Chairman Dennis Richards called the regular meeting to order at 5:00pm in the conference room of the Adams Township Municipal Building.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all present.
ATTENDANCE:
Those in attendance were Supervisors, Dennis Richards, Dennis Gdula, Dan Senft and Brian Schrader, Jennifer Zakraysek, Secretary-Treasurer, William Barbin, Solicitor, Police Chief Moss, Officer Fatula and five (5) visitors. Mr. Bucci was absent.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR AGENDA ITEMS AND PRIOR MEETING MINUTES:
Mr. Richards stated now the Public has the right and the opportunity to comment on any item from the previous meeting minutes. None were forthcoming.
MINUTES:
Mr. Richards stated everyone had copies of the September 18,2023 regular meeting minutes. He asked all Board members to read the minutes. Mr. Richards asked for a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Senft made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed.
TREASURER’S REPORT:
After discussion, Mr. Richards stated the Treasurers Report was accepted as written. The General Account Fund showed revenues received totaling $165,003.88, expenditures of $78,138.73(check # 33346 to #33380) and a balance of $981,020.20. The Street Light Account Fund showed revenues received of $0.00 and expenditures of $5,483.33(check #1668 to #1671) and a balance of $36,602.25. The Fire Protection and Fire Hydrant Fund showed revenues received for the hydrants of $0.00 and protection of $0.00 and expenditures of $1,375.70(check #1375 to #1377) and a balance of $39,327.60. The State Liquid Fuels Account Fund showed revenues of $244.09 in interest, and expenditures of $27,685.73(check#829 to #831) leaving a balance of $162,933.61. The American Rescue Plan Account showed revenues of $2.82 in revenues in interest, and expenditures of $0.00(check#--) leaving a balance of $49,520.81.
CORRESPONDENCE: Thank you letter from Keep Cambria County Beautiful for tire and appliance collection. Mr. Richards said our road department was there the whole day for pickup. He mentioned that unfortunately the count of 14 appliances and 99 tires was low; that the last time we hosted a collection that they had to bring another truck to pick up.
OLD BUSINESS: Mr. Richards asked if the Board had any old business they would like to discuss. None was forthcoming.
NEW BUSINESS:
Payment of the Bills: Mr. Richards stated all Board Members have a copy of the bills presented for payment totaling $158,974.99 and asked them to take a few minutes to review the bills before calling for a motion to approve payment of the bills. Mr. Gdula made the motion to pay all bills. Mr. Senft seconded this motion. With rest in favor, motion passed.
The bills are as follows:GENERALFUND: Adams Twp. VFRA #1…..15,168.05,Adams Twp. VFRA #2…..15,168.05,AmLegalServices….86.88,Amtrust…..4,748.00,Cintas….74.36,Comcast….306.09,CrystalPure….49.80,DavidHeisers….96.00,EmploymentPartnersBenefitsFund….20,319.26,FI-Hoff…..2,588.73,GoodTire….826.00,HRI…..788.36,JtwnTrib….162.90,KimballMidwest….51.04,,LutherPMiller…..989.75,Midland…….42,923.27,PitneyBowes….100.00,ProDisposal….800.00,PSABMRT…..51,634.90,S.Grow….150.00,StephensonEquip….300.34,USMunicipalSupply….231.14,UPMC…..80.00,USCleaning…745.00,WBMason….369.00. The State LiquidFuelsFund:None. The StreetLightAccountFund: Penelec….218.07. The Fire Hydrant and Protection Fund: None. The American Rescue Plan Account Fund: None.
Mr. Richards asked for a motion to approve resolution reducing police officer’s contributions to the police pension plan for the year 2024. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed.
Mr. Richards asked for a motion to release road bond for Nolo Ridge Forest Products on Seesetown Road. Mr. Senft made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed.
Mr. Richards asked for a motion to approve CDBG resolution for submitting application for Mine 42 stormwater project. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Schrader. With all in favor, motion passed.
Mr. Richards asked for a motion to promote Officer Braedon Fatula from part time to full time for Adam Township Police effective immediately. Mr. Gdula made the motion, second by Mr. Senft. With all in favor, motion passed.
PUBLIC GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD: Fred Brown here to inquire about process and let the Board know he was contacted by solar company Penn Renewables about putting solar panels on his 119-acre property on Dunlo Dip Road; said they were also interested in another parcel that someone else owns on Palestine Road.; said there is nothing in our zoning ordinance. Mr. Brown showed map with proposed area on his property; said he has wind turbine on his property and knows within our windmill ordinance it says you have to keep 378 feet away from windmill (impact zone). He said magenta line on map is what they initially said they were interested in. Mr. Richards said our Planning Commission is working on getting a solar ordinance now; Attorney Barbin said correct; upgrade to have solar ordinance does not exist right now and said to Mr. Brown that he still has to submit site plan to Planning Commission and go through that process. Mr. Brown mentioned sketch plan there and said this is preliminary at this point. He said the company said they usually do smaller farms; he said this would not be a commercial one but a community one; said they mentioned a transformer that would go into power lines. Mr. Brown said he used to raise Angus on this property and said amount they are offering is good for farmers; may be way to go for farmers; said they are offering 10,000 to sign and then once digging starts it goes up from there. Attorney Barbin said we want to work with our farmers; mentioned solar workshop we had earlier this where attorney from Dickinson College mentioned this in presentation; said the appropriate next thing would be to take this to Planning Commission. The Board informed him that Planning Commission’s next meeting would be this Wednesday at 7:30 here at the Municipal Building. Mr. Brown also brought up how we receive impact fees from windmill companies; inquired if it would be possible with solar as well and said he does not want to be intermediary between them and township. Attorney Barbin said host municipality fees (nowhere in law do we have authority to demand money from them) although something like those windmill fees could happen, but they would have to agree to pay (say per kilowatt) but amount we would receive would be small from size proposed. Mr. Barbin said fees would be something they could address in zoning solar ordinance; to go to Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT:
Mr. Richards stated with no other township business to conduct he would entertain a motion to adjourn. Mr. Schrader made the motion, second by Mr. Senft. With all in favor, motion passed, and the meeting adjourned at 5:14 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted: Jennifer Zakraysek, Secretary-Treasurer