April Minutes

Western Cumberland Council of Governments

Regular Monthly Meeting

Minutes of April 11, 2011

West Pennsboro Township Building

President Steve Oldt called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m. with a moment of silent meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

All seven candidates for the office of Cumberland County commissioner were invited to introduce themselves and give their vision for county government.

Republican Barb Cross was unable to attend but Walter Heine spoke on her behalf.

Republican Gary Eichelberger, incumbent, said he has been a huge supporter of councils of government. He said of the current board, Rick Rovegno represents the commissioners at the Western Cumberland COG and Mr. Eichelberger does so at the Capital Region COG. In his years of service he has promoted major changes in county government including streamlining the government departments and working in conjunction with municipalities by way of the County Planning outreach meetings and the municipal advisory board. He does not support forced zoning or abolishing municipal government.

Republican Bryan Gembusia, a supervisor for South Middleton Township for the past 8 years, shared his educational background in aviation and experience in the field of internet technology. He is running for office to address shortfalls in the real estate tax system and will work to combine services and advance technology in the county systems while protecting and enhancing internet security. He advocates replacing real estate tax with an earned income tax. Tax laws would need to be changed to make that possible.

Democrat Jim Hertzler is a resident of East Pennsboro Township who has served on the East Pennsboro School Board and has been a township commissioner for 22 years. He is retired from the state after working for the PA Senate and a Berks County state representative. He is the longest continually serving member of the CRCOG and believes COG’s are critical to serve the independent municipalities.

Democrat Sean Shultz was represented by Jim Hertzler. Sean is an attorney who serves as solicitor for Upper Mifflin Township and is president of Carlisle Borough Council.

Kirk Wilson is the mayor of the Borough of Carlisle. He has worked 34 years for the state as well as having years in radio and television news. While in state service he worked with many different entities including the Dept. of Transportation, the Bureau of Public Transit, the Dept. of Municipal Services, the Dept. of Aging, the Dept. of Agriculture and Dept. of Emergency Management. Has also worked with FEMA. Kirk seeks to listen to the citizens and form a wide consensus.

Solicitor McKnight thanked each candidate for attending and giving of their time. He said it is essential to know the commissioners and have good working relationships between local and county government.

The minutes of March 14, 2011 meeting were approved on a Toth/Heine motion which carried.

The March 31, 2011 bank balances were as follows: Checking $5,257.86, Savings $3,090.53 and Regional Code MMA $52,092.67. The March UCC building permit fee commission totaled $664.00. West Pennsboro Township earned $531.20 for building permit administration and the WCCOG earned $132.80. The March Treasurer’s Report and the April Bill List of $5,933.42 were submitted and approved on a Reeder/Martin motion which carried.

The 2010 Auditors’ Report was presented to the membership by Dave Parthemore. He and Earl Parshall performed an audit on March 22, 2011. He reported the books were found to be in order and the report was accepted on a Shildt/Fegley motion which carried.

The bid results of the road materials and road project bids were distributed to participating members. Each municipality must award the materials contracts at their next board or council meeting and report the results to the administrator as soon as possible.

The traffic line painting bid results were discussed. While Alpha Space Control was the overall lowest contract bidder for non-reflective and reflective paint, it was found that the two members who requested non-reflective paint, did so by mistake. Morton Fegley moved to award the contract to Interstate Road Management as the lowest bidder for reflective paint. Sam Sangialosi seconded and the motion carried.

The proposed joint road salt bid with Capital Region COG is still pending. The CRCOG did not have a quorum at the March meeting and the request will be introduced at their April meeting.

Walter Heine reported on two points of state legislation re-introduced this session. HB 278 proposes to increase bidding limits initially to $10,000 for telephonic quotes and $25,000 for sealed bids and thereafter tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index. The WCCOG will continue to support this initiative. HB 1228 re-introduces the State Police Local Services Fee of up to $52 per resident for municipalities relying solely or partly on State Police service. The WCCOG will continue to oppose this legislation.

