MAHANOY CITY - Mahanoy Township has a new chief of police after action taken by the supervisors at their June 19 meeting.
Officer-in-Charge Brandon Alexander was promoted to police chief in a 2-0 vote by supervisors James Stevens and Faith Ward. Sharon Chiao was not in attendance.
"He's officially a chief now," Stevens, supervisors chairman, said. "He's been here about five years. He's been doing a good job. Just as a coincidence, a man who attended the meeting praised Brandon in helping him with problems he was having."
Alexander is the only full-time police officer in the township. Stevens said there is no pay increase for Alexander at this time.
"At this point, we didn't give him a raise. We just gave him the title," Stevens said. "We try to do a budget at the beginning of the year that sets salaries and raises. We'd rather do it when we set the budget."
In other business, the supervisors approved a "professional services agreement" with ARRO Consulting Inc., the township's consulting engineers, on the Act 537 sewer project. The PSA outlines he scope of work to conduct a technical and financial feasibility study of alternatives to provide sanitary sewer service to specific areas of Mahanoy Township.
According to ARRO project manager William N. McMullen, the PSA was presented as a result of recent discussions with the state Department of Environmental Protection and comments contained in past review correspondence from DEP for prior Act 537 submissions.
McMullen said ARRO representatives reviewed information for the project provided by the township's previous consultant, which was Alfred Benesch & Co. ARRO compared hard copies versus electronic data provided.
"As a result of our review, a request for additional electronic information was forwarded to the previous consultant," McMullen said in his written report to the supervisors. "The consultant confirmed that additional electronic information will be compiled for the project and will be forwarded to the township or ARRO."
McMullen also reported on Phase I of the Park Place storm sewer improvements project, which will be paid through a Community Development Block Grant through the county. The estimated cost of the project is about $70,000. The planned project involves replacing drainage culverts along Park Place Road (Route 1014) at two locations, along with pipes to cross the road to alleviate road flooding during heavy rains.
McMullen said the information provided by Benesch on the project has been reviewed and a request has been made by ARRO for additional information. However, McMullen said no easements had been secured in order for the project to proceed.
"We have confirmed that no easement descriptions or exhibits have been started for the project by the previous consultant (Benesch)," McMullen said in his report. "ARRO discussed the easement acquisition for Phase I of the project with attorney (Eric) Lieberman (township solicitor) and will schedule a meeting to start the easement acquisition process upon receipt of the additional electronic upon receipt of the additional electronic information."
Stevens said road repairs will begin soon on Roosevelt Drive in Morea and New Boston, and on Park Place Road in Park Place.