News

All three supervisors remain committed to supporting Washington Township's sewage projects.

Frank Calizzi, chairman of the Municipal Authority of Washington Township, addressed the board Thursday night because he wanted assurances that supervisors will continue to support current and future sewage projects.

He asked the supervisors, individually, if they supported the authority's efforts.

Calizzi also reviewed what the authority has done in its 10-year existence.

Supervisors Chairman Richard Gardner, a founding and current member of the authority, said he is on board along with Supervisor Joseph Olszewski, who said he "supports continuation" of the projects.

Supervisor Gary Rowan, who took office last week, said sewer projects are "a necessary evil expense but once people realize the benefit, they feel a lot better."

Calizzi is most concerned about supporting current projects, including Upper Pine Run, where the financing is in place, and the Puckety Creek project, an $11.8 million endeavor that will serve about 700 homes. He stated that the $20 million in projects overall have been funded by grants totaling $8.2 million, or about 40 percent of costs.

"We hope to have bids in August or September for the Puckety Creek project," Calizzi said.

Former Supervisor Joe Dalsass, who still is an authority member, related the frustrations in educating the public on the benefits of sewerage and how projects are put together.

In other business:

� Supervisors appointed Dalsass to an as-needed position for contract negotiations and grant writing at an hourly rate of about $19.

The vote was 2-1 with Rowan dissenting. Rowan defeated Dalsass in the spring primary and again in November, when Dalsass was a write-in candidate.

Rowan said it was the first time he had seen the motion, and didn't know the grant-writing included the various sewer projects.

"You would have to pay others about $75 or $100 an hour," Calizzi said. He said Dalsass has been able to get funding from the Community Development Block Grant program and other federal monies.

� Jason Harchuck was appointed to a five-year term on the planning commission, and Dan Bazella was appointed to a five-year term on the municipal sewage authority. The firm of Fisher, Long & Rigone was retained as the township's solicitor, with Wesley T. Long as the main contact, for a fee of $3,600 this year.

� Supervisors approved a 30.6-acre Agricultural Security Area for the Wylie and Pamela Shultz property on Woodland Road.

� The board approved a gas well for Kriebel Minerals on the Eleanor Nicholson property along Larimer Trail. The company still must get approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection, obtain a road bond and create a buffer zone among other requirements.

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News