Monthly Business Meeting
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its May 11, 2020 monthly business meeting by virtual conference using Microsoft Teams — the township's first virtual meeting, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All five supervisors were present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. Much of the meeting was devoted to ratifying emergency actions taken via telephone conference calls between late March and early May, alongside regular township business.
- COVID-19 emergency actions ratified: The board formally ratified decisions made during pandemic conference calls, including a Declaration of Emergency concurrent with the Governor's orders (March 30), directing township employees to work remotely with the building locked to walk-in business (March 23), and canceling the April 13 meeting. All actions had passed 5-0 by phone.
- Act 15 tax relief resolution adopted: The board unanimously adopted a resolution providing property tax relief under Act 15 of 2020. Separately, supervisors supported Dauphin County's proposal to waive penalties on real property taxes through December 31, 2020.
- Brothers Nuisance abated (4-1): The board voted to abate the Brothers Nuisance, with Steve Schreffler casting the lone dissenting vote — the only non-unanimous decision of the meeting.
- Permit fees waived for fire victims: The board waived permit application fees for Anna Wilson Borges to replace a burned-down garage at 507 N. River Road and for Jared Mills to replace a shed lost to fire. Both motions passed unanimously.
- Cleanup days rescheduled to September 18–19: Originally planned for May 8–9, the community cleanup days were postponed during the pandemic and rescheduled to fall.
- Township engineer transition: Tim DeWire departed K&W Engineering; partner Marc Kurowski will serve as the township's engineer going forward.
- Nuisance Ordinance revision and Kieffer Road turnback tabled to June.
- Fort Halifax Park activities approved: During an April 20 conference call, the board confirmed Fort Halifax Park remained open with social distancing requirements and approved the 4H Club constructing two barn owl nesting boxes and a 12-foot-diameter "3 Sisters" garden, with the condition that harvested vegetables be donated to a food pantry or charitable organization.
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 Belk (Roadmaster)
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisors approved paid interim bills and current unpaid bills through May 11, 2020, and approved the March 9, 2020 meeting minutes. All three motions carried 5-0. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
Engineer Report
Tim DeWire is no longer with K&W Engineering. Marc Kurowski, a partner with the firm, will serve as the Township's engineer going forward. An engineer report was submitted for March but not for April.
Roadmaster Report
No written report was submitted. Tim Belk reported preparing for weed spraying, plans to assist Friends of Fort Halifax with planting sycamore trees, and meeting with potential bidders for upcoming road projects.
Nuisance Report
No new nuisances were reported. Supervisor Bruner motioned to abate the Brothers nuisance, seconded by Supervisor Paul. Motion carried 4-1, with Supervisor Schreffler voting no.
Administrative
Supervisor McBurney motioned, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, to run the bid opening meeting advertisement with the added phrase "and any other business that may come before the Township." Motion carried 5-0.
Old Business
Tabled until June.
Tabled until June.
New Business
Supervisor Schreffler motioned, seconded by Supervisor McBurney, to reschedule the cleanup days to September 18 and September 19. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Paul motioned, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, to waive the permit application fee for Anna Wilson Borges to replace a burned-down garage at 507 N. River Road. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to waive the reading of the resolution (carried 5-0), then motioned to adopt the Act 15 – 2020 Tax Relief Resolution. Motion carried 5-0.
Sunshine Board Actions — March 23, 2020
Supervisors voted 5-0 to have Halifax Township employees work remotely and lock the Township building, with public business conducted by appointment concurrent with the Governor's stay-at-home order. Supervisors also voted 5-0 to postpone the cleanup days originally scheduled for May 8 and 9.
Sunshine Board Actions — March 30, 2020
Supervisors adopted a Declaration of Emergency concurrent with the Governor's orders (5-0), allowed Elias Thompson to hook up a mobile home to existing septic on Dawn Road during construction of his new home (5-0), and cancelled the April 13, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting (5-0).
Sunshine Board Actions — April 13, 2020
Supervisors voted 5-0 to support Dauphin County's proposal to waive real property tax penalties through December 31, 2020. Supervisors also voted 5-0 to waive the permit application fee for Jared Mills, who lost his shed to a fire and applied to replace it.
Sunshine Board Actions — April 20, 2020
No formal action was taken. The Board approved the 4H Club constructing two barn owl nesting boxes—one on the north side of the barn and one along the tree line on the other side of Route 147. The Board also had no objection to 12-foot-diameter 3 Sisters gardens (corn, green beans) on the condition that harvested vegetables be donated to a food room or charitable organization.
Adjournment
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to adjourn at 8:26 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.