Audio file February 14, 2024
Regular meeting
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, for liberty and justice for all.
Robert Bushor called the February 14th, 2024, meeting to order at 5:00 pm.. Roll call Butch myself. Jim’s on the phone and Brandie
The visitors are Dale Wood, Ed and Elizabeth Stoner
Brandie invited Ed to the meeting because he expressed an interest in becoming the Southern Cameron County Emergency Mangement Coordinator. Ed was the EMC down by Butler where he used to live, he has a lot of training and knows that he is doing. Brandie would stay on as assistant to ED simply due to the distance Ed lives from the Southern County in case the emergency prevents him from traveling here.
Gibson Township has already appointed him as the EMC, now it is up to Grove and Driftwood. Robert Bushor explained that it is a non-paying position, and if he needs any help Brandie will be available.
Robert Bushor asked, Jim, you have any questions at all for that EMC?
Jim’s reply was, no, I mean, if he meets the certifications and everything that is needed. To support that. Position I’m 100% fine with it. I just I just want to make sure that we have the people we need to support our community, and I appreciate any support that he is willing to give us.
Robert Bushor made a motion that we appointed as Grove Township’s EMC and Brandie will. Stay as an assistant. I will need a second.
Jim Howard seconded the motion.
OK, all in favor. OK, motion carried.
All the rest of the public comment until after.
Our regular meeting. Reading the minutes of the January meeting. Anybody need those red completely? If not, Robert Bushor will make a motion that. We waive it. Second, need a second.
Melvin Kehl seconded the motion. All in favor of waive the minutes, Aye. Motion carried.
Financial report for December and January. If we do not need these read, Robert Bushor will make a motion. We waive the reports for December and January financial reports. I will need a second.
Jim Howard second it. All in favor?, aye. Motion carried.
Brandie stated that all that information had already been emailed to Jim, so he has had it to look at. He is not just blindly saying.
Jim Howard stated that he reviewed all of it and went through all of it and everything looks good on my end.
Brandie: reading mail to the Supervisors You guys got a save the date. It’s not till September 26. It’s Brad Co supply company. They have food and door prices and vendors. It is customer appreciation day. Everybody is invited to it.
Almost like an open house deal might be interesting, which you might be interested in that equipment.
We did hold a special meeting in January and Dale had pointed out to us that it needed to be in a printed newspaper. I thought it had changed, but it has not, according to PSAT. Holly told me our story is a perfect example for why we need legal advertising reform, because despite your best efforts to make sure Community was aware of the special meeting, there remains an in requirement for the meeting to be advertised on legal advertising section of a printed newspaper at least 24 hours. Prior to the meeting in this situation, unfortunately you will need to revote on any actions that were made at the special meeting at the next public meeting, or if we can’t wait at an advertised special meeting that will cure a failure to advertise the current requirements, create a rather significant impediment to having meetings because so many newspapers are weekly. Often require significant advance notice and we are hearing from all our members. Few residents subscribe anymore, and for those that do, an increasing number of mail copies to their subscribers, which defeats the purpose of the 24-hour notice. So later in the business you will see that. We must revolt on buying the truck.
Then I also asked her another question that Dale brought up at that meeting. As to the resident that attended our meeting this morning, wants to know why after a motion is on the floor, public discussion is not allowed after the motion before the vote. Are we doing this wrong? I thought public comment was when the public expresses themselves or in. Any case as questions or show, and she said public comment must be allowed on agenda items either at the beginning of the meeting or before each agenda item. Public comment on non-agenda items must be allowed at some point during. The meeting and could be at the end if doing public comment before each agenda item, it would generally be before the board discussed the item, but not after then before the board voted on the item. Public comment is your residence and taxpayer expressing their thoughts and opinion to the board on the agenda items. Discussion amongst the residents is never required. The meetings are board of supervisor meetings for the board to discuss and act on Township business. The public has a right to attend, and residents and taxpayers have the right to comment on these issues at the designated time of the meeting. So, she is saying after each motion, no.
Dale Wood corrected me that his question was why the Supervisors do not have a discussion after a motion is made. Dale said it should be a motion, discussion vote. That is for you all.
OK, OK, that was my misunderstanding. I am. Sorry Dale.
Currently, we use what is called statewide tax collection to collect any unpaid privilege to work tax. We signed up with this company the same time the county did. So far they have been good to work with and reasonable, but they have partnered up with Berkheimer who collects earned income tax for several counties. There will be new fees added to the customers and then it will almost triple the amount they owe. going to go through the company. The county has decided that they are no longer going to use statewide tax recovery. We must give them a 90-day written note. Just if we agree and we are not going with them anymore and the county has found another company called Keystone Collections Group, that they are going to open an account with, that will not have all the additional fees added to the customers.
So, I need a motion on whether you all want to follow the example of the county and go with the one that is going to be more beneficial to our residents. Obviously, if they did not pay for it trying to collect way more. It’s going to be hard. Or if you want to stay with statewide.
Robert Bushor: That is up for discussion because I am not sure what’s going on. Any advantage of us at all, either way there.
