Frequently Asked Questions

Children from birth to age 5 who have special needs due to developmental delays and disabilities are eligible to receive Early Intervention services.

The services provided to children and their families differ based upon the individual needs and strengths of each child and the child’s family. Services such as parent education, support services, developmental therapies and other family-centered services that assist in child development and may be included in a family’s Early Intervention program.

Early Intervention promotes collaboration among parents, service providers and other important people in the child’s life to enhance the child’s development and support the needs of the family.

Services may be provided in the child’s home, child care center, nursery school, play group, Head Start program, early childhood special education classroom or other settings familiar to the family.

Early Intervention provides supports and services in a variety of settings. Early Intervention supports and services are embedded in typical routines and activities, within the family, community and/or early care and education settings. This approach provides frequent, meaningful practice and skill building opportunities.

Early Intervention services are provided at no cost to families.

The office is open to the public on week-days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however no papers will be accepted for recording after 4 p.m.

Our records go back to the 1800s.

Please contact our office for applicable fees at 570-253-5970, ext. 4040.

Yes, but you should make sure the documents meet all legal requirements and that your check is made payable for the correct amount.

General information can be obtained by phone but for more detailed information you should come into the office or retain a Title Searcher or Attorney. Office employees are not permitted to make searches.

The Recorder’s office is the only one in the Courthouse to return the original papers. It takes about two to three weeks. The papers are sent back to the person who records them in most cases a Title Company or Attorney. We require a self-addressed stamped envelope if they are to be returned by mail.

You can get a copy by sending a request to the Recorder of Deeds Office. The charge is $0.50 per page. If you want the copy certified there is an additional fee of $1.50. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Yes, but it usually is a good idea to have someone with a certain expertise in the field such as a Real Estate Agent, Attorney or Title Company prepare it for you to make sure it is correct. Employees of the Recorder’s office may not do this for you.

• The applicant must be at least 21 years of age, proof of identification with correct address must be furnished when the application is submitted. A post office box will not be accepted as legal residence.
• Out of state applicant must possess an unrestricted license to carry from their state of residence.
• $5 due at application time (Nonrefundable) $15 upon receiving the license, which is good for 5 years. The total charge is $20.
• Following an investigation, the applicant will be notified, as to whether the application has been approved or rejected.

• Summons, Complaints, Orders, Subpoenas, and etc. 1 copy for each defendant to be served. $200 Deposit required
• Real Estate Sheriff sale, $1,500 Deposit required (Original Writ of Execution)
• Legible description of real estate
• Affidavit pursuant to rule 3129.1
• Attorney to notify all lien holders, other than defendant
• Personal Property Sheriff Sale, $350 Deposit (Original Writ of Execution)
• Listing of Property to be levied
• Special instruction if required

The Sheriff Sales are held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the 3rd floor Commissioner’s Meeting Room located at:

925 Court Street
Honesdale, PA 18431

The Sheriff sales are advertised in the Tri-County Independent.

The Sheriff’s office accepts cashier checks and money orders. The money orders must be made out to the Wayne County Sheriff.

At the time of sale you must have 10% of the bid price, the remainder is due in 30 days from the date of sale.

The Sheriff’s Office strongly recommends doing a complete title search for the property before placing a bid.

Reservationists are available daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding holidays) to book, schedule, and confirm your travel plans and “Ready Times”. Our reservationists will work with you and make every effort to serve your needs.

Please remember that we take requests during these hours, prior to 3:00 PM, two business days before your appointment.

Reservations are accepted months ahead or by 3:00 PM two business days before your appointment. We do not provide same-day emergency service. Remember we need your address and destination addresses, appointment time and phone numbers. Please have that information ready before calling us.

Paratransit trips are available five days a week, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. You will be picked up within one hour after the Ready Time negotiated. You must board the bus within five minutes of arrival at your pick-up location. If you aren’t ready, the driver must leave without you and your trip status will be recorded as a “no show.”

We require exact change each time you board. Fares within our service area are listed below:

If you are between the ages of 60-64 years old you pay $1.00 per one way trip & $1.75 per one way trip for out-of-county destinations.

If you are over the age of 65 you pay $1.00 per one way trip & $1.75 per one way trip for out-of-county destinations.

If you are eligible for medical assistance and only going to a covered medical service you do not pay.

If you are a person with a disability and between the ages of 18 and 64 the following mileage based fare schedule applies to trips within the county and out of the county.

All areas within Wayne County and certain out of county destinations in Lackawanna County, Luzerne County. Monroe County, Susquehanna County and Pike County.

The Cancel Line is open 24 hours. We must be notified before the driver departs to pick you up. The minimum notice required is two hours; anything less may be cause for denial of future service.

