OAK GROVE - A resident questioned the Pine Grove Township supervisors about whether the board planned to act on an issue with ordinances he brought before the supervisors during the two previous meetings.
The board immediately looked to solicitor Gino DiNicola, who informed Donald Wenrich that he understood Wenrich's interpretation of the township's two ordinances which Wenrich referenced during those meetings, but he disagreed with him. According to DiNicola, he talked with the Pine Grove Joint Treatment Authority's attorney and they agreed Wenrich is required to connect to the sewage system.
"You've exhausted all administrative authority before the JTA," DiNicola said at the supervisors' March 12 meeting. "You've brought action which was dismissed and it's cost tens of thousands of dollars. We're now at square one and you want another bite of the apple."
"You want me to break the law," Wenrich said, explaining that the state statute requires he move his waste 150 feet. "I could break other people's lines and they could come back on me."
Wenrich has refused to connect to the PGJTA's low pressure sewer system since he was first required to do so almost nine years ago. However, since July 2005, he has faithfully paid the quarterly bills of $125, which increased to $140 in January 2011. According to Wenrich, he does not agree with connecting to a LPSS, which he alleges is in violation of a township ordinance which requires a gravity flow system.
The courts, from the county to the state Supreme Court, which denied Wenrich's appeal of a Commonwealth Court decision, have disagreed with Wenrich and found that the township does not require a gravity flow system. In addition, under state law, the authority is permitted to create rules and regulations to maintain a public sewer.
The board unanimously agreed with DiNicola, who advised them not to take any action at this time.
Snow
The board members expressed their thanks and praise for the condition of the township roads during the season's multiple snow storms.
"I want to say 'Thank you,' " Chairwoman Diane Tobin said. "You guys did a tremendous job."
Roadmaster Rodney Fidler is now thinking about spring and reported that the first week scheduled for crack sealing for township roads will be April 7 to 11.
The board's newest supervisor, Bruce Kosack, said he has been reviewing the "comp time" the workers have accrued during what he described as a "tough winter." According to Kosack, more than 1,000 hours has been earned, which is nearly 26 weeks of manpower.
"Will we be able to provide all the services?" he asked. "It's something that needs to be looked at. We need some kind of plan."
Zimmerman suggested the work week be cut to four days except for the week that crack sealing is scheduled and when paving is being done.
Roads
Fidler reminded the board that the 2 1/2 Mile Road is scheduled for resurfacing this year, in addition to a section of Swopes Valley Road beginning at Route 645.
Tobin said to Kosack that road work is paid from the Liquid Fuels Account which, according to township Secretary/Treasurer Kathy Ferguson, currently has approximately $186,000 in it. Zimmerman reminded her, however, that liquid fuels will be used for bridge repairs, a decision Tobin said she had disagreed with.
Fidler was instructed to obtain an estimate for the 2 1/2 Mile Road for the board's April meeting. Zimmerman said that he would like to see that first before a decision was made about Swopes Valley Road. In April, Fidler had presented a list of three roads for the road project. The 2 1/2 Mile Road and the Swopes Valley Road were number 2 and 3 on the list and had an estimated combined cost of $292,000 without line stripping.
Handbook
A special meeting to discuss various recommendations Kosack has for changes to the employee handbook is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 22. His suggestion that the Compensation & Benefits Committee be renamed the Labor Relations Committee was approved.
Cleaning
The board approved hiring Blyth's Cleaning Services, Pottsville, to clean the municipal building, as well as the rest rooms at the recreational area. The proposal calls for an initial cleaning at a cost of $150, plus $75 per cleaning of the municipal building to be done every other week. The $50 charge per week to clean the rest rooms in the recreational area includes two cleanings per week, plus a Saturday night check during the months the facility is open. The board agreed to approve the service until October when it will be evaluated by the board. It was noted that the township provides all paper products and cleaning supplies.
Run-off
Kosack said he had contacted Bill Reichert of the Schuylkill County Conservation District and Ryan Fasnacht of Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, to look at the stormwater run-off problem in the area of the church on Route 443 in Pleasant Valley. Residents in that area have claimed the holding pond on the hill behind the church overflows and water comes down the hill, across the road and into their basements.
According to Kosack, Fasnacht had said everything on the hill has been done correctly. Reichert, however, said he feels the pipe under the road is not large enough, but he said the state Department of Transportation does not think it's a problem. Upon Kosack's request, the board gave approval for Fasnacht to visit the area during the next storm to take pictures. If necessary, a second visit may be made.
Park cleanup
The Pine Grove Township Recreation Board is getting ready for the reopening of the park and playground.
According to board Chairman Allen Aungst, a general cleanup is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. today and volunteers are encouraged to come out and help. Equipment will be available at the park.
In other business:
- The board received information from a Susquehanna County company concerning a proposed gas pipeline which would come through Pine Grove Township. Transcontinental Pipeline would be requesting approval from property owners to perform some surveys of the land involved in the proposed plan to extend the line from Susquehanna County to an existing line in Lancaster County.
- The board approved a reduction of $50,220 to the Stanhope Letter of Credit with no further inspections by Alfred Benesch & Co. Fasnacht said that several stormwater revisions have been made as the result of a previous inspection. If the board would require an inspection, he suggested it be done in the fall so that other improvements could be included.
- The board authorized Fasnacht to contact the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources about the agreement between the DCNR and the township for a grant which the agency had approved. Fasnacht can begin working on the project, the recreational park pavilion, when the agreement is received.
- James Pierce was appointed to a vacancy on the recreation board, which expires in January 2016.
- Due to the resignation of Sean Ryan from the Pine Grove Joint Treatment Authority, his seat, which expires in January 2015, is now available. Any township resident interested in serving on the JTA should apply at the township office.
- A vacancy also exists on the Joint Uniform Construction Code Appeals Board, which was formed by Pine Grove, Tremont and Washington townships several years ago. Washington Township has recently appointed their own board and the supervisors are awaiting information from Tremont Township concerning their continued interest in a combined board. A vote had been taken at the Tremont Township meeting March 3 to remain with the joint board.
- The supervisors approved the purchase of four trees from Boltz Tree Farm and Nursery, Jonestown, for the recreational area. The trees will cost between $120 and $140 each.
- The recreation board's request to purchase fertilizer for the lower half of the field and volleyball court area was also approved.
- Kosack requested the purchase of surveillance cameras be brought to the floor for a vote. After some discussion about when to purchasing them and they type of camera, the board agreed to delay any action until next month.
- Resident Tom McMullen questioned why the township would charge the water authority interest on the money it had loaned to the authority.
"It doesn't make any sense to me," McMullen said.
Tobin said that the township and authority had made that agreement and it had been discussed at a public meeting. According to the solicitor, the interest was less than what the authority could have received from a bank.