Jim Howard: I agree that we should go with the amount where our citizens in the Township do not get penalized. A lot more and benefit a third party that does nothing for us. Anyhow. Can you follow me?
Robert Bushor Yes, right, exactly.
Jim Howard: Yes. I mean our job is to take care of our residents, you know? So, I am agreeable with us, going with the lesser amount where you know that we are not penalizing our citizens because of there you know delinquency.
Robert Bushor: That sounds reasonable. Robert Bushor made a motion to go with the County and give Statewide the 90-day notification and then sign a contract with Keystone Collections. Need a second.
Jim Howard: I second it. OK, all in favor. All those in favor. Aye motion carries.
Brandie: We did. We did get awarded the $1500 that I put in for liquid fuel money. To go towards the purchase of salt and ice skid this year. If we did not have a project through the year, you always put in for that cause it is free money and can be used.
Brandie: I did not realize this until the other day when Cody Ball bounced me. Easter is at the end of March this year, so I need to know if it is OK to do the Easter egg. Huh? On March 30th, this year.
Rober Bushor: How many kids last year?
Brandie: 46 or 47.
Robert Bushor: So, we are still getting quite a bit of participation.
Jim Howard: I would say definitely do it.
Robert Bushor: Yes, long as we are getting the participation. All right, I will make a motion. We do it Easter Egg hunt,
Jim Howard: I’ll second it. All in favor. Aye. OK, Easter egg hunt motion carried.
Brandie: One reason I am asking for a new computer is I just got a new one at driftwood and then it helped me realize that this one is slow. I thought it was slow, but now I know it is slow. It was bought brand new the year I started in 2015. There is nothing wrong with the monitor. There is nothing wrong with the keyboards and printers and all that stuff. All they need to purchase would be the tower. I did some looking. It is between an HP and a Dell. The HP cost at Best Buy costs $779.99. And at Staples, it costs $848.99. And then Office Depot is $783, but HP? At Best, Buy is 500 and. $99. Staples is $649. And Office Depot is way off. There is $759, so if you want to go with the cheapest.
Robert Bushor: Which one has the best warning?
Brandie: I think if you buy it through Best Buy, you are going to get a better warranty because it comes with free six-month security software and you can buy up to. Where to go? A three-year extended warranty on it. And their extended warranties are. That is what I am trying to see. What? Stable says. Their extended warranties are about $100 cheaper than staples extended warranties.
Jim Howard: What about the gigabytes of stuff? Is everything pretty like apples and apples?
Brandie: Yes, they are exactly the same ones that I compared between the three stores. The HP has the inner core I1512 GB working memory and 1TB for storage.
Jim Howard: what I do is I go to the middle of the road. I don’t think the cheapest. I don’t buy the most expensive. Well, I go to the middle, middle. The road is what I’ve always done.
Brandie: Yeah, the HP was not the cheapest one there. Yes, there was cheaper, but their working memory was only like 8 and that just and you get QuickBooks going and your Internet reports going and stuff and that’s. It’s not enough.
Jim Howard: Yes, We’re going to get things out on a timely basis. I want you to have the right equipment to do it. Brandie and I my vote would be. To go ahead, whatever you feel know the road that is satisfactory to you know, to support your position there and keep us going forward and that is where we need to go.
Brandie: OK.
Robert Bushor: So, which one are we voting on?
Brandie Sherry: I would go with this HP envy desktop through Best Buy,
Robert Bushor: Better warning, Best Buy one and go along with that. Robert Bushor made a motion to purchase the HP through Best Buy with the extended warranty.
Melvin Kehl seconded. All in favor? Aye.
Robert Bushor: What did you say the price was?
Brandie: It’s $599 for the computer and it’s $179.99 for the three-year warranty.
Robert Bushor: Does it come out of the general.
Brandie: Yes, it can come out of general fund or Solid Waste fund, and you can spend up to $1000 a year out of liquid fuel for the computer.
Robert Bushor: Let’s take it out of solid waste because a lotof what it used for garbage billing. .
Brandie: Yes, most of it’s used for solid waste.
Robert Bushor: Sound right guys? Take the money out of solid waste. And because most of that is used for garbage filling anyway.
Jim HowardL Yep. Yeah, I’m fine with that.
Brandie: Sinnemahoning Sportsman’s Club wanted to know if they could have permission to use the parking lot across from the ball field for parking during the annual Snake Hunt 8-9 and 8th and 9th edition.
Robert Bushor: I will make the motion. We let them use it again this year as long as they clean it up. Which they said they would.
Jim Howard: And I think we need a provision in there if it’s wet, muddy, and sloppy and it gets torn up, they are going to have to repair.
Melvin Kehl: The parking lots got plenty of stone over there. They never had much trouble with that. So we.
The 8th and 9th of June. No parking in the fields in the grass area.
Brandie” I believe that is it. That’s it for me.
Road master report:
Melvin Kehl: That’s all I have. Couple storms. Well, we got one coming this weekend again. They said that may feel.
Brandie: Both Driftwood and Grove have been billed accordingly for what has been done up until this point, Driftwood has paid I am assuming, at Grove’s next meeting they will cut us a check.
