{"id":1464,"date":"2016-02-25T00:00:29","date_gmt":"2016-02-25T05:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2016-04-18T10:48:37","modified_gmt":"2016-04-18T14:48:37","slug":"february-2016-meeting-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/2016\/02\/25\/february-2016-meeting-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"FEBRUARY 2016 MEETING MINUTES"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rush Township Building
\nHometown, PA 18252<\/p>\n

Minutes of the Meeting of the Rush Township Board of Supervisors<\/strong><\/p>\n

A meeting was held at the Rush Township Municipal Building on February 25, 2016 at 7:00 o’clock pm. In attendance were: Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger, Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni, Treasurer\/Secretary, Katie Orlick, Attorney, Chris Riedlinger and Bill McMullen. Chairman Shawn Gilbert called the meeting to order.<\/p>\n

Pledge of Allegiance was recited.<\/p>\n

Police Report \u2013 <\/strong>Officer Hess read the police report for the month of January 2016. A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve Officer Hess\u2019s report. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Minutes of Previous Meeting and Re-Organization Meeting \u2013 January 4, 2016<\/strong> A motion was made to approve the previous meeting minutes of January 4, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Treasurer\u2019s Report – <\/strong>A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the treasurer\u2019s report as of January 2016. \u00a0Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Approval of current township and sewer bills thru February 24, 2016 <\/strong>– A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the municipal reports thru February 24, 2016.\u00a0 Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved. Supervisor Motroni seconded the motion.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board, all members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Approval of municipal reports (sewer, road, Arro, Prodesign)<\/strong> – A motion was made by Chairman Gilbert to approve the municipal reports for January 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion. Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board. All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/p>\n

<\/u>Attorney\u2019s Business \u2013 \u00a0<\/strong>1.\u00a0 <\/strong>Resolution drafted to adopt tonight to appoint Lettich and Zipay, CPA to audit, settle or adjust Rush Township accounts for the fiscal year 2015.<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Rush Township Zoning Hearing Board issued its decision with regard to Rush Academy, Tamaqua Area School District, to uphold Bill\u2019s Notice of Violation, the manner in which the school is being used needs to apply for a special exception, the school has filed an appeal. John Mahoney will be handling the case from this point on through our insurance.\u00a0 He is aware of our position.\u00a0 Chris has forwarded him all necessary documentation.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Correspondence \u2013 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Pamphlet from Salvation Army regarding helping the homeless. Email from a resident praising the Road Department for their snow removal. Robert noted that the rain storm that occurred this week was at \u00a0night and our road department does not have lights on the trucks in order to clear drains at night, Robert wants to get lights for the trucks.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>Old Business – \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>None.<\/span><\/p>\n

    NEW BUSINESS<\/strong>–<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Motion to pay all Seasonal Drivers a pay rate of $15.00\/hour retro-active February 4, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    2. Motion to allow our Fire Police to assist with traffic control at the Girardville. St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade on March 19, 2016. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    3. Motion to appoint Lettich and Zipay, CPA to audit, settle or adjust Rush Township accounts for the fiscal year 2015. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    4. Motion to open and award the bids for our 2016 Road Project.\u00a0 Award bid to Lehigh Asphalt contingent on review by Engineer, Bill McMullen.\u00a0 Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    5. Motion to authorize Arro to advertise for bids for the use of Equipment for 2016 Road Department Work.\u00a0 Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    6. Motion to hire Christopher Hamilton as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00\/hour.\u00a0 Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    7. Motion to hire Matthew Houser as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00\/hour.\u00a0 Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    8. Motion to hire Lynn York II as a Rush Township Part-time Police Officer at a pay rate of $17.00\/hour. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n
    9. Motion to request a 3-year Project Activity Completion Extension on our CDBG Grant. Vice Chairman Leibensperger approved the motion, Supervisor Motroni seconded.\u00a0 Katie Orlick polled the board.\u00a0 All members voted in favor of the motion, motion carried.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Public Comment \u2013 <\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \u00a0Robert Leibensperger stated that several residents have questioned him about Fire Tax, when collected it is given to fire company.\u00a0 Second LST tax goes to Road\/Police\/Fire, each get 1\/3 and given to them.\u00a0 The 2% insurance tax each resident pays, goes directly to the Fire Allocations to the Fire Companies, Rush Township pays worker\u2019s compensation insurance in full for the fire company, it is paid out of our general fund, everything is given to Fire Companies.<\/li>\n
      2. Charlie Shamonsky\u2013 15 Meadow Avenue is parking cars on their lawn, her curb is cut to put up a garage.\u00a0 On that block it is a deed restriction that only driveways\/garages are only allowed at the back of\u00a0property.\u00a0 Deed restrictions are not enforced by Township; it is not a criminally enforced matter it is a civil matter per Solicitor.\u00a0 There is an Ordinance that says no parking on the lawn.\u00a0 Bill gave them a permit in order for them to put in a garage, it is not a zoning restriction, it is a deed restriction and if 25 feet off the road he will issue the permit.\u00a0 Zoning does not enforce deed restrictions, therefore Bill was correct in issuing the permit.\u00a0 If there is a civil matter with deed restriction, the neighbors need to take that up, not the township.<\/li>\n
      3. John Boyle – \u00a0Sewage on Lynwood Street, roots have blocked the sewer lines and he has backing up; it is the township line that clogging his line and others on that same line, the pitch on the line is not that good, Biros is scheduled to do the cleaning of the sewer lines.\u00a0 Every other year there is cleaning cycle on the sewer lines, however there is a monthly treatment that the Sewer Department does on all the lines. Supervisors and Sewer Department have a list and years that they are to be cleaned and cleared.<\/li>\n
      4. Joe Shamonsky \u2013 Questioned when the Township was going to start looking into storm water\/drain issues.\u00a0 He has a huge mess down by his property, he paid so much money to the township to put in \u00a0theses drains, the drains are blocked and all the trees should be cut down because the leaves and pine needles are filling the storm drains, the ditch is filling up and it is running in front of his house and into his garage.\u00a0 It is not township property where the trees are that he is talking about.\u00a0 Bill said that Mr. Shamonsky thought his was the only drain that was blocked and backed up.\u00a0 His issue has been noted.\u00a0 The Road Department was out cleaning the drains all day throughout the entire township, cannot control 3 inches of rain an hour and the drains were over capacity.\u00a0 He was informed that it was not just his property it is many residents, there are a lot of projects on the books to get these corrected.\u00a0 They cannot focus on his property only, have to look at the good of entire township. Township is aware of the problem and has been in contact with the state to fix their portion of the issue, the Township is handling their own pipes.<\/li>\n
      5. Dave Clewell \u2013 Gravel and debris on Golf Road (by railroad tracks) and Rt. 54, he was afraid that when he tried to stop, he would slide and end up on Rt. 54.\u00a0 That is a state road therefore the Township cannot touch this, Katie will contact PennDOT to have this issue resolved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        <\/u>Supervisors Comment<\/u><\/strong>–\u00a0 \u00a0None.<\/p>\n

        Chairman Gilbert adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.<\/p>\n

        Transcribed and attested: Kelly Giordano\/Administrative Assistant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        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 February 25, 2016 at 7:00 o’clock pm. In attendance were: Chairman Shawn Gilbert, Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger, Supervisor Jeaninne Motroni, Treasurer\/Secretary, Katie Orlick, Attorney, Chris Riedlinger and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1464"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1465,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions\/1465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rushtownship.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}