February Minutes

Western Cumberland Council of Governments

Regular Monthly Meeting

Minutes of February 14, 2011

West Pennsboro Township Building

President Steve Oldt called the meeting to order at 2:02 p.m. with a moment of silent meditation and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Rick Rovegno introduced Jim Hertzler, a commissioner for East Pennsboro Township. Jim has had an active role in the West Shore COG and is a candidate for County Commissioner in the 2011 election.

The minutes of the January 10, 2011 meeting were approved on a Parthemore/Parshall motion which carried.

The January 31, 2011 bank balances were as follows: Checking $4,516.16, Savings $3,080.39 and Regional Code MMA $52,567.22. The January UCC building permit fee commission totaled $594.00. West Pennsboro Township earned $475.20 for building permit administration and the WCCOG earned $118.80. The January Treasurer’s Report and the February Bill List of $7,167.24 were submitted and approved on a Parshall/Fegley motion which carried.

Walter Heine presented a report on current proposed legislation. H.B. 278 would increase bidding thresholds and is cosponsored by Rep. Bloom. The WCCOG has communicated past support of this measure. Legislation is often re-introduced in successive terms of the General Assembly. The consensus was that Mr. Heine may communicate the WCCOG’s past positions on re-introduced legislation without bringing it back to the council for a vote. Mr. Oldt voiced his opposition to S.B. 237 and disappointment that it is cosponsored by Senator Pat Vance. This legislation would take State Police fines from townships without their own police departments.

Steve Oldt shared an article from the Public Opinion on increasing truck weight limits. Commissioner Rovegno said he’s been contacted and is looking into it. He has significant concerns on the safety and wear on roads and bridges from putting 50 ton vehicles in traffic with ½ ton vehicles. The legislation would require an additional axle and drive on trucks. CABT (Coalition Against Bigger Trucks) opposes three trailers behind one tractor. Commissioner Rovegno plans to charge Tim Reardon, principal of HATS, with researching this issue. Earl Parshall said the condition of Dykeman Road is evidence of the damage that is done by overloaded and heavy trucks.

State liquid fuels allocations are distributed annually to municipalities on April 1^st. In previous years, due to harsh winters and the stress they put on municipal budgets, these funds have been released early at the direction of the governor. Since municipal reporting to the State is now done electronically, it was suggested that the release date for these funds could be moved up permanently. This would take an act of the legislature. PSATS has been contacted and believes this would be worth pursuing.

Commissioner Rick Rovegno informed the council that the County Commissioners are assembling a citizen’s panel of property owners representing a cross section of types of properties and locations throughout the county to review the assessment process and provide feedback on the process and offer ideas to improve it. They will have access to county staff, records, and appeals hearings.

The I-81 Coalition will be seeking contributions from the states and counties which host Interstate 81 in order to fund the planning efforts. Transportation state representatives have voted to approve a memorandum of understanding. VA Tech Transportation Institute has offered to house the coalition at their facility and offered a 20% funding match.

Mr. Rovegno is encouraging the four south-central Pennsylvania transit agencies to begin discussions to work towards coordination of their services. March 2^nd is their first meeting and he hopes the meetings will continue.

Alternative energy ordinance language is being developed through the county’s technical assistance program. Any municipal member interested should contact Kirk Stoner. One form of energy (wind, solar, etc.) will be discussed per month.

Mr. Reynolds of State Rep. Steven Bloom’s office said Rep. Bloom has been appointed to the following committees: Ag and Rural Affairs, Labor and Industry, Environmental Resources and Urban Affairs. He invited everyone to attend an open house on Thursday evening at the Carlisle office 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Mr. Oldt expressed interest in having the figures in the Dept. of Public Safety Annual Report explained.

Jim Hertzler said the Tuesday, February 22 Municipal Advisory Board meeting will feature a special guest who will discuss the Chesapeake Watershed. Mr. Hertzler said the EPA’s next step concerns the additional impact the regulations have on local water treatment plants and farmers. He encouraged members to have their representatives in attendance to hear this important information.

Marcus McKnight asked if Commissioner Rovegno knows anything about President Obama’s transportation proposal. He believes it is for high-speed inter-city transit, but hasn’t read the legislation.

North Newton – Dave Parthemore expressed thanks to Newville Borough Council and Fred Potzer for all their work in reorganizing the sponsorship of the Big Spring Senior Center. He also thanked Dickinson Township and Larry Barrick for hosting and providing material for two sessions of flagger certification. He asked for feedback from municipal members obtaining road salt from International Salt Company. Penn Twp. has had a two week delay in receiving shipments of road salt. Others said they haven’t had a problem.

Cooke – The township had to close some mountain roads due to ice this winter.

Lower Frankford – Working on lake improvements continues. Spillway work is discontinued for 10 weeks and will resume in the spring.

Shippensburg Borough – Re-alignment of the Dykeman Road intersection is waiting on permits from DEP and PENNDOT to fix the intersection this spring.

Newville Borough - PENNDOT has announced replacement of the Laughlin Mill bridge is scheduled for June 2012 – June 2013. The borough is preparing to enter into an intergovernmental agreement for trash collection and recyclables. A town to town coordinator has been hired.

Mt. Holly Springs Borough – The borough has advertised for a new wastewater treatment operator.

West Pennsboro – W. Pennsboro is also looking into a single source trash provider program. The proposed Sheetz at SR 233 & SR 11 may proceed soon.

Penn – Gary Martin advised that new trash programs make landlords responsible for trash service rather than dealing with tenants and that delinquent notices delivered by a constable have a better chance of payment. A renewable energy ordinance has been developed by Penn Twp.

Big Spring School District – Rick Kerr said a public hearing has been held and in May a decision will likely be made to close Plainfield Elementary School. Act 32 has been stalled and West Shore Tax Bureau and Cumberland County Tax Committee are merging.

Shippensburg Township – The township is working on new ordinances and is partnering with Shippensburg Borough on the re-alignment of the Dykeman Road intersection with Olde Scotland Road.

Cork Shildt asked questions about the trash collection program being used by Southampton, Shippensburg, South Newton and Penn townships and now Newville Borough.

Dave Parthemore said Newville Borough is in need of a used dump truck for plowing snow. Lower Frankford will have one for sale as soon as their new one is delivered.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:15 p.m. on a Parshall/Sangialosi motion, which carried.

February 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

February 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