Monthly Business
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on January 8, 2024, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The two-hour session was dominated by land development decisions, with the board granting conditional approvals for three projects recommended by the Planning Commission. The meeting's only split vote came on an ADA-accessible deck at the historic Yeager House.
Anderson solar farm conditionally approved (5-0): The board granted plan waivers and conditional approval for a solar panel farm land development plan, pending satisfaction of administrative comments from township engineer HRG, Inc.
Billow subdivision conditionally approved (5-0): Approved with waivers for preliminary plan procedure and plan scale. The board deferred requiring curbs and sidewalks but reserved the right to mandate them in the future via a note on the plan.
Tobias Family Trust subdivision conditionally approved (5-0): Approved with similar waivers plus an additional stormwater management waiver, with the same future curb/sidewalk condition as the Billow plan.
Fort Halifax Yeager House deck approved 3-2: The board authorized construction of a 12' x 24' ADA-accessible deck with ramp on the west side of the Yeager House, with work to begin April 2024. Steve Schreffler and Scott McBurney voted against. Contractor Robert Brightbill plans to involve Dauphin County Vo-Tech students in the project. The $75 building permit fee was waived unanimously.
EMS agreement with Upper Paxton Township (5-0): Approved a Memorandum of Understanding formalizing ambulance and EMS coverage arrangements between the two municipalities.
Professional auditor transition (5-0): Voted to advertise for a certified public accountant firm to replace the township's elected auditors for the 2023 fiscal year examination.
$1,000 donation to Halifax Food Room (5-0): Approved a donation to the Halifax Food Room, a ministry of Halifax Community Church that serves approximately 170 families — roughly 65% of Halifax households — each week.
Nuisance ordinance penalties discussed but unchanged: The board considered whether the nuisance ordinance should carry harsher penalties, but Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky advised that penalties were already at the legal maximum.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman / Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Sara Glace (Secretary/Treasurer) · Matt Roland (Roadmaster) · Alex Greenly (Engineer (HRG, Inc.))
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisor Schreffler motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve paid interim bills through January 8, 2024. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Schreffler motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve unpaid bills through January 8, 2024. Motion carried 5-0.
Three sets of minutes were approved unanimously: the December 11, 2023 regular meeting (motioned by Supervisor McBurney), the December 26, 2023 special meeting (motioned by Supervisor Schreffler), and the January 2, 2024 reorganization meeting (motioned by Supervisor McBurney). All seconded by Supervisor Paul and carried 5-0.
Planning Commission Recommendation
The Board approved waivers for SLDO Section 404 (Preliminary Plan Procedure) and SLDO Section 405.1.a & 508.8.b.i (Plan Scale), then granted conditional approval contingent on satisfying administrative comments from HRG, Inc.'s December 22, 2023 letter. Both motions carried 5-0.
The Board approved waivers for SLDO Sections 404 and 405.1.a and deferred compliance with Sections 606 and 607 (Curbs and Sidewalks), conditioned on a plan note requiring future installation if the township mandates it. Conditional approval was granted pending satisfaction of HRG, Inc.'s December 20, 2023 review comments. Both motions carried 5-0.
The Board approved waivers for SLDO Sections 404, 405.1.a, and 508 (Stormwater Management), and deferred compliance with Sections 606 and 607 (Curbs and Sidewalks) with the same future-installation note condition. Conditional approval was granted pending satisfaction of HRG, Inc.'s December 20, 2023 review comments. Both motions carried 5-0.
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve a time extension for U & Me Properties until May 13, 2024. Motion carried 5-0.
Friends of Fort Halifax Report
Bruce Henry of the Friends of Fort Halifax presented the project for a deck on the west side of the Yeager House, noting Robert Brightbill would bring Dauphin County Vo-Tech students to assist. The Board approved the deck construction starting April 2024 on a 3-2 vote, with Supervisors Schreffler and McBurney opposing. A separate motion to waive the $75.00 building permit fee carried 5-0.
Administrative
Supervisor Schreffler motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve advertising Halifax Township's intent to appoint a certified public accountant firm to replace the elected auditors for the 2023 fiscal year examination. Motion carried 5-0.
Old Business
Supervisor McBurney reported that the Borough of Carlisle and Senator Rothman's Office would provide letters of support for the railroad crossing. A Zoom meeting was scheduled for January 26, 2024 to discuss the reopening of the Boat Launch.
Supervisor McBurney motioned, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement with Upper Paxton Township for EMS/ambulance coverage. Motion carried 5-0.
New Business
Steven Von Bueren attended the meeting to dispute responsibility for an engineer expense related to a complaint at 9 Birch Avenue, stating it was the first time he had heard about it. The Board asked him to return at the February 12, 2024 meeting.
Supervisor Schreffler motioned, seconded by Supervisor McBurney, to donate $1,000.00 to the Halifax Food Room, a ministry of Halifax Community Church that supports approximately 170 families weekly, representing about 65% of Halifax families. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Paul motioned, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, to discontinue participation in the WREP Program. Motion carried 5-0.
The Board discussed whether the Nuisance Ordinance should carry harsher penalties. Solicitor Warshawsky advised that the penalties were already at the maximum allowed.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.