GROVE TOWNSHIP MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
January 2, 2024
Chairman Robert Bushor called the Tuesday, January 2, 2024, meeting to order in the Grove Township Bldg. at 4:21pm,
Present were Robert Bushor, Melvin Kehl, Jim Howard and Brandie Sherry
Absent:
Visitors: April Kehl, Philip Brown, Elizabeth Stoner, Dale Wood
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA:
READING OF THE MINUTES of December Meeting minutes
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Melvin Kehl to accept the minutes as presented.
All presents were in favor and the motion passed.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR December
Brandie read off the bank statements, an official financial report was not presented.
PLIGIT accounts:
General $440.22
Liquid Fuel $40,556.52
Solid Waste $3,950.00
Recreation $14,483.53
ARPA $29.95
C & N bank accounts
Solid Waste $26,202.21
With a deposit of $810.00, interest $4.92 and expenditures of $6,329.74
Liquid Fuel $35,675.28
With interest $6.31 and expenditures of $2,586.49
General Fund $229,512.90
With deposits of $1,318.66, interest $47.24 and expenditures of $11,152.70
Crestline $3,652.85
With no deposits and expenditures of $338.46
Recreation $1,235.26
With no deposits, and expenditures of $29.81
SECRETARY REPORT:
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Melvin Kehl to remove Frank Ross as a signer on all bank accounts at C & N bank, and have James Howard added as a signer to all the bank accounts.
All present were in favor and motion passed.
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Melvin Kehl to add James Howard as a credit card holder with Elan.
All present were in favor and motion passed.
Advertising for bids for purchases of materials, services, and contracts for 2024 are as follows:
Contracts that exceed $12, 600 but do not exceed $23,200 require at least three written or telephone quotes. Contracts exceeding $23,200 must be advertised in the newspaper with a date for opening the bids.
ROADMASTER REPORT:
Filters have been purchased for the backhoe to be serviced.
Only had one trip out for winter maintenance and it was only to cinder the roads.
BUSINESS:
There was no new business.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Dale Wood presented the Secretary and the Supervisor with a list of expenditures that were not mentioned in the minutes throughout 2023, which he feels violate Second Township Code # 603 and the Sunshine Act. He has brought these items up at other meetings and he feels after his conversation at the December meeting with Chairman Robert Bushor about the proper Governance of the PA Township it is apparent that Robert Bushor plans on running the Township as it has the last couple of years with no accountability to spending Township Funds. The papers that Dale presented to the Supervisors will be added to the official meeting book which is available anytime the office is open for the public to see.
Per Dale Wood’s request I am including the letter he gave the Secretary and the Supervisor’s at the January 2, 2024, meeting:
“After I had my conversation with Chairman Bushor at the Dec 13, 2023, meeting on what I described as rules for proper Governance of Pennsylvania Township it is apparent that he plans on running the Township as it has the last couple of years with no accountability to spending Township funds.
Here is my list.
- The spending of $11,002.00 most notable was $6,277.00 dollars on rental for an Excavator and Backhoe for the replacement of the bridge over Wykoff Run. Without a Motion, a discussion, or a vote.
- Hiring of a Contractor (GAP) to haul millings to three runs road $1,750.00 without a motion, a discussion or vote.
- Surface Pro Solutions $3,800 without a motion, a discussion, or a vote
- Good tire $1,445 without a motion, a discussion, or a vote
- Illegal vote to loan money to (9) private citizens of Crestline Sewage System $4,000
- Copies of the rules I believe to violated are attached. Section 603 and Sunshine Act.
- Total expenditures’ $17,997.00
Section 603. Monthly Meetings: Quorum: and Voting. —The board of supervisors shall meet for the transaction of business at least once each month at a time and place determined by the board of supervisors. A quorum is two members of a three-member board of supervisors. An affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board of supervisors at a public meeting is necessary in order to transact any business. A member of the board shall not be disqualified from voting on any issue before the board solely because the member has previously expressed an opinion on the issue in either an official or unofficial capacity. (603 amended Apr. 2, 2002, P.L.216, No. 21)”
The Supervisors listened to Dale’s concerns they discussed the reason some of the expenditures were done. For example, Good Tire was new tires on the F550 which is routine maintenance. The rental was part of the job to put in the new bridge which was discussed and voted on. Jim Howard stated that there needs to be more accountability done, and that more information needs to be available to the public. He asked Brandie to get the minutes on the website within a week of the meeting.
Dale asked if there is any work scheduled for the upcoming month. The only work there might be is if it snows.
Pay Bills as Presented:
A motion was made by Robert Bushor and seconded by Jim Howard to pay bills as presented.
All presents in favor and motion passed.
Other reports:
The next regular monthly meeting will be the meeting held on February 14, 2024, at 5:00 pm
On a motion made by Robert Bushor and seconded By Jim Howard to adjourn the January 2, 2024, meeting at 4:46
Respectfully submitted, Brandie Sherry