Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 5:35 PM to 6:53 PM — Personnel matters
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on May 19, 2008, preceded by a nearly 90-minute executive session on personnel matters. Chairman Norma Shearer, Linda Ruff, Gary Shultz, and Ken Hoover were present; Carol Eppley was absent. The board addressed a full agenda spanning land development, road maintenance, property enforcement, and park planning, with all motions passing unanimously.
- Kerstetter Chubb Subdivision Plan approved, contingent on receipt of a security agreement, private right-of-way agreement, and deed of dedication. Bill Burch represented the applicant.
- Halifax Plaza land development plan moved to an informal discussion phase, with Norma Shearer and Linda Ruff appointed to meet with Halifax Plaza representatives and Planning Commission members.
- DONCO/Cedar intersection Highway Occupancy Permit extended one year past its July 16, 2008 expiration; Solicitor Steve Dzuranin was also authorized to negotiate with PennDOT on behalf of the Township alongside Cedar and DONCO.
- Tobias Road partial abandonment investigation authorized for approximately 0.8 miles of the lower end to the Ginter Farm. Roadmaster Dale Shoop noted maintenance costs on the highly erodible section far exceed the liquid fuels funding that would be lost by vacating it.
- Nuisance procedure initiated against the property at 3371 Peters Mountain Road (Amy Wise and Darren Mohney), which sustained extensive water damage from frozen pipes over the winter.
- Fort Halifax southern boundary survey authorized, with Bill Burch hired to survey the property line as part of a conservation easement proceeding. Dale Shoop noted Jim Eppley's suggestion to install concrete monuments.
- Park master site plan advancing: The Township received $30,000 in county matching funds and $17,250 from DCNR (half the expected DCNR award), with a study committee selection and approximately 1–1.5 years of consultant work and public meetings still ahead.
- Residents raised transparency and zoning concerns: Melinda Warfel asked why liabilities are absent from the financial balance sheet and why draft minutes are not posted on the website. Robert Lebo and Rahn Cooper both inquired about a potential auto auction yard at the Scheidler property.
Who was there
Norma Shearer (Chairman / Supervisor) · Linda Ruff (Supervisor) · Gary Shultz (Supervisor) · Ken Hoover (Supervisor) · Steve Dzuranin (Solicitor) · Chad Brackeen (Engineer) · Dale Shoop (Roadmaster) · Carolyn Nye (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisor Hoover moved to approve the interim bills of April 28 and the current bills of May 19 totaling $27,016.58. Seconded by Supervisor Ruff; motion carried 4-0.
Supervisor Ruff moved to approve the corrected April 14 minutes, with corrections to the spelling of "Shearer" under Public Comment and an addition under "Signs" that the sign should include "welcome to Halifax Township" along with sycamore tree information. Seconded by Supervisor Shultz; motion carried 4-0.
Chairman Shearer stated a meeting is needed between Board members and the Treasurer to discuss the listing of liabilities on the balance sheet, an issue raised by Melinda Warfel during public comment. Supervisor Ruff noted the park mortgage has a balance of $240,000.00.
Planning Commission Report
With Planning Commission Chairman Carol Eppley absent, Solicitor Steve Dzuranin presented the report. Supervisor Hoover moved to approve the Kerstetter Chubb Subdivision Plan contingent upon receipt of the security agreement, private right-of-way agreement, and deed of dedication. Motion carried 4-0.
Solicitor Report
The applicant requested an informal meeting with Board and Planning Commission representatives to discuss the project. Supervisor Shultz moved to appoint Supervisors Shearer and Ruff to attend this meeting along with Planning Commission members and Halifax Plaza representatives. Motion carried 4-0.
Attorney Silver requested the Township cooperate to extend the current Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP), which expires July 16, 2008, and enter discussions with PennDOT, DONCO, and Cedar representatives. Supervisor Hoover moved to extend the HOP completion date for one year (carried 4-0) and to authorize Solicitor Steve Dzuranin/Wix Wenger & Weidner to enter into talks with PennDOT accompanied by Cedar and DONCO (carried 4-0).
Solicitor Steve Dzuranin reported having a lengthy discussion with Ms. Manning regarding lease comments and recommended authorizing a committee to review those comments with him. Supervisor Ruff moved to approve a review committee consisting of Supervisors Shultz, Eppley, and Ruff. Motion carried 4-0.
This property sustained extensive water damage due to frozen pipes over the winter. Solicitor Steve Dzuranin recommended moving forward with a nuisance complaint. Supervisor Ruff moved to authorize the Solicitor to proceed with the nuisance procedure; motion carried 4-0.
The Township agreed to clearly mark the Fort Halifax property boundary, and the Planning Commission Chair recommended hiring a surveyor for the southern boundary. Supervisor Ruff moved to hire Bill Burch to survey the southern boundary line. During discussion, Dale Shoop mentioned Jim Eppley's suggestion to install concrete monuments and said he would check with Jim. Motion carried 4-0.
This item was tabled for the next meeting.
Roadmaster Report
Supervisor Ruff moved to approve Ron Schwalm's building permit application for a 16 x 20 picnic pavilion. Seconded by Supervisor Hoover; motion carried 4-0.
Roadmaster Dale Shoop reported the Township received $1,472.00 for 1½ dumpsters full of metal from Cleanup Day, with the full cleanup bill still pending. He also reminded the Board that June 14, 2008 is the date for electronic dropoff at the Township building.
Roadmaster Dale Shoop reported on the potential vacating of approximately 8/10 of a mile at the lower end of Tobias Road to the Ginter Farm, noting the loss of liquid fuel money does not compare to the high maintenance cost on the highly erodible section. Supervisor Shultz moved to proceed with investigating the specifics of abandoning a portion of Tobias Road; motion carried 4-0. Solicitor Steve Dzuranin will report on this at the June meeting.
Old Business
The joint Board of Appeals under the COG is moving forward; documents will be provided to the Board for review. The Regional Comprehensive Plan process is also advancing, with a meeting scheduled Wednesday to begin the process. Participating municipalities include Halifax Borough, Wayne Township, Jefferson Township, Halifax Township, and newly interested Rush Township.
Chairman Shearer stated the park site plan is moving forward. Supervisor Ruff reported the Township received $30,000.00 in matching funds from the County and $17,250.00 from DCNR, which is half of what DCNR will provide, with the balance to come as the Master Site Plan nears completion. A study committee will need to be chosen and evaluated by DCNR, after which the committee will solicit and select a consultant, followed by approximately one to one and a half years of consultant work and public meetings.
A citizen asked about the status of library issues raised at the Town Meeting. Supervisor Ruff stated she gave Eileen a petition and if approved, copies will be circulated. Florence McGuire asked if the issue would go on the November ballot; Supervisor Ruff said no, and that it would involve speaking with County Commissioner DiFrancesco, who oversees the Dauphin County Library Board of Trustees on which she serves.
New Business
Chairman Shearer reported attending a stormwater management workshop and a workshop on working with consultants. Supervisor Ruff attended three workshops, two on pending House and Senate bills including one to raise the advertised bid threshold from $10,000 to $25,000 and phone bid threshold from $4,000 to $7,000, and a third on homeland security.
Chairman Shearer suggested giving Wayne Township more time to send in their workers' compensation pro-rata share payment.
Adjournment
Supervisor Ruff moved to adjourn at 8:12 p.m., seconded by Supervisor Hoover; motion carried 4-0.
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