Tracey Carey of Beers Lane was the first of several residents who brought concerns to the Towamensing supervisors at their Oct. 8 meeting.

She said a neighbor has purchased a home next door to hers and apparently turned it into a rental unit. She said there are as many as 15 cars in a driveway for two or three days at a time, loud drunkenness and theft of firewood. The inside has been converted into 12 rooms.Zoning officer Carl Faust said he cannot find anything in zoning that would help. It cannot be a bed and breakfast, Supervisor Guy Seifert said because then the owner has to be living on the property. Engineer Greg Haas said issues could be sewage, parking and the interior work.Seifert said she should put up no trespassing signs, but she said that has been done to no effect.Supervisor Penny Kleintop said she should talk to the state police. Seifert said as far as an ordinance, the supervisors will take it from there. It is a problem trying to prove the unacceptable uses.Paul Shinsec gave an update on the PennEast pipeline. An application is in to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to get a certificate proving public necessity and convenience. As far as safety issues go, the predominately rural area will require only class 1 pipe with shut-off valves every 20 miles. The class 4 pipe is heavier with shutoffs every 5 miles and will be used in built-up areas.He suggested even people not immediately affected apply for intervenor status so they can give comments. The route of the line may be moved closer to people who are not presently affected.Shinsec said the line passes through 87 water resources and 53 wetlands. The Sierra Club has given a grant to pay for fighting against the pipeline.Some groups are trying to stop fracking, which would make the pipeline useless.GarbageJeff George asked why garbage trucks have not gone into the Clearview Drive development. He represented Ken and Loretta George, developers and heirs. The garbage crew was told not to go in, he said. Seifert said there were too many branches and potholes on the private road.Clearview residents were told to bring their garbage out to the end of the development.George objected to the manner of fencing at the ball fields.Seifert said it was due to settling of disturbed ground.Supervisor Penny Kleintop said the township bought infield mix to put on the fields.Jerry George said he asked supervisors to check Wintergreen Road. Seifert said it was fixed the next day. He said the township spent $600,000 on roads in 2015. PennDOT had recommended the material that did not hold up. The vendor replaced the material without charge so no money came from the taxpayer.Cheryl Zechman said she lives at the back of Clearview and thought residents should have been given 30 days notice that garbage would not be picked up. Her husband has since trimmed the brush. She asked if there was any way the township would take over the private road.Seifert admitted it would have been better if the township had sent certified letters, but the township does not take over private roads. He said Jerry and Jeff George do a better job than some developers and do a good job in winter.Jeff George said if roads have to be built to township specifications they should be taken over.Zechman asked if the residents get a dumpster will they have to pay township garbage fees. Kleintop said all they have to do is for each resident to send the township a letter saying that is what is being done. She reminded them that in bad weather roads take priority over garbage pickup.Franklin Township said they will not go into private developments because of liability.Other businessMatt George said the infield mix will be done as soon as possible and dugouts will not be built until spring. He asked if he should check into various means of security at the fields.The pervious (water will drain through paving) property at the police barracks has to be vacuumed. It will be checked if that was done.A complaint was made that a neighbor has not paid taxes on a home that is 35 years old and uses another person's driveway. As far as is known there are no sewage or building permits for the property.The fire police will help with the Palmerton Halloween parade at 4 p.m. Oct. 18.Treat or treat is 5-8 p.m. Oct. 31.Be a HeroGary Smiley, an officer at Albrightsville Fire Company, has organized a Be a Hero program. Students at Lehigh Carbon Community College will sell products with the money going to the fire company to provide smoke detectors for people who do not have them.The fire company and/or students will install them if needed. There is also a "bench" drawing for a student-built bench with the proceeds going to Be a Hero.