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[2:49] - Okay, I'd like to call the February 19th Huff Moon

[2:52] Township Board of Supervisors meeting to order all rise

[2:55] for the Pledge Allegiance.

[2:58] Pledge Allegiance to the flag

[3:00] of the United States of America,

[3:03] and to the Republic for which it stands,

[3:05] one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty

[3:09] and justice for

[3:14] all.

[3:15] I will now open public comments

[3:18] for anything not on the agenda.

[3:21] Yes,

[3:26] - Cliff Neal, and I'm here on behalf of Port Matilda EMS.

[3:30] I would like to put out to the community a reminder

[3:32] that we're dependent upon your memberships

[3:35] to help keep us running

[3:37] and we're still running around 20%

[3:39] of people returning those memberships.

[3:41] So your support would be great. Very much appreciated.

[3:44] And I'm also here to answer any questions

[3:46] that you might have for Port Matilda EMS. Yes sir. Do we

[3:50] - Use a third party for that activity

[3:53] - For billing for for memberships? Yes, we do.

[3:57] - So they should know who has responded and who has not.

[4:01] - Yes. - Why wouldn't we have an activity,

[4:04] maybe a little group effort here in the communities

[4:07] to follow up with some of those folks

[4:09] that have not responded

[4:10] to see if we can't rattle the tree a little bit?

[4:13] - Well, honestly, I've done that on social media

[4:18] and that's also one

[4:19] of the reasons I'm sitting at this table right now

[4:21] is to reach out.

[4:23] I think there's a percentage of people

[4:25] that probably will not contribute towards a membership.

[4:29] Oh, sure. And just, just so you'll know, Bruce,

[4:32] in this area, we are doing better than most

[4:34] every other EMS service.

[4:36] The average is about 13 to 14% return on membership.

[4:41] Now the, the thing that people may not be aware

[4:43] of is membership has a lot of benefits.

[4:45] Number one, if you are covered for a emergency call,

[4:50] we take your membership and insurance

[4:52] and that's all you're ever gonna see for a bill.

[4:54] If there's additional fees, they're not gonna be sent

[4:57] to the person that's a member.

[4:59] And we also offer classes, first Aid CPR, things like

[5:03] that throughout the year that are also free to members.

[5:07] So there's benefits in addition

[5:09] to helping us stay afloat. Alright. So

[5:13] - Should the EMS consider maybe that we wanted

[5:17] to retry something like I just

[5:19] suggested, I'd be willing to help.

[5:21] You know,

[5:22] - Honestly, I, I'd be willing to try anything,

[5:24] but I, I can, I've been doing this a very long time.

[5:28] Okay. And I can tell you that

[5:31] the success rate on memberships for some reason is

[5:35] not nearly as high as I think it might be.

[5:39] But that's, that's an individual decision.

[5:42] But I mean, you, you buy a family membership,

[5:44] it covers everybody in your house basically. For

[5:48] - Those of us who are members, we know the benefits.

[5:51] So one other question I had related Yes.

[5:55] I just heard on the, the news this week that

[5:58] both the fire company

[5:59] and E em EMS received an $18,000 grant.

[6:04] I assume that's a 50 50 split there.

[6:06] Was that something you were expecting or was

[6:08] - It something we applied for?

[6:10] It's, it's the fire commissioner's a grant

[6:13] and for EMS it's 15,015 EMS.

[6:16] Typically it's, it's a bit less for EMS than fire,

[6:21] but anything is welcome.

[6:23] Okay. And now that's when we, we,

[6:26] if there's a grant out there,

[6:27] our grant writer Susan person is gifted in making things

[6:31] happen and getting the applications in

[6:33] and making sure they get followed up on.

[6:35] - So you said that was 15 for the EMS? Yes.

[6:37] Was that in your budget for the year?

[6:41] - No, we can't budget it 'cause we don't know if we're gonna

[6:42] get it for certain but Got it.

[6:44] Alright. But it will, it will be included I think

[6:46] as the budget goes forward now

[6:48] and you see the reports that come out from the board

[6:51] of directors fact sheet that we put out.

[6:53] Also the municipality should be getting that. I think

[6:57] - I haven't.

[6:59] - Okay. I, again, I put that out to social media.

[7:01] I'm just waiting for a correction.

[7:02] We had on the most recent one to put it out to

[7:06] to social media sites, but that we can't budget that in

[7:11] 'cause it's not guaranteed

[7:12] until we physically get there. No, I'm

[7:14] - Just, okay, thank you.

[7:16] - Does that grant have restrictions on it?

[7:19] - They all have restrictions

[7:21] that you can't use them to pay staff.

[7:23] Okay. And unfortunately that's for us,

[7:26] that's the biggest hardship for EMS agencies is

[7:30] you can't get volunteers anymore.

