News

Minutes of the meeting of the Rush Township of Supervisors – March 15, 2011

Rush Township Municipal Building
Hometown, PA  18252

Minutes of the Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors

March 15, 2011
Rush Township Building
Hometown, PA  18252
The meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Stephen W. Simchak at 6 o’clock p.m.  Those in attendance were Senator Argall, State Representative Jerry Knowles, Vice-Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Supervisor Robert Leibensperger, Secretary/Treasurer Terri Conville, and Administrative Assistant Marie Skripnek.  There were approximately sixteen people in attendance and one reporter.   The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited.

Senator David Argall and State Representative Jerry Knowles presented the Rush Township Board of Supervisors with citations in honor of our 200th birthday.

Ms. Conville read the following statement:
The Rush Township Board of Supervisors had an informational session with our Emergency Management Team on Friday, March 4th at the municipal building.  The purpose of this session was to begin the process of updating the Emergency Operations Plan for our Township.

Public Comment
Joe Shamonsky – wanted to know about the police ride alongs.

Charlie Shamonsky – asked who is liable if an accident occurs.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve Ryan Rehatchek, Carl Bachart, Brad Hess, James Fredericks, and Jeff Bair to do ride alongs with our police department.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.

Pat Tracy – asked if the township has a grant writer.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to adopt Resolution #11-07 enabling the township to submit a DCNR grant application for a development project at the Ryan Memorial Park and to authorize Stephen W. Simchak to sign the grant signature page.  Chairman Simchak seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  Simchak and Leibensperger voted for the motion and Gilbert voted no.  Motion carried.

Marion Lazur – asked for the treasurer’s report to be read.  A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the treasurer’s report as read.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried. Ms. Lazur asked for the municipal reports to be read. Ms. Conville mentioned the following municipal reports received: Engineering report from Alfred Benesch, American Water Services report, Police department report, Road Department Report, Zoning Officer’s report.  A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to accept all municipal reports and place them on file for public review.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried. Ms. Lazur asked for the correspondence to be read.

Ms. Conville mentioned the following items received:
1. Letter from Michelle Griffiths about the storm water flow.
2. Letter from Harmony Lodge #86 in Tamaqua offering their help for the Bicentennial
3. Mauch Chunk Trust pledges for the month
4. Township Today Quarterly Newsletter

A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to accept the correspondence received and place it on file for public review. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.  Ms. Lazur also questioned Item A-Resolution #11-06 if there was going to be a fee charged by Centax when they start to collect our tax monies in 2012.

A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to adopt Resolution 2011-06.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.

Charlie Shamonsky – asked why the sewer project for Meadow Avenue will not start until May.

Cathy Schimpf – asked if an update would be given on the Robert Romanick’s case under attorney business.
Attorney Yurchak stated that Mr. Romanick has filed a petition with the courts claiming the township is in contempt for not having a hearing. The hearing was held and a decision has not yet been issued.  The judge did fall off a roof and was recuperating for a few months.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to accept the attorney’s business for tonight.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.

Minutes of Previous Meeting – February 15, 2011- A motion was made Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the meeting minutes.  Chairman Simchak seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.

Approval of Current Township and Sewer Bills for March, 2011
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve all current township and sewer bills for March, 2011.  Chairman Simchak seconded the motion.  Under the question, Vice-Chairman Gilbert questioned what the auditor’s bill was for in the amount of $270.00.  Gilbert stated the Board has to give permission to the auditors to have an attorney and if an issue cannot be resolved, then there is a chain of command. Attorney Yurchak stated he did not see the bill, but suggested that the Supervisors should defer the bill and have him review it.  Vice-Chairman Gilbert made a motion to defer the auditor’s bill from the Attorney to our Solicitor for review.  Chairman Simchak seconded the motion.  Ms. Conville polled the Board.  Simchak and Gilbert voted for the motion and Leibensperger voted no.  Motion carried.
New Business
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to sign the letter of intent with the Department of Community & Economic Development to begin the process of regional police consolidation. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion.  Under the question, Vice-Chairman Gilbert wanted to know who we would be doing the study with, and why we are not going with Tamaqua and the surrounding areas.  A brief discussion followed between the Supervisors. Ms. Conville polled the Board.  Simchak and Leibensperger voted for the motion and Gilbert was undecided.  Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger for Corporal Frederick, Officer Bekesy, and Officer Cramer to attend in-service updates on March 21st and March 22nd in Tamaqua at a cost of $59.40 per officer and pay their wages for both days and for Officer Herring to attend in-service update classes in Hazleton. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board.  All members voted in favor of the motion,

Announcements – Ms. Conville read the following announcements:
1.  The Supervisors are requesting that residents sweep up the dirt and debris that has accumulated on their property over the winter months and call the office to schedule it to be picked up by the road department.
2.  A Bicentennial Committee meeting was held on Thursday, March 10th at the municipal building.  Ideas discussed were a hoagie ticket sale and the Community Day celebration.  Our blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5th from 1pm to 6 pm.
3.  Alfred Benesch & Company submitted a grant application on behalf of our township for a total project cost of $240,000.00.  Our required match for this grant would be $36,000.00.  This is through the NEPA Transportation Enhancements Program.  Our project is titled Hometown Area Safe Routes to School.  Improvements would include sidewalks, path, signage, bike racks, trash cans and painting.  From start to finish, there are six phases to this project.
4. The Supervisors would like to thank Guy’s Flowers in Hometown and Marian High School for the floral arrangements we received to commemorate the township’s 200th anniversary.

Chairman Simchak adjourned the meeting at 6:23 o’clock pm.

Transcribed and attested:
________________________________________
Terri Conville
Secretary/Treasurer

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