DETURKSVILLE - Washington Township residents will see a new face at the supervisors' table this month.
Dawn A. Koch, Schuylkill Haven, was appointed Oct. 21 as secretary/treasurer, effective Nov. 11. She replaces Kelly Handling, who submitted her resignation last month to accept full-time employment.
Although Koch's selection was unanimously approved, Supervisor W. Randy Stump, who served in that position for 34 years, said after the meeting that Koch would not have been his first choice.
"She's a very competent lady, but there were three other applicants with municipal experience who were more qualified," Stump, a supervisor for nearly 36 years, said.
Stump said he had passed along his recommendation that the applicant with more than 10 years experience as a township secretary/treasurer, as well as seven years as a borough secretary/treasurer, to Supervisor Wendell Gainer before he left for vacation. Neither of the committee members - Gainer, Chairman Leon Lutz and Roadmaster Gary Neidlinger - discussed their selection with him before a final decision was made.
"In fact," said Stump, "I didn't know who was selected until just prior to the meeting."
Budget
The board also held a budgeting meeting with Stump and Lutz absent. According to Gainer, he, Handling and Neidlinger also looked at major projects besides roads, such as the proposed township office.
To cut down on the cost, he said the township could purchase a modular for $100,000. Since construction estimates for three township bridges had just become available before the discussion, he said the board would need to take another look at the budget since the estimate used for bridge repair/rebuild was low.
"We'd need to increase taxes or take out a loan," Gainer said. "I don't like to raise taxes."
Gainer also said that the board expects to end this year $200,000 under budget.
"That's not just because of the supervisors, but also the employees," he said.
Handling suggested the supervisors work on a "capital project budget," although she said she was not comfortable saying the township knows now what an average year is.
Looking ahead, there will be $262,000 available for bridges since the liquid fuels account beginning balance for 2014 is $117,167 and an additional $145,000 is expected next year.
After Handling's explanation, the board agreed that the proposed budget was ready for advertising.
Bridges
Ryan Fasnacht of Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, presented estimates for both the rehabilitation and the replacement of three township bridges.
The estimate to rehabilitate Grist Mill Road bridge totals $172,456, with replacement estimated at $441,000. The bridge on Kutz Road was estimated at $185,967 to rehabilitate and $327,050 to replace.
Fasnacht provided an estimate of $175,217 to rehabilitate the bridge on Roedersville Road and two replacement estimates, one for $491,000 and one for $609,300.
According to Fasnacht, the estimates include design and permitting costs which would get the "bids on the supervisors' table." Any work done after that would be additional.
"We'll take under consultation and we'll decide what the best path is for each bridge," Gainer said.
Ordinance
Solicitor Rick Wiest said that he is still waiting for a final determination from the state Department of Community and Economic Development before a new flood plain ordinance can be adopted.
According to Wiest, the ordinance was to be completed in 2011, but the person working on it at DCED changed three times. He suggested the modern version that he submitted to the board was up to date and recommended that the board study and discuss it with the township's engineer.
Fasnacht said that the maps are not changed but are easier to read. He said last year's legislation had increased flood insurance rates and placed more responsibility on municipalities.
With enforcement a big thing, Fasnacht recommended designating an enforcement officer that could be a zoning officer or a building code officer.
Handling said with fees to be paid, they should be adopted by resolution instead of including them in the ordinance. This would eliminate amending the ordinance if fees change, she said.
The board agreed to appoint the Light-Heigel firm, the code enforcement officer, as flood plain administrator.
In other business:
- Firemen's relief in the amount of $19,627.58 will be split four ways, with 25 percent each going to Summit Station and Friedensburg fire companies in Wayne Township and Hose, Hook & Ladder and North End fire companies in Pine Grove borough.
- After further investigation of health plans, the board agreed to remain with Capital Blue Cross even though rates had risen 9.8 percent to $2,466.16 per month. After some comparisons, the employees submitted an application to Highmark Blue Shield for an actual quote that was $4,687.05 per month.
- The application for a permit to construct a driveway on Hickory Road has still not been requested. The driveway was constructed in September 2012, and Phillip Lapp eventually paid fines and costs in excess of $800 for failure to secure a permit.
Last month, the board agreed Light-Heigel would send a certified letter to Lapp informing him of the permit requirement and it would contact the man. This month, the board agreed that Gainer would contact Lapp.
"I want to be sure he's informed," Gainer said.
- Handling said she received a report of a large unpermitted agricultural structure being constructed on Ferrebee Road. The board agreed to send a letter to the property owner.
- The board agreed to advertise for a certified public accountant to perform the 2013 audit of the township's financial records.
- A resident asked if any amusement taxes had been paid this year on a racetrack on Route 895, and if someone offered to buy it.
According to Sal Varacalli, there is a lot of activity. Stump said the offer to buy the racetrack came from a person from Allentown, but that person withdrew the offer. Handling's review of a tax report indicated that nothing had been paid as of Sept. 13, but she would check further with the tax collector.
- Handling said that she received a complaint from a Muskie Lane resident who claims a neighbor has bottles of urine that run for hundreds of feet outside his camper. According to the complaint, a pipe had run alongside the property, but now jars do. The board agreed to send Light-Heigel to inspect.
- Upon Handling's urging, the board agreed to set a policy concerning engineer inspections that require contacting the secretary before any field inspection is done. Light-Heigel had recently investigated a call from a resident without the township's knowledge.
"We need some checks and balances," Gainer said. "I don't like finding out about it on the back end. At least the secretary should be contacted."