[7:33] If you can, it's a rarity.

[7:35] And to pay staffing, they have

[7:37] to be physically sitting at the station if they're gonna

[7:40] respond within minutes to get to a heart attack or a stroke

[7:44] or even heavy bleeding.

[7:45] Something that requires responding in a very timely fashion.

[7:50] And none of the grants that we get allow us

[7:53] to pay salary with it.

[7:56] So I wish there was a way to do that.

[7:58] 'cause that would make life a lot better

[8:00] for all the EMS agencies across the, is

[8:02] - One of your busy, biggest expenses.

[8:04] So

[8:06] - It's why most places go under most of the smaller

[8:09] EMS services that have collapsed by financially

[8:12] and there's a lot of them in Pennsylvania

[8:15] in the last two or three years.

[8:17] It's because they can't get staffing.

[8:21] - And if I can, I know I've, we've talked about this before

[8:24] and I know I brought it up at this meeting,

[8:26] but just to help Bruce along

[8:27] 'cause you were asking about EMS and,

[8:30] and insurance payments and stuff like that.

[8:33] One thing to know that even if you are a member,

[8:35] and correct me if I'm wrong on any of this cliff,

[8:38] but if you are a member of the EMS

[8:39] and you need EMS services, you will not get a bill.

[8:42] They may bill your insurance, right? Yeah.

[8:44] Your insurance will send a reimbursement check to you,

[8:49] the person has to go and not going to the EMS.

[8:52] So it's upon individual's good faith that they've returned

[8:56] that check to the emergency services

[8:59] and that's a legislative problem.

[9:02] Am I correct in terms of

[9:03] that check from insurance not going directly

[9:05] to the emergency services, going to

[9:08] the insurance holder? That's

[9:10] - True with some, but not all insurers.

[9:12] It depends how the policy is set up.

[9:15] - Yeah. Yeah. So in some cases individuals are getting paid

[9:19] for that insurance run to the, in the ambulance

[9:23] and the money's not going to the EMS.

[9:25] - So unfortunately that's not uncommon. So yes.

[9:28] - Yes. So - Any other questions?

[9:33] - I, I believe Ron might have a question. Oh, okay.

[9:37] - Yes. Ron. Point those out - For me.

[9:40] - Is Ron and Lauren on?

[9:42] - Yes, I did have my hand up. Yes sir.

[9:45] It is not all of the insurance companies that send

[9:49] reimbursement checks to the patient.

[9:51] Some of them do send them direct to DMS

[9:54] or to whoever the services.

[9:58] I just wanted to point that out.

[9:59] - Yes, cliff did clarify that.

[10:05] - Any other questions?

[10:07] I'm not used to looking at the board,

[10:09] but I will scan over there now.

[10:11] Yeah, have to do too. I don't,

[10:13] - I do have another question if I can ask.

[10:16] - Certainly for me. - Can I ask a question?

[10:19] - Oh, of course. Yes. - Okay. What was it?

[10:27] How is your, your transport van operation?

[10:33] - It's a, it's actually making some

[10:35] significant improvements lately.

[10:37] So we are working, I'm not gonna name the facility,

[10:41] but we're working with a facility that like our service

[10:44] and they actually have contacted Jack Bonsal,

[10:48] the EMS captain to potentially get a contract.

[10:52] And we've actually picked up a number of runs.

[10:55] I was just at the station today talking to the head

[10:59] of the van service and also Jack.

[11:05] - Thank you. - Certainly.

[11:09] Other questions of any time?

[11:12] - No, thank - You. Okay. Thank you Lisa.

[11:16] - Anyone else from the public? No. Anybody online? Amy.

[11:22] Okay, great. Thank you.

[11:24] We'll close public comments and we will move on to reports.

[11:29] We'll start with authorities, boards

[11:30] and commissions reports.

[11:32] And first one up is the Open Space board.

[11:36] Last night's meeting, Mr.

[11:38] Lad came and reviewed the forecasting spreadsheet, explained

[11:42] how input data was determined and presented five, 10

[11:46] and 15 year forecast models as well as a model that showed

[11:51] what things would look like if we didn't,

[11:53] if there were no permanent Preservation pursued.

[11:57] The board determined

[11:59] that the 10 year forecast scenario was the most logical

[12:01] to use as our baseline for forecasting as we discussed

[12:06] potential properties for, for Preservation.

[12:10] And that was the main focus.

[12:11] We talked a little bit about our strategy

[12:14] and that we would work on that more

[12:15] for next month for going into the year.

[12:16] And, and then we just reviewed

[12:19] where properties were in the pipeline and channel.

[12:23] So that was it. Planning Commission.

