December 18, 2006

The regular monthly meeting of the Mahoning Township Supervisors was held this evening at the Mahoning Township Municipal Building at 5:30 PM.

Members of the Board present:

Christine DeLong, Chairprson

William Earlston, Vice-Chairperson

Ronald Miller, Supervisor

Also attending were:

Richard Shoch, Solicitor                       John Mazich, Township Engineer

David Shope, Jr., Police Chief  Christina Mensh, ZO/UCC Administrator

Henry Eyer, Group Leader                   Kevin Young, Fire Chief

Robert Bomboy                                    Mr. & Mrs. Robert Lenig

Gerald Coates                                      Sam Hunsinger

Todd Gibson                                        Catherine Kifolo

Mr. & Mr. Robert Blee                        Cathy Eyer

Dan Stamey                                          C. Brian Crane

Jeff Green                                             Mr. & Mr. Thomas Kessler

Ellen & Warren Shultz              Leslie Young

Damien Gensel, Danville News John Eric, Press Enterprise

Shane Craig                                          Lloyd Craig

Sr. Maria Goretti                                  Kimberly Blee

Robert Blee, Jr.                                    Ryan Cotner

Robert Fiegles

The meeting was immediately turned over to Chief of Police, David Shope, who also invited Fire Chief, Kevin Young to the forefront and together on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, the Police Department and the Fire Department, they presented Patrolman Robert Blee with awards for his outstanding performance while on duty the night of October 31, 2006, wherein his actions saved the life of a township resident, whose house was on fire.  Officer Blee received a standing ovation for his efforts.

PUBLIC COMMENT

KESSLER FLOODING PROBLEMS:  Attorney C. Brian Crane of Derr, Luschas, Pursel & Norton from Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania addressed the Board on behalf of his clients, Tom & Robin Kessler.  Both sides of this issue were addressed in a ongoing conversation.  Attorney Crane explained the Kessler’s position and Mrs. & Mrs. Kessler offered their own input, including the most recent pictures taken.  While other residents of the area offered comments and questions of their own.  The Township’s Solicitor and Engineer, as well as members of the Board, explained their position and concerns.

After a quite lengthy discussion, there were no answers, however, the Township engineer will again contact DEP about meeting and will scan and send the pictures provided this evening to the office of DEP.  Further, at the request of Mrs. Kessler, Mr. Mazich will provide the name and address of his DEP contact.

MINUTES of the November 20, 2006 meeting were approved with no alterations or corrections, motion Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

TREASURER’S REPORT for the month of November 2006 was accepted with no alterations or corrections, motion in favor Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Were taken out of sequence of the regular agenda, in that, the Zoning Officer had another meeting to attend this evening.

ZONING/UCC ADMINISTRATOR:  Reported fees collected for December for both Zoning and UCC permits.

GMC REFUND:  Mrs. Mensch advised the Board that Geisinger is requesting a refund of the zoning permit fee paid for the Foss Home.  She explained that the fee was based on the before bid price for additions and renovations for the project, and she requested that from here forward in an effort to prevent this from happening again the Board consider requiring Geisinger to provide the Township with permit fees based solely on the bid price once it has been accepted.  The fee paid was $ 18,770.00, the cost should have been $11,229.87, therefore, the refund amount would be $7,540.13.

By motion of Mr. Earlston, second Mr. Miller, the Board approved the refund of this fee, however, they included in this motion, all future permits must be based on the actual price of the bid awarded, and applications will not be accepted, nor permits issued, until the price of the project has been determined.   Mrs. Mensch was instructed to address this action by the Board to Geisinger in writing.

PASTORAL CARE:  Mrs. Mensch also advised that the Board inadvertently did not take action at their last meeting for the plans presented for the Pastoral Care, although, the engineer did recommend approval by the Board, therefore, by motion of Mr. Earlston, second Mr. Miller, the Board voted in favor of approving these plans.

SOLICITOR:  Acknowledged numerous issues the Board had pending, however, had none which would require their action this evening.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:  Report for November was presented by the Chief.

STREET DEPARTMENT:  Report presented at workshop this morning, required two actions of the Board.

CHRISTMAS TREE PICK-UP dates were set for the following dates;  December 29, 2006, January 5, 8, 12 and 15, 2007, and by motion of Mr. Earlston, second Mr. Miller, were approved and will be advertised.

LOW SULFUR DIESEL FUEL was quoted for 2007 and based on the recommendation of Mr. Eyer, the Board accepted the low quote of Leighow Oil at .11 and ½ cents over rack price, motion in favor Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.  Mr. Eyer will contact the successful bidder.

ENGINEER

Report for December required Board action on the following items:

VALLEY VIEW DRAINAGE SWALE:  Change of order forms, relative to the project were approved by the board, who further granted their approval to have the Chairperson sign and executed these changes on behalf of the Board, motion in favor Mr. Earlston, second Mr. Miller.

DANVILLE AMBULANCE:  By unanimous vote, the engineer was instructed to request Penn DOT conduct traffic engineering studies on both the intersection of  Schoolhouse Road and Route 11, and the intersection of Schoolhouse Road and Bloom Road and the land development plans for Danville Ambulance were also approved.

FIRE DEPARTMENT:  Report for November presented by Fire Chief, Kevin Young.

OLD BUSINESS

There was no old business brought before the Board for consideration this evening.

NEW BUSINESS

REORGANIZATION:  Meeting to be held Tuesday, January 2, 2007 at 5:30 PM, and the secretary was instructed to advertise same, motion in favor Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

The meeting was again opened to public comment, however, there being none, Mr. Miller motioned in favor of authorizing the bills and payrolls for December 2006, and also to adjourn, and Mr. Earlston seconded.