Updated language and new permitted uses are highlights of a proposed new zoning ordinance which will be discussed when Sadsbury Topwnship supervisors meet with the township planning commission at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13.
The draft ordinance, recently returned to the township with comments from the county planning commission, will likely undergo revisions during that meeting and then be sent back to the county planning commission and township attorney for review. Public input is welcome at the Oct. 13 meeting.
Supervisor Linda Swift said the draft ordinance features new zoning districts, more uses which will be permitted without zoning hearings, and new language to accommodate low, medium and high-density businesses, along with different types of residential development.
In other business during their Sept. 7 meeting supervisors agreed to participate in an intermunicipal ordinance with Bart Township and other interested southern end municipalities. Such an ordinance, drafted as a group with one attorney, would save legal fees and then allow the municipalities to save money by sharing equipment, supplies and personnel.
Supervisors discussed options for health care plans for township employees, but opted to stay with Health America since employees expressed satisfaction with the coverage.
Roadmaster Jeff Nickel said the road crew is still working on White Oak Road, which is presently closed for construction between Noble and Lower Valley roads. The project is behind schedule due to having to move poles and electric lines, and the crew anticipates opening the road Oct. 30.
Supervisors approved use of some township roads for the Oct. 16 Covered Bridge Run, formerly sponsored by Atglen Borough but now sponsored by the YMCA. Creek Road will be one way, southbound, during the event.
After some discussion, supervisors said Chris Stoltzfus at 6809 White Oak Road could keep his phone shanty on the railroad right-of-way, but move it closer to his house; referred a resident’s questions to the zoning hearing board; and signed planning mylars for Benuel Fisher.
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Monday, September 27, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Robberies worry Quarryville citizens
Quarryville Borough residents told borough council Sept. 7 they are concerned about their families and neighbors following three recent robberies in the borough, including one on East State Street during which a gun was accidentally discharged by the escaping robber.
“I could have been shot,” said 24 E. State St. resident Mike Melma, who went outside after he heard what he described as an “explosion.”
“Are we doing anything to have 24-hour police protection in the borough?” asked Melma.
Jennie Miller of 16 E. State St. said she was also concerned.
“Is this part of a group?” asked Miller.
“Police coverage is something we don’t discuss in public,” said council president Robert Landis, Jr.
Police Chief Ken Work took the residents outside of the meeting to discuss the robberies, which are under investigation.
Mayor Joy Kemper told a reporter following the meeting that borough citizens do have 24-hour police coverage and that if a borough officer is not on duty, and a citizen calls 911, the state police will quickly respond. Kemper said there are only a few hours a week the borough is not covered by its own department.
“You can have 24-hour coverage and it won’t top something like this (a robbery) happening,” said Kemper, chairman of the police committee.
“This is not a policing issue where we need more coverage,” Kemper said. “We’re talking about ways we can get this under control,” she said, referring to the robberies.
Kemper said increasing coverage would be a budgetary issue, and said she would like to remind residents a decade ago the borough was only covered by the state police.
Currently, the Quarryville Police Department, under Work’s leadership, covers four southern end municipalities within a $308,000 budget. The department has four full-time and three part-time officers.
In other police business, Work said the department had responded to 357 incidents during August, including five thefts, six warrants, seven domestic disturbances, three retail theft arrests, and a disorderly conduct arrest. He said all borough employees and council members who may be called in an emergency must attend NIMS compliance training in September.
Borough Manager Al Drayovitch said the Borough Authority is currently updating its Act 537 plan, and will soon have a document for public inspection. He anticipates presenting the new plan to council for a vote in December.
Council member John Wheatley expressed concern about three feet of water which can, he said, lay for three days around an infiltration ditch in the Quarry Ridge development. Council members said last month even though the ditch was in the master plan, they would take no action if the developer regraded the problem, which affects three properties.
Landis said if standing water does become a problem, property owners will be held responsible to prevent mosquito populations and West Nile virus. Drayovitch said he would contact the developer to ask when he plans to fix the problem.
Council and streets committee member Mike Sullenberger said he wants to keep the borough focused on making plans for a Summit Avenue improvement project next year. Landis said the project could cost the borough about $1 million, including water line replacement, storm sewer and curb work. He said the borough will make plans to help residents with financing curb and sidewalk work.
Council also acknowledged a letter from the Huffnagle Park Civic Association thanking the borough for park improvements. The association singled out Bill Lamparter, borough services manager and 20-year borough employee, for his work and problem solving.
Finally, council appointed Brett Curtis and Marc Hargraves as alternate zoning hearing board members through Dec. 31; approved a $310,637 escrow reduction for the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, which now has $3 million in escrow; and approved the first Saturday in June of 2013 to host the Lancaster County Firemen’s Association Convention and Parade.
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“I could have been shot,” said 24 E. State St. resident Mike Melma, who went outside after he heard what he described as an “explosion.”
“Are we doing anything to have 24-hour police protection in the borough?” asked Melma.
Jennie Miller of 16 E. State St. said she was also concerned.
“Is this part of a group?” asked Miller.
“Police coverage is something we don’t discuss in public,” said council president Robert Landis, Jr.
Police Chief Ken Work took the residents outside of the meeting to discuss the robberies, which are under investigation.
Mayor Joy Kemper told a reporter following the meeting that borough citizens do have 24-hour police coverage and that if a borough officer is not on duty, and a citizen calls 911, the state police will quickly respond. Kemper said there are only a few hours a week the borough is not covered by its own department.
