Penn Forest supervisors’ regular meeting was in-person with social distancing this month. As their first order of business, supervisors extended the declaration of emergency in the township for until May 19; approved $55,412 in bills to be paid; and approved a resolution in support of fair legislative districts in Pennsylvania.

After a discussion, supervisors were unanimous, voting to allow the chairman and the roadmaster to authorize the spending of up to $1,500 in between meetings, provided there is a signature from one other supervisor for the work.

A plan to apply for a Greenways, Trails and Recreation grant from the state was approved to add new equipment to the township park’s playground. Signs will be placed at the park’s walking path entrances to remind people to social distance during the COVID-19 crisis. The trail has been popular this spring.

Due to break-ins to park buildings, supervisors are investigating having cameras with a remote video backup installed to improve security, at a price of about $3,200 plus monthly fees.

It was agreed to have the municipal offices deep cleaned right before the building reopens to the public when the emergency is lifted, at a cost of no more than $1,400.

An understanding with the township employees’ union over use of comp time earned in the first quarter, now to be used by June or compensated for, was approved.

Supervisors plan to update resolutions that give fire company members access to workers’ compensation coverage when “performing non-firefighting activities” - such as fundraising, special event details and more. Penn Forest Township Volunteer Fire Company 1 and 2 will be asked to provide a detailed list of these activities.

EMS volunteers for the fire companies and ambulance who put in the hours and meet other criteria, will be offered volunteer tax credits. The idea is to waive the township’s portion of the earned income tax. Solicitor Tom Nanovic was asked to work on revising the ordinance.

Discussion on Dietrich Campground’s application for an eight-site campground on Arcadia Drive led to supervisors adding a prohibition on light commercial customers of the transfer station accepting human waste for disposal. Among 10 for approval is the off-site disposal of human waste.

Dietrich’s remote sites use toilets where the waste is sealed in a leakproof bag, to be hauled off. Supervisors want to learn more about this, and want proof of a yearly contract in place for disposal of regular and human wastes.

Roadmaster Roger Meckes reports the road crew has the grass mowing equipment ready for the mowing season. Paving and road work this year include Stony Mountain, Schoolhouse and Stony Creek Roads, plus work on Beltzville Lake Estates Road to replace drain pipes before patching.

A full-time road crew member resigned March 9, and the job will not be filled. Supervisors instead decided to look for a part-time, summer season employee for up to 32 hours a week.

Next year’s transfer station fees will be the same as this past year’s. Garbage invoices will be mailed out over in early May. Letters from Beltzville Lake Estates and Indian Mountain Lakes arrived, showing those P.O.A.s have garbage collection in place - their members are exempt from the township’s garbage permit fees.

The ceiling of the maintenance building at the transfer station will be insulated before summer.

The next regular supervisors meeting is May 4, with options of another social-distanced meeting, one held at the Penn Forest Park, also social distanced or via the internet.