Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:30 PM - 6:55 PM — matters of litigation
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on May 11, 2015, called to order at 7:10 PM following a closed executive session on litigation matters. All five supervisors were present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The meeting's biggest action was awarding nearly $300,000 in road paving contracts, while also adopting a contested dog kennel ordinance and addressing improvements at Fort Halifax Park.
- Road paving contracts totaling $297,203.27 awarded: Meckley's Limestone won the bid for paving Parmer Drive, Kinsinger Road, and part of Lehman Road at $240,487.32; Martin Paving was approved for tar-and-chip work on Ebeneezer Road, McClellan Road, and part of Lehman Road at $56,715.95. Both passed 5-0.
- Dog Kennel Ordinance adopted on a 4-1 vote — the only non-unanimous decision of the evening, with the ordinance passing as previously proposed and advertised.
- Glace & Associates approved as reviewing engineers for the Halifax Commons development due to a conflict of interest with the township's regular firm K & W, whose clients are pursuing the land development. A kickoff meeting was set for May 19.
- Keith Pottiger hired as a part-time township employee (5-0).
- Flag pole approved for Fort Halifax Park, to be erected near the large rock — responding in part to public questions from Flo Mallonee about the absence of a U.S. flag at the site. Norma Shearer also reported on a successful festival held at the park on May 2.
- PennDOT snow removal contract renewed for five years covering Powells Valley Road (5-0).
- Market Street addresses changed to 105, 115, and 121 Parkview Drive at the recommendation of Dauphin County EMA (5-0); no affected residents attended.
- Several items tabled or deferred: a key lock box resolution (pending input from Light Heigel), a proposed burning ordinance, and a Route 225 speed study request on which no action was taken. Chairman Kenneth Bechtel also publicly corrected a newspaper article by Dr. Oerner in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel that inaccurately stated she had met with the full Board of Supervisors, when she had only met with two supervisors on an unrelated matter concerning Quail Commons.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Tom Wilson (Engineer) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
The Board approved paid interim bills (motion by Paul, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0), current unpaid bills (motion by Paul, seconded by Bruner, 5-0), and the April 13, 2015 meeting minutes (motion by Schreffler, seconded by Paul, 5-0). The financial report was reviewed with no comments and placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
Tim Neiter sent an email informing the Township that supervisors are required to obtain ICS 100 and ICS 700 certifications.
ENGINEER REPORT
Engineer Tom Wilson presented his April 28, 2015 report. The Borough and Township should evenly split engineering fees for the Sidewalk Grant, with a Memorandum of Understanding or intermunicipal agreement suggested. The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Paul, seconded by McBurney) to accept Glace & Associates as reviewing engineers for the Halifax Commons development, since K & W's clients asked them to do the land development. A kick-off meeting was scheduled for May 19, 2015.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky presented his May 8, 2015 report for April services. The nuisance issue at 1059 N. River Road was deferred to next month's agenda, as the pre-nuisance letter had just been mailed and the response period had not yet expired.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Corey Stazewski presented his May 11, 2015 report. The Board approved hiring Keith Pottiger as a part-time employee (motion by Bruner, seconded by Paul, 5-0), approved base work on Kinsinger Road (motion by Paul, seconded by McBurney, 5-0), and approved the purchase and installation of a flag pole by the big rock at Fort Halifax Park (motion by Paul, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0).
ADMINISTRATIVE
The Township is considering upgrading the aircard to a MiFi device with Verizon, which could be used when the EOC is opened and internet access is needed. There would be no additional cost on the current Verizon bill.
OLD BUSINESS
In April 2014, the Township contacted landowners of the former Jorich Subdivision after the engineer prepared new as-built plans reflecting stormwater management that differed from the approved subdivision plans. The Board had authorized a Memorandum of Understanding to memorialize the different but compliant stormwater management. Landowner Mr. Bettis was present but chose not to sign the MOU; he was given options by the Township engineer for making modifications.
A proposal from Dauphin County EMA was received regarding Market Street addresses. No affected residents were present. The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Bruner, seconded by Schreffler) to change the Market Street addresses to 105, 115, and 121 Parkview Drive.
The Board voted 4-1 (motion by Paul, seconded by McBurney) to adopt the Dog Kennel Ordinance as proposed and advertised.
NEW BUSINESS
The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Schreffler, seconded by Bruner) to place a press release in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel reminding residents to exercise diligence in storing manure during the summer.
The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Paul, seconded by Bruner) to approve a five-year snow removal contract renewal for Powells Valley Road between Halifax Township and PennDOT.
Chairman Bechtel reported on the auditor's meeting, noting no findings and clean audits matching DCED. The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Paul, seconded by Bruner) to move $2,000.00 for the Secretary Stipend to the audit line budget item.
The Board awarded road paving bids to two contractors: Meckley's Limestone for paving on Parmer Drive, Kinsinger Road, and part of Lehman Road at $240,487.32 (motion by Paul, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0), and Martin Paving for tar and chip work on Ebeneezer Road, McClellan Road, and part of Lehman Road at $56,715.95 (motion by McBurney, seconded by Paul, 5-0).
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:34 pm (motion by Bruner, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0).
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.