Liberty grants waiver for pipeline depot, eyes conduct code / By Martha Knight

LIBERTY VILLA—Liberty Township has weathered winter storms satisfactorily so far, supervisors Gary Turner, Bruce Klein and Fred Ernst III reported Tuesday night, at their monthly meeting, and will not run out of traction materials.

Although crews have used more materials than in recent winters, suppliers are good for more if needed, Chairman Turner said.

Most township residents had been satisfied with snow removal and ice treatment, Turner said, although Tuesday he had received a number of phone calls from worried residents. On school days, bus routes are plowed first, and others cleared as soon as possible.

Supervisors decided to check with other surveying firms before having the township lands surveyed, because a new proposal from E & M Engineers and Surveyors was much higher than an earlier one.

Supervisors voted to grant a stormwater management waiver to Welded Construction in connection with its development of a pipeline materials depot at Portage Industrial Properties.

The board listed road work planned for the coming season as including parts of Lillibridge, Benson Hollow, Freer Hollow, Pine Grove, Campbell Hollow and “the back road.”

Under public comments, former supervisor Dick Brown raised the issue of standards for the office of supervisor. “Six months ago I talked to you about the idea of a supervisor coming to a meeting under the influence,” he said. He added that he had been assured that this would not be a problem, but that at the January meeting he had observed some indication that “the problem” remains.

Former supervisor Chuck Safford, in the audience, asked, “How do you determine that someone is under the influence?”

Turner said, “You had better be able to prove it,” and mentioned having reviewed the matter with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.(PSATS).

Brown said he, too, had looked into the possibilities that exist for setting rules or adopting a policy germane to the issue. “If you are going to be a public official and you are going to sit at the head table, you ought to set a standard” of behavior.

The supervisors agreed that township secretary Cindy Speeth should “write that down” and direct the question to PSATS, asking for an opinion. Others present suggested also asking the township solicitor, Dawn Fink, for an opinion.

The meeting was a week later than the usual Second Tuesday date, having been postponed because of an out-of-area medical treatment for Turner and joint replacement surgery for Klein.