Weatherly Borough Council on Monday approved a five-year agreement with Packer Township for fire protection.

Councilman Norman Richie explained that he along with Councilmen Michael Bellizia and Vincent Cuddeford II met with Packer Township supervisors on Oct. 13.

“We actually made good progress that night,” he said.

They came up with a fire-year plan for fire protection from the Citizens Fire Co. of No. 1 of Weatherly, in which Packer Township would pay $33,000, $35,000, and $36,000 in the first three years, respectively, Richie said.

Then, the township contribution toward the fire company would increase in the fourth and fifth year based on the cost of living increase as per Social Security, he explained.

“As far as I’m concerned, it’s a good contract. I believe the other two committee people feel the same,” Richie said.

The only change in the existing agreement would be in regards to the contribution toward maintenance on the vehicles over $4,000, he said.

The borough and township had previously agreed to split the cost of maintenance on vehicles for five occurrences in one year, and reduced to that number to three in one year, he said.

Borough Manager Harold Pudliner said after the meeting that the fire company would fund maintenance entirely if there were more than three occurrences in a year, but that is very unlikely.

The borough also supports the fire company, and Pudliner estimates the borough’s contribution at about $70,000 year. The borough pays bills, such as property, liability and workers’ compensation insurance, and had also contributed toward a new truck, he said.

One-way streets

Council held off on changing any streets to one way, but again discussed Chestnut Alley and also another narrow street in the same area, Church Street.

“I think we should wait and see what’s happening with the school project to see what their needs are before we make it a one way the wrong way,” Mayor Paul Hadzick said.

Chestnut Alley runs behind the former C.M. Schwab School, which sits on Spring Street, and Church Street is one block west of the former school. The Schwab School is being converted into apartments, and its former annex is being razed for parking.

“The school project, you don’t know if that’s going to be a year from now, or five years from now,” Solicitor James Nanovic said, acknowledging the developers planned on a year.

“It was an aggressive schedule that they presented to us,” he said. “I also know being involved in construction projects sometimes those get pushed back.”

Council members discussed how changes could affect residents’ access to their garages, garbage removal and snowplowing on the narrow streets. They weren’t clear which direction would work for larger vehicles, including garbage and fire trucks.

Hadzick asked the police chief to review a change for Church Street to a one-way from a safety point of view, and access for larger vehicles.

Input

Kevin Kennedy, representing Weatherly Youth Soccer, asked about property available for the soccer program. He asked about the 120-acre tract, which the borough had up for bid, and also the Babe Ruth field at Eurana Park.

The large tract in Lausanne Township, council noted, wouldn’t be suitable for a field due to the grade, and questioned the size of the Babe Ruth field.

Kennedy explained that they were interested in the Babe Ruth field in the park for younger children, who don’t play on a full-size soccer field. He was directed to talk to the park manager.

Resident William Carbohn asked about the status of state Department of Environmental Protection investigation involving a shared sewer line, which his house is on, and recent work.

He told council that the owner of the line wants to charge those on the line a monthly fee, or he would cut off access to the line. The homeowners had an agreement with the previous owner for the line, he said.

Pudliner said that it is a civil matter, and the borough wasn’t involved in any recent excavations of sewer lines in that area. The borough was copied on a DEP letter as were others, he said.

“We have to wait to see how the civil matter comes out,” Pudliner said.

Council members suggested the resident speak to his attorney about agreements he had regarding the sewer line.