Monthly Business Meeting

Benjamin Kirk from Flemish Down requested supervisor support to add land from the Flemish Down Plans north of the Appalachian Trail to the United States Tract. The board conditionally approved the change from the plans dated July 1, 2020, pending engineer review (4-0).

The board approved paid interim bills and current unpaid bills through July 13, 2020. Meeting minutes from June 8, 2020 and June 23, 2020 were approved. The financial report was placed on file for audit.

EMC Neiter announced fireworks scheduled for August 15 at dusk with a rain date of August 16 and reported that PPE needs were met. A June 4, 2020 storm caused property damage on Armstrong Valley Road; the Weather Service determined the damage was caused by straight-line winds.

The Planning Commission accepted plans for review for Flight Source to construct a new building in Matamoras. Kevin and Mike Ricker of Ricker Construction presented a sketch plan for a 25-acre parcel across from Halifax High School, proposing phased multi-unit housing with two-, three-, four-, and five-unit structures; formal plans will be submitted later.

The board voted to initiate enforcement action on North Country (4-0) and authorized K & W Engineers to advertise for bids on the Hershey Road Culvert for opening at the next meeting (4-0). Engineer Marc Kurowski will review the HAWASA plans with the flood plain ordinance and provide a letter to HRG.

Roadmaster Tim Belk submitted a written report. Tar and chipping was set to begin the following week, weather permitting. Middle Road patchwork was estimated at roughly $18,000 and would fall under prevailing wage if done this year; supervisors directed Belk to pull together numbers for advertising.

The board approved siting a designated vehicle pathway for park visitors launching watercraft from Goose Landing and accessing the North River Campsite (4-0). Bruce Henry reported the railroad crossing upgrade would cost $300,000–$400,000; Supervisor McBurney noted federal funding would require converting it from a private to a public crossing. Further discussion addressed making the road into Fort Halifax Park a public road.

The board voted to send a formal nuisance complaint for high grass/weeds on the Farhat property on South River Road (4-0). A separate motion was approved to send a pre-nuisance letter for 205 Mountain Road, contingent upon inspection by Roadmaster Tim Belk (4-0).

The township received remaining 2019 Fire Relief Funds that had been withheld due to audit findings related to Halifax Ambulance; the findings were cleared and the board approved releasing $6,563.45 to the Halifax Fire Department (4-0). Insurance for Fort Halifax structures was deferred to the August agenda.

Andy Brought, Service Forester for Weiser State Forest (DCNR), reported on the sycamore tree inventory along State Route 147, identifying three dead Oriental Plane Trees and one questionable on each side of the route, and advised mulching young trees at Fort Halifax. The board voted to have Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky initiate enforcement action and seek a monetary penalty against Smokee Bros for stormwater management violations (4-0), and to send a cease and desist letter to A to Z Construction regarding permitting (4-0).

The board voted to co-sponsor a gaming grant application for the Halifax Fire Department to purchase a new brush truck (4-0). Stormwater management actions included granting the Gainer exemption request per Engineer Marc Kurowski's June 16 memo (4-0), conditionally approving the Snyder plan per Kurowski's July 9 report (4-0), and conditionally approving the J R Tobias Memorial Airport application per Kurowski's July 10 report (4-0). The board also approved sending a letter to the owner of 2845 Peters Mountain Road regarding stormwater runoff concerns (4-0) and approved execution of a 5-year PennDOT Municipal Winter Traffic Services Agreement (4-0).

The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 p.m. on a motion by Supervisor Schreffler, seconded by Supervisor Paul (4-0).