Monthly Business Meeting
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its first monthly business meeting of 2018 on January 8, called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. Supervisors Brad Bruner, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney were also present; Randy Paul was absent. The meeting covered infrastructure purchases, a significant financial security release, public safety coordination, and ongoing discussions about volunteer firefighter tax credits.
- Mid Penn Bank financial security release: The board released $101,310 in development financial security per engineer Tom Wilson's memo, retaining $16,423 until the site is fully complete.
- Ambulance snow plowing: The township road crew was authorized to perform minimal snow plowing at the Halifax Ambulance building to ensure emergency vehicles can safely enter and exit during calls.
- Salt spreader purchase: Approved $2,750 from the Capital Improvements Account for new road salt spreaders.
- Brubaker ASA Resolution: The board passed a resolution related to the Brubaker Act 537 sewage planning area, waiving the formal reading before approval.
- Hoover/Brown code enforcement: After Mr. Hoover paid $575 toward outstanding costs upon being served, the board voted to seek a continuance on the January 18 hearing, contingent on his paying the remaining $65.28 in service costs.
- Act 172 volunteer firefighter tax credits: Fire Chief Tom Pottiger presented data on active township firefighters and 2017 call volume as the board explored adopting property tax and earned income tax credits for volunteer first responders. No action was taken; the discussion continues next month.
- Lenker Estates financial security releases (Phases I and II): Both items were tabled to the February meeting.
- Public comment — Comcast franchise fees: Flo Mallonee asked to serve on any township committee negotiating a Comcast franchise agreement and raised concerns about the cost of required cable boxes. Frank Wilmarth announced the Friends of Fort Halifax Annual Banquet & Basket Raffle on February 10.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Motions carried 4-0 to approve paid interim bills through January 8, 2018, pay current unpaid bills, and approve meeting minutes from December 11, 2017 and January 2, 2018 reorganization. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
EMC Tim Neiter attended a meeting at the Dauphin County Emergency Agency in December to discuss resource requests. The agency is transitioning from a paper format to a web-based format to streamline communication for municipalities.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
Chairperson Flo Mallonee reported that the 2018 officers will remain the same as 2017. There was nothing for the regular Planning Commission meeting.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Warshawsky reported that the Hoover/Brown matter has been settled and the agreement is being finalized. A hearing was scheduled for January 18, 2018, but Mr. Hoover paid $575 to the Township when served, leaving $65.28 in service costs. The Board voted 4-0 to request a continuance for the hearing in the event Mr. Hoover reimburses the Township.
ADMINISTRATIVE
The Board voted 4-0 to approve the purchase of salt spreaders for $2,750, to be paid from the Capital Improvements Account.
The Board voted 4-0 to transfer $932.03 from Line Item 1.406 to Line Item 1.409 and $2,256.31 from Line Item 1.406 to Line Item 1.437.
OLD BUSINESS
Representatives from the Halifax Fire Department discussed Act 172, which provides property tax and/or earned income tax credits for volunteer first responders. Chief Tom Pottiger spoke on behalf of the Fire Department, sharing a report on active firefighters in the Township and the number of calls handled in 2017. No action was taken; the item will be on the agenda for next month.
Supervisor McBurney noted that a meeting has been scheduled with HRG and DEP on January 9th. The item will be on the agenda for next month.
Supervisor McBurney reported that Dane Snyder is working with Joe Baker to wash and catalogue all the items. In early spring, Dane will clean up the dig location and mark the section off with tape. A meeting is planned in February to determine who qualifies to work in that area of the Park.
The Board voted 4-0 to dispense with the reading of the Brubaker ASA Resolution and then voted 4-0 to pass it.
NEW BUSINESS
The Halifax Area Ambulance requested the Township's help with snow plowing so they can respond to calls. The Board voted 4-0 to allow the Township road crew to perform minimal snow plowing to ensure safe entrance and exit from the Halifax Ambulance building for calls.
The Board voted 4-0 to release $101,310 of financial security and retain $16,423 until the site is complete, per Engineer Wilson's memo dated January 8, 2018.
Discussion took place on whether businesses operating in the Township should be required to register and whether a fee should be implemented if such an ordinance is adopted, in order to track which businesses have lockboxes. No action was taken.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.