Sewer hook-ups and general business were the topics of conversation at Monday’s brief meeting of the Foster Township supervisors.
The Rev. Beth Rosler, pastor of the Rew United Methodist Church, brought up concerns she has about the the tap-in fees for the sanitary sewer system.
“The church has paid for both the parsonage and the church to be hooked up; however, the parsonage is now down,” she said.
Also, the church has not been hooked up yet.
In recent years, the DEP has mandated that many locals with septic systems connect to the sanitary sewer system. The system in Foster Township ends at the Bradford Sanitary Authority’s wastewater treatment plant on Seaward Avenue.
Rosler wondered if there was a way the township could make it more economical, as the church has a small congregation and has minimal sewer use.
“It probably isn’t even flushed four times a month,” she noted.
Supervisor Gus Crissman asked her about the existing system and noted the runoff from that area runs downhill.
Supervisor Chairman George Hocker explained that township officials have no say regarding whether someone has to hook up to the sanitary sewer system; it’s the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection that requires people to connect. He added that it has been slow-going getting people hooked up.
“We’re making progress every year as far as I can say,” he said.
Rosler was concerned that the church would have to pay extra fees because it has not been hooked up yet.
Hocker explained that, after talking to the sewage enforcement officer, it is his understanding that people won’t be fined as long as they can show they are making progress and have a contractor. It will be people who are in “total neglect” who will be facing fines.
The three supervisors agreed to discuss the church’s situation and get back to Rosler.
Also at the meeting, the supervisors approved several motions.
Among them was a motion to advertise for sealed bids for the road repairs and other projects outlined in the 2020 budget.
Under the police department update, Chief Tom Munn said the department handled 187 complaints in February, which included 10 motor vehicle accidents. They issued 25 citations, completed six criminal investigations and patrolled 6,321 miles of road. He noted the number of miles patrolled in February was higher than normal because officers had to pick up three prisoners from out of the area.
Road foreman Chad Babcock gave his February road report. Tasks included cold-patching, cutting brush, greasing and servicing all plow trucks and sanding 17 times.
As for the code enforcement report, Kevin Shaffer, code enforcement officer, said he is still working on a report of a large accumulation of garbage at a property on Looker Mountain Trail. Also, a South Kendall Avenue resident has moved two problem vehicles that were sitting on the property.
