The West Penn code enforcement officer wants residents to know that the property maintenance code is being taken seriously by township officials.

Harry Barron announced that the township has finally reached resolution with a property that has been cited continuously since 2002. The original owner, who passed away in 2008, had been cited multiple times, and fined. The new owner was also cited and eventually the township turned the matter over to the district magistrate. A judgment was handed down in the amount of $2,628.75. The township worked with the owner and agreed to drop the judgment if the property was cleaned up in 90 days and the owner paid the associated fees. Barron was happy to announce that the property was cleaned up and the matter has been resolved. Another property owner in the township was sent a notice of warning and Barron added that the property was cleaned up immediately.The township board of supervisors also moved forward with appointing seven members of what will ultimately be a nine member sewer committee. Harry Barron, Joseph Fritz, William Varano, DelRoy Haas, Theodore Bogosh, Randy Troxell, and Gary Miller were appointed to the committee. Brian McQuillen was appointed as an alternate. The remaining two members will come from Walker Township.Supervisors discussed doing a traffic study on Pine Hill Road, and potentially dropping the speed limit from 55mph to 45mph. The study would cost $1,400 and be performed by the township's engineering firm, Rettew. Additional signage changes would cost approximately $1,160, according to Jeremy Frable, group leader of the road department. Supervisor James Akins asked that the matter be put on hold until the supervisors can determine if there is money in the budget for the project.Upon recommendation of the township's solicitor, Gretchen Sterns, the supervisors agreed to move forward with a maintenance agreement between the township and the South Tamaqua Coal Pockets for several flashing signs that will warn travelers on Route 309 about truck traffic where the trucks from the company cross the road. Sterns added that the company has suggested that they will pay for project as well as set up a bond that will ensure future maintenance.Supervisors voted to adopt a resolution opposing local government mergers. The resolution, which Supervisor Alfonso Martinez said is strongly supported by PSATS (the Pennsylvania Association of Township Supervisors), is in opposition to potential state legislation that would do away with boroughs and municipalities and turn the county into the local level of government.Police Chief Brian Johnson explained that new stop signs have appeared throughout the township at the exits of all publicly accessible facilities, including the fire house, the park, the township building, and the annex.Johnson also submitted his monthly report for June, 2010, which included 4,499 miles patrolled, 116 traffic citations, 89 written warnings, 12 non-traffic citations/criminal arrests, 9 motor vehicle accidents, and a total of 380 calls answered.Resident Don Frymyer asked supervisors how he should go about requesting a change of use for property owned by his daughter, Gwynne, who would like to have a deer farm on her 24.6 acre property. The property is currently zoned suburban residential, and as such, animal husbandry is not allowed. The supervisors recommended that he either seek a variance or request a zoning change.Supervisors also discussed either a change in the existing ordinance or possibly a new ordinance regulating wind turbines, as well as additional forms of alternative energy. Martinez read a letter from several environmental advocates opposing any construction of wind turbines along the Kittatinny Ridge. Sterns recommended that while the supervisors are considering that, they should also think about other commercial sources of energy, including solar farms.Resident Helen Finkbone asked that she not be required to have her family's estate surveyed. According to Finkbone, the property is made up of five parcels, three of which will become her sister's and two of which will become her's. The parcels are currently divided by a road. Sterns said that in the past the township has waived that requirement when there is sufficient description of the meets and bounds in the deeds, however, in this case, there was no such description. Sterns recommended that Finkbone have the matter reviewed by the planning commission.The supervisors met in executive session to discuss pending litigation. There will be a special meeting held on July 20th, at 7 p.m., to discuss health care insurance and any other business.