Rush Township Board of Supervisors held their monthly meeting last week (Thursday, July 17, 2014) at the Rush Township Municipal Building in Hometown.
All three supervisors were present during the meeting. They are Chairman Shawn E. Gilbert, Vice-Chairman Robert J. Leibensperger and supervisor Jeaninne Motroni.
Numerous items were brought up.
Some include:
– Approval of minutes from previous meeting, treasurers report, current township and sewer bills through June 30, and municipal reports (sewer, road, Arro, Prodesign).
– Supervisors approved the Final Subdivision Plan owned by Eugene R. and Victoria F. Sobolewski (Plan # PC060514-01 A).
– Supervisors approved a motion to amend the Rush Township Police Department Policy and Procedures Manual adopted February 16, 2013 to add subparts in Article 5 for traffic stops and threatening language, and to add a subpart in Article 12 for citizen complaints.
– Supervisors approved a motion to appoint Robert Ritsick as Eastern Schuylkill Planning Representative for Rush Township.
– Supervisors approved a motion to purchase a new backhoe, stating their current backhoe is 10 years old and needs $7k to 10k in repairs. The cost of the new backhoe (with trade-in and COSTARS discount) will be about $64k. (see sheet below).
– Supervisors talked about the amount of delinquent sewer and garbage accounts. Total garbage delinquencies as of July 2014 were $62,464 (compared to $52,074.40 in January 2014). (This number is including delinquent accounts from prior years, as well as any accounts past due for 2014). Total sewer delinquency accounts for Hometown residents as of July 2014 was $40,652.56 (compared to $81,709.05 in January 2014). Total sewer delinquencies for Lake Hauto residents as of July 2014 was $5,578.00 (compared to $12,864.20 in January 2014). Supervisors said delinquency letters will be going out again this week. (see sheet below).
– Information from the Rush Township Police report for June 2014 reads: 1> District Justice fine money was $3,683.58;  2> Total miles on police vehicles was 3,698;  3> Total amount of calls, complaints and incidents handled by police was 433;  4> The reports adds: “The 2007 Ford police car is sitting behind the police station now for over 13 months. The inspection expired at the end of May. It is now considered an abandoned vehicle, which under our ordinance requires removal.”
– Supervisors approved Rush Township Police officer Adam Sinton’s attendance during a future Operation Nighthawk training. The training is provided for free via the Pennsylvania State Police. During the two-day class, officers will be in a classroom for half the day, as well as participate in a roving DUI patrols.
– In addition, a number of residents brought up various concerns. (see video).