TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Supervisors of Bar-rett Township will hold a special meeting on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at 8:00 A.M. at the Barrett Township municipal building, 993 Route 390, Cresco, Pennsylvania 18326 with respect to a proposed ordinance. At the time of the public special meeting, the Supervisors will listen to comments by mem-bers of the public concerning the proposed ordinance. If substantial amendments are not offered to the draft of the proposed ordinance, the Su-pervisors intend to consider enactment of the proposed ordinance at the special meeting.

The proposed ordinance is entitled:

AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWNSHIP OF BARRETT, MONROE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF REAL PROPERTY.

What a tremendous opportunity to own 35 acres in the heart of Barrett Township. Great property for recreation, hunting, gardening livestock and horses. The property includes a cottage ready for completion/finishes; owner has upgraded much of the electrical and mechanical systems; sheet rocked and painted; new roof. Also included is a two car garage with a new roof, a barn and a chicken house. A rare opportunity for all this property has to offer at an attractive price. Property is currently in Act 319 Clean and Green for reduced taxes.

Listing details on Zillow

Barrett Township will accept sealed bids for the purchase of a parcel of real estate located at 3423 Spruce Cabin Road in Barrett Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, further identified as Tax Parcel Number 01.33.1.9 ( Property ).

The Property is approximately 35.20 acres in size and is improved with several structures. The minimum bid amount is $315,000.

Edit 2/17/23:

I learned the Gunderson / property was not purchased with Open Space funds, therefore doesn't get treated the same way as actual Open Space land. 

I've also filed a Right to Know Request for the deed, which is available here.  It appears Barrett Township paid $1 for the property, it wasn't gifted.  I am also able to confirm the deed contains the following language, bottom of page 2:

AND ALSO UNDER AND SUBJECT to the condition that the premises conveyed herein
are to be accessible to all Monroe County residents and the premises shall only be
utilized, in perpetuity, for recreation and open space.

However, this does not mean that the Township is obligated to keep ownership of the property forever.  It means that the next buyer also needs to keep it open to all Monroe County residents. 

Two names are attached to the property because Selma Gunderson conveyed the property to Norman Golten in 2003 before it was transferred to Barrett Township in 2013. 

Edit 2/13/23:

To those who are interested, here are a few documents that I found from 2018 when I filed a Right to Know request for financial expense and related information related to the Gunderson (Golten) property.

Since the township is only required to retain this type of information for 5 years I figured it would be prudent to share the information.

Edit 1/31/23 @ 4pm

For those who are interested, it looks like there is 2014 meeting minute documentation available through the site search related to Golten.

It looks like this is the same property that I had been referring to as "Gunderson" - I'm not sure how the same property got two names.

Original Post:

On January 18, 2023, the Barrett Township Supervisors voted to sell the Golten Property by a vote of 3-2.  John Seese, Pam Gardsy, and Kelly Slinger voted aye.  Patti O'Keefe and Darryl Speicher voted nay.

What is the Golten Property?

In 2013 Mr. Golten offered his property on Spruce Cabin Road of approximately 35 acres to the Township with the condition that the Supervisors would not sell the property and would maintain it for use by the community.  The deed of March 11, 2013 states:

"Under and subject to the condition that the premises conveyed herein are to be accessible to all Monroe County residents and the primses shall only be utilized, in perpetuity, for recreation and open space.

The property is located at 3423 Spruce Cabin Road.

Disclaimer: The ideas expressed below are the personal thoughts and opinions of Nate Covington and do not necessarily reflect the position of Barrett Township or the Board of Auditors.

I am making available the files from 1998 onwards that I have in my possession, including meeting minutes, budgets, auditor meetings, reorganization meetings, and more.