In response to COVID-19 precautions, Ross Township supervisors modified how they met for their monthly meeting on Monday evening.

“The township building is closed to the public until further notice. The playground, pavilion and public bathrooms are also closed. People can still walk their dogs and hike the trails,” Chairwoman Tina Drake said.

Only township personnel and the supervisors are allowed inside the building. They are following social distancing and other guidelines, Drake said.

During the meeting, Drake and Vice Chairman David Shay, Secretary-Treasurer Danielle Romano and road foreman Ethan Brewer were inside the township building’s meeting room 6 feet apart from one another with a phone in the center.

The third supervisor, James Zahoroiko; township solicitor Tim McManus; and Brian Stankovich, Monroe County emergency management coordinator, participated via phone conferencing.

No one from the public submitted questions or concerns for the supervisors to address during Monday’s meeting.

During old business, supervisors voted unanimously to forward their proposed short-term rental ordinance and proposed zoning change to the Ross Township Planning Commission and the Monroe County Planning Commission for their respective comments.

This ordinance pertains to residents who rent their home or a room to someone for less than 30 days. At their March meeting, supervisors voted to allow short-term rentals in general commercial and village commercial zoning areas.

Supervisors asked Romano to forward the documents to both planning commissions on Tuesday morning.

The first order of new business was to ratify the declaration of emergency disaster, which is posted on the front door and their website, https://rosstwp.com.

Due to the virus, “The township office will be CLOSED to the public until further notice. A lock box will be outside for those who wish to drop off tax payments or any township business. Staff will be present during business hours by phone call only,” states the website.

It also has contact information for zoning officer Maureen Minnick, 510-436-7299, or by email at mauren.minnick@bureauveritas.com; and for road foreman Ethan Brewer, email him at rosstwp4@ptd.net.

The declaration also designates Stankovich as the emergency management coordinator for the township.

“He will lead us and take necessary actions,” Drake said in a follow-up interview.

Residents in general are following the guidelines such as social distancing.

“From what I’ve seen, people are doing that when they walk their dog or hike on the trails,” Drake said.

The township building and facilities will remain closed, and personnel will continue taking precautions noted above until further notice.

“I want to end by saying we are in unchartered territory. Township employees are taking precautions and doing their jobs to serve township residents. Now is the time more than ever to say thank you,” Shay said.

Drake and Zahoroiko agreed and expressed their gratitude.

In other business

A buyer from the public submitted a bid for $8,500 to purchase the township’s 1995 GMC dump truck. Supervisors voted unanimously to accept the bid and move forward with finalizing the sale.

Supervisors renewed their employee health insurance plan, which goes into effect May 1. They chose the Geisinger Gold PPO Plan for three full-time employees, which includes the secretary-treasurer and two road crew members. A third full-time road crew member has health insurance through their spouse. They also got a proposal from Highmark. Pennsylvania Chamber Insurance is the broker.