Maidencreek Township Board of Supervisor Meeting
October 26, 2006, 8:00 PM
Present: Roy Timpe, Robert Kopfer, Claude Beaver, Keith Shuman, Diane Hollenbach – Recording Secretary
Guests: Krista Timpe, Daniel Miller, Chris Kline, Kim Rossetti, Carl Weston, Mary Dymeck, Hether Quillman,
Walt Nott
Roy Timpe called the October 26, 2006 meeting of the Maidencreek Township Board of Supervisors to order
at 8:00 PM in the Maidencreek Township Municipal Building.
2007 Budget – General Fund
The Board agreed to include funding of $15,000 toward the improvements at Hill Road and Park Road
and $20,000 for turning arrows at Route 73 and Route 222. The municipal parking lot paving will not be
included in the 2007 budget but the Board stressed that they would like to get the Township building hooked
up to the public sewer. Installation of the storm water control at the Cornerstone bridge was discussed but not
included in the budget. Keith Shuman suggested installing the low water use toilets in the Township building.
The Board would like Mr. Shuman to investigate the high pressure flush toilets.
FIRE COMPANY DONATION
Representatives from the Blandon Fire Company were present to request an increase in funding from
$35,000 to $110,000. Fire Chief Dan Miller explained that the Fire Company has purchased all of its
equipment and constructed a building using its savings. The equipment was purchased used. The Fire
Company needs the Township's help in the future to replace the used equipment. The Board discussed the
options available to the Township to fund the Fire Company: a dedicated real estate tax, increase to the
Emergency Services Tax or increasing the Township's donation. Mr. Miller stated that the volunteers are fund
raising in addition to attending weekly mandatory training and responding to fire calls. No donations are used
for the Easter Egg Hunt or Christmas Party. These activities are paid through money earned from the carnival
and the seafood night.
Dan Miller stated that the Fire Company does not have any money to replace any equipment. The needs
in the future will be a new ladder truck, since the truck they have now is getting close to not passing
certification, and a substation on this side of the railroad tracks. Roy Timpe asked if the truck could be worked
on and more years gotten from it. Dan Miller stated that it will cost almost as much to fix a unit as it does to
purchase another one. Chief Miller explained that the ISO rating that determines the insurance rates in the
Township are dependent on several factors. One of those factors is the type of equipment that a Township
has. The ladder truck improves the Township's ISO rating. Roy Timpe questioned if the increase in the
residents insurance would be more than the tax money that they would be paying for an increased donation.
Krista Timpe suggested that the public be made aware in the newsletter that donations are dropping. Dick
Thren asked if there was any thought to consolidating fire companies or if there was any coordination of
equipment. Dan Miller stated that there is no talk of consolidation. The Board agreed to increase the
donation to $85,000 and to increase the donations of the fire and ambulance services in 2008 by 5 percent.
An insert should be included in the next newsletter that makes the public aware of the Fire Company's needs.
TOWNSHIP TRUCK REPLACEMENT
Keith Shuman, Public Works Director, stated that he would like to replace the 1995 GMC 3500. The truck
is 2 wheel drive, which is bad in the snow. It has a big block and the bed is deteriorating. The hydraulic hoist
is pushing through the back of the bed. Bob Kopfer suggested looking at used trucks. Roy Timpe suggested
looking at the Department of General Services Surplus site and wondered if the Township trucks could be
coated with the material that is used on ship's hulls to protect them from rust. No money was allocated in the
budget for a truck purchase. The Board will consider this for 2008's budget.
HUMANE SOCIETY CONTRACT
The Board agreed that they would enter into a contract with the Humane Society for animal control
services and budgeted $5000 for this expense based on the information the Humane Society provided in
regards to animal pick up and drop offs in 2006.
2007 Budget – Park and Recreation Fund
Roy Timpe questioned what the advantage of a concession stand in the Community Park would be to the
taxpayer. Decisions will have to be made in regards to if the Board agrees to have a concession stand in the
Park and if a fee is charged to use it. Mr. Timpe asked that the cost of replacing the wooden picnic table tops
with the recycled plastic be looked at.
Mr. Timpe stated that the Board has three options: cut the Park and Recreation tax, not cut the Park and
Recreation Tax or do something in between. Dick Thren stated that he is a retiree and lived in the Township
12 to 14 years and has a hard time seeing why the Board wants to decrease taxes. The Township gives
excellent snow plowing service, the residents get leaf and brush pick up and Mr. Thren added that he would
just as soon see the taxes stay the same so as not to have the Board increase the taxes by 1 mill later. Mr.
Thren asked if there has been any future analysis done as to what will be needed in the next ten years.
The Board agreed to cut the Park and Recreation tax by 1/16 of a mill which roughly equals the cost of
the amount paid toward the loan for Lot 8, which was paid off in June of 2006. Roy Timpe stated that the past
minutes reflected reducing the tax when the debt was paid off.
Mary Dymeck stated that she did not get that from reading the minutes from the meeting Roy was
referring to. Mary pointed out that the City of Reading is increasing the money they are putting to Park and
Recreation because they think it is important. Two years ago, a plan showed a Community Center that this
Board approved. This gave Park and Rec the idea that the Board was not resistant to the idea. The
Community Center would be about everybody. The past Board was thinking about this too. Mary asked the
Board to think about this because it will not just support the youth of this Township, it will support all kinds of
activities for people of various ages.
Kim Rossetti stated that the dynamic of the Township has changed significantly since 2000. There are
more kids, and the Board has to think when they say for the greater good of the Township that it isn't just the 9
percent, the widows with the guns to their heads, that live here, its everybody. Please think about everybody.
Walt Nott stated that he is a new resident with no children and commented in regard to the Park and
Recreation tax cut that the Township can pay now or pay Northern Berks Regional Police later. Mr. Nott added
that he does not tell his employer that he wants a wage cut because he is saving too much money and he
does not think that this move will fool anyone politically.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Claude Beaver asked if the Board wanted to increase the Township's donation to the ambulance. Mr.
Timpe suggested increasing it in 2008. The Board instructed that $21,250 in excess in the General Fund be
placed in the Operating Reserve Fund and that the Park and Recreation millage be decreased by .0000625.
Roy Timpe asked Chief Miller if he was satisfied with the Fire Company Donation. Chief Miller stated that the
they would make do.
Mr. Timpe brought forth his idea to place a public access computer in the lobby. The computer would
have a CD ROM based operating system. The public would be able to use the computer if their home
computer crashed. It would be visible from the office so that no one could use it for looking at porn and the
cable modem would be located in the locked office and shut off when the staff leaves for the day. Mr. Timpe
stated that the Township needs to find out if records need to be kept. The question was asked who would
teach the public to use the computer and if there would be a time limit for each session of use.
An Executive Session was held from 10:20 p.m. to 11 p.m. to discuss personnel issues.
Since there was no further business, a motion was made by Robert Kopfer to adjourn the October 26,
2006 meeting of the Maidencreek Township Board of Supervisors. All members voted, “Aye.” Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 11:00 p.m.
Diane Hollenbach
Transcribing Secretary