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Everyone interested in a new resolution establishing the roles for emergency responders in Bear Creek Township will have an opportunity to provide input, the township supervisors said Monday.
The supervisors first considered the resolution in February as a way to spell out the current unwritten arrangement in place between the township and its volunteer emergency responders. Noting that volunteer fire and ambulance companies had served the township well for years, the supervisors said the resolution is in keeping with their ongoing efforts to provide clarity and transparency in all township activities.
Supervisor Chairman Gary Zingaretti said that the EMS units have already had a chance to provide comment and input on the resolution, and residents will have a chance to comment at the April supervisors’ meeting.
The resolution calls for the fire and ambulance volunteer units to have and follow a code of conduct, to maintain insurance that names the township as an additional insured, to provide any requests for financial assistance with special needs such as new equipment by October of each year for consideration in the township’s budgeting process, and to provide a list of personnel so the township can reconcile the workers’ compensation insurance payments.
The township will provide a portion of the tax millage in support of the EMS units as well as a two-bay garage as well as the utilities and services such as plowing.
Residents with concerns or suggestions are encouraged to attend the April 6 supervisors meeting or to contact the township by the Wednesday prior to the meeting.
The supervisors also took action to allow temporary assistance to Laurel Run Borough while their plow is out of service. In the event of additional snow during the remainder of the week, the supervisors agreed to send a township truck and driver to tend to the borough’s roads after all township roads are cleared.
Other business
In other business, the supervisors discussed a number of complaints that have been received regarding increased truck traffic on township roads because of the PPL substation project. Residents have complained about the volume of traffic, of trucks on residential streets, and of the loud noise from the trucks’ air brakes.
Supervisor Ruth Koval said that she was told the township would have to pass a resolution restricting the use of air brakes and post signs. In discussion, the supervisors expressed willingness to do that but said it was difficult to enforce and would largely depend on voluntary cooperation from the truck drivers.
Township solicitor William Vinsko also discussed a pending ordinance regarding the payment of fees related to the tax sale of properties. Currently, the fees associated with these sales are deducted from the delinquent taxes when collected and reduce the amount collected by the township. Under the new ordinance, the fees would be added to the taxes so the township would get the full amount from the tax sale. Vinsko said other municipalities are enacting similar ordinances.