Rush Township Building
Hometown, PA 12:00 P.M.
Minutes of the Reorganization Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors
The reorganization meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Stephen W Simchak. Those in attendance were Supervisor Shawn Gilbert; Supervisor Robert J. Leibensperger.; and Secretary/Treasurer Terri Conville. There were approximately thirty residents and one reporter present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adjourn the old board. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Stephen W. Simchak as the temporary Chairman. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint as temporary Secretary Terri Conville. The motion was seconded by Mr. Simchak, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to re-organize the Board of Supervisors for 2010. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to nominate Stephen W. Simchak as Chairman for the Rush Township Board of Supervisors for the year 2010. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to nominate Shawn Eric Gilbert as Vice-Chairman for the year 2010. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Terri Conville as the Secretary/ Treasurer for 2010 at the salary of $33,280.00 per year. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried. Under the question, William J. Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know if that is a salary or an hourly position and what does it come out to hourly. Simchak stated it is a salaried position and comes out to $16.00 per hour. Motion carried.
Mr. Simchak called the new Board to order.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Robert Yurchak as Solicitor for 2010 for the Rush Township Board of Supervisors at $625.00 per quarter plus $100.00 per hour as needed. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Peter Fagan as Solicitor for 2010 for the Planning Commission at $120.00 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Attorney Joseph Matika as solicitor for the Zoning Hearing Board for the year 2010 at $80.00 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Solicitor for 2010 for the Rush Township Auditors at $125.00 per hour Paul Datte. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Mauch Chunk Trust and Sovereign Bank to be named depository banks for 2010. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Arro Consulting, Inc. as Zoning and Code Enforcement Officer on an as needed basis at the rate of $69.00 per hour. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Mr. Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know how much per hour it was. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Alfred Benesch and Company as the engineering firm for the Board of Supervisors for 2010 on an as needed basis according to their rate schedule exhibit A. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Mr. Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know what Exhibit A was. Mr. Gilbert wanted to know if it is comparable to Arrow engineering and who talked to them. Mr. Gilbert wanted to know where they are from and how can they know our township better than Bill McMullen and ArroEngineering. Mr. Gilbert wanted to know how it could be cheaper. Mr. Shamonsky wanted to know why there are only two Supervisors making all the decisions. Mr. Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Alfred Benesch as the Engineer and/or Consultant for 2010 for the Planning Commission on an as needed basis according to their rate schedule Exhibit A. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if that was the same Exhibit A rate schedule as the other one. Motion carried.
Mr. Simchak made a motion to appoint Arro Consulting, Inc as the alternate Engineer and/or Consultant for 2010 for the Planning Commission. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to set the compensation for each Planning Commission member at the rate of $20.00 per meeting. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to set the compensation for each Zoning Hearing Board member at $10.00 per hearing. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, William J. Sanchez, Jr. wanted to know if that included pay for the alternate member. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to set the compensation for each Township Auditor at $10.00 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint William Brior as the Sewage Code Enforcement Officer for the year 2010 at the rate of $40.00 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Bruce Dobash as alternate Sewage Code Enforcement Officer for 2010. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Michelle Griffiths as an alternate member to the Zoning Hearing Board for a three year term. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez asked if a background check was done on her by the police department. Simchak stated that it was not necessary. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint the Chairman of the Rush Township Planning Commission to serve as the township representative for the Regional Planning Board. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know who was the Chairman of Planning is and is that in general. Ms. Conville stated Bob Ritsick is the current Chairman for the Planning Commission. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adopt Resolution 2010-01 setting the fee schedule for 2010 for the Sewage Enforcement Officer. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to re-appoint Gene Rutch as the full-time Road Master at the rate of $18.00 per hour. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to re-appoint Dennis Rupert as full-time Equipment Operator/CDL Truck Driver/Laborer at $16.25 per hour. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to re-appoint Dennis Boyle as Part-time Laborer at the rate of $10.90 per hour. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to set the Laborer/Part time rate at $10.00 per hour. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger motioned to set the Seasonal CDL Truck Driver rate at $13.50 per hour and $12.00 per hour for non-CDL. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if all the rate increases were an equal amount. Simchak stated they were not equal. Motion carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to set the benefits for the full time Township employees as follows for 2010: paid Vacation – (Currently) After one year and on the employee’s anniversary date- 5 days, 4 to 9 years – 8 days, 10 to 17 years – 13 days, 18+years – 15 days: Upon completion of the 90 day new hire probationary period all full time employees will be given medical insurance, vision, dental, life with full coverage for the employee; 9 Paid Holidays (Currently) New Year’s – Good Friday – Memorial Day- 4th of July – Labor Day – Thanksgiving Day – Day After Thanksgiving – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day; 7 Personal Days(cannot be carried over); 2 Bereavement Days; Employer/Employee continuing Pension Plan; Work clothes and a $75.00 allowance for work shoes for the Road Crew. