VALLEY VIEW - Hegins Township will need a new supervisor to be in place by the end of the year after Supervisor Chairman Lyle Clark announced at Monday's meeting that his term as supervisor expires Dec. 31, 2013, however, he will not be seeking a second term and announced his intent to retire at the end of this year.
"I have a letter of acceptance of my retirement for Supervisor Richards and Carl to sign tonight," Clark said. "My reason for retiring is because of health issues with both myself and my wife. I have enjoyed this job, but our health comes first."
The township will advertise for those interested in the position to submit a resume. Resumes will be accepted until Nov. 16. Applicants will be interviewed and must submit to a background check. Interviews will be conducted and an announcement of the newly appointed supervisor will be made at the Dec. 3 meeting. All resumes are to be submitted in a sealed enveloped addressed to Hegins Township Supervisors. The new supervisor will be sworn in at the January meeting. That person will then have to run in the spring election to be elected to the position.
"I want to personally take this time to thank Lyle for a good job he's done the last couple years," Supervisor Chad Richards said.
In other business, Hegins police Chief Steve Lohr gave his report, which was accepted and approved by the board of supervisors. Valley View resident Tammy Heffner questioned the chief concerning a land issue that she brought before the board last month.
Heffner reported that the survey has been complete and it was determined that she owns the land in which her neighbors who are renting property from Spickler Enterprises placed a fence and flower beds on her property. Heffner said she spoke to the neighbors who agreed to move the fence and the flower beds, however, words were exchanged and Heffner then gave the neighbors until 5 p.m. Monday to have her property restored to its original state. Heffner said the property wasn't restored and she wanted to press charges.
"I called and spoke to Sgt. Yarmush and was told that he couldn't do anything about the situation that I would need to speak to Chief Lohr," Heffner said.
Heffner also told the supervisors that the surveyor also said there is a public alley along the rental property too.
"If this is a public alley, they have stones, trees planted and they park on it. How can this be allowed if it's a public alley," questioned Heffner.
"The township doesn't own alleys or right of ways," said Supervisor Chad Richards.
"We have no rights or responsibilities toward alleys or public right of ways," said Township Solicitor David Rattigan. "The township is not giving you advice or giving you an opinion. You are asking inappropriate questions and you were told at last month's meeting this is a civil matter and you need to hire an attorney and let a judge make a decision."
Township Zoning Officer Allen Swab said he couldn't do anything about the tarps the neighbors had on the fence. He said when he read the ordinance there was nothing else he could do.
During the treasurer's report, Vernon Schlegel announced the township has received from the state a little over $101,000 for damages from the hurricane from last year.
While on the subject of announcing money received, a check was presented to Ken Graham for the firemen's relief fund in the amount of $19,484. Ken explained this is money that insurance companies must pay a percentage of to municipalities throughout the Commonwealth based on population and the area.