Commissioner Rovegno reported that the Army Heritage and Education Center is in the early review stages of federal budget cuts. The county will run Three Mile Island evacuation simulations this month. Cumberland County Economic Development is working with the visitors’ bureau to promote the newly renovated mansion at Pine Grove center for use by community groups. Commitments of funding have been received for the I-81 Corridor Commission. Mr. Rovegno will be traveling in conjunction with the I-81 Corridor planning efforts and emergency planning.

Solicitor McKnight distributed a Sentinel article introducing the candidates for commissioner and another concerning the proposed closing of the Army Heritage and Education Center due to budget cuts, and yet another on West Pennsboro Township’s denial of a 38,000-bird chicken house within a short distance of the Big Spring. Mr. Heine reported the denial was based on an inadequate erosion and sedimentation control plan and incomplete information on the highway occupancy permit.

Penn Township – Road projects include road widening and culvert replacement. Fish baffles will be required by PENNDOT in one culvert. Penn Township will receive an honorable mention from PSATS, PENNDOT and PH for their replacement of the Huntsdale bridge

North Newton Township – The township was represented at the grand re-opening of the Big Spring Senior Center yesterday. A Cushman mini-truck was purchased from federal surplus for park use. The road crew has been busy clearing brush, cleaning drains, removing snowplows and will soon remove spreaders from trucks. A 3-bay garage will soon be constructed. Spring Clean Up Day is May 7^th.

Cooke Township – The road crew has been filling the ruts in their dirt roads with 2A stone and cleaning ditches. The Michaux prisoner of war camp has been approved as an historic site. A grand opening is planned for July.

Lower Frankford Township – A successful clean up took place at Opossum Lake on Saturday. The Fish Commission has established a fish habitat plan for the lake. The lake will be closed for restocking starting January 2012. The closure will continue for 5 years and be monitored by biologists during that time to be sure the fish are reproducing.

Dickinson Township – Work continues on the Cold Spring culvert. The single hauler contract moves forward. Residents have been questioning the need for sprinkler systems in new home construction believing waivers can be secured exempting them from the state mandated requirement.

Shippensburg Borough – The vacancy on council due to the passing of Ed Goodhart has been filled by Nathan Serino. The expansion of Schreiber Foods and Volvo will create challenges for the borough’s sewer and water systems.

Newville Borough –The borough has joined in Southampton Township’s single hauler trash program saving residents money and offering recycling services as well. An agreement with North Newton Township is being drafted to supply police service to the Newville Lions Club fairgrounds during Tractor Twang events. The borough is working in conjunction with other entities to form a Big Spring Master Plan.

Southampton Township – Steve Oldt thanked Tom Ginnick for his work establishing the single trash hauler program in Southampton Township that has been extended to include South Newton, Shippensburg, Penn and Newville. Tom Ginnick related that Southampton has approved paving 3.9 miles and sealcoating 8 miles of roads in the 2011 season. Bulk clean up is scheduled for the week of April 23 – 30. The clean up has been opened up to Shippensburg Township residents to participate for a fee.

South Newton Township – Spring work continues and bulk clean up takes place at the end of the month.

Mt. Holly Springs Borough – The borough has updated their junk car ordinance requiring any vehicle without a license or inspection to be covered up. A new dump truck will be purchased soon and the old truck will be up for sale by bid.

West Pennsboro Township - The veterans memorial at West Pennsboro Township park is under construction.

A resolution was received from Southampton Township, Cumberland County requesting membership in the WCCOG. Steve Oldt moved to approve Southampton’s membership. Ron Reeder seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Resolution 2011-2 supporting continued federal funding for the Army Heritage and Education Center was adopted and signed on a Toth/Parthemore motion which carried.

Human resources training is available through Paychex at no cost. A training date can be arranged for municipal staff, if members wish to pursue this opportunity. Paychex also offers customized services to their clients such as assistance developing employee handbooks and job descriptions.

April Meeting Minutes

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Copyright © 2008 Western Cumberland Council of Government
Last modified: 04/26/11

April Meeting Minutes

Send mail to admin@wccog.us with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2008 Western Cumberland Council of Government Last modified: 04/26/11

Send mail to admin@wccog.us with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Western Cumberland Council of Government
Last modified: 04/26/11