Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:30 pm - 6:50 pm — Litigation
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on September 11, 2017, called to order at 7:05 pm by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. All five supervisors were present — Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney — along with Engineer Frank Gally, Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, and Roadmaster Corey Stazewski. The board worked through a packed agenda of property compliance issues, infrastructure funding, and land development matters, passing all 19 motions unanimously across a nearly two-and-a-half-hour session.
- Volunteer firefighter incentive program proposed: Halifax Borough Council representative Chris Blose addressed the board about the decline in volunteer firefighters, asking the Township to participate in a monetary incentive for emergency responders making 25% or more of calls, or alternatively to pass an ordinance supporting the Act 172 tax rebate. He will return with a specific dollar figure after the Borough sets a value. No action was taken at this meeting.
- Matamoras Road Culvert funding revised: The board rescinded last month's funding motion and voted to pay for the culvert pipe entirely from the General Fund.
- Dane Snyder appointed Fort Halifax Park liaison: The board adopted a resolution naming Dane Snyder as the Township's volunteer liaison to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and archaeological coordinator for all matters related to Fort Halifax Park.
- 1005 N. River Road — building permit compliance ordered: DEP determined a recently placed structure is outside the floodway but within the floodplain, triggering Township subdivision and land development requirements. The solicitor and engineer were authorized to send a compliance letter to the property owners.
- Nuisance letters authorized for two properties: Formal nuisance letters were approved for 207 Tourist Park Road (to trigger the Nuisance Ordinance process) and the Cedars Corner Lot (requiring the owner to mow and clean up).
- Landis given 60 days to remove old house: Mr. Landis must remove the structure to comply with his submitted Stormwater Management Plan.
- Halifax Borough subdivision for DCNR approved: The board approved the land subdivision as submitted, noting the lot is designated non-buildable and a DEP filing is required.
- 2018 budget workshops scheduled: Planning sessions were set for October 16 and October 30, 2017 at 7:00 pm.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Supervisor, Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Frank Gally (Engineer) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisors approved paid interim bills and current unpaid bills through September 11, 2017. Meeting minutes from August 14, 2017 were approved with a correction to the Matamoras Road Pipe motion to read "to use reinforced concrete pipe." The financial report was placed on file for audit.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Planning Commission Chairperson Mallonee recommended approval with no contingencies. The Board approved the subdivision plans as submitted without conditions after discussing a note on the plan designating it a non-buildable lot and a DEP requirement that the applicant file form DEP-3850-FM-BCW034. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
ENGINEER REPORT
Engineer Frank Gally provided an overview of his August 25, 2017 report covering services during August. He also reported on a site visit to Lot #18 Dustin Drive, confirming everything was constructed according to the submitted and approved plans.
SOLICITOR REPORT
The Board voted to send a formal nuisance letter to the property at 207 Tourist Park Road to begin the process of triggering the requirements of the Nuisance Ordinance. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, carried 5-0.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Corey Stazewski reported that the new truck will be assembled in two weeks. He also reminded the Board about the decision on removing garage doors from the brickhouse at Fort Halifax Park; the Board asked him to get estimates for a cinder block wall and a solid concrete wall for next month.
SEO REPORT
Reports from SEO McFeaters dated September 4, 2017 and Alternate SEO Light-Heigel dated September 11, 2017 for July's activities were received and placed on record.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Chairman Bechtel announced the Dauphin County Association of Township Officials banquet on October 5, 2017 and upcoming stormwater management seminars. Budget workshop dates were set for October 16 and October 30, 2017. Additional items discussed included plan escrow interest research by Solicitor Warshawsky, funeral bereavement policy options for the employee handbook, a West Nile virus finding at the Water Sewage Plant, a HATS report on Halifax truck traffic, and the clean 2016 audit report with no findings.
OLD BUSINESS
Dane Snyder reviewed the Gift Agreement received by the Township, noting it was standard. The Board waived the reading and adopted a resolution appointing Dane Snyder as the Township's Volunteer Liaison to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and Archeological Coordinator for all archeological matters related to Fort Halifax Park. Both motions carried 5-0.
The Board voted to accept the temporary solution and give the property owner until November 13 to comply, with an inspection to be performed by the Permit Officer. Motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
The property owners were not present. Engineer Gally reported that DEP determined the recently placed structure is not within the floodway (40 feet from the top of the bank) so no DEP permit was required, but it is in the floodplain, triggering floodplain requirements and the Township's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance for a building permit. The Board authorized the Solicitor and Engineer to send a letter requiring the owners to comply with the building permit application process. Motion carried 5-0.
The Board voted to accept documentation received by the Township indicating that neighbors were agreeable to the situation caused by filling of the ravine. Motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
The Farhat representative did not appear at the Planning Commission meeting. The Board voted to accept the request to extend the time for the Farhat Land Development Plan to December 11, 2017. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
The Board first rescinded last month's motion for funding of the Matamoras Road Culvert, then approved a new motion to fund the culvert pipe 100% from the General Fund. Both motions carried 5-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Camp Hebron requested crosswalk signs on Camp Hebron Road, but crosswalk signs require a traffic study. The Board asked Engineer Gally to research alternative sign options that would not require a traffic study, and the item was placed on next month's agenda.
The Board authorized Roadmaster Stazewski and his crew to remove a tree on Ridge Road. Motion by Supervisor Paul, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, carried 5-0.
The Board granted a waiver for stormwater management requirements per Engineer Gally's report, with conditions including a modified Operations and Maintenance Agreement indemnifying the Township and ensuring the installation matches the plans. Motion by Supervisor Paul, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, carried 5-0.
The Board voted to send a letter to Mr. Landis giving him 60 days to remove the old house in order to comply with the submitted Stormwater Management Plan. Motion by Supervisor Paul, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, carried 5-0.
The Board voted to send a nuisance letter to the parcel owner requiring them to mow and clean up the lot. Motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:41 pm. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
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