CLEARFIELD – After adjourning for a brief executive session at last night’s meeting, the Lawrence Township Supervisors accepted the resignation of Code Enforcement Officer Pearce Yost.
The supervisors approved to advertise for applications for the position of code enforcement officer, and approved to hire Agatha Lauder-English to fill in as needed until the position is filled, and to train the new hire, at a rate of $15 per hour.
Police Chief Mark Brooks provided specifications for a replacement patrol vehicle. The supervisors approved the specifications and agreed to advertise for bids for the replacement vehicle.
Brooks reported that the entire police department has completed state firearms qualifications. He also reported the police participated with Clearfield Borough police in the PennDOT seatbelt safety program at Clearfield High School last month.
Solicitor James Naddeo reported pursuing answers for police contract negotiations with a police union representative.
Naddeo also noted that the global resolution adopted at the supervisors’ last meeting to comply with state requirements did not include a specific Drug and Alcohol policy. He said he’ll have an attachment ready for the supervisors’ approval at the next meeting that will be consistent with the township’s collective bargaining contract, which already includes a D&A policy and procedure. Naddeo said the D&A policy can be appended to the global resolution adopted at the Sept. 18 meeting.
Secretary/Treasurer Barbara Shaffner reported receiving a letter of resignation from Recreational Park Board member Amy Collins. The supervisors agreed to accept her resignation and advertise for a replacement board member.
Shaffner said the Clearfield High School sent a letter requesting permission to use unspecified township roads during their Cross Country Track Team’s Bison Stampede 5K on Nov. 9. The supervisors approved pending verification of what roads will be used.
The supervisors approved a leaf pick-up schedule, beginning Oct. 21 and lasting through Nov. 22.
Shaffner reported the office will be closed Friday for the County Convention. She also reported that $43,866.82 was received for Volunteer Fire Relief.
Chairman Glenn Johnston said he had a clarification regarding Phase III of the sewage improvements project. He said he was of the impression that the entire engineering of the project was being turned over to the Clearfield Municipal Authority’s engineer firm, Gwin, Dobson & Foreman Inc. However, he was informed that the township’s firm, Stiffler, McGraw and Associates Inc. will continue to be the engineers designing the project. The CMA engineers are required to sign off on the plans, verifying that the design is effective to solve the stormwater infiltration problem. Johnston said the requirement is still going to cost more in time and money for completion of the design phase.
Supervisor William Lawhead reported that Hyde Fire Company’s aerial truck is back on line, and their engine will be going for pump testing.
Lawhead said the manhole bottoms approved for purchase at last meeting are ordered and will be delivered by Oct. 31.
Lawhead reported that paving core samples are at the office and within the ranges for the paving projects done. Supervisor Ed Brown noted they bid paving jobs by tonnage based on what is required to do the minimum surface coverage for planned paving projects to ensure paving quality.
Lawhead also reported that Steve Biancuzzo, Clearfield Borough street manager, contacted him requesting to borrow the township’s grinder for the overrun of trees dumped at the borough’s composting site. The supervisors agreed to allow the use of the grinder equipment at the borough’s expense for moving it. The supervisors agreed to provide the equipment operator and will pay half the cost of labor and fuel for operating the grinder.
The supervisors approved payment of bills totaling $653,126.97. Johnston noted that more than $600,000 of that amount is going to pay for the recently completed paving projects in the township. Brown pointed out that normally the township’s paving budget is under $200,000. He said this year’s major paving expenditure is thanks to the township’s share in the Act 13 funding provided through the state’s gas well tax and fees income. The supervisors assured they will continue to put any monies received through Act 13 back into the township’s long underfunded road improvements.