Schuylkill Township zoning officer Paul Benulis has resigned, as of May 7. The board of supervisors accepted his resignation and advised that they will be advertising to fill the position. Township secretary Colleen Barrett advised supervisors they already have one permit submitted, and she is expecting more with the onset of construction season.

The board heard from several residents and police chief Frank DiMarco about dilapidated properties in the township. DiMarco said he has been citing an abandoned property owner, but they do not live in the area and there is not much more he can do to get the property addressed. DiMarco said he has also been monitoring a property in Newkirk that was damaged by fire last year to make sure the property owner is cleaning it up.

Residents brought up another property that is overrun with abandoned vehicles. DiMarco said the property owner has been cited and fined, but he pays the fines and does not address the property issues.

Township attorney Joseph Baranko advised DiMarco to escalate the matters to the county if needed. There are means to address the matters under the county’s blight ordinances.

The township received liquid fuel funds in the amount of $66,286.24 in April. Roadmaster Charles Hosler said the township has been working to patch potholes. Supervisors are aware there are several areas, particularly in Newkirk, that need additional work.

The township received additional funding for the Tuscarora waterline project from DCED in the amount of $61,685. DCED also approved a grant in the amount of $2,500 to assist with the merger of the Mary D and Brockton fire companies.

There was much discussion about the truck traffic through the township because of the coal company. Resident Mary Van Pelt said trucks start moving as early as 3 a.m. Supervisors said an agreement had been reached with the coal company not to fill trucks before a certain time in the morning, but that doesn’t prevent the trucks from arriving before that time. Trucks are also supposed to be coming in one way and leaving the area via another route, and several residents said this is not the case. Supervisors will review the agreement and discuss it with the coal company.

In other business

Schuylkill Township supervisors:

• Voted to advertise three generators for sale on the Municibid website.

• Approved $100 to sponsor a veterans trip that is organized by a county organization.

• Approved a community yard sale to be held June 23 and discussed various ways to coordinate the advertisement and promotion of the event.

• Approved invoices from All American Jeep in the amount of $308.68 for repairs to the police car and Geoff Penske in the amount of $271.69 for the GMC. Mileage and meal reimbursements were approved for the annual convention for Colleen Barrett and Chuck Fayash.