Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:10 PM - 7:00 PM — personnel, possible land purchase, and litigation
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on February 12, 2018, called to order at 7:07 PM by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. All five supervisors were present: Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Steve Schreffler, Randy Paul, and Scott McBurney. The board held an executive session beforehand on personnel, a possible land purchase, and litigation. The wide-ranging meeting covered economic development initiatives, land development updates, sewage planning, and several community matters.
- Keystone Opportunity Zone application approved for the former Willits Shoe factory building (four parcels), submitting it for the state's 10-year local and state tax waiver program aimed at attracting redevelopment to the vacant property (5-0).
- Sheetz liquor license transfer hearing scheduled for March 12 at 6:00 PM; the board approved advertising the proposed intermunicipal liquor license transfer (5-0).
- Act 537 sewage planning initiated: After HRG representatives Justin Mendinsky and Cory Salmon discussed a pre-planning meeting held with DEP, the board voted to request a formal budget from HRG to complete an Act 537 sewage facilities plan for the township (5-0).
- Quail Commons streets accepted for dedication: The board accepted $5,000 from the developer to repair inlets and streets to township specifications, with a Deed of Dedication to be executed at the next meeting (5-0).
- Lenker Estates letters of credit reduced: Phase I Letter of Credit #348 was reduced to $18,260 after the board formally removed a water line and sidewalk section that had been eliminated in practice since 2016 but never updated in the plans. Phase II letters of credit were reduced to $93,392.20 (#351) and $990 (#352) for remaining incomplete items (all 5-0).
- Roaming chickens enforcement: The Parthemore property's chickens had been caught and relocated; the board voted to send a formal nuisance letter if they get loose again (5-0).
- Lettich & Zippay of Pottsville appointed as the township's CPA firm by resolution (5-0). The board also accepted a $1,000 donation from Lake Tobias, with future use of the funds requiring separate board action.
- Roll-back tax waiver approved for Halifax Borough property being conveyed to DCNR, required to bring the parcel out of Clean and Green for the transfer (5-0). The Farhat Land Development Plan received an extension to May 14, 2018, as PennDOT's traffic study is still in early stages.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (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 through February 13, 2018 (motion by Supervisor Paul, second by Supervisor McBurney, 5-0), approved unpaid bills as of February 13, 2018 (motion by Supervisor Schreffler, second by Supervisor Paul, 5-0), approved the January 8, 2018 meeting minutes (motion by Supervisor Schreffler, second by Supervisor Bruner, 5-0), and placed the financial report on file for audit.
EVERBRIDGE AGREEMENT
A Mutual Agreement for Use of a Public Notification Services through Authorized Users had been approved at a previous meeting. The Board voted 5-0 to ratify the Everbridge Agreement (motion by Supervisor Bruner, second by Supervisor Schreffler).
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Warshawsky presented his report dated February 8, 2018 covering January services. Key items: the Board voted 5-0 to execute the Members 1st plans contingent on receipt of the signed O&M Agreement and Developer's Agreement; 207 Tourist Park Road had no progress and was tabled; the Parthemore roaming chickens issue was resolved with chickens caught and relocated, with a 5-0 vote to send a formal nuisance letter if they get loose again; Quail Commons streets were inspected and the Board voted 5-0 to accept $5,000 to repair inlets and prepare the Deed of Dedication; and the Brown/Hoover complaint was withdrawn without prejudice (5-0) pending execution of the agreement with payment.
ADMINISTRATIVE
The Board voted 5-0 to retain Cloud 5 Solutions as the webmaster for the Halifax Township website for $390.61 for 2018 (motion by Supervisor McBurney, second by Supervisor Bruner).
OLD BUSINESS
Act 172 was tabled after further discussion. 207 Tourist Park Road had no changes and remains on next month's agenda. Secretary Wentzel reviewed the existing Meeting Room Policy and recommended using it as-is. Justin Mendinsky and Cory Salmon from HRG discussed the Act 537 preplanning meeting held with DEP, Supervisor Paul, and Supervisor McBurney; the Board voted 5-0 to ask HRG for a budget to complete an Act 537 Plan. For Lenker Estates Phase I, the Board voted 5-0 to eliminate the water line and sidewalk section from the plans, then voted 5-0 to reduce Letter of Credit #348 to $18,260.00 and approve revised plans. For Lenker Estates II, the Board voted 5-0 to reduce Letter of Credit #351 to $93,392.20 and Letter of Credit #352 to $990. Business Registrations/Key Lock Boxes was tabled. For the Farhat LDP Extension, Tony Trost reported the PennDOT traffic study is in early stages and the NPDES permit has been issued; the Board voted 5-0 to grant an extension to May 14, 2018.
NEW BUSINESS
The Board voted 5-0 to appoint Lettich & Zippay of Pottsville, PA as CPA firm by resolution. Lake Tobias donated $1,000 to the Township with no specific purpose; accepted 5-0 with future use requiring Board action. The HARA Representative replacement for Fred Ford was tabled until next month. Cleanup days were set for May 11-12, 2018 (5-0). Supervisor McBurney explained the Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) program and the Board voted 5-0 to submit the Willits Shoe factory building (four parcels) for the 10-year tax waiver program. The Board voted 5-0 to advertise a hearing for March 12 at 6:00 PM on the intermunicipal liquor license transfer to Sheetz. The Red Rose Motel mobile home park issue requires determining when the first mobile home was placed to assess ordinance compliance. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the roll-back tax waiver for Halifax Borough property being sold to DCNR.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9:24 PM on a motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Chairman Bechtel, passing 5-0.
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