LATIMORE TOWNSHIP

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

559 Old US Route 15, York Springs, PA 17372

717-528-4614; Fax 717-528-8281

Regular Meeting

December 8, 2008

 

Present:  Chairman Daniel Worley, Vice-Chairman Larry Dost, Supervisor Elwood “Woody” Myers, Secretary Valena Garlin and visitors listed on the attendance sheet.

 

Chairman Worley called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and led everyone present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

 

Chairman Worley made a motion 1) to approve the Minutes from the November 10, 2008 meeting, 2) to approve the Treasurer's Report of November 30, 2008 and 3) to ratify all checks written during that timeframe.  The motion was seconded by Woody Myers and carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT in reference to agenda items only.
Gary Baker
, 116 Two Church Road, reiterated his question from last month’s meeting concerning posted hours for the newly-appointed Open Records Officer, Linda Hansen.  Dan noted, as he had last month, that Linda is part-time and has no set hours.  He also made the following clarifications:

  1. The Township has never tried to hide anything; its records are open.
  2. The new Law relates primarily to the PA State Legislature.  Linda was trained and appointed as mandated to ensure the Township maintains compliance.
  3. Requests for any particular document will continue to be handled as before, specifically by written request and made available to the requestor within five (5) days.


POLICE REPORT
Chief Michael Weigand was unable to attend this evening’s meeting; therefore, Vice-Chairman Larry Dost read the submitted report for the period from November 9 – December 6, 2008.  There were 136 calls for service; 287 duty man-hours logged and 3,837 miles patrolled.  There were 32 traffic citations issued.

 

The Safety Tip of the Month is to beware and plan for snow or ice conditions.  Keep vehicles prepared with salt, jumper cables and a blanket.  Expect weather to change throughout the day and know your location if 911 is called for emergency.

 

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Engineer's Report:
  Engineer John Shambaugh had a conflict and was unable to attend this evening’s meeting.

Road Report:  Woody reported that the Road Crew had filled potholes, conducted road checks, cleared brush, put spreaders on the Pete and the International, swept the intersection at Fickel Hill and Rt. 94, and maintained the backhoe.

Park Report:  Woody reported that some vandalism had occurred – someone had made doughnuts on the soccer field.  The police have been notified and are investigating.  New rules have been established for use of the fields.  Also, the Park Crew is cleaning up the fence row for better water flow.

 

SOLICITOR'S REPORT
Solicitor Guy Beneventano was stuck in traffic and will be in attendance as soon as he can.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION:  subdivisions/modules/land developments.

There were no planning modules, subdivisions or land developments that required any action at this meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS

There was none.

 

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Chairman Worley made a motion, seconded by Larry, to approve Resolution 2008-6 adopting the Budget and establishing the Tax Rates and Levies for the Year 2009.  All approved and the motion carried.
  2. Dan made a motion to adopt the new Right to Know Policy. Woody seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
  3. Dan made a motion, seconded by Woody to approve Resolution 2008-7 with regard to Municipal Records.  All agreed and the motion carried.
  4. Dan then made a motion to hold the annual Reorganization Meeting January 5, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. immediately followed by the January Regular Meeting.  Larry seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

 

BILLS LIST
Upon review, Larry made a motion, seconded by Woody, to accept the Bills List as submitted.  The motion carried unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENT
JohnWilliams noted that there were also doughnuts at Latimore Valley and wanted to confirm the police knew about both incidents (the Park and Latimore Valley).

 

Jason Williams, 139 Plank Road, York Springs, asked the status on the lawsuit as reported in a recent newspaper article.  He also requested information about a related bond issue, i.e. the amount, cost and status.

 

Gary Baker, 116 Two Church Road, asked if the Township is finished with York Springs regarding the Regional Police issue.

 

Mr. Baker also commented that he didn’t see the budget meeting advertised in the paper.  Dan noted that the Solicitor will be asked about that upon his arrival.

 

Kay King, 190 Braggtown Road, also noted that ‘they’ were having trouble with someone doing doughnuts in the parking lot along County Line Road.  She wondered if the Township was out on Saturday evening.

 

SUPERVISORS' COMMENTS
Chairman Worley addressed Jason Williams indicating that the situation is still under litigation; however, the prosecution lost the bond issue so there was nothing paid.

 

Addressing Mr. Baker, Dan noted that money continues to be tied up in the situation with York Springs in the matter of the Regional Police.  Currently, there is instability in the York Springs Borough Council and Judge George has put a freeze on the money in the Regional Police Department.  Much depends on the outcome of Jeff Shaull’s case who was President of the Commission at the time.  The Borough has been trying to get money from the Township; however, Dan emphasized that, “They’re not going to get it.”  In the meantime, nothing can be done until there’s a verdict.

 

Mr. Baker’s inquiry about advertising was deferred until Solicitor Guy Beneventano arrived.

 

Dan encouraged Mrs. King to report doughnuts in the lot so Mike (Police Chief Mike Weigand) can follow-up.  There was brief discussion describing leads and the investigation so far.

 

Concerning Mrs. King’s question about Saturday, Dan confirmed that the Road Crew, including himself, had indeed been out from approximately 5:00-10:00 P.M.  He noted, as had Mrs. King, that the state trucks weren’t out until nearly 8:00 P.M.  Regardless, the Township always gets out as soon as possible out of concern for the safety of the residents and also to avoid any possible liability issues.

 

At this time, Solicitor Beneventano arrived and made the following comments concerning advertising the Budget Meeting:

  1. Last month the Board of Supervisor directed him to place the necessary advertisement in the newspaper and to prepare the Resolution.
  2. The Board has already acted on the Resolution and it should be signed now.
  3. It was his (Guy’s) understanding that the advertisement placing the budget on the table for public view for the required 20 days was done promptly just after that meeting.  He will verify that with his office and report back to the Board.

 

Larry Dost inquired as to the necessary and proper procedure if, by chance, the advertising was overlooked.  Guy answered, if that were indeed the case, a special meeting would have to be called before the end of the year to ratify the resolution and make it available for 20 days.

 

Larry also wondered who should handle the advertisement of the January 5, 2009 re-organization meeting.  He (Larry) had mentioned it to Valena Garlin, Township Secretary, but was concerned that perhaps Guy should handle that as well.  Dan responded that it doesn’t matter as long as it’s done and directed Valena to work with Guy.

 

There will be an Executive Session following this meeting.

Dan made a motion to adjourn seconded by Woody.  The motion carried unanimously and the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.

The next meeting is Monday, January 5, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. for Re-organization to be immediately followed by the Regular Meeting.