HARRIS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Minutes of March 26, 2003
Regular Meeting
Members Present:
Chairman Dennis Hameister, Vice-Chairman Charles Graham, Supervisor Josephine Chesworth, and Supervisor Cliff Warner.
Others Present:
Interim Township Manager Todd Shea, Maintenance Director Allen Klinger
Call to Order:
Chairman Hameister called to order the March 26, 2003 meeting of the Harris Township Board of Supervisors at 4:03 p.m.
Approval of Minutes:
No meeting minutes were approved at the meeting.
Citizen Comments:
No citizen comments were offered at the meeting.
Township Business:
A. 2003 - 2004 Road Salt Purchase:
Mr. Shea stated that staff supported utilizing the state contract for road salt for the period of August 2003 to July 2004. The application for such had to arrive at the State office by March 31 to be eligible.
Mr. Shea said the matter had been discussed with both the Maintenance Director and Maintenance Superintendent; the staff recommendation was to use a target estimate of 350 tons of road salt for the application, knowing that at least 60% of the quantity would have to be purchased, but an additional 20% of the quantity would be permitted.
Mr. Shea pointed out that in previous years, $10,000 of salt was budgeted to avoid the bidding process, which has made snow and ice removal difficult in the recent years.
Vice-Chairman Graham asked if the Township had ever used as little as 210 tons of salt in a season.
Mr. Klinger said that hadn't happened in many years.
Board members expressed a consensus to pursue the state contract for road salt.
Upon a motion made by Vice-Chairman Graham, seconded by Supervisor Warner and carried unanimously, the Board voted to authorize staff to complete and submit the State Contract for road salt for the August 2003 - July 2004 period at and estimated quantity of 350 tons. Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
B. Communications:
Mr. Shea stated that the existing telephone system is 20+ years old, malfunctions often, and is difficult to service since the nearest service organization is in Erie. Mr. Shea further stated that the internet/email service used by the Township, Vicon, is unreliable and has led to missed meetings, lack of communication, and other problems.
Mr. Shea said that telephone system replacement proposals had been received from Blair Communications and Morefield Communications and that they were similar in type and cost; staff had priced a cable modem installation from Adelphia for internet service/email that was reasonable and would afford each computer operator access.
Mr. Shea advised that the implementation of an internet policy might be appropriate in conjunction with expanded internet use in the office.
Upon a motion by Vice-Chairman Graham, seconded by Supervisor Chesworth and carried unanimously, the Board voted to direct staff to proceed with acquiring both a replacement telephone system and a replacement internet/email system with a combined cost not to exceed $5,500. Ayes - 4; Nays - 0.
C. Proposed Ordinance for Small Firearms:
Mr. Shea stated that he had discussed the matter with Supervisor Wilson, who had been experiencing problems with minor children using pellet rifles in his neighborhood. Supervisor Wilson had discovered that such weapons are not otherwise regulated by law unless a local ordinance provides regulation.
Mr. Shea said that he was unaware of any existing local regulation that prohibited the use of small firearms in residential areas.
It was the consensus of the Board to further discuss the issue at the April 14 meeting with consideration of an ordinance similar to the Patton Township regulation that had been distributed.
Vice-Chairman Graham said he had two items he wished to briefly discuss.
Vice-Chairman Graham asked when the backstop at Blue Spring Park that had been moved for the basketball court would be moved into place and when the ice skating rink would be removed, as baseball season was quickly approaching.
Mr. Shea said he would ask Greg Roth of CRPA about those two matters.
Vice-Chairman Graham questioned the action of the Board at the March 10 meeting in approving the parkland agreement with the developer of Ashworth Woods. Mr. Graham stated that he would like to see the developer forced to do more in the park and distributed copies of MPC and ordinance enforcement standards that he said could be applied to the situation.
Mr. Shea pointed out that the MPC requirements and enforcement regulations distributed were from sections dealing with PRD development; Ashworth Woods was not developed as a PRD, so they wouldn't apply.
Mr. Graham said he would like to discuss the matter further and would bring it up at the April meeting.
D. Adjournment:
Upon a motion by Supervisor Chesworth, seconded by Supervisor Warner and carried unanimously, the March 26, 2003 meeting of the Harris Township Board of Supervisors was adjourned at 4:40 p.m.