Monthly Business Meeting
Executive session held 6:30pm–7:00pm — personnel and land acquisition
Summary
The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held its monthly business meeting on December 12, 2016, with Chairman Kenneth Bechtel, Brad Bruner, Steve Schreffler, and Scott McBurney present; Randy Paul was absent. The board convened at 7:07 p.m. following an executive session on personnel and land acquisition. Year-end business dominated the agenda, including adoption of the 2017 budget and tax resolution, a paving contract award, and a significant discussion about whether the Township should take over a closed boat launch on the Susquehanna River.
- 2017 budget and tax resolution adopted (4-0): The board approved the proposed 2017 municipal budget and tax resolution with unanimous votes.
- Upper Middle Road paving contract awarded to New Enterprise for $51,800 (4-0): New Enterprise's bid beat a competing $53,000 bid from Meckley's Limestone for the DSA paving project.
- Boat launch takeover debated, no action taken: Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky reported that reopening the Fish and Boat Commission boat launch would require the Township to take ownership, with initial costs exceeding $500,000 from state and grant funding and a four-to-six-year timeline. Supervisors stressed the takeover must be cost-neutral. Scott McBurney proposed a press release to solicit public input ahead of a January discussion, to be sent to the Upper Dauphin Sentinel, PennLive, and the Citizen Standard.
- Tobias Road bridge cost analysis authorized, up to $3,200 (4-0): Engineer Frank Lentz will confirm pricing from a March analysis by Wilson Consulting before proceeding.
- Asbestos found at Fort Halifax barn addition: An inspection by Element Environmental found asbestos in window caulking on the barn addition at Fort Halifax, with an estimated remediation cost of $1,650. No action was taken; the matter was deferred.
- Budget line items rebalanced (4-0): Funds were moved from the engineering account to cover overages in Sewage Inspections, Pesticide License, and Materials accounts.
- Comcast franchise fee concerns raised: Flo Mallonee asked to serve on the committee negotiating a new Comcast contract and urged the board to seek lower franchise fees when the current 15-year agreement expires. The franchise fees collected from subscribers are used for capital equipment.
- Task force report on economic development: Scott McBurney reported that new homebuilders in the Halifax area are in the 40+ age range, median income is $56,635, and about 800 people are on unemployment rolls. Community consensus favored bringing some form of urgent care to the Township.
Who was there
Kenneth Bechtel (Chairman/Supervisor) · Brad Bruner (Supervisor) · Steve Schreffler (Supervisor) · Scott McBurney (Supervisor) · Frank Lentz (Engineer) · Bruce Warshawsky (Solicitor) · Corey Stazewski (Roadmaster) · Wendy Wentzel (Secretary)
Public comments
Meeting business
BID OPENING
Chairman Bechtel opened paving bids: Meckley's Limestone at $53,000 and New Enterprise at $51,800. The Board instructed Roadmaster Corey Stazewski to review the bids and report back later in the meeting.
SECRETARY/TREASURER REPORT
Motions carried 4-0 to approve paid interim bills through December 12, 2016, pay current unpaid bills, and approve the November 14, 2016 minutes. The financial report was placed on file for audit.
EMC REPORT
EMC Tim Neiter reported that the County Hazmat Mitigation Plan was adopted and described the Everbridge internal communication service paid for by the county for alerts such as missing persons. Neiter also received Board agreement to create a Facebook page for Halifax Township EMC.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Chairperson Flo Mallonee reported no planning commission meeting was held in December due to no new agenda items. Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky drafted subdivision language for private roads, which the Planning Commission will review at its January meeting along with other SALDO items.
SOLICITOR REPORT
Solicitor Bruce Warshawsky reported that the boat access launch can only reopen if the Township takes ownership, with initial costs exceeding $500,000 from state and grant funding and a four-to-six-year timeline. Supervisors stressed the takeover must be cost neutral; Supervisor McBurney proposed a press release soliciting public input for the January meeting. Regarding the Brown SEO violation, a November 29 site visit found a continuing violation contained to the Brown and Hoover properties; an action was filed in Dauphin County regarding a sewage facility easement, and enforcement is deferred pending the court outcome.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Sewage Inspections, Pesticide License, and Materials accounts were over budget. Motion carried 4-0 to move appropriated monies from the engineering account into those over-budget line items to make them whole.
Supervisor McBurney reported on a November 28 Task Force meeting attended by Brad Harker, the Halifax School Superintendent, and Shawn Donovan from Dauphin County Economic Development. New builders in the Halifax area are in the 40+ age range, median income is $56,635, and approximately 800 people are on unemployment rolls. Community consensus favored bringing some form of urgent care to the Township.
OLD BUSINESS
The Board is waiting on a hearing date. A constable will be sent to serve the notice.
A request to continue the hearing was granted by the District Justice. The hearing is rescheduled for January.
Engineer Frank Lentz will review costs submitted by Wilson Consulting from a March analysis and confirm they have not changed. Motion carried 4-0 to move forward if the fee does not exceed $3,200.
Mayor Enders of Halifax Borough discussed the shared recycling area in the Borough, noting limited space for brush and leaves. The Township explored acquiring equipment to grind brush, and a schedule and payment plan for workers still needs to be established.
BIDS
Motion carried 4-0 to award the DSA paving bid for Upper Middle Road to New Enterprise at $51,800. The other bid was from Meckley's Limestone at $53,000.
NEW BUSINESS
An asbestos inspection report from Element Environmental dated November 10, 2016 found asbestos in the window caulking on the barn addition at Fort Halifax. Mitigation cost is estimated at $1,650; the matter will be addressed at a later time.
Motion carried 4-0 to adopt the proposed 2017 budget.
Motion carried 4-0 to waive the reading of the 2017 Tax Resolution, followed by a second motion carried 4-0 to approve the 2017 Tax Resolution.
Motion carried 4-0 to advertise the meeting dates for 2017.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion carried 5-0 to adjourn at 9:14 p.m.
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