April 21, 2008

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

Members of the Board present:

            Christine DeLong, Chairperson

            Ron Miller, Vice-Chairman

            William Earlston, Supervisor

Also attending were:

            John Mazich, Engineer                        Christina Mensch, ZO/UCC

            Rick Shoch, Solicitor                          Tim Berkey, Police Sergeant

            Henry Eyer, Street Leader                  Jamie North, Danville News              

            John Eric, Press Enterprise                  Robert Casner, Auditor

            Shirley Draugelis, Auditor                  Althea Wertman, Auditor

            Robert Lenig                                       Sr. Maria Goretti

            T.S.Scott

PUBLIC COMMENT

None.

MINUTES & TREASURER’S REPORT:  Minutes of the previous meeting of March 17, 2008 were approved with no alterations or corrections, motion Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.  Treasurer’s Report for the month of March 2008 was accepted by motion of Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

SOLICITOR

FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT:  Ordinance for the township revising the floodplain management rules and regulations to meet FEMA guideline was adopted by the Board, Mr. Earlston motioned in favor and Mr. Miller seconded.  Solicitor advised he will forward our changes on to FEMA.

ZONING/UCC:  March report of fess collected.

POLICE DEPARTMENT:  Monthly report submitted.

STREET DEPARTMENT:  Mr. Eyer advised he had presented his report at work shop and updated the press on the spring paving schedule so that the public can be made aware.

ENGINEER:  Submitted detailed monthly report for April, which required action by the board on the following items:

VARIANCE FOR THE TOWNSHIP BUILDING ADDITION:  Conditional approval was granted by the supervisors for this project, based on their obtaining the variance request to extend the addition seven feet into the thirty foot set back.  Mr. Miller motioned in favor and Mr. Earlston seconded.

CORMELL SUBDIVISION:  Conditional approval was recommended and given providing the sewage planning module is approved and received from DEP.  Motion in favor Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

DRAINAGE ISSUES:  John requested a standard approach be established by the Board to address drainage complaints falling under several different categories in an effort to alleviate problems that are not the township’s responsibility to address, and the Board agreed, same will be addressed further at next month’s meeting.

FIRE DEPARTMENT:  None.

OLD BUSINESS

GENERAL OBLIGATION NOTE:  Ordinance authorizing issuance of a $400,000 note through FNB Bank, N.A. for township building addition and renovations was adopted by motion of Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.

PERMANENT EASEMENT – 509 Powder Mill Road:  Documents executing acceptance of this easement were approved by motion of Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston.  The easement is necessary for the township to access, install and maintain a roadway storm sewer pipe under Powder Mill Road.

NEW BUSINESS

COUNTY WIDE OIL RECLAIMATION:  Public was made aware of the Community drop off to be held at JAWS Recycling on May 1st & 2^nd in conjunction with Hazleton Oil & Environmental, Inc.  All residential and farm waste oil, antifreeze, automobile batteries and oil filters will be accepted. 

COMMUNITY CELL PHONE RECYCLING:  Mr. Lenig provided an article from the AARP Bulletin, April 2008 Edition, and requested that the township look into setting up a cell phone recycling program.  The Board advised that they would discuss this request and in the meantime would provide the information in the article to the newspapers to further inform the public of the program.

PART-TIME INSPECTION POSITION:  The Board by motion Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston instructed the secretary to advertise for a part-time person to conduct inspections of PA One Calls and township permits. 

GMC LAW SUIT:  Solicitor advised that in an effort to reach a final agreement to settle the suit filed by Geisinger discussions are such that settlement will be based on capping fees and using fee schedules adopted earlier this year and by using this schedule retroactively to determine the amount of refund which will be afforded Geisinger for both the Zoning and UCC permits.  Solicitor further advised for clarification purposes that the money being refunded is not taxpayer’s money, but money set aside in escrow and held for settlement and although a method has been agreed upon for settlement, nothing has been put in writing as of yet, therefore, the Board agreed by motion of Mr. Miller, second Mr. Earlston to give authorization to the solicitor to proceed drafting the agreement accordingly.

AUDITORS:  Presented and accepted the 2007 audit prepared by Forgett & Kerstetter, further advised the Board that they have made one spot check audit for 2008 on April 9; also, they advised that they will continue to conduct spot checks throughout the year.

Mr. Miller motioned in favor of authorizing and approving the payrolls and bills for April, 2005 and also to adjourn, Mr. Earlston seconded.