East Penn spends $430 for stereo radios for trucks

During payment of the bills at the East Penn Township supervisors' meeting on Dec. 7, Supervisor Randy Pfeiffer questioned an invoice for $430. He wanted to know who authorized the purchase of radios. No answer was given.

Cory Smith asked how Pfeiffer would like to plow snow all day without even a radio to listen to. They were not communication radios. They were installed in the trucks on township time.

Pfeiffer voted against paying the invoices because he did not want to pay "for radios."

In public comment, Michael Bench wanted supervisors to pass an ordinance that would prevent liability if someone who is trespassing gets hurt.

Even if such a law was passed on the township level, Solicitor Jim Nanovic said it would not change anything because other laws would supercede it.

Harvey Keiper said the matter of Clair Troxell has been going on for 11 years. Troxell's property is nearly the first thing seen when entering the township from Route 248. "Why not go after Robert Balliet, the owner," Keiper asked.

Nanovic said the township did and it is on appeal in Commonwealth Court.

Keiper alleged that Troxell will not hook up to the sewer and said he has not cleaned up the area where he had pigs - just dumped some dirt over the top.

Don Steigerwalt asked why sewer rates will be so high compared to nearby municipalities. He thought the $3 million grant should permit lower fees. The quarterly fee will be $215, which has gone up several times from when it was first set.

Hanover Engineering calculated the fees and tapping fee. All the supervisors did was approve it, said Nanovic.

Terry Terray is concerned that there are no boulders to protect the veterans' monument if a car slips and jumps the sidewalk. Supervisors had said they were waiting for a certain kind of boulder, but Terray said they should get any kind in for winter protection.

She said Al Brischline, a township police officer, was "friendly and polite" when her husband died. He came out when the ambulance was called.

Carl Grauvogel asked if there were any permits for decks being built at Stonybrook Campground. There are at least 10 decks some as large as 10 by 15-feet - also a 50-foot one on the permanent building. Some campers have 250-gallon oil tanks making it look like people are living there permanently rather than "camping." He thinks turnpike workers are living there.

He is concerned because electricity, sewer, water and a driveway have been replaced, probably without permits. Permit officer Mary Ann Leavitt said there were no permits. She is to go out and see what is going on.

Grauvogel thinks if people are living there permanently they should be paying taxes. He also said trees are being torn down and the campground is being enlarged without a land development plan.

Pfeiffer said the violations were there before residents. The township never received an erosion and sedimentation plan and the land development plan should have been approved before any work was done.

Walter Zlomsowitch said the township has a lot of retired people and people who are out of work and they should not be paying insurance for supervisors who are not working full time.

Joe Ehritz said Duane Schleicher (Stonybook Campground) has never followed the law on any of his projects. He said what the township needs is to get junk areas cleaned up, but as long as they ignore disobedience to laws people will continue to come to meetings with complaints.

Letters of interest for township positions are being accepted until Dec. 14.

A Community Development Block Grant will be applied for to do work on Dieter's Hill Road if the money can be spent in 2011 after the turnpike if finished using the road. The application will be for $177,000.

Supervisor William Schwab made a motion to order disc golf targets. It will be off budget from donations including his fourth quarter salary.

Steve Serfass resigned as zoning hearing board solicitor after being elected judge.

The roadmaster and road foreman were given permission for flexible hours for the road crew. The flexibility is to prevent overtime for snow plowing if possible. Pfeiffer made a motion for a five-day eight-hour week with the flexibility. It was approved.

Since supervisors had not received a written request for a time extension, the Lehigh Asphalt quarry plan was denied.