LAWRENCE TWP.- The second monthly meeting of the Lawrence Township Supervisors saw a pair of residents come forward asking questions, and raising concerns about properties they once had, or are near their homes.
At the newly added podium in the Township building, Faye Flickinger would be the first to address the supervisors, talking about a property that is next to her home in Plymptonville. She noted that the home next to hers, located at 418 Poplar Avenue, was sold years earlier, but over the years it has become extremely dilapidated and is at the point of being a blight property. She noted that the home has not been maintained, despite the new owner claiming to wanting to make repairs to it. Flickinger told the supervisors, along with the entire council, that she’s been having issues with this property since approximately 2007.
Code Enforcement Officer, Agatha Lauder, told the supervisors that she has talked with Flickinger, and that some maintenance has been done on the property such as grass being tended to, however Flickinger countered to state that the property has seen rodents go in and out of the building.
She showed the supervisors pictures of the property, and both Jeremy Ruffner and Randy Powell noted that it would be addressed, stating that this was the first they were told about it. Flickinger responded that she has told supervisors about it before, but Powell noted that this was the first time that he and the current board were made aware of the major issues.
Flickinger was apprehensive about what would happen next, but accepted the decision.
Later on, Ken Braniff came to the podium to explain how a zoning issue is now costing him to sell his business property. As the former owner of Clearfield Lincoln-Mercury, which is now in the area of Bumble Bee and U-Haul, Ken Braniff retired after 50 years in the business and he, along with his son, Todd, are looking to sell the property as commercial land. However, during the time between retirement and potential sales, he alerted the supervisors that the zoning board had rezoned the area and the land was now considered residential property.
“I had a buyer decline my property, saying the price for commercial property is too high,” Braniff said. “He (the buyer) was offering to pay me a third of what I know that property is worth.”
Lauder noted that the zoning was redone in December, and based on the size of the property and the location, the board elected it to be zoned residential due to size and proximity to area homes. Braniff wants to see the property rezoned back to commercial in order to get his property sold for what he knows it is worth.
After the meeting, Lauder said she knew where his property was, in an area where when the zoning was redone. There were more residential properties and because of the sizing, it did not quite meet the need on what would be considered commercial. She also understood his concern, as he stated that potential buyers are turned away from his building and lot because of the cost for what is listed as residential, something he was not aware of.
Lauder said that they made note in The Progress of the reworked zoning, to which Todd Braniff said, “Who reads the paper anymore?”
Despite the slight chuckle from the crowd, Todd said the property owners should have received a certified letter stating the change, or at minimum a phone call, and nothing was sent. Lauder did understand the frustration, and said it would be discussed with the supervisors.
Other notes from Tuesday’s meeting included the supervisors voting to have their Information Technology contract moved from Morefield to Eagle Haven beginning next month. Township manager, Ashley Pritchard, said the contract with Morefield was going to end at the conclusion of August, and if a vote for a new contract was not done, there would be an additional 17 percent charge each month they used Morefield without a signed contract. All three supervisors reviewed the offers from Eagle Haven, Carlson, and a renewal for Morefield. After reviewing all three proposals, Eagle Haven got the approval starting in September at a cost of $680 per month, with a waive of transfer/installation fees and no cost to the township for any maintenance that would be called in. The vote went 2-1, with both Ruffner and Powell in favor, and Scott Way opposing.
Following an executive session, the supervisors unanimously approved an increase in pay to Township Secretary, Chelsey Witherite. Pritchard also was voted to have an increase in her yearly salary, with Ruffner and Powell in favor of an increase to $59,900. Way opposed the increase.
Way mentioned at the end of the meeting that he was greatly appreciative of the workers that were maintaining the Township Compost Site, but he also wanted to say that residents are reminded that the dump is not for what is considered “building materials,” such as wood, metal, and siding. It is only for things like grass clippings, trees, shrubs and leaves.
He also said that another load of items that can not be disposed of in the dump site, saying, “It was not there last night when I visited, but was this morning.” Ruffner agreed with making it clear what could happen if some metal got mixed in, speaking about how at one point there was some railroad spikes mixed in.
“Things like that, should it have made it into the disposal, it can damage the clutch in the machine, and possibly cause it to blow apart and hurt someone,” Ruffner said.
Recreation Park Board Treasurer, Ron Porter, said to the board that the neighboring business just installed some new cameras in the back of their lot that face the site, and could very well have caught the individual(s) that left the non-disposable items at the compost site. Way said he may be looking at the video, if available. The compost site is open 24 hours per day, every day, and anyone found leaving items outside of what is allowed will be fined.
Township supervisors are back in session on Tuesday, September 2. Prior to the 5 p.m. start, a public hearing will be held that will address the approved ordinance to close the alley located behind the Country Butcher.
