Monthly Business
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on June 14, 2021, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The meeting covered a packed agenda over more than two hours, with nuisance enforcement dominating much of the discussion. The most notable action was a split vote to enforce the township's fireworks ordinance after sparks from illegal fireworks struck the township building.
Fireworks enforcement approved 4-1: The board voted to seek full enforcement of the Fireworks Ordinance after fireworks shot on May 30, 2021 sent sparks onto the township building. Chairman Kenneth Bechtel cast the sole dissenting vote.
American Rescue Plan consultant hired: The board unanimously retained Zelenkofske Axelrod to advise on the use of federal American Rescue Plan funds.
Boyer Street Parking Ordinance adopted: A new parking ordinance for Boyer Street was approved unanimously.
Multiple nuisance complaints addressed: The board authorized pre-nuisance letters for a property with stray cats and odor issues plus adjacent trash accumulation, an unmowed vacant lot, and loud music from riverside camp lots managed by Simmons Management on North River Road. A separate nuisance situation on Kinsinger Road was escalated to the next step of the enforcement process.
Portal Enterprises stormwater plan conditionally approved: The board conditionally approved a stormwater management application from Portal Enterprises based on the township engineer's June 1 review memo.
Kayak camps approved at Fort Halifax Park: Stephanie Hoover of Appalachian Kayak received conditional approval to hold children's kayak camps at Fort Halifax Park on five dates through August, contingent on providing a certificate of insurance naming the township as additional insured.
Stormwater pipe repairs planned: Roadmaster Tim Belk reported that crushed stormwater pipes on North 3rd and North 4th Streets are being assessed and will be replaced before upcoming paving work.
Ag Security and Right to Farm clarified: Bruce Snyder was accepted into the township's agricultural security program. In a related public comment, David Hause asked whether the township had a Right to Farm Ordinance; Chairman Bechtel explained that Right to Farm is a statewide law and that farmers are already exempt from nuisance ordinances under Act 43.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary) · Tim Belk (Roadmaster) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Marc Kurowski (Engineer)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisor Paul and Supervisor Schreffler moved to approve paid interim bills through June 14, 2021 (5-0). Supervisor McBurney and Supervisor Paul moved to pay unpaid bills through the same date (5-0). Minutes from the May 10, 2021 meeting were approved (5-0), and the financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
EMC Tim Neiter submitted a written report noting he passed the Part 107 Certification for Pilot in Command and registered the drone with the FAA. EMC training at DEMA is scheduled for July at a date TBD, and the next regularly scheduled meeting is July 22nd at the Halifax Fire Department.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
Sketch plans were received and discussed for development and highway occupancy permitting at the Cedars lot at Routes 225/147. A teleconference was held on June 10th with PennDOT, Township representatives, the Township Engineer, and the applicant's engineer.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky submitted his report dated June 10, 2021 for services during May. Supervisor McBurney asked about a nuisance complaint he received; a drive-by inspection found the property appeared cleaned up from the road, but the neighbor reported items were moved to the rear. The neighbor was advised to submit a formal complaint to the Township if they still consider it a nuisance.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Tim Belk reported cleanup days went well, using 12 roll-offs for trash and three for metal scrap. Stormwater pipes on North 3rd and North 4th Streets are being explored for crush damage and will be replaced before upcoming paving. Upper Paxton Township will no longer host electronics recycling, so Roadmaster Belk asked the Board to consider Halifax Township as a site; the Board directed that the Dauphin County Recycling Director be contacted to discuss requirements.
FRIENDS OF FORT HALIFAX
Supervisor Paul and Supervisor Schreffler moved to allow the Halifax Girl Scouts, led by Jennifer Teeter, to place a letterboxing package along one of the trails at Fort Halifax Park as part of earning a badge. Motion carried 5-0.
NUISANCE REPORT
Supervisor Schreffler and Supervisor Bruner moved to seek full enforcement of the Fireworks Ordinance after sparks from fireworks hit the Township building on May 30, 2021 (4-1, Chairman Bechtel voting no). Pre-nuisance letters were authorized for a property with stray cats and odor complaints plus adjacent trash accumulation (5-0), and for an unmowed vacant lot (5-0). A letter to Simmons Management was approved regarding loud music from camp lots on North River Road (5-0). The Board also voted to proceed to the next step in the nuisance process for a situation on Kinsinger Road (5-0).
ADMINISTRATIVE
Supervisor Paul and Supervisor Schreffler moved to retain Zelenkofske Axelrod as consultants for the American Rescue Plan funds (5-0). Building Inspection Underwriters of PA were approved to use the Township meeting room one day a week as needed for UCC permit applications and distribution. The Township also received a thank you card from the Halifax Swim Club for a $1,290.00 donation.
OLD BUSINESS
The Board approved a Tax Collection Committee resolution ratifying extended EIT filing deadlines and waiving certain penalties (5-0). The Boyer Street Parking Ordinance was adopted (5-0). The Solicitor reported receiving a PennDOT permit form for cutting sycamore trees and trimming vines on PennDOT right-of-way at Township expense. Portal Enterprises' stormwater management application was conditionally approved per the Township Engineer's June 1, 2021 memo (5-0). A to Z Construction, North Country Unlimited agreement, Kieffer Road land transfers, and the railroad crossing were all tabled to next month. A meeting regarding the Fort Halifax Barn and Farmhouse was scheduled for June 23rd with Carl Dixon, the PA Conservancy, Board members, the Roadmaster, and Friends of Fort Halifax.
NEW BUSINESS
Stephanie Hoover of Appalachian Kayak requested use of Fort Halifax Park for children's kayak camps on five dates from June 28 through August 9; the Board conditionally approved upon receipt of a Certificate of Insurance listing Halifax Township as additional insured (5-0). Supervisor Bruner and Supervisor Schreffler moved to accept Bruce Snyder into the Ag Security program (5-0).
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Bruner and Supervisor Paul moved to adjourn at 9:24 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.