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Shavertown Volunteer Fire Co. Chief Gary Beisel told the board of supervisors Wednesday evening that his company is in favor of a township-wide consolidation of fire and ambulance services.
Beisel says his company took a vote on Tuesday and is in unanimous support of consolidating with Kingston Township Ambulance and Rescue Association and Trucksville Volunteer Fire Co.
Tom Nalbone, president of the ambulance association, informed the supervisors at a special meeting about the state of the association in July that it is considering merging with Trucksville Volunteer Fire Co.
Shavertown Volunteer Fire Co., however, feels it has been left out of the decision-making process, says Beisel.
“We haven’t been invited to the table,” Beisel said. “Apparently, decisions are being made that we haven’t been a part of. We have always been in favor (of consolidation).”
Beisel suggested forming a committee to share ideas between the two fire companies and the ambulance association. Supervisor chairman Jeffrey Box supported the idea.
“Nobody here ever felt in any way, shape or form that you were being excluded,” Box said.
Zoning hearing board
Rosaria Shaver, of West Mount Airy Road, complained that $13,921.50 was spent on zoning board hearings regarding a landscaping business run by her neighbor, Billy Sprau. Shaver alleges the proceedings came about because supervisor James Reino was mad at Sprau. Shaver also feels it was unethical for Reino to testify at the hearings because he is a supervisor.
“I want the public to know why their money was spent on such shenanigans,” Shaver said.
According to township solicitor Attorney Benjamin Jones, it was Sprau who asked the township for a zoning hearing. Sprau was found to be in violation of zoning code and his business had to be removed. He was, however, allowed to keep a limited amount of business vehicles on his property.
Jones says Reino did not violate any laws because the zoning hearing board is separate from the municipality’s governing body. In addition, Jones says the supervisors are a legislative body and the zoning board is a judicial body.
Supervisor John Solinsky reminded Shaver that Reino’s election to the board of supervisors does not forfeit his rights as a private citizen.
“My take is Mrs. Shaver has a personal vendetta that she’s now extended to me and this board for her own personal reasons,” Reino said.
Box informed Shaver that other smaller issues in the township in the past have cost more than $14,000. He told Shaver that she has the right to file a complaint with the zoning officer if she chooses.
Rock wall
Brian Lewis, of West Mount Airy Road, followed up on a complaint he made at the July supervisors’ meeting. Lewis is concerned about a rock wall at the corner of West Mount Airy Road and Pioneer Avenue. He said the wall is deteriorating and that cars and school buses hit it, causing rocks to fall into the road.
Township manager Kathleen Sebastian is trying to find out if the township owns the rock wall or if it is on private property. Sebastian says a county surveyor is looking into the issue.
Grant application
Approval was granted for the township to participate in an inter-municipal cooperative project with the Back Mountain Community Partnership. NEPA-Alliance will apply for the Pennsylvania Conservation Works Grant on behalf of the township. The township is applying for approximately $180,000 for solar panels on the administration building and Carverton Road building and other energy conservation projects throughout the township.
The supervisors appointed Mark Van Etten as the township’s representative to the Luzerne County Tax Collection Committee and Karen Rose, who serves as the township’s tax collector, as the alternate representative. The Back Mountain Community Partnership, of which the township is a member, agreed to appoint the same representative and alternate representative to the county tax collection committee so their vote would have more impact.
Bid awarded
The 2009 traffic line painting bid was awarded to Interstate Road Management Corporation in the amount of $14,307.50.