Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:05–6:55 PM — possible litigation and personnel matters
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly business meeting on February 9, 2015, with all five supervisors present: Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman), Brad Bruner, Randy Paul, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney. The board convened at 7:02 PM following a 50-minute executive session on possible litigation and personnel matters, and worked through a packed agenda spanning land use approvals, legal enforcement actions, ordinance updates, and Fort Halifax Park programming before adjourning at 10:09 PM.
- Long/Rode Subdivision received final approval (5-0): The board granted requested waivers and approved the final subdivision plan after all contingencies were met. A separate Janet Strohecker Subdivision was accepted for Planning Commission review.
- Fort Halifax primitive trails approved in split vote (3-2): The Friends of Fort Halifax received permission to construct two primitive trails on park grounds — the only non-unanimous vote of the evening. The board also unanimously approved a geocaching course at the park and directed the solicitor to research LCB-licensed wine vendors for a May Saturday event.
- Stewart environmental remediation and Kolva enforcement advanced (both 5-0): Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky was directed to follow through on the Stewart remediation, and the board authorized proceeding to the next legal step in the Kolva matter if no appeal is filed.
- U.C. Trust Ordinance adopted (5-0): The board waived a full reading and formally adopted the ordinance.
- SALDO update initiated (5-0): The Planning Commission was directed to review stormwater provisions under Act 167, along with sign, lighting, cell tower, and alternative energy regulations for the next ordinance modification.
- Swimming pool committee sought help keeping pool open: Emily Hoffman presented a volunteer committee proposal to cut expenses and boost fundraising revenue to keep the township pool from closing, and asked for the board's assistance.
- Payroll outsourcing tabled: After discussion, the board decided to revisit the question of outsourcing payroll later in the year.
- Community notices: Township cleanup days were set for May 8–9, and the secretary was directed to publish a press release reminding residents of nuisance and snow/ice ordinance requirements. Tracy Cox's resignation from the HARA board was accepted and the vacancy will be advertised.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Supervisor / Chairman) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Randy Paul (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Adam Davis (Engineer (for Tom Wilson)) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Supervisors approved paid interim bills (motion by Paul, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0) and current unpaid bills (motion by McBurney, seconded by Paul, 5-0).
Three sets of minutes were approved 5-0: the December 15, 2014 Special Meeting to adopt the 2015 budget, the January 5, 2015 Re-Org Meeting, and the January 12, 2015 Regular Business Meeting.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Janet Strohecker Subdivision was accepted for review by the Planning Commission. No further action was taken at this meeting.
Supervisors approved requested waivers (motion by Bruner, seconded by Paul, 5-0) and granted final approval of the Long/Rode Subdivision plan with contingencies, all of which had been met (motion by Bruner, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0).
ENGINEER REPORT
Adam Davis read Engineer Tom Wilson's report submitted February 4, 2015. Wilson met with PennDOT on January 8, 2015 and developed a base mapping for the sidewalk grant.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Supervisors authorized Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky to follow through with the Stewart remediation (motion by McBurney, seconded by Bruner, 5-0).
Supervisors voted to proceed with the next course of action on the Kolva matter if there is no appeal (motion by Schreffler, seconded by Bruner, 5-0).
Supervisors directed the Planning Commission to review and consider changes to Stormwater Provisions/Act 167 covering signs, lighting, cell phone towers, and alternative energy for the next SALDO modification (motion by Paul, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0).
ROADMASTER REPORT
Supervisors set Township Cleanup dates for May 8 and 9 (motion by Schreffler, seconded by McBurney, 5-0) and approved advertising the cleanup in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel and on the Township website (motion by Bruner, seconded by Schreffler, 5-0).
Residents contacted Joe Gaughn and voiced their opinion on the decision to change the street name. No formal action was taken.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Chairman Bechtel announced a letter notifying the Township of a temporary polling place change from the Halifax Fire Department to the Word of Life Chapel on Fellowship Drive, effective for the May primary election.
OLD BUSINESS
A meeting was held at the township building with Senator Teplitz, the Funks, Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky, Chairman Bechtel, and Supervisor McBurney. Minimum research will be conducted based on the meeting.
An internet policy was drafted and presented for review and discussion. No formal action was taken at this meeting.
After discussion, the Board decided to table the payroll outsourcing matter for review at a later date in the year.
Supervisors waived the reading of the U.C. Trust Ordinance (motion by Bruner, seconded by Paul, 5-0) and adopted the ordinance (motion by Bruner, seconded by Paul, 5-0).
NEW BUSINESS
Supervisors directed the Township Secretary to issue a press release and publish a notice in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel reminding residents of the Nuisance Ordinance and the Snow and Ice Ordinance (motion by McBurney, seconded by Bruner, 5-0).
Emily Hoffman, a Halifax Township resident and member of the Volunteer Swimming Pool Committee, presented a proposal to reduce expenses and raise profits to keep the pool open, including stepped-up fundraising efforts. The committee asked for the Township's help in determining how to keep the pool open.
Supervisors granted the Friends of Fort Halifax Park permission to construct two primitive trails on Fort Halifax grounds (motion by McBurney, seconded by Paul, 3-2 in favor).
Supervisors approved a progressive geocaching course to be set up on Fort Halifax Park property (motion by McBurney, seconded by Paul, 5-0).
Supervisors directed Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky to research wine vendors licensed under the LCB to sell corked bottles of wine at the Saturday event held at Fort Halifax in May (motion by McBurney, seconded by Bruner, 5-0).
Supervisors accepted the resignation of Tracy Cox as the Township's representative at HARA meetings (motion by Bruner, seconded by McBurney, 5-0) and voted to advertise the vacancy on the HARA Board (motion by Schreffler, seconded by Bruner, 5-0).
This page is an automated summary of official township records. For the authoritative version, always refer to the original document.