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Mr. Sanchez wanted to know if the boot allowance was only for the full time road department workers. Simchak stated yes to that question. Motion carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Duane Fredericks as full time police officer at $19.72 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Brian Thompson as full time police officer at $18.72 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Jonathan McHugh as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Corey Herring as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Scott Cramer as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Richard Sinton as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Richard Bekesy as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to re-appoint Robert Minnick as part-time police officer at $12.73 per hour. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if the rate is an increase from last year. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion for new hire Part Time Police Officer at $12.00 per hour and $12.48 after probationary period of one year. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion that the Board of Supervisors appoint the following list of Fire Police for the Hometown Fire Company and Quakake Volunteer Fire Company for 2010. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if we had a list of the names of the fire police of both of the companies. Ms. Conville stated that at the present time we only had the list for Hometown Fire Company. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion that the Treasurer be authorized to pay payroll every other week. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if there is an assistant treasurer. Simchak stated no. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to set the Treasurer’s Bond limits at $2,000,000.00. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion that the Chairman and Secretary/Treasurer be authorized to sign the recap sheet and bond for the Tax Collector when due. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Simchak made a motion that the Board of Supervisors and the Secretary/Treasurer be authorized to attend the State Convention in Hershey, PA. April 18-21st, 2010 and authorize mileage, room, and food allowance of $50.00 per day for 3 days to those attending. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know of the office would be open those days since there will not be an assistant treasurer. Motion carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to name Stephen Simchak as the voting delegate and Robert Leibensperger as the alternate voting delegate for the State convention in Hershey. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion that the Board of Supervisors and the Secretary/Treasurer be authorized to attend the 2010 PAHRA conferences and include mileage, room and food allowance. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know what PAHRA is. Motion carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion that elected officials be authorized to attend the Schuylkill County Convention and pay them as permitted by the Second Class Township Code. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez asked if that included the secretary. Ms. Conville noted that the positions are listed in the second class township code book. Motion carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint John Schickram as Chairman of the Vacancy Board for 2010. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to set the Township reimbursement rate for mileage for 2010 at 50 cents per mile. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted in favor, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Stephen Simchak and Robert Leibensperger to attend the North Schuylkill Landfill Association meetings for 2010. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint the resident representative to the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission as Joseph Pinkey for a one year term. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to appoint Stephen Simchak for a one year term as an alternate resident representative to the Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to set the meeting as the third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 PM for 2010. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adopt Resolution 2010-02 for the signatures required for bank accounts. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adopt Resolution 2010-03 setting the garbage collection and disposal fees. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know what that fee is and if it is due the same date as last year. Simchak stated the fee is at $155.00 per year and due the end of April in order to avoid paying the $50.00 penalty fee. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adopt Resolution 2010-04 establishing a schedule of fees for the filing of subdivisions and land development plans. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to adopt Resolution 2010-05 establishing a schedule of fees pertaining to matters of the Zoning Ordinance prepared by the Eastern Schuylkill Planning commission and adopted by the Rush Township Board of Supervisors. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. All voted in favor, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to appoint Corporal Duane Frederick as the Alcohol/Drug-Free Workplace Supervisor. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if Corporal Frederick has been to the eight hour training course for this. Simchak stated the Board would look into this matter. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion to use The Times News as the Township newspaper. Mr. Gilbert seconded the motion. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Gilbert made a motion to use Maillie, Falconiero & Company as the accountants to do the yearly audit of the books. Mr. Leibensperger seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know if that would be done electronically and what the cost was. Ms. Conville stated that the audit is done electronically and the costs average between nine and ten thousand dollars. All voted yes, carried.
Mr. Leibensperger made a motion for Cross Roads Computers Company to be the computer consulting firm for the township. Mr. Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Sanchez wanted to know who this company is. Motion carried.
Mr. Gilbert had a question on Resolution 2010-02 signatures required for the checks. Mr. Gilbert wanted to know why it was changed from two Supervisors and the Treasurer signing the checks to one Supervisor and the treasurer signing the checks. Ms. Conville explained that it was not changed. In the past, the treasurer is one of the signatures required on the checks and any one of the three Supervisors can co-sign the checks.
Adjournment
Mr. Simchak adjourned the meeting at 12:40 pm.
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Terri Conville
Secretary/Treasurer