[12:30] Amy, do you have anything for that?

[12:31] Other than what's I don't, I don't have anything

[12:33] - To add to what's there, - To what's been reported.

[12:36] Okay, thank you. And COG

[12:39] and regional committee's reports executive committee

[12:43] was just on Tuesday,

[12:45] following items were approved to be included.

[12:48] The and the February general form meeting, proclamation

[12:52] of black history month purchase of a V plow

[12:55] for the Alpha Fire Company

[12:57] and for the March general form meeting,

[12:58] they approved sending to

[13:00] or sending to general form the Meek Lane pump station

[13:04] special study and its recommendation for alternative D

[13:08] following the 30 day Public Comment period.

[13:11] So if it is approved, it will then come

[13:13] to the municipalities for approval.

[13:17] And that was the highlights of the executive committee.

[13:24] Anything Tammy, we'll just go down through.

[13:27] Tammy, do you have anything on your committees?

[13:29] - Yeah, finance, I actually wasn't able to be there.

[13:31] Patti was out of town.

[13:33] I did touch base with the committee prior to the meeting.

[13:36] Pretty much spent, was spending the meeting wrapping up some

[13:39] of the fund balance policies that they've been working on.

[13:41] So that can get to the general forum.

[13:45] And Upper Bald Eagle COG was last, what, two weeks ago now?

[13:50] I guess. Pretty quick meeting.

[13:53] Nothing, I mean we're, you know, obviously it's beginning

[13:56] of the year for budget wise, port UL EMS,

[14:01] cliff indicated not Cliff,

[14:04] but Mark indicated that you guys are pretty tight on staff,

[14:08] down on staff, but doing your best.

[14:10] So I know that's tough

[14:12] and appreciate you guys doing your best on that.

[14:16] I also wanna make note that I learned

[14:19] after our January Upper Bald Eagle COG meeting

[14:22] that it was a joint effort on behalf of our EMS

[14:26] and our fire company,

[14:27] that they saved a life over the New Years.

[14:30] So I, that is very important to make sure

[14:34] that you guys get the recognition

[14:35] and that's why we have your emergency services

[14:38] is to save those lives.

[14:39] So we appreciate that. And please extend that depreciation

[14:42] to the EMS port till the fire company banquet

[14:47] is gonna be April 18th.

[14:49] And I think they're looking to recognize their top

[14:52] volunteers from each municipality.

[14:54] Again,

[14:57] - Is that a public event, the banquet

[14:59] or is it just internal to

[15:01] - I think it's for fire company members.

[15:04] I don't, I'd have to find out.

[15:05] I'd have to ask if it's, I'm not sure. Alright.

[15:07] I don't know the answer. We have plenty

[15:08] - Of time to find out. Yeah,

[15:09] - Yeah.

[15:10] So, but yeah, April 18th on that.

[15:13] And really no discussion on the funding formula.

[15:16] We're waiting on townships to

[15:19] have their discussions and vote.

[15:21] The Borough and Houston did indicate that they did meet

[15:24] and did vote to approve the funding formula.

[15:26] So hopefully in the next couple months it'll come back to

[15:31] the COG agenda.

[15:34] And I think that's my committees.

[15:36] That's it. Bruce

[15:40] - Public Safety Committee met on the 10th.

[15:43] Three points of interest, Walt Schneider,

[15:46] the CR Codes director,

[15:49] basically nominated three candidates

[15:51] who are currently members of the Building

[15:53] and Housing Board of Appeals that are up for reelection.

[15:57] All three were carried forward to be elected. Again.

[16:01] That'll be done in the COG general forum.

[16:04] Patti did mention the V plow, the dollar amount on

[16:07] that was some $7,575 from Valley truck

[16:12] that I guess is gonna move forward.

[16:16] We don't vote on that. By the way.

[16:18] Halfmoon and Harris don't vote on those kinds of things

[16:20] because we're not covered by that group.

[16:23] There was also a rather lengthy discussion

[16:25] regarding Penn State's winter weekend, which included the

[16:30] outdoor hockey game with Michigan State.

[16:33] 54,000 fans attended there.

[16:36] A lot of lessons learned, I guess

[16:37] because there were so many concurrent activities around town

[16:40] and in on campus.

[16:42] Notably the parking, apparently things went very well in

[16:45] terms of shuttling folks from paved parking lots all over

[16:48] the, the, the region there.

[16:52] This is the, the outdoor activity at Beaver Stadium.

[16:56] That's not the right term anymore.

[16:58] I'm sorry I can't remember the real name.

[16:59] Anyway, all across the Big 10, this is what's happening now.

[17:05] So we're entering a new paradigm in terms of how

[17:08] non-football events are being scheduled there.

