Rush Township Municipal Building
Hometown, PA 18252
Minutes of the Monthly Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors
The monthly meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors was called to order at 6:00 o’clock p.m. by Chairman Stephen Simchak. Those in attendance were Vice-Chairman Shawn Gilbert; Supervisor William J. Sanchez, Jr.; Secretary/Treasurer Terri Conville; Attorney Robert Yurchak; and Corporal Duane Frederick. Approximately eighteen residents and one reporter were also in attendance. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited.
American Water Services Report
John Teijaro read the American Water Services report as of September 15, 2009. Vice-Chairman made a motion to accept the American Water Service’s report. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Police Report
Corporal Duane Frederick read the police report for the month of August, 2009. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to accept the police department’s report. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion, carried. All voted in favor of the motion, carried
Minutes of Previous Meetings
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve the minutes of the previous meeting August 18, 2009. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Treasurer’s Report
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to accept the treasurer’s report as of August 31, 2009. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. asked Ms. Conville to read the balance for each account. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Approval of Current Township and Sewer Bills for September, 2009
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve the current township and sewer bills for September, 2009. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. wanted an explanation for a bill from Dunn Tree Service that was paid from the General Fund. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Municipal Reports
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to accept all municipal reports. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Correspondence
A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to accept all correspondence. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Key areas noted by Ms. Conville in the correspondence file for the month were as follows:
1. Minutes from Northeastern Schuylkill Joint Municipal Authority
2. Letter from Sky-View Memorial Park
3. Letter from Shenandoah Valley School District
4. Letter from North Schuylkill Landfill Association & Transfer Station
5. Letter from Air Products
6. Letter from Stone Energy
7. Correspondence from RJD Engineering, Inc.
8. Township Today quarterly newsletter
Attorney’s Business
Old Business
New Business
1. A motion was made by Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. that the 90 day evaluation probation period for Gene Rutch as Road Foreman ends September 15, 2009 and the current pay rate of $16.25 increase to $17.00 plus township benefits. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
2. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to ratify the hourly pay rate for Officer Naprava from $12.00 per hour to $12.48 per hour retroactive to August 21, 2009. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
3. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve the following names as part time snow plow drivers: Bob Argust, Barry Messerschmidt, Paul Miller, Charlie Price, Charlie Rice, Robert G. Heckman, Larry Levy, and Thomas Santore with a CDL rate of $13.50 per hour and non CDL $12.00 per hour. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. asked Ms. Conville to call PSATS and verify the drug testing policy for CDL drivers. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
4. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve the purchase order for Quakake Park in the amount of $3,480.00 for playground equipment and mulch. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
5. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve Resolution #2009-06 naming the voting delegates for the implementation of Act 32 tax law: Michelle Griffiths as the primary voting delegate and Robert Leibensperger as the first alternate voting delegate. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
6. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve mileage reimbursement to Michelle Griffiths and Robert Leibensperger for any meetings attended for the Act 32 tax at the rate of 48.5 cents per mile. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know if this is the current federal rate for mileage. Ms. Conville noted that was the rate for mileage passed by the Board at the reorganization meeting. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
7. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to ratify the re-investment of the Hometown Sewer CD to Mauch Chunk Trust. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Marion Lazur wanted to know what the rate was for the new CD. Ms. Conville noted it is a money market and the current rate is 1.70 percent. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
8. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to ratify moving all checking accounts, except the Hometown Sewer Fund and the Lake Hauto Sewer Fund, from Sovereign Bank to Mauch Chunk Trust. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
9. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to grant the waiver request of Section 401.1 (Plan Scale) for Plan #228A-Cicioni Revised Subdivision. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know if that was advised by the Planning Commission. Ms. Conville noted the letter of recommendation from the Planning Commission was attached to the Board’s agenda packet. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
10. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve Plan #228-A Cicioni Revised Subdivision. Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
General Purpose Public Participation
1. Tom Murphy – presented to the Board information on grant programs and loans for storm-water management, etc. Mr. Murphy wanted to know the reason for moving the checking accounts to Mauch Chunk Trust. Supervisors noted the accounts were moved because of the fees Sovereign Bank charged us.
2. Melanie Weicikosky – wanted to know how she could start a crime watch group in the township. Chairman Simchak asked her to talk to the police department and the Board will offer their help.
3. Bill Boyer – wanted an update on the inspection at the battery warehouse; who will conduct them, will they be qualified, how many will be done, and how can he get the results. Bill McMullen explained it will be a third party agency hired by the owner of the building and the township. McMullen stated there will be periodic inspections done. Chairman Simchak stated the owner has given the Supervisors an open door to conduct an inspection. Gilbert stated results will be provided at the township meetings. Simchak stated we have correspondence on file from the fire chief, and the emergency management coordinator is aware of things. All of this is public information.
4. Marion Lazur – informed the Board of the passing of former Supervisor Joe Svetz. Mr. Svetz was a Supervisor for twelve years and served on the Planning Board. Simchak stated he was not aware of his passing and would have a moment of silence in honor of Joe Svetz at the end of the meeting.
5. Jeaninne Motroni – wanted to know the protocol for 911 calls. She noted in the past the police would respond to EMS calls. Barry Messerschmidt stated that when he called 911 for his dad, the police officer arrived five minutes before the ambulance did. Ms. Motroni noted that when she called 911 for her mother, the ambulance driver could not find the house address.
6. Len Tunilla- wanted to know what the status was of the complaint he filed with the township last month.
At this time, Chairman Simchak asked for a moment of silence for Mr. Joseph Svetz.
Supervisor’s Response Period
Supervisor Sanchez, Jr. stated that in last month’s correspondence a letter was received from Northeastern Schuylkill Joint Municipal Authority. The letter states that if the township pays its portion owed for the Act 537 Plan in the amount of $4,343.20, the authority would then repave certain portions of the roads up at that end. Sanchez noted this has been an ongoing problem from 2004. Chairman Simchak suggested the solicitor review the letter to find out if the township legally owes the money. Sanchez also stated he met with the Road Foreman on Cumberland Avenue, behind Two Kings Pizzeria. Frank Berleth, past Supervisor for Rush Township is the owner of the property. Sanchez stated that the shoulder gets dug up every year by the plow and then modified is put in. The landowner is requesting an area twenty feet by three feet be paved. The road foreman stated he would fix it as long as he has Board approval. Chairman Simchak suggested Bill McMullen and Gene Rutch should look at it and come back to the Board at next month’s meeting with their recommendations.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at approximately 6:30 o’clock p.m.
Transcribed and Attested
Terri Conville, Secretary/Treasurer
