Penn Forest Township has hired Gregory Loftus as its full-time code enforcement officer.

Loftus started the job on Nov. 8.

Council approved sending Loftus to a Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ zoning training class for new code enforcement officers Nov. 30-Dec. 1 in Butler.

Council also approved a new logo to be used on decals for the township’s trucks, and for the code enforcement officer’s uniforms and materials.

Short-term rentals

A long discussion about who to count for occupancy of short-term rentals focused on what age to count children.

The current ordinance lets families bring children 12 and under without counting them toward the maximum occupancy.

Supervisor Dr. Patrick Holland said kids should be counted from age 2 so that homes do not overtax septic systems.

Chairman Roger Meckes thought the age should be lowered, just not to 2.

Holland called for a vote to amend the short-term rental rules to reduce the age to 2 in counting people. His measure passed 3 to 2, supported by supervisors Christian Bartulovich and James Denier. Scott Lignore and Meckes were opposed.

Dog park

The idea about a dog park on the township recreation property was raised and opposed by Meckes.

He put forward a motion to oppose the township hosting a dog park on any of its properties, and was supported 4-1, Holland voted for a dog park.

A suggestion was made by former supervisor Judy Knappenberger that a dog park could fit well on the vacant land at the rear entrance to Towamensing Trails off Route 534. She then listed rules about dog parks that should be in place wherever they are located. Others suggested having a fundraiser for a dog park group if land could be found for a dog park.

Other business

• Supervisors approved building a pipe frame for Christmas tree lights, to be erected at the township park, on a vote of 4-1. Holland was opposed.

• Garbage fees will be raised to $150 for families, and $300 for commercial users as part of the 2023 budget. Supervisors were unanimous in raising the fee to cover rising garbage expenses.

• The 2023 budget will be advertised - $2,207,163 for the general fund, $533,700 for the sanitation fund, and $27,238 for the state liquid fuels fund.

• An agreement will be made with Towamensing Township for their road crew to plow and spread salt and cinders on the nine-tenths of a mile of Forest Road in Penn Forest Township, between the township line and Beltzville Lake Estates.

Towamensing will be paid $150 an hour and $100 a ton for materials used.

• Delinquent garbage bills were turned over to the Nanovic Law Offices, who will send collection letters.

• Supervisors turned down another grievance from workers’ union, Teamsters #773. The union will ask for arbitration. A grievance from last month’s meeting is also being arbitrated.

• Electronics recycling will be Nov. 19 at the Transfer Station from 9 a.m. until the trucks are full, or 3 p.m., for township residents only.

• The Transfer Station will be closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Construction of the new salt shed at the Transfer Station is underway and should be completed this month. Once the salt and anti-skid material is moved from the current building, that building will get repairs and used for equipment storage.

• Public comment was changed so that comments go with and about agenda items. A new timer was introduced - comments will be limited to three minutes. Open public comment on non-agenda items now is at the end of the meeting.

• The municipal building will be closed Nov. 24-25 for Thanksgiving.