Delinquent garbage bills discussed at meeting

Information about delinquent garbage bills came before the Towamensing Township supervisors at their Thursday meeting.

Secretary Lora Nothstein and Supervisor Penny Kleintop have been looking into it beginning with commercial dumpsters. "The best we can find is from 2005. Clerk Sandy Adamson found a few commercial accounts among the residential ones and there were a few handwritten invoices When the businesses were contacted it was found bills had not been received.

"The services were rendered. Tamaqua Transfer was paid for picking up the dumpsters. It involves a substantial amount of money," said Kleinitop. When she called them she received a "nice reaction."

The commercial customers will be billed for 2006, '07 '08 and'09 at the rates in 2005. Payment plans will be offered. 2010 and into the future will be billed semi-annually.

Assistant Roadmaster Chris Beers had a list of 33 commercial customers and the sizes of dumpsters, but did not know the prices.

Prices from 2010 will be charged from $350 to $1,200 depending on size and how often they are picked up.

Adamson was told last year that the secretary and roadmaster took care of the commercial accounts so she did not pursue the matter.

Some residential accounts are delinquent past 2005, and the $150 a year charge is also a substantial amount for which services were rendered.

Resident Guy Seifert said they should be "tactful" because residential customers have not necessarily received bills either.

Supervisor Tom Newman said garbage bills are being transferred from a DOS program to a QuickBooks one." Basically, we're starting over," said Kleintop.

She said the bills go to the property owner and not a renter. Seifert said moving permits have to be tied in so names and addresses are correct. The new tax records will also provide correct owner addresses.

Unpaid bills will be turned over to Berkheimer for collection.

Former employees Pat Snyder and Barry George wanted banked vacation and sick day pay when theyleft township employment. There was nothing in the employee policy to prevent a carry-over of sick days. Three employees have accumulated 50 or more sick days

"I'm not comfortable with it. It is not their fault and they won't be punished," said Kleintop.

She wants a cap of four weeks on sick days. The person must be under a doctor's care or have a family emergency. For employees with over 20 days banked, the township will buy them back at the rate of 10 per year, and at the employee's request an additional 10 will be bought at half their value.

Vacation days are take it or lose it. Kleintop said employees have a full benefit package.

Added to the sexual harassment policy will be an amendment on creation of hostile or offensive work environments.

In other business: Ashes are to be bagged before they are put out for garbage collection because they blow back in the handlers' faces when they are dumped, or they may be brought to the salt shed.

A letter was received from the Girl Scouts that Amber Getz will be receiving her Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. The township was asked, and will provide, a commendation.

Curt Beers was added to the zoning hearing board. Kleintop said the board should have a reorganization meeting. "There is nothing pending but the board should be prepared," said Kleintop.

A letter was received from Supervisor Rodney George, who was absent, resigning his chairmanship on the Agricultural Security Board. He was unable to provide a list of other members.

Glenn Beers said he would ask his father, who along with Roy Christman, formed the original board.

Newman said an emergency had been declared during the recent snowstorm. It lets the township purchase supplies if needed without the bidding process. He and emergency management coordinator Gary Anthony are looking into methods of informing residents about emergency. Information will be in a newsletter which is being prepared.

The CERT public emergency training classes cancelled in March will now be held in April.

Beers suggested getting the siren working at the firehouse and resident Joe Faraldo suggested getting a phone system that would contact all residents as the schools do.

Beers said he has heard nothing but praise about the township since the reorganization meeting.