Cancel Line: (570) 253-4280

Call us at (570) 253-4280. A dispatcher will update you on the status of your ride.

To place a ride request, you must provide:

Your name

Your address

Your telephone number

The destination address and telephone number

Your preferred pick-up time (Ready Time)

If the defendant pleads NOT GUILTY, his/her case will be scheduled for Trial. You will receive a subpoena from the officer handling your case.

From the time the suspect is arrested to the time he/she would go to trial or plead guilty could take up to a year depending on the Courts schedule and case load. PLEASE BE PATIENT.

No. It is not necessary for you to hire an attorney. The District Attorney’s Office will represent your interests during all criminal proceedings.

If you are subpoenaed to testify you will be paid $5.00/day and .7¢/mile for all mileage out of the Borough of Honesdale. You will not be reimbursed for any time or mileage for meetings with the District Attorney or Victim/Witness Coordinators.

Where can I park? Metered parking is available around Central Park. Metered parking is available on adjacent side streets.

No, every voter has a choice whether to vote by mail – via mail-in or absentee ballot – or to vote in person at the polls on Election Day.

An absentee ballot is requested for a specific reason such as working outside of the community where you vote, illness or handicap, etc. Mail-in ballot applications do not require the voter the present a reason for receiving a ballot. You can request a mail-in or absentee ballot at vote.pa.gov.

The Wayne County Election office will receive mail-in and absentee ballot applications until Tuesday, Nov. 1.. Keep in mind that the General Election will be held one week later on Nov. 8.

No. Mail-in and absentee ballots can be delivered in person to the Wayne County Courthouse by 8 pm on Election night. The Elections Office has made a secure drop box available, just inside the front entrance to the Courthouse, which can be accessed, without going through security, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. The box is in full view of the Sheriff’s Deputy and under video surveillance.

Mail-in and Absentee Ballots can be sent to the Wayne County Bureau of Elections through the US Postal Service, which is urging customers to send them out at least seven days prior to the election. All ballots must be received in the County Elections Office by 8 pm on Election Night.

The applications sent out by different organizations, such as the Center for Voter Information, are legitimate applications that can be submitted to the Wayne County Bureau of Elections to receive a mail-in ballot for the Nov. 8 General Election IF you want one. Every voter has a choice to vote at the polls on Election Day or to vote by mail.

They did not receive your information from Wayne County. Where these organizations got the information to send, and in some cases populate, the applications is unknown, but it did not come from county government. The Wayne County Bureau of Elections will only mail you a ballot application if you request one by calling the office at 570-253-5970 ext. 4003, or requesting one on the county website or at vote.pa.gov.

If you voted the ballot and returned it, this is identified in the sign-in process at the polls and you WILL NOT be able to cast a vote in person on election day.

The mail-in ballot you received includes a bar code, so if you do not fill out the ballot and decide to vote at the polls, you must bring the ENTIRE MAIL-IN PACKET, which means ALL associated envelopes and papers, to your polling station. Your mail-in ballot can then be properly invalidated and you can vote at the polls.

If you do NOT have the ENTIRE MAIL-IN PACKET when you go to your polling location, you will be asked to complete a Provisional Ballot.

A provisional ballot records your vote, while the County Board of Elections determines whether it can be counted. In the case of mail-in ballots, the board will determine if a properly completed mail-in ballot was returned. Previously, these were most often used when someone’s name did not appear on the voting rolls at the polling location. The Board of Elections conducts individual reviews of each provisional ballot, while still sealed, to determine if it should be counted. Wayne County Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Elections Jocelyn Cramer said the system is designed to give every voter the benefit of the doubt.

The Wayne County Board of Elections is made up of the three County Commissioners, Chairman Cramer and Commissioner Brian Smith and Judge Matthew Meagher. In elections when the commissioners are running for office, an independent board of elections is appointed before the Election cycles begins. The board is assisted by the county’s veteran Director of Elections, Cindy Furman, who has served as director for more than 15 years and worked in the department for more than 25 years.

A reassessment does not increase or decrease tax revenues. It only redistributes the total tax burden more fairly. A resident’s county, municipal, and school taxes are all based on the assessed value of a property. Past practice from reassessment shows that about one third of properties will see lower taxes, one third will see little to no change and one third will see a tax increase. The reassessment will be revenue neutral for the county. As per state law, the point of a reassessment is to make things fair and equitable for all taxpayers using the most accurate property values as a basis. By state law, total countywide tax revenues collected from Wayne County tax parcels cannot be more in the year following a general county reassessment than they were in the previous year. Millage rates will be readjusted to take into account the new assessed values.

