There was a fire insurance escrow ordinance hearing held at the Chestnuthill Township supervisors' meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

The ordinance provides that in "certain fire losses the insurer having a policy with respect to such loss shall transfer insurance proceeds to the secretary of the township of Chestnuthill to be used to pay delinquent taxes and other municipal claims, or held as security, and used to pay the total cost of removing, repairing or securing the damaged building and providing for fees; setting forth related procedures to implement said act and providing for penalties for violation."Resident Leon Clark objected to this ordinance being passed as it is stated.Supervisor Chris Eckert said that there were over hundreds of other townships in Pennsylvania that approved this very same ordinance.After the hearing, the board voted to pass Ordinance 2011-02 in a 3-0 vote.There was then a liquor license hearing. Weis Markets requested a transfer of a liquor/restaurant license.In a statement by Weis's attorney from the firm Flaherty & O'Hara said that Weis Markets had been at its present location on Weir Lake Road for the last 15 years and employs 140 people. Weis has 164 stores in 15 states. Currently beer is sold in New York in Weis stores and in 15 Pennsylvania stores. Weis is planning on $300,000 plus of renovations with a cafe-type restaurant, which could seat 32 people at the Brodheadsville store and they want to be able to sell beer. Maybe wine would be sold at a later date. The beer would only be paid for at the cafe register and a person would only be able to purchase two beers on the premises. A six-pack could only be purchased to go. He said that about 75 percent of those who purchase six-packs in the restaurants are women because they feel safer purchasing it in a well-lighted safe environment.Township manager, Dave Albright asked, "You said you may sell wine at a later date. What about hard liquor? Do any of your other stores sell wine?" and the attorney responded that there were two stores that did.Supervisor Eckert wanted to know if the cafe would be separate from the store in any way and the attorney said that there would be four foot wall around it. Eckert asked if children would be allowed in the cafe and the attorney said it would be just like any other restaurant that serves beer."Obviously no children would be served food unaccompanied by an adult," said the attorneyResident Stuart Thoady said that with restaurants in the West End and Poconos that were struggling, why on earth would anyone want to sit in a supermarket cafe blows his mind.Supervisor Chairman Chuck Gould read off the conditions: the applicant or his successor shall not change the character of the license; the Township/Board of Supervisors shall have the right to review future license transfers without prejudice to its decision herein; these conditions shall apply regardless of the township's current or future license quota.The attorney said they were all right with them.Supervisor Eckert stated that Weis Markets has been a good neighbor to the West End and he made a motion to approve the granting of a liquor license. It was approved 3-0.Residents Bob and Lori Bonser asked if any head way was being made on their request for the board to do something about their neighbor, who the Bonsers allege is running a commercial business with all sorts of commercial equipment at the home. Mrs. Bonser stated she was tired of leaving in the morning to noise and coming home to noise and there is a bad odor from the pigs, goats and chickens on the property.Supervisor Chairman Gould said that he does know the matter is with the Zoning Board.Resident Shirley Petkus of Bond Lane told the supervisors that when they created Firehouse Lane it was not good for Bond Lane."We have tractor trailers going through with windbreakers. One went through and tore the phone wires right out of my house and it ruined three spots of our siding. Can you put up signs about low wires?"Supervisor Eckert said the wires may not be high enough and she should inform the utility companies. Supervisor Gould said he doesn't know why those trucks are on that road.Mrs. Petkus also thinks the township makes a mess out of the ends of the road in snow plowing and Supervisor Gould said that was probably due to the state going through after they do.Resident Rodger Kutzler asked if there could be a length restriction on that lane.Resident Leon Clark stated he thought that in the last five years there have been a lot of traffic lights added in the township and if the lights could blink only from late night to early morning, the electric .$cost $. could be cut down 50 percent.Supervisor Gould said that could be put on the table with PennDOT.Clark also stated that he knew the auditors' report had been completed months ago and he was told he would have to pay for the report."I am an elected auditor. I want that report and I want it in three days," he said.Cathy Martinelli, office manager said that he could come in and review it in-house anytime during office hours but it would .$cost $. $.25 a page to copy it, if he wanted his own copy.Supervisor Chris Eckert reported that he had been asked to pass on a suggestion for a 9/11 memorial in the Chestnuthill Twp. Park.Trick or Treat Night will be on Monday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. The Western Pocono Lioness and Western Pocono Women's Club members will be handing out candy at the Chestnuthill Twp. Park building also during that time.Saturday, Nov. 5, there will be a Cleanup Day in the Chestnuthill Park. There will be a reptile show immediately after.The next Chestnuthill Township Historical Society meeting will be on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the park building.Township engineer, Chris McDermott gave an update on the Bonser Drive flooding issue. To date, the township has received permission to access the property of only one (Mrs. Morales) of the four homeowners who are experiencing flooding issues for McDermott to assess the issue in order to make any kind of suggestions on how to alleviate the problem.Marie Sottile, a resident that resides on Bonser Dr., told the board that she is tired of having the water pumped on to her property."We have been coming in here for years complaining. I'm still sitting here, swimming in my basement," she said.Supervisor Eckert said that the board is trying, in good faith, to come up with a solution and Supervisor Dave Fleetwood added that they needed the other residents to sign the form so McDermott could do a proper assessment.The board approved, 3-0, to award the 2011-2012 snow plow bid to the following:*Larry Smith with a 1986 GMC Topkick 7000 single axle with plow and spreader at $98 per hour*Locust Ridge Contractors with a 1998 International 4900 eight-ton six-wheel dump, single axle at $137.50 per hour*Down to Earth Excavating with a 1981 International 2554 ten plus ton single axle truck with 11 ft. power blade and spreader at $99.50*Carbonara Excavating with a 1985 Ford tandem dump truck with 12' multi angle plow and spreader at $130 per hourThe Board approved, 3-0, to transfer funds to complete the work on the Merwinsburg Hotel to accomplish securing the building before winter. Supervisor Chairman Chuck Gould said that now that the work has begun, unforeseen costs have occurred. An additional $1,872 for the heating system and $7,481.84 for roofing repairs are needed. Township office manager Dave Albright said that the additional funds could come from the Park and Recreational Fund.The board approved, 3-0 to sign the Penn-DOT winter traffic service agreement. Last year the township received a $1,700 reimbursement from Penn-DOT for the township plowing the road, Weir Lake Road, between Rt. 115 and Rt. 209.Don Zipp, Chestnuthill's Emergency Management Coordinator reported that in September the West End Ambulance responded to 151 calls and the West End Vol. Fire Co. responded to 91 calls, which Zipp said most of the fire co. calls were accident related. Zipp added that in September the Pennsylvania State Police responded to 328 calls for service in Chestnuthill, 70 criminal incidents, 43 traffic collisions and six arrests for DUI.The Emergency Management staff are currently taking an Emergency Planning Course in Northampton County, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.Cathy Martinelli, the township's office manager, reported that since the board approved authorizing Public Financial Management to refinance the Township's General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2006, the township saved $136,600. Supervisor Chairman Gould said that put the township at an A-1 rating.Kinsley's ShopRite requested a draw down of $214,803.85 and it was approved, 3-0.Resident Stuart Thoady asked Ms. Martinelli where the township was in collecting the real estate taxes.Ms. Martinelli said the township has collected $659,702. Last year at this time, $651,696 had been collected. To date, $949,277 has been collected in EIT taxes compared to last year's $982,032.