Longswamp Township board approves $52,347.54 in bills, adopts amended Right‑to‑Know policy and signs emergency service agreements

The Longswamp Township Board of Supervisors on June 11 approved routine financial items, adopted an amended Right‑to‑Know policy and signed agreements with local emergency service providers.

Chairman Don Hickman opened the meeting and, after roll call, the board unanimously approved bills totaling $52,347.54 and fund transfers of $13,978.85 for the period May 29–June 11, 2024; the roll call recorded Mark Hilbert, Mike Sacks and Don Hickman voting yes. The board also accepted the May minutes and acknowledged verification of the May bank reconciliations.

The treasurer’s report reviewed by Chairman Hickman showed Township General Funds of $2,457,078.84 and Additional Township funds of $2,458,088.09; the report lacked a combined total and will be corrected and re-presented at a future meeting.

The board adopted Resolution No. 2024‑16, amending Resolution No. 2009‑7 (the township’s Right‑to‑Know/Open Records policy). The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Supervisor Mike Sacks and seconded by Vice Chair Mark Hilbert; the board voted unanimously in favor.

The board approved an employee request by Secretary/Treasurer Joni McPike to apply up to $684.56 in sick‑bank time/pay toward upcoming wages; the motion was made by Sacks and seconded by Hilbert and carried unanimously.

In separate motions the board granted time extensions for three land‑development matters: Extra Storage LLC (until Sept. 28, 2024), PTV 1373, LLC (Dollar General Mertztown, until Aug. 13, 2024), and 055 MVLLC (Mountain Village Section II, until Sept. 30, 2024). All three motions were made by Supervisor Mike Sacks, seconded by Mark Hilbert, and approved by the board.

The board individually approved Letters of Understanding with Topton Community Ambulance Service, the Topton Volunteer Fire Company and the Seisholtzville Volunteer Fire Company. Key changes recorded in the motions were: for Topton Community Ambulance, deletion of one contract item, a 90% emergency service tax distribution to be funded by July 31 and a three‑year term; for Topton Volunteer Fire Company, retention of worker’s compensation provisions, a 75% annual fire tax distribution funded by July 31, 100% of Fireman’s Relief allocations retained, and a three‑year term; and for Seisholtzville Volunteer Fire Company, Item 3 revised to $7,500, retention of the prorated worker’s compensation share to Hereford Township, deletion of the division of Fireman’s Relief allocations, and a one‑year term. Each agreement was approved by motion (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert) and recorded as “all in favor.”

Votes at a glance: - Approve May 28, 2024 minutes: motion carried (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert; outcome: approved). - Acknowledge May 2024 bank reconciliations: motion carried (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert; outcome: approved). - Approve Treasurer’s Report (subject to audit): motion carried (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert; outcome: approved). - Approve bills ($52,347.54) and transfers ($13,978.85): roll call yes — Hilbert, Sacks, Hickman (outcome: approved). - Adopt Resolution No. 2024‑16 (Right‑to‑Know policy): approved (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert). - Approve sick‑bank pay request ($684.56) for Joni McPike: approved (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert). - Grant time extensions — Extra Storage LLC (to 9/28/2024), Dollar General Mertztown (to 8/13/2024), Mountain Village Section II (to 9/30/2024): approved (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert). - Approve Letters of Understanding with Topton Community Ambulance, Topton Volunteer Fire Company, Seisholtzville Volunteer Fire Company: approved (mover: Mike Sacks; seconder: Mark Hilbert).

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Sources: Board motions and reports presented at the Longswamp Township Board of Supervisors meeting on June 11, 2024.