Ross Township is getting a new Christmas tree in time for 2021 holiday festivities.

“The previous tree has a blight, which pretty much killed it,” Chairwoman Tina Drake said during Monday’s supervisors meeting.

Drake is working with Troy DeHaven, owner of DeHaven’s Christmas Tree Farm in Saylorsburg, to get an 8-foot concolor fir tree from one of his vendors.

Drake said she and her husband, David, will donate the tree to the township.

“I will also decorate it and put the lights on it,” she said.

The township will host its tree lighting and visit with Santa on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.

A Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder “firetruck will bring Santa to the event. We plan to have Santa go inside the township building for the event,” said Bernie Kozen, executive director of West End Park & Open Space Commission.

Also needed this winter are part-time snow removal drivers to plow township roads and township property. Applicants must have a CDL. To apply, call the township at 570-992-4990.

In other business

• Holly Parker introduced herself as the Judge of Elections and said she would be at the Ross building on Tuesday. Because the building sustained damage to the floor and doors during the 2020 presidential election, she promised to play close attention to everyone coming and going, so those kinds of things do not occur again.

• The supervisors will update their fee schedule, effective in 2022. Eldred Township’s fee schedule will serve as a model. Supervisors said one difference will be that Ross will charge for temporary yard signs. Eldred does not charge for temporary signs.

• Supervisors approved the fall/winter public bathrooms hours, which will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• A flyer about the Monroe County Meals on Wheels Holiday Gift Drive will be posted on the door and a bin for items will be placed inside the vestibule.

• The public can come into the office to see the proposed 2022 budget.

• During public comment, supervisors assured two groups of residents that they would have the zoning officer go out to investigate the properties in question. The first was a set of trailers on Weingartner Road. There are pit bulls running loose, rats, abandoned vehicles and sometimes squatters staying there. The other property is on Pinecone Court in Owl Hollow. The house burned down three years ago. It is still piled with junk. There is a falling down camper/trailer with rodents next to the house. The neighbor has chased people away from the hazardous building.