Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held September 25, 2019, 7:40 p.m. – 8:20 p.m. — personnel
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on October 14, 2019, called to order at 7:07 p.m. All five supervisors were present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The nearly three-hour meeting covered personnel decisions, municipal building improvements, multiple stormwater exemptions, and ongoing nuisance enforcement.
- Ryan Malone permanently hired as full-time road crew member — Malone will start at $15.00/hour, increasing to $16.00/hour upon completing his CDL, with use of the township truck for commuting, a $25/month phone stipend, one paid day off per month through December, and holiday pay for Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
- $13,325.79 in state fire relief funds disbursed to Halifax Fire Department — The township passed through state fire relief monies to the local department.
- Municipal building roof replacement moving forward — The board voted to advertise for quotes to replace the roof; quotes for an electrical service upgrade are also being sought separately.
- Three stormwater exemptions and waivers granted — Exemptions were approved for the Romberger property (grain bin addition) and the Sommerville property based on Engineer Tim DeWire's recommendations. A conditional stormwater waiver was also approved for Ern Tobias to repave an existing 40-by-2,700-foot airstrip runway, pending DeWire's formal report.
- Scholl Road abandonment request deferred — Property owner Bowman, who owns parcels on both sides of Scholl Road, asked the township to abandon a portion of the road. The board raised concerns about other landowners' access and will instead explore a dirt-and-gravel grant to repair and upgrade that section.
- Three active nuisance cases; nuisance report made a standing agenda item — The Neihart nuisance letter expires November 1; the Ziegler case is progressing slowly. In the Brothers case, the property owner appeared before the board and agreed to find new homes for cats and to stop shooting off loud fireworks each evening — though he reserved the right to resume on New Year's Eve.
- Matt Ulmer appointed as alternate to Dauphin County Tax Collection Committee — Ulmer, the Halifax School District Business Manager, will serve as the township's alternate representative.
- Planning Commission reviewing Lehman subdivision and Harteis sketch plan — The commission accepted the Lehman subdivision for review and discussed a sketch plan for the Linda Harteis property consisting of ten lots of approximately 10 acres each.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Supervisor, Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary) · Tim DeWire (Engineer) · Tim Belk (Roadmaster)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisor Paul moved and Supervisor McBurney seconded to approve the paid interim bills through October 14, 2019. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Schreffler moved and Supervisor McBurney seconded to pay the unpaid bills through October 14, 2019. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Paul moved and Supervisor Schreffler seconded to approve the September 9, 2019 meeting minutes. Motion carried 5-0.
EMC REPORT
EMC Tim Neiter had nothing to report as EMC but shared that as a Water and Sewer Authority representative, a survey would be sent to parcel owners between McDonalds and Accu Mold, and the Township should receive a copy.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORT
The Planning Commission accepted the Lehman Subdivision for review. A sketch plan was discussed for the Linda Harteis land consisting of ten lots of approximately 10 acres each.
ENGINEER REPORT
Supervisor Bruner moved and Supervisor McBurney seconded to approve an exemption from stormwater management requirements for the addition of a grain bin to the existing property, per Engineer Tim DeWire's memo dated October 14, 2019. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Schreffler moved and Supervisor Paul seconded to approve the stormwater management exemption request per Engineer Tim DeWire's memo dated October 14, 2019. Motion carried 5-0.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Neihart's nuisance letter expires November 1, 2019; on agenda for next month. Ziegler nuisance has ongoing slow progress; on agenda next month. Mr. Brothers was present and agreed to find new homes for cats to abate the nuisance, addressed vehicles parked behind his property, and stated he would stop shooting off loud fireworks each evening until New Year's Eve.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Tim Belk shared a tree trimming proposal. After discussion, the Roadmaster will return to the contractor with different requirements to obtain a revised proposal.
Supervisor McBurney moved and Supervisor Schreffler seconded to permanently hire Ryan Malone with the following terms: use of Township truck for commuting, $25/month phone stipend, 1 day/month paid leave for October through December, holiday pay for Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas 2019, starting rate of $15.00/hour increasing to $16.00 upon successful CDL completion. Motion carried 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Supervisor Paul moved and Supervisor Bruner seconded to appoint Matt Ulmer, Halifax School District Business Manager, as an alternate representative for the Dauphin County Tax Collection Committee. Motion carried 5-0.
The Township is currently seeking quotes to upgrade the existing electrical service in the municipal building. No formal action was taken.
Supervisor Bruner moved and Supervisor Schreffler seconded to advertise for quotes to replace the roof on the municipal building. Motion carried 5-0.
Upper Paxton Township is seeking assistance from other municipalities with electronics recycling. Halifax Township offered to assist during March 2020's recycling event and will reach out to confirm the date's availability.
Chairman Bechtel asked the Board to review the submitted proposal from TRW for discussion at next month's meeting.
After discussion, the Board agreed that the Nuisance Report will be added as a standing line item on the agenda beginning next month.
OLD BUSINESS
No substantive discussion; item placed on the agenda for next month.
A hearing has been scheduled for November 18 at District Justice Greg Johnson's office.
NEW BUSINESS
Supervisor Schreffler moved and Supervisor Bruner seconded to disburse the Fire Relief monies received to the Halifax Fire Department in the amount of $13,325.79. Motion carried 5-0.
Mr. Bowman, owner of several parcels on both sides of Scholl Road, requested the Township abandon a portion of the road. The Board discussed concerns about other parcel owners' access to their land between Mr. Bowman's parcels and the Township line. The Board will seek information on a dirt and gravel grant to repair and upgrade that section and will keep Mr. Bowman updated. Item on agenda for November.
Ern Tobias proposed repaving an existing 40' x 2,700' runway and requested a waiver of stormwater management requirements under SALDO Ordinance Article 5, Section 508. Supervisor McBurney moved and Supervisor Paul seconded to conditionally approve the waiver pending receipt of Engineer Tim DeWire's report. Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Bruner moved and Supervisor Schreffler seconded to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
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