PALMYRA TOWNSHIP – WAYNE COUNTY August 7, 2023

Chairman Steffen called the board of supervisors meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Roll call showed all supervisors were present.

Last month’s minutes for both July 5 and July 18 were reviewed as written. Supervisor Kmetz made a motion to accept the previous month’s minutes with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.

The Treasurer’s Report was given by Shayla Gouger and is on file as well as posted on the back wall. Chairman Steffen made a motion to accept the treasurers report with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.

There was a small discussion about the Cares Act funds. We would like to have a plan of where the money is to be spent by the end of the year. Supervisor Kmetz made some suggestions including some road repairs, expanding the garage and/or the parking lot. Solicitor Treat stated that we should keep the funds for building related projects vs road repairs.

Chairman Steffen stated after attending the Night Out in Hawley, the local police stated that they were in desperate need of tasers. Chairman Steffen made a motion to send $8,000 of the Care Act money to the Hawley Police with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.

Chairman Steffen also made a motion for supervisors to continue to discuss potential concrete plans for the building upgrades from the Care Act monies, with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all Supervisors voting yes.

Bill List number #8 was presented. Chairman Steffen made a motion to pay bill list with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.

Police Report was given by Officer Arron Bertholf and is on file.

Fire Report was given by Gene Krause and is on file.

Ambulance Report was given by Chairman Steffen. The Communication Center in Honesdale sent a list of calls received for the month, what the calls were and who responded for the month of July. This report will now be sent to the township every month going forward for our monthly meetings.

Solicitor Treat stated that the Lake Region ambulance has been offered a sale on the property. Mr. Treat also stated that he will be writing a letter to Solicitor Henry asking for reimbursement for the 2 bills that the township has paid on behalf of Lake Region Ambulance. Solicitor Treat stated had Lake Region Ambulance come to us, the host community, the township might have been able to help and if Lake Region still had to sell it would have helped in the excess funds from the sale being used here in the community instead of being settled in Harrisburg and the excess funds going wherever Harrisburg feels it is needed.

Road Report was given by Road Master Kmetz and is on file.

Chris Martin has suggested that our Sewer Ordinance be updated. The ordinance itself has not been updated since it was drafted in 1976. The only updates have been to the fee schedule. The Supervisors would like Chris to be more specific as to what needs to be updated and why it needs to be done.

Public Comment - Gene Krause asked if there was going to be any patch work done at the bottom of his driveway where it meets a township road and Roadmaster Joe Kmetz assured Gene that area was on his list to patch.

Constituents asked for any further information on the Short-Term Rental Ordinance.

Gary VanOrden asked again about the property on Oak Street that is being converted from a single-family house to a multi-family dwelling. He asked about the protocol and how the home was able to become a multi-family home when it was turned down many years prior.

Correspondence The Township received its normal newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, and magazines. Notice from Verizon for a Proposed Broadband Deployment Project.

Zoning Report was given by Paul Natale for the month. On July 14th Joe Kmetz notified Paul of a toxic fire being burnt at 127 Gravity Road. Police and Fire were both called to scene as the owner was unable to put it out because he did not have a hose. This is not the first time Paul has had issues with the property owner. There was garbage and rubbish lining the street in front of the house, which Paul asked the property owner to remove. The garbage sat there for 2 weeks without being disposed of. A neighbor complained about the animals and the smells coming from the garbage. Paul found the garbage and rubbish to be a health hazard. The township’s roadcrew was sent down to clean up the mess. Roadmaster Kmetz and John removed all the rubbish and took everything to the proper entities. Paul has sent a bill to the property owner for the township’s damages accumulated as of now. Paul asked if we could bill the property owner for the expenses for the need of the Hawley Fire Co. Chairman Steffen made a motion to forward the bill for the Fire Department and firing fighting services that day to the property owner for him to pay, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz, and all supervisors voting yes.

Paul has requested the board of supervisors to pull all open permits on the Lake Region Ambulance property.

Chairman Steffen made a motion to pull all open permits and to have Lake Region reapply for the permits and pay the fees with a second from Supervisor Bartleson, and all Supervisors voting yes.

Chairman Steffen also made a motion to allow Solicitor Treat to send a letter to both Attorney Henry and Martin stating that all permits have been pulled from the Lake Region Ambulance property, with a second by Supervisor Kmetz, and all supervisors voting yes.

Paul stated that there have been multiple issues concerning above ground and in ground pools and having them completely fenced in and obtaining a final inspection. Paul would like to add some verbiage to the pool application which states the applicant has already contracted the installation of the fence or a signed paper simply stating that a fence is needed before the pool can receive final inspection and be used. This will be added to next month’s agenda for further details and discussion.

Last note, on the Schedule of districts. Paul received a request from someone to build 2 recreational cabins in what is known as a flood plain. Recreational Cabin is not defined in the schedule of districts. Mr. Treat stated that the recreational cabin is a creature of its own and does not fit into the schedule of districts.

The Planning Commission has nothing to report. Report of Digitizing Records was given by Paul Natale.

Emergency Management has nothing to report.

The Solicitor’s Report suggests that we start to investigate putting together a Solar Farm Ordinance. Other townships have started to form these ordinances as solar farm requests are starting to pop up here in the area.

Final Call for Public Comment - Tri County Independent asked some questions concerning the ambulance situation. Why did we pay their bills. Who is the purchaser. Gary VanOrden asked if the PPH ambulance services are working well. Chairman Steffen stated that the ambulance services seem to be working well but we will have better data in 2 months. Chairman Steffen has stated that he will not be available for November and December meetings.

Supervisor Kmetz made a motion to elect Supervisor Bartleson as the Vice Chairman, with a second by Chairman Steffen and all supervisors voting yes.

Chairman Steffen made a motion to adjourn at 7:25 PM with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all Supervisors voting yes.

Next scheduled meeting is Tuesday September 5, 2023, at 6:30 PM.