Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:43 PM - 6:57 PM — Personnel and land acquisition
Summary
Halifax Township's Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on March 12, 2018, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Steve Schreffler, Randy Paul, and Scott McBurney. The two-hour meeting covered a broad agenda spanning a land acquisition, a liquor license transfer for Sheetz, sewage enforcement, and road infrastructure planning, following executive sessions on personnel and land acquisition.
- Land purchase approved (4-0-1): The board agreed to buy a 3.2-acre strip of land adjoining the township municipal building from the Carl Snyder Estate for $20,500. Brad Bruner abstained.
- Sheetz liquor license transfer approved (4-0-1): Following a public hearing earlier that evening, the board authorized an intermunicipal liquor license transfer from Susquehanna Township to Halifax Township for a Sheetz location. Steve Schreffler abstained on all three related votes.
- Cesspool enforcement ordered (5-0): With the Brown/Hoover matter stalled — the Browns' attorney left the firm and Hoover dropped his counsel entirely — supervisors voted to actively pursue legal enforcement against the Browns for failing to close their cesspool after a draft resolution failed to address the issue.
- Act 537 sewage plan update accepted (5-0): After a presentation by Justin Mendinsky and Cory Salmon from HRG, the board accepted HRG's proposal and timeline for updating the township's Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan.
- Road projects and Liquid Fuels: The township received $199,432.72 in Liquid Fuels funding on March 1. PennDOT estimated Kieffer Road paving at approximately $162,400 (excluding the old portion), though no Liquid Fuels money will fund that project due to the lack of a cul-de-sac. Ten roads are being considered for tar-and-chip work, with bids expected in May.
- Quail Commons deed accepted (5-0): The board accepted the Deed of Dedication for the Quail Commons development from the Lenker family.
- Permit fees waived: Township building permit fees were waived for Jay Bechtel's fire-damage repairs (4-0-1, Chairman Kenneth Bechtel abstaining) and for Friends of Fort Halifax's planned improvements at the fort (5-0). IUP student Patrick McGinty was also granted permission to conduct ground-penetrating radar thesis research at Fort Halifax.
- Boat launch update: Resident Jim Bell reported that the Fish and Boat Commission told him the Susquehanna Trail Road boat launch will never reopen. Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky was asked to verify.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman / Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Levi Swigart (Assistant Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisors approved paid interim bills through March 11, 2018 (motion by Paul, second by Schreffler, 5-0), unpaid bills as of March 12, 2018 (motion by Schreffler, second by Paul, 5-0), and the February 12, 2018 meeting minutes (motion by Paul, second by Bruner, 5-0). The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC Report
EMC Tim Neiter reported that the Township's application for gaming grant monies was conditionally approved. The Township should receive a formal letter sometime in June.
Engineer Report
Engineer Tom Wilson was absent but submitted his February 2018 report, which was placed on record. Wilson requested permission to attend monthly meetings only when a topic required his comments, and the Board approved his request.
Solicitor Report
A public hearing was held at 6:00 p.m. to transfer a liquor license from Susquehanna Township to Halifax Township for Sheetz. All Board members were present except Schreffler. The Board approved the transfer request and the associated resolution, with all three motions carrying 4-0-1 with Schreffler abstaining.
The Browns' original counsel left the law firm and another attorney took over; Hoover terminated his counsel and may not seek a replacement. Solicitor Warshawsky noted that a draft resolution document failed to address the cesspool closure issue. The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Schreffler, second by Bruner) to actively pursue enforcement of the complaint against the Browns regarding closing the cesspool.
Roadmaster Report
The Board waived the Township permit fee for resident Jay Bechtel's building authorization for fire-damage repairs (motion by Paul, second by Schreffler, 4-0-1 with Chairman Bechtel abstaining). The Board also waived the permit application fee for Friends of Fort Halifax for planned improvements (motion by Bruner, second by Paul, 5-0).
Roadmaster Stazewski provided a list of road projects for tar-and-chip or paving, with advertising approval planned for April and bid opening in May. PennDOT estimated Kieffer Road paving at approximately $162,400 excluding the old portion; the Township cannot collect Liquid Fuels without a cul-de-sac, and no Liquid Fuels will fund this project. Roads considered for tar and chipping include Kieffer, Baddorf, Dunkle School, Hilltop, Manor Drive, Round Top, Cornfield Drive, Ridge Road, Pawnee Lane, and Konick Road. The Township received $199,432.72 in Liquid Fuels on March 1, 2018.
Administrative
The Board requested revisions including clocking in on 15-minute intervals, clarifying PTO verbiage for 1-5 years of service, striking comp time for exempt employees, reviewing the sexual harassment policy, and adding language addressing PTO payout when an employee terminates during the year. Solicitor Warshawsky will prepare revisions for approval at next month's meeting.
Chairman Bechtel raised the topic from a previous COG meeting regarding municipalities being required to inventory all Township signs. Secretary Wentzel was asked to contact PSATS about enforcement of such an ordinance with PSP.
Old Business
The Board received Millersburg Borough's ordinance adoption timeline for Act 172 but had not yet reviewed it. Solicitor Warshawsky was asked to review it, and the item is on the agenda for next month.
No changes reported. The Board instructed Secretary Wentzel to send a letter to the tenants asking them to continue cleanup and reminding them of the Township's scheduled cleanup days in May. The item remains on the agenda for next month.
Justin Mendinsky and Cory Salmon from HRG presented their proposal and timeline for updating the Act 537 Plan. After discussion and Board questions, a motion by Paul, seconded by McBurney, to accept HRG's proposal was approved 5-0.
Solicitor Warshawsky received a check from Gary Lenker and the signed Deed of Dedication page from Donald and Michelle Lenker. The Board voted 5-0 to dispense with reading the resolution and 5-0 to accept the Deed of Dedication.
The Board voted 5-0 to deduct a $306 workers' compensation increase for Halifax Ambulance from the 2018 ambulance donation amount. A separate motion passed 5-0 to deduct the $2,652 workers' compensation increase for Halifax Fire Department from the amount originally dedicated to Halifax Ambulance for 2018.
Two applications were received to fill the vacancy created by Fred Ford on the Halifax Area Recreation Authority. The Board appointed Scott Corsnitz as the Township's representative (motion by McBurney, second by Paul, 4-0-1 with Chairman Bechtel abstaining). A letter will be sent to the other applicant.
New Business
The Board voted 5-0 (motion by Paul, second by McBurney) to permit IUP student Patrick McGinty to conduct his thesis work using ground penetration radar test units at Fort Halifax.
The Board voted 4-0-1 (motion by McBurney, second by Paul, with Bruner abstaining) to enter into a sales agreement with the Carl Snyder Estate to purchase a 3.2-acre strip of land adjoining the Township's Municipal Building and land for $20,500.
Adjournment
Motion by Bruner, second by Chairman Bechtel, to adjourn at 9:11 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.