Monthly Business
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on January 11, 2021, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The meeting, held in person and by virtual conference, ran nearly two and a half hours and covered a wide agenda including two land development approvals, adoption of a fireworks ordinance, the 2021 tax rate resolution, and an ongoing discussion about the future of the Fort Halifax barn.
- Flight Source land development conditionally approved. The board unanimously granted waivers and conditional approval of the Flight Source preliminary/final plans, pending resolution of engineer review comments.
- Sponsler Subdivision/Side Lot Addition conditionally approved. Waivers for Sections 404, 606, and 607 were granted, and the subdivision plans were conditionally approved with the stipulation that if a structure on parcel 29-004-006 is converted to a permanent residence, it must comply with UCC permitting.
- Fireworks Ordinance adopted unanimously, formalizing township regulations on consumer fireworks.
- 2021 tax rates established. The board passed the annual tax resolution setting rates for municipal real estate, per capita, earned income, fire collection, real estate transfer, and local services taxes, while continuing to waive the occupation tax. A separate resolution set the tax collector commission compensation beginning in 2022.
- Friends of Fort Halifax fundraiser approved 3–2. The board narrowly approved a chicken barbecue fundraiser at Fort Halifax Park in April, with Chairman Kenneth Bechtel and Randy Paul voting no.
- $10,000 approved for tree trimming. The board authorized an additional $10,000 from the General Fund to extend Goods Tree Service's trimming work throughout the township for another week.
- Fort Halifax barn insurance in jeopardy. Following a January 8 walkthrough with engineers, Friends of Fort Halifax members, and Pennsylvania Conservancy representatives, the board learned the township's insurer is no longer willing to cover the barn. The township plans to approach its EMC representative with a remediation plan and timeline while continuing a stay of demolition.
- $1,000 donation accepted from Lake Tobias, to be used at the board's discretion. Chairman Kenneth Bechtel also recommended setting aside funds for Matamoras Road improvement, Fort Halifax, and the Hershey Road project at next month's meeting.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary) · Tim Belk (Roadmaster) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Marc Kurowski (Engineer)
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisors approved paid interim bills through January 11, 2021 (motion by McBurney, second by Schreffler, 5-0), unpaid bills through January 11, 2021 (motion by Schreffler, second by Paul, 5-0), and the December 14, 2020 meeting minutes (motion by Paul, second by Schreffler, 5-0). The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC Report
EMC Tim Neiter reported that Halifax Ambulance increased their pay scale from $10.00 to $12.00 per hour to attract and retain EMTs. The Halifax Fire Department ordered a new brush truck for $122,000, expected in operation by June or July, funded by gaming monies and fundraisers. The Fire Department also requested a meeting with the Board to reinvigorate the Fire Services Agreement.
Planning Commission Recommendations
For Flight Source LDP, the Board approved Waiver 404 of the Preliminary/Final Plans (motion by Bruner, second by Paul, 5-0) and conditionally approved the plans with B1, B8, and B9 engineer review comments to be finalized (motion by McBurney, second by Paul, 5-0). For the Sponsler Subdivision/Side Lot Addition, the Board approved waiver requests for Sections 404, 606, and 607 (motion by McBurney, second by Schreffler, 5-0) and conditionally approved the subdivision plans with comments B1 and C4 to be met, noting that the structure at 29-004-006 must comply with UCC permitting if converted to a permanent residence (motion by Schreffler, second by Paul, 5-0).
Engineer Report
Engineer Marc Kurowski submitted his report dated January 5, 2021 for December services, placed on record. K & W is currently working on contract documents for the Hershey Road Project.
Solicitor Report
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky submitted his report dated January 6, 2021 for December 2020 services. He reported there may be some monies left to be dispersed related to UDITO. Attorney Emily Hoffman is having her client provide certification for the closed cesspool in the Hoover matter.
Roadmaster Report
Roadmaster Tim Belk submitted a written report for December activity. Goods Tree Service began trimming in the Township starting on Shammos Road. The Board approved an additional $10,000 from the General Fund for another week of trimming throughout the Township (motion by McBurney, second by Bruner, 5-0).
Friends of Fort Halifax
The Board approved a request from the Friends of Fort Halifax to hold a chicken barbeque fundraiser at the park in April, passing 3-2 with Chairman Bechtel and Supervisor Paul voting no.
Administrative
The Board accepted a $1,000 donation from Lake Tobias to be used where the Board sees fit (motion by Schreffler, second by Paul, 5-0). Chairman Bechtel recommended the Board consider moving monies to an account for Matamoras Road improvement and setting funds aside for Fort Halifax and Hershey Road, to be on the agenda for next month.
Old Business
The Board adopted the Fireworks Ordinance (motion by Paul, second by Bruner, 5-0).
Supervisor McBurney spoke with Brian Shoop and plans to meet with Mr. Shoop along with Roadmaster Tim Belk if any concerns arise. Solicitor Warshawsky is currently working on the vacating of lots.
Supervisor McBurney spoke to Sunbury City Board members, who provided a letter of support for closing the Packer Street Railroad crossing to create a new one at Fort Halifax Park. Ron Hull from Norfolk Southern recommended that Sunbury name the Fort Halifax Crossing on the demolition permit application.
A meeting and walkthrough was held January 8 at Fort Halifax Park with Nathan Troutman of Deibler, Straub and Troutman, Friends of Fort Halifax members Norma Shearer, Bruce Henry, and Vicki Vittolo, Pennsylvania Conservancy representatives Anna Yelk and Ben Mummert, Roadmaster Tim Belk, and Board members. The insurance company is not interested in continuing property coverage for the barn. Bruce Henry discussed remedial work to keep the buildings insurable. The Township plans to approach EMC with a plan and timeline and discuss dropping coverage while continuing the stay from demolition.
New Business
The Board waived the reading and passed the Tax Resolution establishing tax rates for Calendar Year 2021, including waiving the Occupation Tax and setting millage for Municipal Real Estate, Per Capita Tax, Earned Income Tax, Fire Collection Tax, Real Estate Transfer Tax, and Local Services Tax (5-0). The Board also waived the reading and passed a Resolution to establish compensation for the Township Tax Collector Commission commencing in 2022 (5-0).
The Board approved advertising for the appointment of an auditor for the 2020 Township financials, including the verbiage "and any other business that comes before the Board," with a special meeting date of February 22, 2021 at 7:00 pm (motion by Bruner, second by Paul, 5-0).
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.