A reassessment does not increase or decrease tax revenues. It only redistributes the total tax burden more fairly. A resident’s county, municipal, and school taxes are all based on the assessed value of a property. Past practice from reassessment shows that about one third of properties will see lower taxes, one third will see little to no change and one third will see a tax increase. The reassessment will be revenue neutral for the county. As per state law, the point of a reassessment is to make things fair and equitable for all taxpayers using the most accurate property values as a basis. By state law, total countywide tax revenues collected from Wayne County tax parcels cannot be more in the year following a general county reassessment than they were in the previous year. Millage rates will be readjusted to take into account the new assessed values.

January

The market value of your property is determined by using the property data that was collected earlier in the project.   Digital photos will be taken of all improved properties (parcels with structures), and then data mailers will be sent to ask you to verify that the collected data is correct.  Tyler Technologies Inc., the company hired by the county to work in conjunction with the county’s own Tax Assessment Office, will analyze recent sales of similar properties, and consider construction costs and income and expense information, when appropriate.

There are several long explanations of market value, but simply put, it is the most probable price a willing buyer would pay a willing seller for a property on the open market if neither party is under pressure to buy or sell.  

You should ask yourself, could I or would I sell my property for the amount listed as my new assessment.  You can check this against sales of similar properties in your neighborhood.  To help you compare, listings of preliminary values and other data for almost all properties in the County will be available for comparison on the internet at the County’s website. Properties currently for sale can be found on the internet at sites like Realtor.com, Trulia, and Zillow.

The goal of the assessment equity project is to determine the fair market value of every property in Wayne County.  If you purchased your house within the past year and if the purchase was on the open market and had no unusual conditions, the assessed value on your notice should be reasonably close to the sale price, but probably will not be the exact amount. Just because one person is willing to pay a certain amount for a property doesn’t mean that the majority of buyers would be willing to pay the same price. During the valuation process, each property is compared to up to five similar properties to determine the most probable selling price.  While sale prices may vary slightly, even for identical properties, the assessor must be equitable in their valuations. Therefore, similar properties should have the same assessed value, even if they might have differing sale prices, with adjustments made to account for differences between property characteristics.

Along the same lines, even if you appealed your value (assessment) in a prior year to the Assessor’s Office, or to the Board of Assessment Appeals, and the value was adjusted, the revaluation appraises each property as if it had not been valued before. Any prior changes are not considered since those changes were based on the 2004 countywide reassessment. The new value you receive should be a reasonable estimate of market value and equitable with surrounding properties of a similar type.

Any existing exemptions are not included in your preliminary value, but will be in the taxable value you receive from the County after the reassessment. (Taxable value equals the assessed value less any exemptions that may be applicable). Questions concerning exemptions should be directed to the local assessment hotline: 570-251-8985, ext. 1152.

If you feel that the value is not reasonably close, make an appointment for an informal review to go over the data and value. Data compiled during the revaluation will be available for inspection at the informal review.  

No value changes will be made at the informal review, but all information you supply will be reviewed. You will be notified of the results of the review by mail.

If you disagree with the results of the informal review, your next step would be to file a formal appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals.

No.  You are not required to attend an informal review in order to file a formal appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals, even if you chose not to schedule an informal review, further legal review is available if you have filed an appeal with the Board of Assessment Appeals.

The contract holder (farmer) is responsible for pu􀆫ng bids out and ul􀆟mately holds the contract with the contractor. Districts are responsible for ensuring that the farmer follows statewide guidance during the procurement process. Ul􀆟mately, districts should put processes in place to closely monitor and document compliance.

The approved ACAP Bidding Requirements Document describes bidding requirements in detail. Projects between $10,000 and $250,000 require documented price and/or rate quotes. Projects exceeding $250,000 require sealed bids.

Bidding requirements are triggered based on the amount of the ACAP funding expended toward the project. If mul􀆟ple funding sources are being used to pay for the project, only the amount of ACAP program funding will be considered to determine the type of procurement method required (should the other funding sources not also be subject to bidding requirements). For example, if a project is expected to be quoted at greater than $250,000, but the amount of ACAP funding for this contract will be less than $250,000, small purchase procedures can be followed, and sealed bids are not required.

The SCC recommends that a minimum of 3 quotes be solicited. A good-faith effort must be made to accept and document quotes. If less than 3 quotes are obtained, contact the SCC for approval.

Under Uniform Guidance, non-Federal en􀆟􀆟es must comply with the more restric􀆟ve of the Federal, state, and en􀆟ty-level requirements. If your county has more restric􀆟ve requirements, they must be followed.

For projects where ACAP funds exceed $250,000, public advertising is required.

For projects where ACAP funds exceed $250,000, a public bid opening is required.

