News

AUGUST 2015 MEETING MINUTES

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 August 20, 2015 at 7:00 o’clock pm. In Attendance were: Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger, Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni, Secretary/Treasurer Katie Orlick, Attorney Chris Riedlinger and Bill McMullen.

Vice Chairman Leibensperger called the meeting to order.

Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Police Report Sergeant Duane Fredrick read his report for the month of July 2015. A motion was made by Vice Chairman Leibensperger to approve Sergeant Frederick’s report. Supervisor Motroni approved. Mrs. Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

Minutes of Previous Meeting – July 16, 2015 A motion was made by Vice Chairman Leibensperger to approve the previous meeting minutes of July 16, 2015. Supervisor Motroni approved. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried

Treasurer’s Report A motion was made by Vice Chairperson Leibensperger to approve the treasurer’s report. Supervisor Motroni 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 Vice Chairman Leibensperger to approve the municipal reports thru August 2015.  Supervisor Motroni 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 Vice Chairman Leibensperger to approve the municipal reports for July 2015. Supervisor Motroni approved the motion, Mrs. Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

Attorney’s Business –   Earlier this week the Township filed a DeclaratoryJudgment action along with a Request for a Preliminary Injunction against the Tamaqua Area School Districtover their proposed plan to open a different kind of school that has historically been present at the Rush Township Elementary Building.  There is a hearing on the Preliminary Injunction Request before Judge Dolbin on Friday, September 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom #6 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse. We are going to be arguing under our Zoning Ordinance, specifically Section 1803 in order for the district to change the use of their property from one nonconforming use to a different nonconforming use, they should have first gone before the zoning hearing board to receive a special exception, which they have not done. We are going to be asking Judge Dolbin to grant us an injunction, an injunction would prevent the school from operating in a way different than they have historically operated and at the same time, Bill has filed a new Notice of Violation against the TASD in order to get them before the Zoning Hearing Board.  Judge Dolbin may or may not be making a decision that day,  we should have the decision by next monthly meeting.  Chris explained the fees and a contract that was in place, etc. after a question regarding fees was raised by Joe Shamonsky.

CorrespondencePSATS. A question was raised regarding a letter that was supposed to be sent regarding the tree trimming.  However, Vice Chairperson Leibensperger stated that it was not a letter that was sent in, it was actually a non-viable complaint because the tree trimming people that are contracted by PPL were cutting branches and trunks and leaving them in the yards of elderly residents when they were not supposed to do that.

NEW BUSINESS

1. A motion to accept Mike Zimmerman’s transfer from the Road Department to the Sewer Department at a pay rate $20.00/hr., retro-active as of June 29, 2015.  Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

2. A motion to accept Dennis Rupert’s formal notice of his intent to retire, his last day being September 1, 2015.  Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

3. A motion to accept Rush Township’s decision to hire Anthony Sfarra for the Road Department, starting Monday, August 24, 2015 at a pay rate of $17.00/hour. Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

4.  A motion to approve an alternate person to be on the Zoning Board. Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

5. A motion to approve the Turner/Ward subdivision with the above-referenced waiver which is Section 502.D.36. Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

6.  Motion to approve the bid opening for Miller Park.  Only one bid was submitted from Wayne Postupack of Northeastern Seeding Hydro-Seeding Company, Inc., total bid is for $79,199.99 for the complete project. A motion was made to accept the bid received from Wayne Postupack.  Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

7.  A motion to accept Department of Community and Economic Development’s additional money for the 2013 Home Program in the amount of $152,390.00.

8.  A motion to buy a police car under the costars program for November.  Supervisor Motroni approved the motion. Mrs. Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.

Public Comment  –

  1. Cathy – did you do the Turner/Ward subdivision, yes they did.
  2. Charlie – the weeds at Turkey Hill, Robert said that they will send a letter out and Charlie then asked to have one sent to the school. Katie was told to send out a letter.  Also Road Foreman is still here after 4:00, Robert said he is on his own time to get organized.  Charlie would like to see the timesheets for Road Crew.  Only time there is overtime is in the winter.  Did the signs come in yet?
  3. Bill – Why is the Walnut Alley not being opened? They can close the road until it is fixed.  It is going to be fixed.  Money was wasted by putting stone down there, now it is all weeds and they spent tax payers money on this.  ELK Lighting is manufacturing and they are not supposed to be.
  4. Joe – Would like to apologize for his language in the last meeting, but he was speaking the truth.  Why does the police department have to ask the supervisors before they can enforce the law, Robert said they don’t, but Joe said they had to today.  People to get to their property they are allowed to move the barrier, but not at the structure.  Residents can enter the roadway from either side, but cannot touch the structure that is unsafe.  A complete complaint resolution will conducted and if there is a violation it will be up to the police department

Supervisors Comment–   We would like to thank Representative Jerry Knowles for giving us a  new American Flag.  We would also like to inform our residents that PPL has sub-contracted tree trimmers to cut branches and limbs around the wires.  The Township is not responsible for cleaning up the branches or trunks they cut.  If you have problems, call their Forester, Brian Deeken @ 570-498-2021.  Thank you.

Vice Chairman Leibensperger adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.

Transcribed and attested: Kelly M. Giordano/Administrative Assistant

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