Robert Bushor: Anything on equipment, all good.
Melvin Kehl: Yup.
Robert Bushor: OK. Anything else on road national report?
Robert Bushor: OK. We will go down to the business section, and we need to revote. What do we need to do to make a motion that we purchase the truck? Robert Bushor made the motion revote on the purchase of F550 from Tristar Motors. I will need a second. All in favor?
Jim Howard: I will second it. Robert Bushor: All in favor, Aye motion carried.
Bridge inspection reports we have them here if anybody wants to look at. They were done in October 2023. That is all the bridges down on, Jerry, Run. All four bridges. And looks like we had quite a quite a lot of small things to do. So Butch and I will have to get together. See what we got the material. We have a bunch of new signs that use them over again.
Brandie: Yes, most of its signs placing one lane bridge signs speed limit signs. Relocating them to the proper spot.
Robert Bushor: Another thing Jay Township. Will do our chipping or seal coating for us. It was just a matter of measuring the roads, giving them the footage and they order the oil. And then we will have to get the stone. Now do we have to bid that.
Jim Howard: Well, I think we need to look at it from a couple of different vendors. Before we pull the trigger, right?
Robert Bushor: Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, definitely. Definitely, yeah.
Brandie: If you use another Township you don’t have to bid on it. Because that’s mutual. Township stuff. That is why we always worked with the Pine Township before for tar and chip But it does not hurt to get a hold of Darren and he gives us an estimate for each road so if we decide to pick certain ones to do.
Brandie: It should cost. And then you could put it out, for bid and make sure Jay is included in that bid and then go from there just so there’s.
Robert Bushor: The reason why I’m jumping on it now, Jim, is because they like to order the oil early.
Jim Howard: Right, right. And I’m fine with that. Like I said though, but I definitely want to pick things out. And I can get. At least three different ways, you know.
Robert Bushor: Oh, yes. Oh, yeah, definitely. Most definitely. Yeah. We’re not going to. We’re not committing at all. Right now. That they all that they have to be measured. And I plan on measuring and writing down the. So you know exactly what footage we have.
Robert Bushor: And I, I would say, do we want to go with all our black top roads? I think we should. What do you guys think?
Melvin Kehl: Better look at them. I don’t know that one. Like Benson and that. I feel like you’re plowing stone now, yeah.
Well, why don’t why don’t we get a bid to do them all and then at that point, we can always.
Brandie: Yes, right. When Darren gives us the paperwork that he gives us, it is each road tbroke down with how much each road would cost.
Jim Howard: And see what they look like when we come out in the spring here. You know what I mean? And. See what the winter done? Damage and stuff and go from there.
Robert Bushor: And also, if we are going to have the equipment here and the workforce, we can do the footage up there that is not covered, Yeah, that we probably need ditched a little bit though, because it’s about the same light as the road right now.
Jim Howard: And I agree. Let’s just get a price on every road and then at that point we can pick and choose and see where we’re at, you know.
Robert Bushor: Right, So, I’m going to go ahead and measure those, and then we’ll have the information and what footage we need. Here to go from. That sound, OK? Sounds great to me. That is the only thing I had added as far as road. maintenance. We did some tree trimming. Mike worked with me for a couple of days. The only other thing, we moved those blocks over the other day, so they do not move that dumpster to far back and break the fence. We must redo the wire in the spring before the Bears, before the bear arrives. I do not have anything else under that.
Public comment.
Dale Wood: Sure. I’m just curious why you didn’t need to. Vote on the new tower. The computer.
Brandie: They did. Corky, made the motion, Butch seconded, Jim said I. It kind of was all jumbled in there.
Dale: And the only other thing. I had was. We had a little discussion at the end of last month there on. People profiting from the Township. I just wanted to remind everybody, you know, the guy left here with a backhoe and hundreds of tons of millings that he’s putting down on the road so it can be profitable. Your account supervisor. And play the game.
Brandie: This month we need to pay Robert Bushor$147.40 for mileage for going down to get truck. CWM environmental they are the ones that do the water testing for the sewer.
Reeds Napa, $33.93. Maxwell Truck and equipment. That is where we got the screen right for the salt spreader. $103.37, Solomen’s Word for the Wise $25. Cameron County Echo, there are three invoices for $90.65, AM Trust North America, $4729. that’s our workers comp. And our firemen’s workers comp and both Driftwood and Gibson have had their bills sent out for their share of the firefighters workers comp. Novey $1125, Noble environment $402.40, Cameron County, solid Waste management borough, our share is $265.76 and that is it for the bills.
Robert Bushor: I’ll make a motion. We pay the bills.
Jim Howard: I second them.
Robert Bushor: All in favor? Aye. Motion carried. Pay the bills.
Robert Bushor: No other reports, Jim. Anything else?
Jim Howard: Nope, that sounds like a good meeting guys. Thank you.
Robert Bushor: All right. Next regular meeting will be March 13th. Robert Bushor made the motion to adjourn this meeting. Melvin Kehl seconded, all in favor? OK. Meeting adjourned at 5:30 EditRegular meeting Feb. 14, 2024
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