The Morris Township Board of Supervisors met at the Municipal building for their regular meeting. Present were Supervisors Sam Bartolotto, Patrick Bracey and Dave Dietrich, Zoning Officer Bob Sanders, Mike & Billie Schwarz, Kevin Phillips, Bob Fisher, Randy Hamilton, Tim Hamilton, Doug & Pegg Smith and Cintas representative, Brandon Sweeney. The meeting was called to order at 7:00.
Public participation: Doug Smith spoke on behalf of the Historical Society about the schoolhouse painting. The person contracted to do the painting was originally supposed to have someone get the beehive out of the wall first but now says he cannot get that done. Pegg is looking into other options before the painting starts. Randy had some comments on the Act 13 funding, amounts from the past to today. Bob Fisher and Kevin Phillips updated us on the progress at Minor Lane. They got a dumpster and have started throwing some things out but nothing has improved so far. Also, there is a concern about damage to a pipe that has been newly installed. Discussion ensured about the approaching deadline. Secretary will call Harshman to set up a secondary inspection after the deadline to see if they have come into compliance.
Motion by Bracey to approve minutes from last meeting with correction: Pricing for water filling station site evaluation was provided by Harshman, not pricing for the actual filling station.
Financial report was available for review.
Police report was read by Bartolotto.
Road report was available for review. (truck update: both have moved from J&J to Stephenson. First truck completion is anticipated for July 22, second truck, August 22nd)
Fire report: 27 calls last month. 3 were taken during working hours. So far this year, there have been 122 calls.
Old business: On the water filling station site review, the price from Harshman is $250 per site for evaluation. Motion by Bracey to have Harshman move forward with both sites, one near the cinder shed on township property and one on property owned by John Lindley. Seconded by Dietrich, all in favor.
Act 537, nothing to update. We are on hold until a site is found. Discussion on subsidence insurance. Pam will apply to the state to see what they can offer. Bracey will send letter to other property owners to see if any of them would have any interest.
Chuck Conaway is our summer employee. He has asked for a raise this year from his current hourly rate of $18.00. There was discussion on the benefits of having an employee with a CDL who is willing to come in for only part of the year. Motion by Bracey to raise his hourly rate to $19.00, seconded by Bartolotto. All in favor.
New business: There was a short discussion on a proposed solar ordinance. Supervisors will review it and it will be discussed further at a future meeting. Also, secretary to ask the solicitor about a wind ordinance as well.
There was discussion about the Washington County Tourism grant. A sports court and parking areas were discussed. Motion by Bracey to apply for the grant for a multi use sports court for basketball/pickleball. Seconded by Bartolotto, all in favor.
Brandon Sweeney from Cintas presented options for renting an eye wash station and an AED from Cintas on a monthly basis. Prices for the AED, with maintenance and supplies would be $100 a month for a regular unit, $135/month for one with a pediatric mode. The eye wash station, with maintenance and supplies, would be $100/month. Supervisors will look into pricing on purchasing instead of renting and discuss again at a future meeting.
The park price and deposit amount was discussed, as people are not reading or paying attention to the rules. A larger deposit may make people pay more attention so that the workers don’t have to spend so much time fixing things up after the weekend. Motion by Bartolotto to establish a non-resident rate of $150 with a $100 deposit. The resident rate will stay at $75 but the deposit will increase to $50. Seconded by Dietrich, all in favor.
The Courtwrights offered to donate a play dome for the playground. Motion by Bracey to accept donation, seconded by Bartolotto, all in favor.
The Secretary read a letter received from the county asking about vacant structures and homelessness in the area. Nobody is aware of any homeless in the area.
Motion by Bracey to review and pay bills, seconded by Bartolotto, all in favor.
The meeting will be continued until July 15 at 6:00 to make a decision on the Ordinance Violation situation. Continued meeting: In business that just came up this morning, the Township received invoices from the GCRPD for lab charges that we were not aware were coming. Chief DeForte explained that the county will pay for alcohol related DUI charge lab costs but not drug related DUI charges. Discussion on how we can’t just let people drive under the influence so Secretary will call the county and see if we can get some kind of arrangements made. Will discuss at future meeting.
On the 3 Minor Lane situation, a follow up report was done by Harshman that shows while a little bit of debris was picked up, the property is still in unsafe condition. Motion by Bracey to move forward with the property cleanup, seconded by Bartolotto, all in favor. We will call for three bids on the demo and clean up and afterward, a lien will be put on the property for the cost to the Township. Solicitor will be contacted to see how to proceed.