Penn Forest supervisor asks board to consider temporary occupancy permits

Penn Forest Township Supervisor Scott Lignore asked his fellow board members to consider adopting a rule that would allow the township codes officials to issue temporary certificates of occupancy under certain conditions.

Lignore raised the issue after a request was made by Beltzville Enterprises LLC for a temporary partial certificate of occupancy so that it could begin to rent out storage units at a new facility located on Route 534 at Meckesville Road.

The township engineering, zoning and building officer reviewed the request and recommended approval of the request.

During the discussion it was determined that the storage facility was finished with the exception of landscaping, and part of the driveway was not paved, but did have a rolled stone base. Beltzville Enterprises has a bond in place to guarantee that the work is completed by May.

Lignore, who is a builder in the area, raised the issue that he was recently told that the township did not issue temporary certificates and that he was required to remove a shed from a permit to get the certificate.

“I was told that I needed to remove the shed from the permit and reapply for a new permit in the spring when the shed could be delivered,” Lignore said. “I just think that every builder should be treated the same.”

Lignore also pointed out that he routinely obtains 30-day temporary certificates in Kidder Township.

Supervisor Roger Meckes agreed that in the case of the shed Lignore, had a point, but added that he was reluctant to consider a blanket approval of all requests by builders for such certificates.

Township solicitor Thomas Nanovic suggested that the zoning officer reach out to Kidder Township to see what rules it has in place for such requests and that the matter be put on the agenda for next month.

The board rejected Lignore’s motion and agreed to Nanovic’s suggestion.

Chairman Warren Reiner made a motion to raise the garbage permit fees to $100 per year with a 10 percent late fee for township residents. The fee was lowered to $50 last year, but according to Reiner, the amount of garbage being brought to the transfer station has increased significantly.

Supervisor Judith Knappenberger, who attends meetings via telephone, disagreed with the motion, stating that the township has a four-year contract with Waste Management and that the cost of disposal is not increasing. She added that she did not believe that the transfer station was ever going to run out of money.

The motion passed with Knappenberger and Supervisor Tom Cross voting no.

The supervisors agreed to send a letter to the Carbon County Communications Center, stating that the township is in agreement with Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 2’s request to be designated as District 22 in the future.

Historically Penn Forest No. 2 had been a part of Monroe County and was eventually made a part of Penn Forest Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. As such, both companies shared the designation District 12.

There is an issue in that each district is allowed only so many radio dispatch identifications, and by sharing them there was often confusion and delay.

Chris Lukasevich, a retired Army colonel, requested that the township waive the Amusement Tax for an event he is planning for June 6 in honor of D-Day. The event is scheduled to be held at Penn’s Peak and Lukasevich is planning on donating all profits to local charity.

Nanovic suggested a review of the township’s amusement tax ordinance is needed to determine if the township has the authority to waive the tax. Nanovic added that the township could alternatively donate the tax collected back to the event.

The motion will be on next month’s agenda.