Monthly Business
Executive session held 6:30 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. — personnel
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on November 13, 2023, called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. All four supervisors were present — Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, and Steve Schreffler — along with Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, Engineer Alex Greenly, Secretary/Treasurer Sara Glace, and Roadmaster Matt Roland. A brief executive session on personnel matters was held earlier that evening. The meeting's headline action was adoption of a new solar ordinance, alongside advancement of a subdivision plan and preparations for 2024 budgeting.
- Solar ordinance adopted (4-0): The board unanimously approved a new solar ordinance, effective immediately.
- Scheidler Subdivision conditionally approved (4-0): Following a Planning Commission recommendation, the board granted two of three requested SALDO waivers — for preliminary plan procedure (Section 404) and plan scale (Section 405.1a). Rather than waiving the curb and sidewalk requirement (Sections 606/607) outright, the board required a note on the plan reserving the township's right to mandate installation under future SALDO standards. The subdivision plan itself received conditional approval per HRG, Inc.'s review letter of October 25, 2023.
- Positive Pay fraud protection enrolled (4-0): The township will enroll in Positive Pay on all its Mid Penn Bank accounts as a check fraud prevention measure.
- Camp Hebron Culvert Project out for bid: Engineer Alex Greenly reported the infrastructure project has been put out for bid.
- 2024 budget advertising authorized (4-0): The board approved 20-day public notice of the 2024 budget in PennLive.
- 2024 fee schedule adopted (4-0): Updated fees for Subdivision & Land Development Plans and Excavation Permits were approved for the coming year.
- Smith Homes engineering bill dispute unresolved: Ben Smith of Smith Homes appeared to contest an engineering bill, arguing no stormwater runoff originated from his construction site. The board took no action, leaving the question of responsibility for the bill on the agenda for the next meeting.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Alex Greenly (Engineer) · Sara Glace (Secretary/Treasurer) · Matt Roland (Roadmaster)
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisor Paul and Supervisor Schreffler moved to approve paid interim bills and current unpaid bills through November 13, 2023, both passing 4-0. Meeting minutes from October 9, October 23 (budget), and October 30 (budget) were each approved 4-0. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
Chief Tim Neiter was not present but submitted a written report for October 2023.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Planning Commission gave approval of the Scheidler Subdivision at their November 6 meeting. The Board approved 4-0 two SALDO waivers (Section 404: Preliminary Plan Procedure and Section 405.1a: Plan Scale), with the third waiver for Section 606/607 (Curbs & Sidewalks) conditioned on a plan note requiring future compliance if the township mandates curbs or sidewalks. The Board then approved 4-0 the Scheidler Subdivision Plan with conditional approval per HRG's review letter dated October 25, 2023.
ENGINEER REPORT
HRG, Inc. Engineer Alex Greenly presented his report dated November 10, 2023, for services during October 2023. He reported that the Camp Hebron Culvert Project is out for bid.
FRIENDS OF FORT HALIFAX REPORT
Roz Ogden, member of Friends of Fort Halifax, was present and submitted a report for October 2023.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Guy Julian's Letter of Credit was transferred to Jeff Roma following a property sale; no Board action was required. A stormwater management plan for Roadcap/Lenker Estates was submitted to Engineer Alex Greenly for review, with no Board action needed since a plan was already in place. The Board approved 4-0 a motion by Supervisor Paul and Supervisor Bruner to enroll in Positive Pay on all Halifax Township bank accounts with Mid Penn Bank.
OLD BUSINESS
Supervisor Schreffler and Supervisor Bruner moved to approve the Solar Ordinance, effective immediately. The motion carried 4-0.
It was advised that there is an updated Fort Halifax Feasibility Study. No further discussion or action was taken.
NEW BUSINESS
Ben Smith, owner of Smith Homes, addressed the Board regarding an engineering bill he received. He stated he is not responsible for the bill because there was no runoff from the property he was building on. The open question before the township is who is responsible for the engineering bill.
Supervisor Schreffler and Supervisor Bruner moved to advertise the 2024 Budget in PennLive for 20-day advertising, approved 4-0. Supervisor Bruner and Supervisor Schreffler moved to approve the 2024 Fee Schedule for Subdivision & Land Development Plans and Excavation Permits, also approved 4-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Bruner and Supervisor Paul moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:08 p.m. The motion carried 4-0.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.