Carl clears a few things up before meeting

VALLEY VIEW - Although Supervisor Chairman Chad Richards was unable to attend the meeting, due to a recent hospital stay, the Hegins Township Board of Supervisors held its reorganization meeting prior to the regular monthly meeting.

Vice-Chairman of the board Brad Carl introduced Jay Deibert to those in attendance. Jay was appointed supervisor to fill the remaining term of Lyle Clark, who resigned from the board.

"Before we get started, I would like to clear a few things up," said Carl. "There was a post on Facebook last week concerning why we chose Jay Deibert over Michael Begis, who is an engineer to fulfill the remaining term of Lyle Clark who resigned from his post as supervisor. During the interview we told Begis he was going into a hornet's nest and he made the comment that if it got too bad he would just sit back and let the other two supervisors handle the problems. We decided to choose Jay because he wants to do what's best for the community. So that's why we made the decision we did. I'm thinking this post on Facebook may be the reason why Chad isn't here with us tonight. Maybe it upset him and made him sick."

Carl also said he wanted to get the opinion of those in attendance on another matter also before the reorganization began.

Carl reported the township received a letter from Township Solicitor David Rattigan stating that he would prefer that his firm be appointed solicitor another year, however, he would like to begin to transition work to one of his partners, J.T. Herber III. Carl said the township has always dealt with Rattigan and he was wondering if the township should look for a new firm where it would be only one solicitor handling the township work instead of two solicitors.

"I feel we should stay with Williamson, Friedberg and Jones because Dave knows a lot about Hegins Township," said former Hegins Township Supervisor Susan Troup.

"Hegins and Hubley use the same firm and I believe that's a conflict of interest," said Matthew Schwartz. "I think we should look for a different firm."

Carl and Deibert voted to keep Williamson, Friedberg and Jones, but said they may change that at a later time.

The only notable change during the reorganization meeting was the appointment of Clark Romberger to the Hegins-Hubley Water Authority Board. He will replace a term left vacant after the resignation of Robert 'Whitey' Klinger.

Carl said the township is in need of an auditor. Anyone interested in serving as an auditor should contact the township office at 570-682-9133.

A discussion was held on changing the engineering firm to handle UCC Code inspections. Sueprvisor Carl said he spoke to Chubb Insurance, the township's insurance firm about switching engineers because the contractors are not happy with Light Heigel.

Former supervisor Troup told Carl he might want to check with the Council of Governments to determine if the township can change their inspection engineer. She said she was under the impression that COG had to make that decision.

She said COG was formed to save money for the six area townships and to because of the UCC codes. She suggested the township call PSATS to inquire if they can change that or if COG must make the decision.

Carl said he wasn't aware how COG worked and said he would look into it. He said Hubley Township uses Alfred Benesch, so he assumed Hegins could make a change on their own as well.

Carl gave a summary of work and projects that the board completed in 2012.

The Hegins Township Fire Police are no longer under the jurisdiction of Hegins Township. A meeting was held and it was decided the fire police will now go under Hegins Fire Department.

Zoning Officer Allen Swab was granted permission to begin looking for a wind turbine advisor. Swab said an advisor will help take the load off the township and the solicitor when questions arise concerning turbines. The board granted him permission to call other townships who already have one in place to get more information.

The supervisors announced that the Hegins Valley Preservation Association will hold a special meeting Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. to gain community support and for an action group so that wind turbines will not be allowed to forever change the aesthetics of the Hegins Valley. Organizers are encouraging all residents, land owners or business owners located in Hegins Township to attend the meeting.

Supervisor Carl gave an update on Comcast. He said eventually the township may have their own channel on the cable system. Dan Cohan sent a proposal to Comcast with changes the township would like to see and is waiting to hear back from them. One of the changes would be that the money owed to the township would be paid every quarter instead of once a year.

"The public needs to remember when they are deciding to go with Comcast or a satellite dish, that the township does get money back from Comcast," said Carl.

Township Secretary Cathy Moyer was instructed to sent letters to various insurance agencies to seek proposals for the township's insurance coverage.

The township is accepting bids for the old Hegins Police Department trailer. The unit is actually two trailers fused together and the lucky bidder will haul the trailer away as is. Persons interested should send or drop their sealed bid off to the township office on Gap Street before February 4.

The next food pantry will be held January 16, beginning at 8 a.m. at the township building on Gap Street.

The board of supervisors will meet Monday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Hegins Ambulance Association Building, Gap Street.

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