The Morris Township Board of Supervisors met at the township office for their regular scheduled meeting. Present were Supervisors Rob Sanders, Dave Dietrich, Doug Smith, Zoning Officer Bob Sanders, David Franz and Pam Bartolotto. Secretary Lesnock was absent and Marissa King took the meeting minutes.
Chairman Sanders called the meeting to order at 7:30 P .M. Minutes of the previous meeting were read. Motion by Sanders, second by Smith to approve the minutes as read.
In old business, the road sign has been installed at the intersection of Pie Ridge and Plum Sock Road.
The car owned by the David Watt family is still parked on township property.
The Weir Cole Road project to be completed by El Grande is tentatively scheduled for week of November 11th, but poor weather may not permit work to begin. The township was told that the cost of the job will not increase if it cannot be done until 2020.
The township is still waiting for Christopher Plumbing to drill water well at municipal building.
Dietrich spoke with Widmer Engineering about an engineering study to be completed on Weir Cole Road. Dietrich is pushing to have the engineering study completed by the end of 2019 so that the township will be in a good place to obtain the grant from the Washington County Redevelopment Authority and have the Weir Cole Road grant project completed in 2020.
A load of road salt was delivered to the salt/cinder storage building. Road crew has been working to partition the bays of the building and have been adding lights.
Road Foremen met with Equitrans. Twp needs to firm up details between open cutting versus boring under township roads.
The seismic work was completed in the township and now Fairfield is requesting that the road bond be released. Solicitor Hook sent Secretary Lesnock a copy of a seismic operation agreement that he suggests the township use in the future should any other seismic testing companies seek to do work within Morris Township and want to travel township roads. Action on such an agreement has been tabled until next meeting.
Spring and fall clean-up dates for 2020 will be the first Saturday in May and the first Saturday in October.
In new business, Secretary Lesnock informed Supervisors that after she does not wish to be reappointed as Secretary/Treasurer at the reorganization meeting in 2020. The township has received resumes from Pam Bartolotto, Michelle Wilson and Jodi Orbin. Supervisors discussed how many hours per week and how many days per week for a new secretary/treasurer. Dietrich felt each applicant should come in and spend time with Lesnock to learn about the job. Supervisors to decide upon hours, duties, etc., to present to the applicants.
David Franz presented the new health insurance costs for 2020. If township renews current plan, there will be an increase of 6% in the premium. For a less than 1% increase in premium costs, the township can opt to go with the, No Out of Network option. Each plan has the same copays and small deductible that we currently have now. Smith suggested employees check to make sure they are using in network doctors. Tabled decision until next meeting.
Township received a call asking if twp had 32 hours of community service available for a juvenile offender. Not at this time.
A Penn DOT worker stopped last week and asked about a V-plow the township hasn’t used for 10 + years. He wants to fabricate it for a locomotive for steam engine shows. He requested that the township donate it. Motion by Sanders, second by Smith to donate it.
The DEP asked to hold a public conference about the permit renewal for the Harvey Mine in the meeting room of the township building on Tuesday November 19, 2109 between 1 and 3 P.M. The Harvey mine is under a small portion of Morris Township of Washington County. Motion by Smith, second by Dietrich to permit the DEP to use the township meeting room.
Motion by Sanders, second by Smith to review and pay bills. Motion by Sanders, second by Smith to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 8:26 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Lesnock, Secretary