Williams Township Historical Society urges supervisors to create municipal history commission

Jim Martin, president of the Williams Township Historical Society, urged the Williams Township Board of Supervisors to establish a Williams Township History Commission within the township's municipal government.

Martin told supervisors the society has amassed decades of materials and publications and said the group is facing declining volunteer capacity. "We think considerations should be given to allowing any new [history] commission the use of the society's old, fairly useful assets," he said, and told the board the society's treasury currently stands at about $17,000 and could be transferred to a municipal commission for preservation and public access.

Board members asked whether formal action was required at that meeting and were told the matter would be placed on next month's agenda; staff indicated a resolution and other materials would be needed to move forward. The manager said staff would "look into it" and prepare the necessary paperwork for a future meeting.

Martin described the society's work tracing local history back to colonial times and its regular newsletters and programs, and said forming a municipal commission would ensure continuity if the volunteer nonprofit becomes unable to operate. He said the commission could use the society's publications and funds to maintain records, provide storage and displays, and continue public programming.

The supervisors did not vote on the proposal at the meeting; they agreed to add the item to the next agenda for formal consideration and to have staff prepare a resolution and related documents.