About DAMA

The Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) is a Pennsylvania general municipal authority located in the Back Mountain region of Luzerne County. Our mission is to serve the needs of the Back Mountain region by offering various municipal services in a responsible and fiscally sound manner. The services offered by DAMA improve the quality of life in the region and play an important role in the day-to-day life of the residents. DAMA is built upon a longstanding commitment to community values and tradition. DAMA, and its Board, are dedicated to continuing to seek ways to challenge, support and develop programs and services that are responsive to the current and future needs of the Back Mountain region.

OUR HISTORY:

The Dallas Area Municipal Authority (DAMA) was created in 1970 in response to an ever-growing need to provide public sewer services to our founding municipalities of Dallas Borough, Dallas Township, and Kingston Township. Over the years DAMA has continued to grow to the point that we currently operate and maintain more than 100 miles of gravity and pressure sewer lines, and 15 pumping stations. In 1997, DAMA’s wastewater duties were expanded to encompass the provisions of Act 537, which deal with the management of an on-lot sewage disposal system program for the areas of our community having no access to public sewers. DAMA also provides public sewer services to the Back Mountain communities of Lehman Township, Jackson Township, and Harveys Lake Borough.

In addition to the public sewer services provided by DAMA, and in keeping with the concept of a true “municipal authority”, DAMA was tasked by our founding municipalities in 1991 to develop and administer a solid waste and recycling program to comply with the state and federal doctrine of Act 101. Since the start of the program, we have expanded our recycling efforts to include automotive batteries, used motor oil, and most recently a leaf and yard waste composting program that was developed thru the utilization of a 90% Grant from the Department of Environmental Protection. In its tenth year of operation, the composting program has proved to be a huge success in providing Dallas Borough, and Dallas and Kingston Townships with a vehicle to control the burning and dumping of yard waste, while providing their residents with an excellent source of compost for yards and gardens free of charge.

DAMA is presently staffed by nine full-time employees. The professional certification of the DAMA staff includes two PA State Licensed Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators, two PA State Licensed Sewage Enforcement Officers, and three PA State Licensed Wastewater Collection Systems Operators. Collectively, DAMA employees offer over 125 years of service to our Back Mountain Communities.

WHO WE ARE:

DAMA Board of Directors:

Chairman – Craig Tupper (Dallas Twp)

Vice Chairman – Charles Steever (Kingston Twp)

Secretary – Tim Carrol (Dallas Boro)

Asst. Secretary – Ken Rogers (Dallas Borough)

Treasurer – Thomas J. Doughton, Jr. (Dallas Twp.)

Asst. Treasurer – Joseph Youngblood (Kingston Twp)

DAMA Solicitor – Benjamin R. Jones, III Esquire

DAMA Executive Director – Larry J. Spaciano

DAMA Office Manager – Carol A. Kieser

DAMA Chief Operator – Edward Hann