CLEARFIELD – On Tuesday night, the Lawrence Township Supervisors reviewed vacancies and current or upcoming term expirations for various municipal boards, including the Recreational Park Board, the Zoning Hearing Board, the Planning Commission, the Clearfield-Lawrence Airport Authority and Joint Appeals Board.
Supervisor Bill Lawhead noted that a previous township Board of Supervisors had approved that the township would always advertise openings, even if a board member whose term is ending expressed interest in renewing their term, in order to encourage community involvement.
Township Secretary Barbara Shaffner noted that the vacancy on the Zoning Hearings Board had been advertised several times, with no response. She said she hesitated to incur more cost with continued advertising when it has no results.
Shaffner also pointed out that the Clearfield Borough/Lawrence Township Joint Appeals Board should have three township members and there are currently only two. It was also noted that the borough should be represented with two members, but they currently have none.
Lawhead asked township Solicitor James Naddeo if the supervisors could appoint individuals to fill vacancies.
Naddeo said the supervisors certainly have the option of making appointments to vacant municipal seats. He also noted that he was not aware of any requirements that vacancies be advertised.
Supervisor Chairman Randy Powell and Lawhead agreed that all open positions should continue to be advertised for letters of interest from residents. Supervisor Dan Mitchell was not present for last night’s meeting. It was also agreed that the supervisors would proceed to make appointments for the Zoning Hearings Board vacancy.
The supervisors approved to advertise for asphalt bids, pending final inspection from Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
The supervisors approved to list an unused fork lift and police department swat truck for sale in MuniciBid Online Government Auction.
The supervisors also approved an updated agreement with Clearfield County Solid Waste Authority, adjusting the township’s fee for a shared Sewage Enforcement Officer to $500 per year.
It was brought to this correspondent’s attention that the decision of the supervisors at the Jan. 19 meeting regarding the Wolf Run Authority was incorrectly reported.
The supervisors approved for Naddeo to research the process to dissolve the authority, not to begin proceedings to dissolve the authority. To clarify, no decision has been made by the township supervisors regarding the dissolution of the Wolf Run Authority.