Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:40 - 6:55 pm (December 15, 2014, prior to Special Budget Meeting) — Personnel matters
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on January 12, 2015, called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Chairman Kenneth Bechtel. All five supervisors were present — Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney — along with Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky and Engineer Tom Wilson. The meeting opened with a moment of silence for Florence McGuire, who had served on various township committees. The agenda covered land development approvals, a reset of the township's audit process, new fee schedule resolutions, and several community concerns.
- Camp Hebron equestrian facility approved: The board unanimously approved four engineering waivers and the site plan with three contingencies per Engineer Tom Wilson's January 8 report, clearing the way for Camp Hebron's equestrian facility.
- Outside auditor selection restarted: The board voted to vacate its October 2014 approval of an outside CPA firm and scheduled a special meeting for February 12, 2015 to appoint a new firm to audit the township's 2014 financial records.
- Sidewalk grant sketch plan authorized ($1,000): K&W engineering was authorized to prepare and submit a sketch plan to the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for a sidewalk grant application.
- Nuisance enforcement: Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky reported a $112 default judgment in the Masser nuisance case. The board directed him to send a demand letter giving the defendant until the next meeting to pay.
- Fee schedules and tax collector resolution adopted: The board approved resolutions establishing a fee schedule under the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) and setting fees for the elected real estate tax collector, including approval of a deputy tax collector.
- Senator Teplitz meeting opened to landowners: A private meeting on January 16 involving the Funks and requested by Senator Teplitz was expanded by board vote to include all affected landowners.
- Fort Halifax Park events and flag concern: The Friends of Halifax Festival (May 2) and the annual 5th Grade Education Day (May 1) were approved for Fort Halifax Park. Resident Flo Mallonee raised a concern that Colonial flags at the park are visible from Route 147 while no American flag is displayed.
- Road name change concerns and payroll outsourcing tabled: Residents Michelle Wagner, Michael Wagner, and Roger Jury objected that renaming their private lane did not help emergency responders find their homes; they were directed to contact Dauphin County EMA. Separately, discussion of outsourcing payroll was tabled pending further cost analysis.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Supervisor / Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Tom Wilson (Engineer) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisor Paul motioned to approve the paid interim bills, seconded by a supervisor. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Paul motioned, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, to approve payment of the current unpaid bills. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor Paul motioned, seconded by Supervisor McBurney, to approve the December 8, 2014 minutes for permanent record. Motion carried 5-0.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Board approved waivers 1-4 on Engineer Tom Wilson's report (motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Paul, 5-0), then approved the plan with contingencies 1-3 as outlined in Wilson's January 8, 2015 report (motion by Supervisor McBurney, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, 5-0).
ENGINEER REPORT
Engineer Tom Wilson reported on his attendance at the Tri County Regional Planning Commission to review the sidewalk grant application. The Board approved moving forward with a sketch plan to be prepared and submitted to TCRPC at a cost of $1,000 in fees for preparation by K&W. Motion by Supervisor Paul, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, carried 5-0.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky reported that a default judgment of $112 was rendered by the District Justice, with the defendant having 30 days to appeal. The Board approved having the Solicitor draft a letter advising the defendant to pay the judgment by the next Board meeting. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor McBurney, carried 5-0.
ROADMASTER REPORT
Roadmaster Corey Stazewski read his submitted report. Discussion was held regarding speed signs in Lenker Estates, but no action was taken.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to vacate the approval of an outside auditing firm dated October 15, 2014 (carried 5-0). A second motion by Supervisor Schreffler, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, approved advertising a special meeting on February 12, 2015 to appoint an outside CPA firm to audit the Township's 2014 records (carried 5-0).
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, to purchase two Second Class Township Code Books. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor McBurney motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve the minutes of the Board of Auditors' Re-Org meeting of January 6, 2015. Motion carried 5-0.
Supervisor McBurney motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to allow the Secretary/Treasurer to pay vendor bills online where possible. Motion carried 5-0.
Brief discussion was held on outsourcing payroll and quarterly payroll tax returns. No action was taken; the item was tabled until the next Board meeting to gather more numbers to support the decision.
OLD BUSINESS
Residents Michelle Wagner, Michael Wagner, and Roger Jury spoke about concerns with the road name change, noting they already had physical addresses on a private lane and felt the change would not help people find their residences more easily. They were advised to contact Dauphin County EMA and speak to Joe Gaughn.
NEW BUSINESS
The Board dispensed with reading the resolution (motion by Supervisor Paul, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, 5-0), then approved the Resolution Establishing Fees Charged by the elected Real Estate Tax Collector and approved the Deputy Tax Collector (motion by Supervisor Schreffler, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, 5-0).
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to advertise the meeting date to approve the UC Trust Ordinance. Motion carried 5-0.
The Board dispensed with reading the resolution (motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Paul, 5-0), then approved the Resolution to Establish a Fee Schedule in Accordance with SALDO (motion by Supervisor Schreffler, seconded by Supervisor Bruner, 5-0).
Two supervisors will attend a private meeting on Friday, January 16 at the request of Senator Teplitz, with the Funks also attending. The Board approved extending an invitation to all other affected landowners. Motion by Supervisor Bruner, seconded by Supervisor Paul, carried 5-0.
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Paul, to approve the use of the park for the Friends of Halifax Festival on May 2, 2015 and the annual 5th Grade Education Day on May 1, 2015. Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Supervisor Bruner motioned, seconded by Supervisor Schreffler, to adjourn at 8:55 pm. Motion carried 5-0.
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.