson said during the workshop that new rules established by the state Liquor Control Board "help us" in terms of loud noise from establishments serving liquor. The amended Section 3 limits the sound of music or other entertainment from an establishment "not (to) exceed 75 decibels beyond the licensee's property line." It applies for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on days except Fridays and Saturdays when the timeframe is from 10 a.m. to midnight. Henderson said he was involved with an incident beyond those late hours in his neighborhood and when he called State Police, an officer was dispatched and the loudness stopped.
The township considered a noise ordinance last year that was shelves over details.
Also during the workshop, supervisors discussed an electronic gate that would go up and down at the entrance to Akenac Park to reduce problems of traffic entering the park. It would cost $2,630.
Under Announcements, the township is accepting letters of interest for a vacancy on the Zoning Hearing Board.