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West Deer supervisors debate meeting protocol, referendum options, dog shelter plans and fire company coverage
Summary
Supervisors discussed procedural rules for public comment, options from a Charter Commission for supervisor districts, dog shelter remodel vs new construction, and a request for cancer‑rider insurance for volunteer fire companies; no binding votes were taken on these discussion items.
At the March 18 meeting the board devoted several agenda items to governance and community concerns.
Meeting protocol and public comment: Township Manager Daniel Mator reviewed a memo and recommended standardizing meeting rules and reconsidering the dual public‑comment approach (one agenda‑related period at the start and a non‑agenda period at the end). Mator stressed public comment is not intended as a question‑and‑answer forum and encouraged residents to contact administration for follow‑up. Supervisor Joshua Wiegand cautioned that strict time limits could limit the board’s ability to provide immediate direction on pressing resident concerns.
Referendum and districting options: Mator summarized a Charter Commission report that narrowed supervision models to three choices: all at‑large seats; five districts; or four districts plus one at‑large seat. The Commission recommended four districts with one at‑large seat to reduce the likelihood all supervisors would come from the same neighborhood. Hollibaugh said he now favors maintaining districts as currently drawn; Wiegand flagged voter confusion at polling locations and Mator suggested a court petition to align voting districts with supervisor districts as originally intended.
Dog shelter planning: Bids for a new dog shelter came in higher than expected. The board discussed requesting proposals for both renovation of the existing shelter and for new construction; Manager Mator and Supervisor Payne said the shelter volunteer (Mrs. Pasquale) favors renovation and that a new building could be sited near EMS or police to reduce costs.
Fire company cancer rider: Supervisor Wiegand presented documentation supporting fire companies’ requests for cancer rider insurance coverage for volunteers. The board debated whether premiums should come from fire tax proceeds (Hollibaugh’s preference) or be funded by the Township (supported by Payne). The discussion did not produce a vote; members asked staff to provide further details.
No final policy changes were adopted on these discussion items; staff follow‑up was requested.
