Rush Township Building
Hometown, PA 18252
Minutes of the Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors
A meeting was held at the Rush Township Municipal Building on February 25, 2016 at 7:00 o’clock pm. In attendance were: Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger, Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni, Treasurer/Secretary, Katie Orlick, Attorney, Chris Riedlinger and Bill McMullen. Chairman Shawn Gilbert called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Police Report – Officer Hess read the police report for the month of January 2016. A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve Officer Hess’s report. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Minutes of Previous Meeting and Re-Organization Meeting – January 4, 2016 A motion was made to approve the previous meeting minutes of January 4, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion. Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report – A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the treasurer’s report as of January 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion. Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Approval of current township and sewer bills thru February 24, 2016 – A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the municipal reports thru February 24, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion. Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Approval of municipal reports (sewer, road, Arro, Prodesign) – A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the municipal reports for January 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Attorney’s Business – 1. Resolution drafted to adopt tonight to appoint Lettich and Zipay, CPA to audit, settle or adjust Rush Township accounts for the fiscal year 2015.
- The Rush Township Zoning Hearing Board issued its decision with regard to Rush Academy, Tamaqua Area School District, to uphold Bill’s Notice of Violation, the manner in which the school is being used needs to apply for a special exception, the school has filed an appeal. John Mahoney will be handling the case from this point on through our insurance. He is aware of our position. Chris has forwarded him all necessary documentation.
Correspondence – Pamphlet from Salvation Army regarding helping the homeless. Email from a resident praising the Road Department for their snow removal. Robert noted that the rain storm that occurred this week was at night and our road department does not have lights on the trucks in order to clear drains at night, Robert wants to get lights for the trucks.
Old Business – None.
NEW BUSINESS–
- Motion to pay all Seasonal Drivers a pay rate of $15.00/hour retro-active February 4, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to allow our Fire Police to assist with traffic control at the Girardville. St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 19, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to appoint Lettich and Zipay, CPA to audit, settle or adjust Rush Township accounts for the fiscal year 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to open and award the bids for our 2016 Road Project. Award bid to Lehigh Asphalt contingent on review by Engineer, Bill McMullen. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to authorize Arro to advertise for bids for the use of Equipment for 2016 Road Department Work. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to hire Christopher Hamilton as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to hire Matthew Houser as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to hire Lynn York II as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
- Motion to request a 3-year Project Activity Completion Extension on our CDBG Grant. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded. Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Public Comment –
- Robert Leibensperger stated that several residents have questioned him about Fire Tax, when collected it is given to fire company. Second LST tax goes to Road/Police/Fire, each get 1/3 and given to them. The 2% insurance tax each resident pays, goes directly to the Fire Allocations to the Fire Companies, Rush Township pays worker’s compensation insurance in full for the fire company, it is paid out of our general fund, everything is given to Fire Companies.
- Charlie Shamonsky– 15 Meadow Avenue is parking cars on their lawn, her curb is cut to put up a garage. On that block it is a deed restriction that only driveways/garages are only allowed at the back of property. Deed restrictions are not enforced by Township; it is not a criminally enforced matter it is a civil matter per Solicitor. There is an Ordinance that says no parking on the lawn. Bill gave them a permit in order for them to put in a garage, it is not a zoning restriction, it is a deed restriction and if 25 feet off the road he will issue the permit. Zoning does not enforce deed restrictions, therefore Bill was correct in issuing the permit. If there is a civil matter with deed restriction, the neighbors need to take that up, not the township.
- John Boyle – Sewage on Lynwood Street, roots have blocked the sewer lines and he has backing up; it is the township line that clogging his line and others on that same line, the pitch on the line is not that good, Biros is scheduled to do the cleaning of the sewer lines. Every other year there is cleaning cycle on the sewer lines, however there is a monthly treatment that the Sewer Department does on all the lines. Supervisors and Sewer Department have a list and years that they are to be cleaned and cleared.
- Joe Shamonsky – Questioned when the Township was going to start looking into storm water/drain issues. He has a huge mess down by his property, he paid so much money to the township to put in theses drains, the drains are blocked and all the trees should be cut down because the leaves and pine needles are filling the storm drains, the ditch is filling up and it is running in front of his house and into his garage. It is not township property where the trees are that he is talking about. Bill said that Mr. Shamonsky thought his was the only drain that was blocked and backed up. His issue has been noted. The Road Department was out cleaning the drains all day throughout the entire township, cannot control 3 inches of rain an hour and the drains were over capacity. He was informed that it was not just his property it is many residents, there are a lot of projects on the books to get these corrected. They cannot focus on his property only, have to look at the good of entire township. Township is aware of the problem and has been in contact with the state to fix their portion of the issue, the Township is handling their own pipes.
- Dave Clewell – Gravel and debris on Golf Road (by railroad tracks) and Rt. 54, he was afraid that when he tried to stop, he would slide and end up on Rt. 54. That is a state road therefore the Township cannot touch this, Katie will contact PennDOT to have this issue resolved.
Supervisors Comment– None.
Chairman Gilbert adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.
Transcribed and attested: Kelly Giordano/Administrative Assistant
