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 September 17, 2015 at 7:00 o’clock pm. In attendance were: Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger, Secretary/Treasurer Katie Orlick, Attorney Chris Riedlinger and Bill McMullen. Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni was not present due to work obligations.
Chairman Shawn Gilbert called the meeting to order.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Police Report – Sergeant Duane Fredrick read his report for the month of August 2015. A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve Sergeant Frederick’s report. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Mrs. Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Minutes of Previous Meeting – August 20, 2015 A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the previous meeting minutes of August 20, 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried
Treasurer’s Report –A motion was made by Chairperson Gilbert to approve the treasurer’s report. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Approval of current township and sewer bills thru August 2015 – A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the municipal reports thru August 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Mrs. 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 August 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Mrs. Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Attorney’s Business – Robert Heckman filed an action against the Township and some related officials, including Mr. Sanchez, the Commonwealth Court decided in favor of defendants, threw case out, Mr. Heckman asked for an appeal from the Supreme Court which was denied. The case has officially been closed.
There was a court hearing on the injunction request by the Township on the Meadow Avenue school, the court denied the injunction, but there is a zoning hearing on this matter as a result of an appeal on the violation that Bill gave them, no date has been set for this hearing yet.
Collective bargaining agreement that is being negotiated with the Police Department, should be signed upon the review and approval by the Solicitor. A motion was made by Solicitor, that Collective Bargaining Agreement vote to sign it upon review by the solicitor and upon his approval Supervisors can sign. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Mrs. Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Correspondence – Newsletter from Penn Dot may be able to offer assistance with salt during the winter months.
NEW BUSINESS–
1. A motion to accept Rush Township’s decision to hire Barry Ruch for the Road Department, at a pay rate of $17.00/hour., retro-active as of August 31, 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
2. A motion to accept Corporal Adam Sinton’s notice of resignation, his final date of employment to be September 26, 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
3. A motion to accept Steven Troxell’s resignation, final date of employment retro-active to September 11, 2015.
4. A motion to increase the wage rate of part-time police officers employed by Rush Township to $16.00/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
5. A motion to hire Joseph David as a part-time police officer at a pay rate of $16/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
6. A motion to hire Douglas Litwhiler as a part-time police officer at a pay rate of $16/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
7. A motion to hire Corey Herring as a part-time officer at a pay rate of $16/hour, retro-active Tuesday, September 15, 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
8. A motion to transfer 2007 Ford Explorer to Rush Township Fire Department. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
9. A motion to accept Marian Catholic’s request for our Fire Police to direct traffic after home games. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
10. A motion to change October’s Monthly Meeting from October 15, 2015 to the following week, October 22, 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
11. A motion to appoint William Kennedy as an alternative for the Zoning Hearing Board. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
12. A motion to appoint Frank Yeneskie as an alternate for the Zoning Hearing Board. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
13. A motion to accept the Rush Township Fair Housing Resolution for 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.
Public Comment –
1. Charlie Shamonsky – Asked about the brush cutting and the apples being cleaned up by the school. Why is the township cutting it back using tax payers money? Needs to be cleared up better because there are animals back there and what if the kids get bit. Robert said that we maintain all of our road ways, that is one of our roadways and storm drains that we maintain so that our road department can get through to clean out the drains when storms come through, Carmen & Mariner. Also where are his No Truck signs, they are working on road repairs, signs are secondary.
2. Joe Shamonsky – Where is the report you were supposed to write up about the Alley, when they can get to the Alley they will get to it, the road crew is currently working on storm drains and fixing roads, in preparation for winter months. When they have a chance they will fix the alley and open it up. It is going to stay closed until further notice, due to safety concerns, not meant to be traveled on except if someone needs it opened for coal delivery or something. They will get to it when they have a chance. There may be a sewer issue, on this road that they are also going to look into. What are you doing on Tamaqua Street with the rocks? That is there to control the rapid water that we get during a storm so that it does not destroy the roadway. It will be tamped in once we have a rain storm, it will flow into a collection basin.
Supervisors Comment– We are currently looking for a resident to serve as an alternate on our Planning Commission Board. Please send a letter of interest to Rush Township Board of Supervisors. Also, a reminder that Fire Prevention Week is October 4-10, 2015. Don’t forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors!
Chairman Gilbert adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
Transcribed and attested: Kelly M. Giordano/Administrative Assistant
