Rush Township Municipal Building
Hometown, PA 18252
Minutes of the Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors
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 Vice-Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Supervisor Robert Leibensperger, Engineer Jennifer Kowalonek, Administrative Assistant Marie Skripnek, and Secretary/Treasurer Terri Conville. There were approximately thirty-one people in attendance and two reporters. The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited.
Public Comment
1. William J. Sanchez, Jr. – wanted to know if the Board received his correspondence about the restoration on Crest St because he is getting flooded out.
2. Marion Lazur- asked if she could hear the municipal reports. Ms. Conville mentioned reports engineers including zoning, road department and police department. A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to place on file all municipal reports 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 if she could hear the bills for the month of June. Ms. Conville gave Ms. Lazur the list of bills to be approved for the month to review during the meeting. A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve all township and sewer bills for the month of June. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted for the motion and Gilbert voted no. Motion carried.
3. Pat Tracey – asked Attorney Yurchak about the contents of the certified letter to Robert Romanick. Attorney Yurchak stated that Mr. Romanick still has in his possession items belonging to the township. A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger for Attorney Yurchak to send Robert Romanick a certified letter asking him to return items belonging to the township. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
4. Charles Shamonsky – had a question about the Meadow Avenue Project. Chairman Simchak suggested that Mr. Shamonsky talk to our engineer after the meeting tonight.
5. George Pinkey – stated that the agenda does not allow the residents an opportunity to voice their grievances and that is in violation of the 1st amendment of the constitution. Chairman Simchak stated that is a business meeting and he is welcome to come to the office and fill out a form listing any grievances he may have.
6. Len Tunilla – also asked about what will be done on Crest Street. Chairman Simchak stated that the Board has not had any discussions about that project yet.
Opening of bids for the 2011 road program – Lincoln, Frankford, and Locust Streets
1. Hazleton Site Contractors – base bid amount $126,947.25 and a bid bond included.
2. Lehigh Asphalt Paving & Construction Co. – base bid amount $115,730.00 and a bid bond included.
3. Pennsy Supply Inc/Slusser Brothers – base bid amount $178,099.00 and a bid bond included.
Chairman Simchak stated that at this time our engineer will review the bids and come back with a recommendation before the end of the meeting tonight.
American Water Services Report – John Teijaro read his report for the month as of June 21st, 2011. Supervisor asked TJ if he was able to get one of the pumps rebuilt. TJ stated that the electrician is in the process of trying to rebuild it. A motion was made by Vice-Chairman Gilbert to approve TJ’s report. Supervisor Leibensperger seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Minutes of Previous Meeting – May 17, 2011- A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the meeting minutes. Vice- Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Treasurer’s Report as of May 31, 2011 – A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve the treasurer’s report as of May 31, 2011. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Gilbert asked Ms. Conville to read the balance of each fund. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Correspondence – A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to accept and place on file the correspondence. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Vice-Chairman asked Ms. Conville to highlight on the correspondence received for the month. The following items were mentioned:
1. Letter from Sunoco Logistics stating their inventory numbers of refined petroleum products.
2. Letter from Attorney Richardson Todd Eagen stating he has filed a petition for review of the Police Tenure Act Adjudication on behalf of Robert Romanick.
3. Letter from the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce about their monthly transportation committee meeting.
4. Letter from the Tamaqua Public Library looking for donations for their Summer Reading Club and Program.
5. Letter from Penn Dot stating a form needs to be filled out to hold a special event in which a state road would need to be closed down.
6. Letter from Mauch Chunk Trust listing their pledge requirements.
7. PSATS Legal Defense Partnership Spring newsletter
8. Townships Today quarterly newsletter.
9. Notice of payment for the township’s state police fines and penalties for the first six months of this year.
Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Attorney’s Business – A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger authorizing Attorney Hludzik to continue with the appeal on Robert Romanick. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
New Business
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to allow Shawn Nunemacher, Glenn Laninger, and Corey Hamm 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 – wanted to know why the police report was not read and why Corporal Frederick has not been at the last few meetings. The Board noted the police reports are included under the municipal reports and Corporal Frederick is not on duty at the time of the township meetings.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to advertise for road materials for the following year. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to ratify the Rush Township Fire Police assistance with the Tamaqua Memorial Day Parade that was held on Monday, May 30, 2011. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to have Attorney Yurchak take whatever actions necessary to dissolve the sewer authority. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Under the question, Vice-Chairman Gilbert thought it was dissolved years ago. Attorney Yurchak stated it is still in existence, just not active. Attorney Yurchak stated it was enacted by an ordinance and so it has to be dissolved by an ordinance and then D.C.E.D. must be notified. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to advertise the Meadow Avenue Reconstruction project. Chairman Simchak seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. Simchak and Leibensperger voted for the motion and Gilbert was not sure. Motion carried.
A motion was made by Supervisor Leibensperger to approve Plan #FP-2011-003 Hy-Line North America, LLC Final Land Development as recommended by the Rush Twp Planning Commission. Vice-Chairman Gilbert seconded the motion. Under the question, Supervisor Leibensperger asked if this was the plan to be done in two phases. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Recommendation to award Road Program Bid – Jennifer Kowalonek, township engineer, recommended awarding the 2011 road program bid to Lehigh Asphalt Paving & Construction Company in the amount of $115,730.00. Vice-Chairman Gilbert asked Ms. Conville if all the funds would be coming out of our Liquid Fuels Account. Ms. Conville noted that the majority of the payment would be from Liquid Fuels and the balance would come from other accounts budgeted for new construction. Vice-Chairman Gilbert made a motion to award the 2011 road program to Lehigh Asphalt in the amount of $115,730.00. Supervisor Leibensperger seconded the motion. Ms. Conville polled the Board. All members voted in favor of the motion, carried.
Chairman Simchak adjourned the meeting at 6:23 o’clock pm.
Transcribed and attested:
________________________________________
Terri Conville
Secretary/Treasurer