“You can have 24-hour coverage and it won’t top something like this (a robbery) happening,” said Kemper, chairman of the police committee.
“This is not a policing issue where we need more coverage,” Kemper said. “We’re talking about ways we can get this under control,” she said, referring to the robberies.
Kemper said increasing coverage would be a budgetary issue, and said she would like to remind residents a decade ago the borough was only covered by the state police.
Currently, the Quarryville Police Department, under Work’s leadership, covers four southern end municipalities within a $308,000 budget. The department has four full-time and three part-time officers.
In other police business, Work said the department had responded to 357 incidents during August, including five thefts, six warrants, seven domestic disturbances, three retail theft arrests, and a disorderly conduct arrest. He said all borough employees and council members who may be called in an emergency must attend NIMS compliance training in September.
Borough Manager Al Drayovitch said the Borough Authority is currently updating its Act 537 plan, and will soon have a document for public inspection. He anticipates presenting the new plan to council for a vote in December.
Council member John Wheatley expressed concern about three feet of water which can, he said, lay for three days around an infiltration ditch in the Quarry Ridge development. Council members said last month even though the ditch was in the master plan, they would take no action if the developer regraded the problem, which affects three properties.
Landis said if standing water does become a problem, property owners will be held responsible to prevent mosquito populations and West Nile virus. Drayovitch said he would contact the developer to ask when he plans to fix the problem.
Council and streets committee member Mike Sullenberger said he wants to keep the borough focused on making plans for a Summit Avenue improvement project next year. Landis said the project could cost the borough about $1 million, including water line replacement, storm sewer and curb work. He said the borough will make plans to help residents with financing curb and sidewalk work.
Council also acknowledged a letter from the Huffnagle Park Civic Association thanking the borough for park improvements. The association singled out Bill Lamparter, borough services manager and 20-year borough employee, for his work and problem solving.
Finally, council appointed Brett Curtis and Marc Hargraves as alternate zoning hearing board members through Dec. 31; approved a $310,637 escrow reduction for the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, which now has $3 million in escrow; and approved the first Saturday in June of 2013 to host the Lancaster County Firemen’s Association Convention and Parade.
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Octorara teachers, board begin labor negotiations
The Octorara Area School Board and the district’s teachers union, the Octorara Area Education Association, have both chosen representation for teacher contract labor negotiations.
Brian Wallace of the Intelligencer Journal reported Sept. 13 Paul Gottlieb, a negotiator for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, will represent the OAEA. The union’s contract expires at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/288701
School board members said in a Sept. 13 work session they plan to hire York attorney Benjamin Pratt to represent the school board. Pratt, a shareholder in the CGA Law Firm, specializes in labor, employment and construction law, according to his Web site, www.benjaminlpratt.com.
In other business during the work session school board members revisited the issue of instituting a dress code for students.
School board member Brian Norris said he thinks many parents would support uniforms to avoid early morning conflicts over fashion.
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said administrators enforce a dress code but called the issue of dealing with inappropriate clothing “a daily battle.
“I tell students this is your place of employment, it’s your job and you have to come to school looking respectable,” Wilson said.
Assistant Superintendent Nancy Bishop said it is still possible for students to break a dress code with uniforms.
Board president Lisa Bowman said before instituting a dress code there would have to be a big groundswell of support from parents, with clear indicators of the reasons for instituting a code.
According to Nelson Stoltzfus of the school board’s facilities committee, the second phase of the high school renovation project is complete and workers are on phase 3, which includes classrooms. He said the new middle school roof was completed on time prior to the start of the school year.
Citizens interested in touring the high school to see renovations may meet board members at the high school at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 for a walk-through.
Homecoming activities are scheduled for this weekend and are listed on the school district’s Web site,
http://www.octorara.k12.pa.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
The school board will next meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, to act on Pratt's hiring and other agenda items.
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Brian Wallace of the Intelligencer Journal reported Sept. 13 Paul Gottlieb, a negotiator for the Pennsylvania State Education Association, will represent the OAEA. The union’s contract expires at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/288701
School board members said in a Sept. 13 work session they plan to hire York attorney Benjamin Pratt to represent the school board. Pratt, a shareholder in the CGA Law Firm, specializes in labor, employment and construction law, according to his Web site, www.benjaminlpratt.com.
In other business during the work session school board members revisited the issue of instituting a dress code for students.
School board member Brian Norris said he thinks many parents would support uniforms to avoid early morning conflicts over fashion.
Middle school Principal Elena Wilson said administrators enforce a dress code but called the issue of dealing with inappropriate clothing “a daily battle.
“I tell students this is your place of employment, it’s your job and you have to come to school looking respectable,” Wilson said.
Assistant Superintendent Nancy Bishop said it is still possible for students to break a dress code with uniforms.
Board president Lisa Bowman said before instituting a dress code there would have to be a big groundswell of support from parents, with clear indicators of the reasons for instituting a code.
According to Nelson Stoltzfus of the school board’s facilities committee, the second phase of the high school renovation project is complete and workers are on phase 3, which includes classrooms. He said the new middle school roof was completed on time prior to the start of the school year.
Citizens interested in touring the high school to see renovations may meet board members at the high school at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11 for a walk-through.
Homecoming activities are scheduled for this weekend and are listed on the school district’s Web site,
http://www.octorara.k12.pa.us/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1
The school board will next meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, to act on Pratt's hiring and other agenda items.
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