Cummings Township Supervisors

Cummings Township Supervisors Regular Monthly Minutes September 11,2012

Chair Walter Braddock called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. Supervisors Thomas Thompson and John Gasperine were present. Road Master Rick Bierly, Zoning Officer Will Wolfe and Secretary/Treasurer Lucy Cox were also present

Supervisor Thompson made a motion to accept the minutes from the August meeting and John Gasperine seconded the motion. MCU.

Attending the meeting from the public were Ron Bierly, Craig Bierly and Tyler Bierly. Nate Thurston, from PGE, Jim Mitcheltree, Donna Bierly, Bruce Wertz, and Mike Myers.

Public Participation:

Ron Bierly asked the Supervisors to consider donating money from the Act 13 Impact Fee to the Waterville Fire Company. Ron Bierly stated that the building is old and is in need of several repairs. Supervisor Gasperine asked Ron to make an itemized list of much needed repairs. Tom agreed that Ron should compile a list of building repairs and every consideration will be made when the Township receives the money.

Donna Bierly asked the Supervisors about the recent posting that the dam at Little Pine Creek State Park is not safe. John Gasperine stated that the posting was a formality. Every so often a notice must be posted for the General Public stating that an Emergency Action Plan has been prepared. John assured her that the dam is safe. John visited the park and reviewed a copy of the inspection dated April of 2012. The inspection states that there is nothing wrong with the structure other than the water below the spillway. John also mentioned that this has been the case for several years. Ted McCarthy received the entire evacuation plan and John said that anyone would be able to review the information.

Zoning Reports:

Will Wolfe reported that there were no zoning permits issued. No sewage permits were issued and there were no zoning violations to his knowledge.

Road Master’s Report

Rick Bierly reported that the pumps were purchased for the fuel tank and were installed. The pumps are in good working order. Walt asked Rick how the situation was going in reference to the ditch behind the Fire Hall. Rick reported that there was some work to be done using the chain saw on the parking lot side. Brush needs to be removed from the ditch and there should be no digging involved.

The headwalls up to Pappy’s Curve have been cleaned. The grader has been repaired and the brakes are working properly. Rick informed the Supervisors that the master cylinder on the circle swing clutch needs to be replaced too. Rick asked the Supervisors to replace the master cylinder in case the township would need the grader for snow removal.

McHenry Township needs to borrow the grader for two to three weeks. Cummings Township has an agreement with McHenry Township to split the maintenance costs of the grader between the two townships. A motion was made by Supervisor Thompson to repair the circle swing on the grader. Walt Braddock seconded the motion. John Gasperine opposed the motion. M.C.

The Supervisors discussed the problem of heavy truck traffic on DRR during the spring when the snow is melting and the ground beneath the road is very soft. Walt discussed different ways of closing the road during that time. Gating the road was one suggestion. Jim Mitcheltree suggested talking to the gas companies and asking them to limit their heavy traffic during that time. He stated that this would not stop truck traffic entirely but might slow it down a little. PGE did offer to help with the cost of the stone.

Tom Thompson asked Nate if he had any indications from PGE as to how much they would be willing to invest in the West Side of DRR. Nate responded that Matt Hahn, who has left the area, was his contact on these matters, and he has not been in touch with anyone about this part of DRR

Walt asked Nate if it was feasible to talk with the gas companies and ask them to refrain from using DRR during this critical time. Nate replied that he would be in the office in Warren later on in the week and he would mention the Townships concerns and what PGE can do to help.

The Supervisors then discussed payroll with Rick. The Supervisors would like to read and approve the time sheets before the payroll checks are disbursed. Rick and his crew are paid twice a month. Rick was against the suggestion of being paid monthly. Will Wolfe suggested that the Secretary email the time sheets to the supervisors for approval before the checks are disbursed. The Supervisors asked Lucy Cox if she would email the time sheets to each of the Supervisors for approval. Lucy agreed to do this and wait for an email approval from the Supervisors before disbursing checks to the Road Master and his crew.

A different format for time sheets was discussed but for now it was agreed to keep the time sheet that the Township has been using for several years.

Walt included that he wants the approval of two Supervisors before the checks are signed. This would resolve a problem should one of the Supervisors be out of town.

Lucy Cox asked the Supervisors about the brake retarder signs and Tom Thompson mentioned that Solicitor Scott Williams was going to amend the ordinance that the Township has in place. When the amended ordinance is approved then the signs may be installed.

Rick informed the Supervisors that the Township has only received two signs from Bradco and there should be four. Lucy checked the invoice received from Bradco and only two signs have been received and paid for. Rick will call Bradco and inquire about the other two signs.

The Supervisors then went over the Correspondence folder.

Treasurer’s Report:

Lucy reported that all bank statements have been reconciled. Lucy added a page to the Treasurer’s Report for the Fire Tax Fund. This was done because two bank statements for that fund have been received since the last monthly meeting.

Lucy reported that a large check had been received from the Pa Dept of Revenue. Lucy talked with Will about this check. Will explained that the check was a result of the State paying the Township an amount per acre that they own in lieu of real estate taxes. The check was deposited into the Capital Reserve Fund.

Walt discussed that the FDIC only protects a depositor for one hundred thousand dollars. Jim Mitcheltree told the Supervisors that it was actually two hundred thousand dollars. When the Township receives funds from the state for Act 13 impact fee then it would be best to deposit the funds into three different banks.

Lucy mentioned that in September of the previous year the remaining charitable donations were made to different non-profit organizations. Lucy asked the Supervisors for approval to make the contributions to the remaining organizations. Will mentioned that these donations can be made at any time during the year.

Will asked Lucy if she had information on a receipt from Annabelle Miller. It was a real estate transaction. Lucy did not have the information with her. She told Will that she would check on it and get back to him.

Will found a typographical error on the Treasurer’s Report.

Tom Thompson made a motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report and the payment of bills. Walt Braddock seconded the motion. MCU.

Jim Mitcheltree asked the Supervisors if they would post the Treasurer’s Report as well as the Monthly Minutes. The Supervisors agreed to have Lucy post the Treasurer’s Report in the lobby of the Waterville Post Office.

Chair Walter Braddock made a motion to adjourn the meeting and John Gasperine seconded the motion. MCU.

The meeting ended at 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully yours, Lucy Cox Secretary/Treasurer Cummings Township