No, the bids must only be opened publicly and recorded.

Yes, the farmer must accept the lowest responsive and responsible bidder when using the sealed bids procurement method. For other procurement methods, the lowest quote should be accepted unless there is good cause for declining their quote. If the farmer requests to accept a quote that is not the lowest, contact the SCC for approval.

No, but bid, performance, and payment bonds are recommended for projects exceeding $10,000.

No.

No.

Follow the guidelines for the farmer like any other contractor. If the project is less than $250,000, good faith must be made to obtain quotes for the project. If the project exceeds $250,000, a sealed bid process must be followed. The farmer can submit bids for the work; if they are the lowest responsible bidder, they can be awarded the job. It is recommended that the district develop a policy regarding how much farmers can be reimbursed for their labor.

Unlike prevailing wage requirements, bidding is considered per contract, not the en􀆟re project's value. If you intend to solicit services comple􀆟ng a por􀆟on of the project or planned prac􀆟ces, follow the procurement guidelines based on the value of those services. Each resul􀆟ng award will require that records are kept documen􀆟ng the procurement methods used and the ra􀆟onale behind the ac􀆟on. This type of procurement for services is likely when the farmer acts as the general contractor for the project.

All materials, supplies, equipment, and services required to complete the project are subject to procurement thresholds outlined in the ACAP bidding requirements document. If a farmer intends to be the contractor, procurement thresholds for items such as materials, supplies, equipment rental, etc., may need to be considered. Follow the thresholds in the approved ACAP bidding requirements document to determine if micro-purchase, small purchase, or sealed bids will be required.

It is cri􀆟cal for the farmer to have a well prepared and binding contract with the supplier or contractor to ensure the successful and 􀆟mely delivery of services. Districts can provide farmers with template contracts for use that should be tailored to each individual project.

An agricultural conservation easement is a legally recorded, voluntary agreement which restricts the development or improvement of the land for purposes other than agriculture.  Easements are purchased in perpetuity only and all easement restrictions are binding upon the current owners and future owners.  

The first step for landowners interested in preserving their land is to enroll the acreage in an Agricultural Security Area. The landowner must submit a petition to their local municipality to create or add to an ASA.

Next, the landowners must submit a completed application to the Wayne County Agricultural Land Preservation Board.  If the application meets the minimum eligibility criteria, it will be ranked against other eligible applications.  A farm's rank is based on soil quality, farmland potential and the likelihood of the conversion of the land to non-agricultural uses.  The submission of an application does not obligate the landowner, the County of Wayne or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

According to rank, the Wayne County Agricultural Land Preservation Board will then make an offer to purchase a conservation easement on the acreage.  An independent appraiser appointed by the County Board determines the easement purchase price per acre.  The price offered for the purchase of an easement may not exceed, but may be less than, the appraised per acre easement value.  

Wayne County Agricultural Land Preservation regulations may allow for limited subdivision of existing easements under the following circumstances only:

• The subdivision of no more than two (2) acres for the construction of one additional residence and only if the construction cannot be accomplished by land development.
• Subdivision of an existing easement on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the County Board, provided the landowners meet all the criteria in Chapter IX, Section 2 of the Wayne County Agricultural Land Preservation Program Regulations.

The construction of new farm buildings and fences for agricultural use is permitted.  The construction of one new additional residential structure is permitted if the use is limited to the landowner's principle residence or housing for farm employees.  

The restricted land shall be used solely for agricultural production and other agricultural uses, such as the production of field crops; fruits and vegetables; horticultural specialties, including nursery stock and ornamental shrubs and flowers; livestock and livestock by-products; timber, wood and other wood products derived from trees; and aquatic plants and animals and their by-products.  

Easement deed restrictions allow for the exploration, storage and removal of gas, oil and coal.  However, lease agreements used by the gas companies may lack certain language which would protect the easement and the landowner.  Without this, landowners may unknowingly violate the restrictions of the easement deed.  The County Board has prepared a gas lease addendum to be used in conjunction with the gas lease.  Since the landowner will ultimately be responsible for any violations that occur, it is strongly suggested that the addendum be made part of any gas lease agreement.  For your protection, legal counsel should be obtained before you sign any gas lease or legal document (This is not legal advice - landowners should seek the advice of an attorney before signing any legal documents).

Landowners retain full ownership and control of their land and can sell or transfer their property.  However, because there is an agricultural conservation easement in place, all landowners must abide by the deed restrictions and County regulations.

Eased land will be inspected annually to determine compliance with the easement restrictions.  Easements may be inspected without prior notice if the County Board has reasonable cause to believe that any provision of the easement has been or is being violated.  Violations, if not corrected, will be prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas.