Monthly Business
Executive session held 6:08 p.m. to 6:51 p.m. — Possibility of litigation
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on June 12, 2023, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The meeting followed a closed executive session on potential litigation and covered a wide range of business including a land development approval, property nuisance enforcement, updated permit fees, and personnel changes on the Planning Commission.
- Hoover Chicken House land development conditionally approved: The board granted four code waivers and gave conditional approval to Timothy Hoover's land development plan, subject to meeting all requirements in HRG, Inc.'s April 28 review letter, with particular attention to administrative comment #2 and financial security.
- Planning Commission turnover: Flo Mallonee's resignation from the Planning Commission was accepted, and Don Hentz was appointed to fill the vacancy.
- Nuisance enforcement letters sent to five properties: Pre-nuisance letters were authorized for U & Me Properties, LLC at the SR 147/Peters Mountain Road intersection for noxious weeds unmowed all year, and for four other property owners on Kinsinger Road, Peters Mountain Road, and South River Road for grass exceeding 12 inches.
- New permit forms and excavation fee adopted: Updated building, demolition, and excavation permit forms were approved, with excavation permits set at a $150 minimum plus applicable engineer fees.
- Roadmaster position advertised: The board authorized a job posting in The Daily Item and The Citizen Standard for a full-time Roadmaster requiring a CDL license, with applications due July 14, 2023.
- Township ordinance and partial guaranty adopted: The board approved a Halifax Township Ordinance and Partial Guaranty, waiving the formal public reading.
- Solar ordinance sent to Planning Commission for review: Rather than act on a proposed solar ordinance drafted by Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, the board deferred it to the Planning Commission for review first.
- Two sponsorship and signage requests declined: The board decided against sponsoring Halifax Cheer for 2023–2024, reasoning it would be impractical to fund one local group without funding all others. A resident's request for a hidden driveway sign was also denied as not providing viable benefit to the township.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Supervisor / Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Alex Greenly (Engineer (HRG, Inc.)) · Tim Belk (Roadmaster) · Sara Glace (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisors approved paid bills through June 12, 2023 (motion by McBurney/Paul, 5-0) and unpaid bills through May 8, 2023 (motion by Schreffler/Paul, 5-0). Meeting minutes from May 8 and May 22, 2023 were approved (motions by Paul/McBurney, both 5-0). The financial report was placed on file for audit. EMC Chief Tim Neiter was not present but submitted a report for May 2023.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission met June 5, 2023. Supervisors accepted Flo Mallonee's resignation from the Planning Commission (motion by Bruner/Paul, 5-0). Timothy Hoover's Chicken House Land Development Plan received conditional approval: four waivers listed in HRG's April 28, 2023 review letter were approved (motion by Bruner/Schreffler, 5-0), and conditional approval was granted contingent on meeting HRG review requirements with attention to administrative comment #2 and financial security (motion by McBurney/Paul, 5-0).
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky submitted his report dated June 6, 2023 for May services. He advised the Board on new developments in the John & Sandy Brown/Chris Hoover case, noting that the Browns must now provide proof that their cesspool was pumped prior to being filled in.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Tim Belk submitted a report for May 2023. He requested it go on record that Jeff Grosser gave permission to pave over the sewer inlet located on State Route 147.
FRIENDS OF FORT HALIFAX REPORT
Bruce Henry submitted a report for May 2023 with no action items. The Friends of Fort Halifax announced that Andrew Frech would perform as a banjo entertainer at the Yeager House in Fort Halifax Park on Wednesday, June 21, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
NUISANCE REPORT
Supervisors voted 5-0 to send pre-nuisance letters to five property owners for unmaintained lots: U & Me Properties, LLC (parcel 29-016-024) for noxious weeds at SR 147 and Peters Mountain Road; Steven Sipe (parcel 29-009-067) for high grass on Kinsinger Road; Jeffrey Marks, Jr. (parcel 29-028-023) at 3059 Peters Mountain Road; Garam Farhat (parcels 29-016-048 & 29-016-052) on South River Road; and Galen Snyder (parcel 29-025-037) at 3213 Peters Mountain Road. All motions were made by McBurney/Schreffler.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Supervisors approved placing a full-time Roadmaster advertisement in The Daily Item and The Citizen Standard, with applications accepted until July 14, 2023 (motion by McBurney/Schreffler, 5-0). The position requires a CDL license and equipment experience. Don Hentz was appointed as a new Planning Commission member (motion by Paul/Schreffler, 5-0).
OLD BUSINESS
Zeigler's Nuisance Complaint and Keiffer Road had no discussion or action. Supervisors approved new building, demolition, and excavation permit forms, setting the excavation permit fee at $150.00 minimum plus applicable engineer fees (motion by Bruner/Schreffler, 5-0). The Halifax Township Ordinance and Partial Guaranty was approved with reading dispensed (motions by McBurney/Schreffler, both 5-0). The Board directed the Planning Commission to review the Solar Ordinance drafted by Solicitor Warshawsky before proceeding with approval.
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Bruner motioned and Supervisor Schreffler seconded to adjourn at 9:03 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.