Act 537 Plan Hearing & Monthly Business Meeting

The Halifax Township Board of Supervisors held a combined Act 537 Sewage Facilities Plan public hearing and monthly business meeting on December 8, 2008, running from 7:00 PM until midnight. All five supervisors were present: Chairman Norma Shearer, Linda Ruff, Carol Eppley, Gary Shultz, and Ken Hoover. The marathon session was dominated by two contentious issues — the township's long-developing sewage management plan and a sharply contested vote to outsource township administrative operations — drawing extensive public comment and opposition on both fronts.

• Act 537 Sewage Plan hearing drew significant resident concern. Engineer Justin Kuhn of K&W Engineers presented the sewage facilities plan, in development since 2002, based on 1,357 mailed surveys, 308 sanitary surveys, and 253 well water samples. Residents raised extensive concerns about costs — approximately $3,260 in connection fees, with Parmer Drive homeowners facing an additional $10,000–$15,000 for grinder pumps — and questioned whether inspections are truly required by DEP. The board committed to holding a second hearing at a larger facility and sending a township newsletter to residents.

• Hoover Financial Services appointed Township Administrator/Secretary/Treasurer in a 3–2 vote. The board approved a $10,200 contract with Hoover Financial Services, Inc. to take over administrative operations effective after the January 5 reorganization meeting. Gary Shultz moved the motion; Carol Eppley voted no and Ken Hoover abstained. The board committed to reviewing the arrangement in six months.

• Secretary Carolyn Nye stated she was shut out of the process. Nye told the board she was never officially informed of plans to move operations, was denied attendance at a meeting with the DCED representative, and had submitted her own proposal on November 24 to work additional hours — which the board never acknowledged or responded to.

• Multiple residents challenged the administrative change. Kenneth Bechtel, Melinda Warfel, Todd Etzweiler, Scott Corsnitz, Scott Paul, and others questioned the necessity of the move, whether the position should have been publicly advertised, whether it constituted a conflict of interest, and whether the board was ignoring public input. The solicitor stated the position is a professional service not subject to bid requirements.

• 2009 budget adopted unanimously. An apparent $44,000 deficit was explained as grant funds received in 2008 for the Fort Halifax Park Master Site Plan. A $12,000 increase under Wages and Salaries drew public questions that the board did not fully address.

• Auditor contract awarded to Patton and Lettich at $4,500, the lowest of three bids (Maher Duessel at $8,500 and Zelenkofske Axelrod at $12,500).

• Treasury moves to secure better interest rates. The board authorized opening a separate account for $51,250 in Master Site Plan grant funds, moving $29,439.14 out of an M&T escrow account after its interest rate dropped from 4.85% to 0.75%, and transferring $100,000 from the general checking account into a higher-yield CD.

• HARA cash expected to run out by year's end. Tracy Cox reported that the Halifax Area Recreation Authority's funds would likely be exhausted through December and asked the board to reconsider its contribution level.