Monthly Business Meeting
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on September 9, 2013, with all five supervisors present: Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Ken Hoover, Randy Paul, and Gary Shultz. The meeting ran from 7:05 to 9:23 PM and covered a wide range of topics, with Fort Halifax Park improvements, an active nuisance enforcement docket, and resident concerns about road conditions and development traffic dominating the agenda.
- New township truck funded: The board voted unanimously to pay for a new truck from the Capital Improvement Fund.
- Fort Halifax Park open house and improvements approved: The board approved a November 2 open house and bonfire event at Fort Halifax Park. Roadmaster Corey Stazewski was authorized to lay gravel along the park pathway, and Frank Wilmarth was authorized to remove an eye bolt from the barn. Requests to bring electricity to park buildings were deferred pending submission of project plans.
- Nuisance complaint against Seiler withdrawn: With trash removed and only a building issue remaining, the board voted 5-0 to withdraw its complaint, canceling a scheduled September 25 hearing.
- Pre-nuisance letter ordered for Corbett property: The board unanimously approved sending a pre-nuisance letter regarding trash, garbage, and unlicensed vehicles at the Corbett property.
- Multiple nuisance cases in progress: The Harman trailer hearing remains set for September 25; the Harner/Hoover matter was referred for SEO enforcement; and pre-nuisance letters for the Armour and Gantz properties will be re-sent by regular mail after certified letters went uncollected, with Roadmaster Stazewski to check the properties by September 24.
- Truck traffic concerns at Lenker Development: Resident Norma Shearer asked the board to address heavy truck traffic from the Lenker Development and requested traffic stipulations on future development approvals. A separate executive session on Lenker matters was proposed for September 30.
- Middle Road drainage still unresolved: Resident Mike Snody pressed the board on the ongoing Middle Road runoff problem. Chairman Bechtel said the roadmaster would bring in experts on dirt and gravel roads to assess conditions and recommend a solution.
- Noise Ordinance workshop scheduled: The board set a workshop for September 16 at 7 PM to discuss a proposed noise ordinance, with the Snow Removal Policy deferred to October.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Ken Hoover (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Gary Shultz (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Tom Wilson (Engineer) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Carolyn Nye (Secretary-Treasurer)
Public comments
Meeting business
Secretary/Treasurer Report
Supervisor Hoover motioned to approve payment of interim bills (seconded by Supervisor Shultz, passed 5-0), unpaid bills (seconded by Supervisor Bruner, passed 5-0), and minutes as written (seconded by Supervisor Bruner, passed 5-0). The Board reviewed the financial report with no questions or comments.
Park Committee Report
Supervisor Shultz reported the corn crib needs further repairs, shed demolition is planned for fall with help from Friends of Ft. Halifax, and the park mower needs deck wheels replaced. Frank Wilmarth requested electricity for park buildings and the barn, and mentioned barn roof leaks and the idea of removing the rotting roof section; the Board asked for electrical project plans. Three motions passed 5-0: approving the November 2 Open House/Bon Fire, authorizing Roadmaster Corey Stazewski to lay gravel along the pathway, and authorizing Frank Wilmarth to remove the eye bolt from the barn.
Engineer Report
Engineer Tom Wilson read his report dated August 27, 2013. No action was taken by the Board.
Solicitor Report
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky suggested an executive session for September 30 at 7 p.m. regarding Lenker. Chairman Bechtel reported on the Tracy Cooper water complaint, noting that Gregg Ramin of Norfolk Southern Railroad proposed installing a pipe at the low point of the Cooper/Erb yard at the driveway. The Solicitor stated the water issue is not a Township matter because neighbor(s) closed the drain.
Roadmaster Report
Roadmaster Corey Stazewski reported on nine nuisance cases: the Seiler complaint was withdrawn by motion (passed 5-0) since trash was removed; Kline cleanup continues and is deferred; Takacs was invited but absent and no Township action deemed necessary; Harman hearing set for September 25; Harner/Hoover referred to SEO for enforcement; Armour and Gantz pre-nuisance certified letters were not picked up so regular mail will be sent with a 15-day follow-up; McNair was advised to consult an attorney regarding neighbor noise, harassment, and stream encroachment; and a pre-nuisance letter was approved for Corbett regarding trash and unlicensed cars (passed 5-0). A motion also passed 5-0 to pay for a new truck from the Capital Improvement Fund.
Administrative
Chairman Bechtel announced a Smart Growth Workshop scheduled for Thursday, September 19.
Old Business
Frank Wilmarth indicated he will meet with shop teachers regarding the High School Woodshop Project and report back to the Board. The Snow Removal Policy was deferred to the October meeting. A Noise Ordinance workshop was scheduled for Monday, September 16 at 7 p.m., to be advertised in the Patriot News.
New Business
Budget meeting dates were set for October 21 at 7 p.m. and November 4 at 8 p.m., both to be advertised. The Annual Township Convention is scheduled for Thursday, October 3 from 5-9 p.m.; Supervisors Hoover and Bechtel will attend, Supervisors Bruner and Shultz cannot attend, and Supervisor Paul is undecided.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.