Huntington Township supervisors approve minutes and subdivision plan; debate culverts, Greenbrier finish and finances

Huntington Township supervisors on July 10 approved June meeting minutes and a single‑lot subdivision plan and heard updates on township finances, road projects and zoning items while residents criticized recent culvert replacements and canceled road work.

The board voted, by voice, to approve the June 12 minutes and the bill list for the month; supervisors also approved the 4 J Farms single‑lot subdivision plan after the planning commission recommended it. Pat Davis, a township official, reported that general fund receipts for July 10 were $43,139.55 and expenditures were $32,499.47, with a total of all accounts reported as $895,508.11.

Why it matters: the meeting combined routine approvals with substantive discussion about infrastructure spending and project timing — issues residents said affect maintenance of township roads and long‑term reserve levels.

Supervisors' actions and votes

- The board approved the June 12 minutes by voice vote. (Motion made and seconded; outcome: approved.) - The board approved the monthly bill list by voice vote. (Motion by a supervisor; seconded; outcome: approved.) - The board approved the 4 J Farms single‑lot subdivision plan (recommended by the planning commission) by voice vote; the supervisors signed the plan after the motion carried.

Financial and municipal reports

Pat Davis, a township official, delivered the finance report and clarified figures after the meeting accountant corrected a presentation error. Davis said, "the general fund regular receipts were $43,139.55. And the expenditures were $32,499.47." She also reported a state fund interest receipt of $22.93, state fund expenditures of $530.60 and an aggregate balance of $895,508.11 across township accounts.

Roads, culverts and the Greenbrier project

Roadmaster Chuck King told the board his crew completed a second milling and trimming work and that the "Greenbrier project is almost completed. Black topping was done last week. The only thing left to do, is for the fencing company to put Rebel's new fence up." He also said that a culvert delivery from Meijerstown has arrived and work will proceed.

During public comment several residents raised concerns about recent infrastructure spending and project scheduling. Resident Cody Lear said a series of decisions had reduced planned road work and depleted reserves: "we spent over $300,000 in 2 culvert pipes replacements, which led to last meeting and canceling of the road project. . . . That million dollars is gonna run out." Lear and other commenters questioned whether the township should have staged culvert work differently and asked for greater coordination on scheduling.

Resident Ron Rach asked about an additional charge on the Greenbrier contract; board members said they are awaiting final invoices before reporting a final total. At the meeting one attendee cited a large rock charge estimate; supervisors responded they would provide final billing information once the contractor and solicitor review invoices.

Zoning, planning and procedural issue over agenda placement

Scott Longstreet, the zoning officer, reported MDIA inspections and a pending variance application for 6745 Old Harrisburg Road related to an ED mulch storage area; the zoning hearing board will schedule a public hearing following planning commission review. The planning commission also recommended approval of a number of subdivision and land development plans.

A procedural dispute arose after supervisors were unable to act on a plan that had been conditionally approved by the planning commission because the plan was not included on the supervisors' posted agenda. Supervisors described legal advice limiting on‑the‑spot agenda amendments to de minimis items; one resident and a planning commission member said the absence of the plan from the supervisors' agenda caused avoidable delay for the applicant.

Mutual‑aid, cooling stations and emergency preparedness

Representatives reported that NUREMA (regional mutual aid) met and circulated a memorandum of understanding for a truck the group is considering; member townships must respond by August. Board members discussed cooling‑station availability during a recent multi‑day power outage and noted York Springs Fire Company had served as a regional cooling station because it has greater facilities and personnel than the township building. The board confirmed the township building has a generator and said it is tested regularly.

Cemetery and volunteer work

Ken Miller, representing the Sunnyside Cemetery Board, thanked the township and road crew members — including Chuck King and Chad Asper — for clearing trees and improving the cemetery entrance. Miller said volunteers and township staff had planted seed and improved the cemetery appearance.

Public records requests

The board noted several right‑to‑know (RTK) requests received, including requests dated June 17 for invoices and for records of emails and resolutions relating to records‑destruction approvals. The board advised that one audit/financial report for 2024 was received from PA.gov after the meeting agenda was posted and would be filed.

What’s next

The planning commission will meet July 28; the board's next regular meeting is August 14. Supervisors said final contractor invoices and solicitor reviews on the Greenbrier project and culvert work will be reported at a later meeting when the records are available.

Quotes used in this article are drawn verbatim from the July 10 meeting transcript and are attributed to speakers listed in the meeting record.