Dave Albright, Chestnuthill Township manager presented the four solid waste bids for the transfer station the township received and made the suggestion that the bid be awarded to Panther Waste Systems because of its overall lower bids, with the most noticeable ones of charging residents $1 for each 16 gallon bags in comparison to the other bids of $1.50 and $2. He said that he checked with the DEP on the company's references and all was in order.

Supervisor Dave Fleetwood asked if Albright received any references of the other companies that submitted a bid and Albright said he did not. He only checked on the company with the lowest bid. Fleetwood said that price isn't always the best indicator of the best service.Supervisor Chris Eckert made a motion to approve awarding the bid to Panther Waste Systems based on Albright's information because the price would benefit the residents and because it's a one-year contract, and if not satisfied with the service they can always vote to renew or not renew. Fleetwood said he would second the motion based on the cost to the residents and that there is the option to renew or not at the end of the year. The supervisors approved Panther Waste Systems for a year, 3-0.Supervisor Fleetwood reported that the Chestnuthill Township Historical Society is working on attaining 501c3 status. Henry Hoffman gave a presentation at the February meeting on what life was like in Chestnuthill Township in the past. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Township Park building, Rt. 715, Brodheadsville.Don Zipp, the township's emergency management coordinator reported that for the month of February, West End Ambulance responded to 107 calls and the West End Vol. Fire Co. responded to 69 calls.Zipp's recommended John T. Burrus to the township's emergency management team planning section. Burrus holds a PhD, has 30 years of emergency service experience in Chestnuthill Township, and is an administrator of a school district. Zipp said that with his familiarity with schools, emergency services and organizational management background, he would complement the existing team. The board appointed Burrus.Supervisor Chairman Chuck Gould said that the township will be giving this report monthly."We think it's important for the public to know how hard our emergency services people are working," he said.In New Business, the board discussed giving Albright authorization to prepare a bid and to advertise for the sale of a 12.34 acre lot for $112,000, owned by the township, located along Rt. 715.In September 2005, the township purchased two lots with general funds for Open Space, from the Anewalt family, to protect from further development and to be used as an easement. One lot was 12.34 acres and the other was 12.36 acres.Resident Stuart Thoady asked, "Why would anyone want to buy property they couldn't do anything with?"Fleetwood said that there are property owners on each side of the lot who might be interested in it knowing no one can build on it and Gould added that if they could get someone to buy it, the township would have money in the municipality to purchase other property to protect more open space.Resident Leon Clark said he found it distressing that the township paid that much for it and that now they're asking taxpayers to fund a bid and advertising to sell it.Thoady recommended that the township not pay much for preparation of the bid and advertising.Clark asked if the township could contact the surrounding landowners to see if they would be interested in it before a bid notice was put in the paper.Township solicitor Joseph McDonald said that the township could do that as long as they do not sell it first without publicly advertising the sale of the land.The board agreed to contact the surrounding property owners to see if anyone was interested in it.Clark requested that he be recognized as "auditor" when he is referred to in the minutes of the meetings. He is one of three of the township auditors. There was some discussion with the board that he would not be referred to as "auditor" if he is speaking to the board in the capacity of a resident.Bernie Kozen, executive director of West End Park and Open Space Commission informed the board:*April 16 has been designated as Clean Up Day at Chestnuthill Twp. Park.*an Art Workshop of "Spring Flowers" will be held on March 19 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the park building*an Easter egg hunt will be held on Saturday, April 23 at 12 p.m. at the park*a Summer Concert Series is being talked about.