The Morris Township Board of Supervisors met at the township office for their regular scheduled meeting. Present were Supervisors Dusty Stockdale, Doug Smith, David Dietrich, Zoning Officer Bob Sanders, Planning Commission member Randy Hamilton, Morris of Greene County Police Chief Mike Natale and resident Carl Sanders.
Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Minutes of the previous meeting were read. Motion by Smith, second by Dietrich to approve the minutes as read. The financial report was made available for inspection.
As Chief Natale was present, Supervisors went into new business first. Currently Morris Township of Greene County Police Department provides a contracted 24 hours of service per week to Morris Township of Washington County. The current contract is due to expire on December 31st. As of January 1, 2017, the Morris Township of Greene County Police Department will cease to exist. On January 1, 2017 Morris Township, Perry Township and Wayne Township, all of Greene County will form the Greene County Regional Police Department. The Regional Police Department can still provide service to Morris of Washington, however, the cost per hour charged by the Regional Police Department is not yet known and they would require a one year contract agreement with Morris of Washington instead of a 6 month agreement. Morris of Washington will be invited to join the Regional Police Department as an operating member for about $68,000.00. This amount would be in addition to the hourly rate that is currently charged at $36.00 per hour for 24 hours per week service. However, the hourly rate for 2017 is not yet known. Full membership gives Morris Township some say in equipment purchases, etc. It is also noted that Morris Township of Washington County would have to carry the extra cost of insurance for our townships share of liability. Currently, Morris Township does not have to name Morris Township of Greene County on our insurance policy as the current coverage is carried by Morris Township of Greene County. Supervisors discussed the issue at length. No decision was made, however it was noted that there was not much benefit to joining the Greene County Regional Police Department as a member and more benefits to just contracting out the service at an hourly rate. Also, Smith told Chief Natale that he was under the impression that the magistrate fines generated in our township from citations issued were to offset the hourly cost of services. He stated that he and other residents were under the same understanding. Chief Natale said that was not so, and that those fines are used to pay for time spent for court appearances, etc., as those hours are not part of the 24 hours per week contracted hours. Also, Dietrich stated that he never thought the fines were to offset our costs. Currently, all magistrate fines generated by citations issued by Morris of Greene in Morris of Washington get forwarded to Morris of Greene County.
With budget time looming, Randy Hamilton felt the board should be contemplating possible pay raises for employees and not wait until January or later. Smith wants to find out if health insurance costs could be going up as that will be a factor in future pay raises. Discussion ensued.
Regarding the Hathaway property, it was discovered that the N.O.V. typed up by Solicitor Hooks office had a typographical error in the last two digits of the parcel number. The Hathaway’s signed for the N.O.V. but no other contact from the Hathaway’s have been received. The time frame for them to begin repair or demo is over and the 90 day time frame to complete work is nearing an end. Nothing has been done. Solicitor Hook felt that the typo error was not an issue. After much discussion, Motion by Smith, second by Stockdale to send a second notice to the Hathaway’s indicating the township is pursuing demolition of the structures on the property with liens applied to the property. The Hathaway’s will be notified that the structures will be inspected for asbestos. A contractor and rate for demolition will be determined at a later date.
Secretary was notified by Marosky Engineering that all engineering work on the Plum Sock Road Bridge has been stopped.
Repairs to Bells Lake Road has been started. Log Cabin Fence Company has not yet replaced the tarp on the superstructure. Dietrich has not yet heard when El Grande will being the Redevelopment Authority Grant paving work on Weir Cole Road. Smith stated that he was not happy about not being part of the color selection for the steel roof and siding for the municipal building. Waller indicated later that a choice had to be made within a couple of days and not weeks. Discussion ensued.
Supervisors discussed Range Resources water impoundment at the Strawn property on Pie Ridge Road. In the original Conditional Use, Range specified that it was to be for Morris Township wells and one well in Amwell Township. It is believed that the well was on the Kearny property in Amwell, but the township is not sure. Range later wanted to use the water impoundment for other well site not in Morris Township and beyond the one well in Amwell. Supervisors previous told Range that they would have to make another Conditional Use Application requesting this. Smith stated that as it has not been used in excess of one year, the site should be reclaimed. Supervisors will have to discuss this with our Solicitor.
Motion by Smith, second by Dietrich to review and pay bills. Motion by Dietrich, second by Stockdale to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:12 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Lesnock, Secretary