[17:10] So they're planning to benchmark the best practices.

[17:14] So that was that.

[17:17] I also attended the Centre County MPO,

[17:21] Metro Metropolitan Planning Organization

[17:23] Technical Committee.

[17:25] This is a very, very complex group and,

[17:28] and they attend to an awful lot of business.

[17:31] So I asked the public to bear with me

[17:32] as I get up to speed on this.

[17:35] The meeting was nearly two hours long.

[17:38] I guess the highlights there, there was a,

[17:40] a Cass Consent Agenda approved, which included a bunch

[17:44] of reports and of course the

[17:45] minutes from the previous meeting.

[17:47] Kevin James, the project manager, SCAC project manager,

[17:51] provided an update on the connector project.

[17:53] That's of great interest.

[17:54] I guess countywide obviously since we're all impacted by

[17:57] that two lane 3 22 situation where it stands right now.

[18:03] The plan is that final draft.

[18:05] I'll have a 30 day Public Comment through April and May.

[18:09] There's also a transit technical, I'm sorry,

[18:15] a transit piece to that for about 36 million.

[18:18] The overall connector project's about 250 million

[18:20] spanning a four year plan.

[18:22] Mr. Sailor presented the annual committee work plan status.

[18:26] This is all the other projects that are happening.

[18:29] It's based on the original 2023 strategic plan,

[18:32] which gets rolled every two years.

[18:36] I, it was basically just a lot of updates there.

[18:39] Marcel Hoffman from the staff gave a number

[18:41] of other updates on projects.

[18:43] About $11 million worth of budget there.

[18:47] 1.6 million has been awarded grants.

[18:50] And 9.1 more pending.

[18:53] These are planning and implement implementation support,

[18:56] safety planning, resilience planning,

[18:57] safety technology implementation.

[19:02] There was a vote on, it's a unanimous vote.

[19:05] Eight by the way. 18 voting members on this committee.

[19:08] Unanimous vote for an engineering study

[19:11] for the top of the mountain.

[19:12] The port mountaintop Route 3 22.

[19:15] There's a pull off for trucks being proposed there.

[19:18] Like this is on the downhill sign.

[19:19] So before those trucks come roaring down into Port Matilda,

[19:22] they won't have a pull off their mandatory thing I guess.

[19:25] So they know like they have on Seven Mountain.

[19:28] Yes, I, well I assume that's the case similar to that.

[19:30] Okay, yeah, that makes sense.

[19:32] So there's a $360,000 we proceed,

[19:35] we approve the engineering study at 360,000.

[19:39] Also very lengthy committee discussion.

[19:41] Discussion regarding proposal

[19:42] to restructure the whole technical committee,

[19:45] which would reduce the number

[19:46] of voting members anywhere down to anywhere from

[19:49] between six and 11.

[19:51] I don't fully understand all those workings yet.

[19:53] Couple announcements of note, there were many.

[19:58] The staff are once again planning

[19:59] to offer an updated session of MPO 1 0 1 to new members,

[20:04] partner agency staffs, other regional decision makers,

[20:07] interested parties and such.

[20:09] This is slated for Monday, March 16th.

[20:12] I'll try to attend that one.

[20:14] It's really on, focused on the MPO basics,

[20:17] the organizational history and structure.

[20:20] What are the federally required processes

[20:22] and documents and so forth.

[20:24] Also of note, on Monday, the 30th of March,

[20:26] the committee will be hosting its first ever transportation

[20:29] grant workshop.

[20:31] It will cover what makes a, an application competitive, how

[20:34] to align projects with plans

[20:36] and data build realistic project, the scope

[20:40] and budget and so forth.

[20:42] Registration's required for that.

[20:43] I haven't checked my calendar yet,

[20:44] but I'll try to attend that one as well. Sorry for

[20:46] - The length that happened.

[20:47] Thank you.

[20:53] Let's see. Lauren, do you have any updates

[20:56] other than what's in your reports?

[21:00] - I do. I attended the February 6th Lucy meeting

[21:05] and kind of redundant, HRG

[21:09] engineering did present the Meeks Lane pump station upgrade,

[21:12] which you've me mentioned.

[21:14] And there was that choice that they made.

[21:17] And it was primarily to limited

[21:22] to one pump station using gravity flow based connectors

[21:27] routes to minimize the need for backup infrastructure.

[21:30] On that project, we have Neil

[21:33] Sullivan from Penn State University provide a presentation

[21:36] on a proposed 60 acre expansion

[21:39] to the A RL at PSU Innovation Park.

[21:43] And this proposal is asking

[21:44] for regional growth boundary extension

[21:46] with UAJA providing sewer service

[21:50] to accommodate future growth

[21:51] and development at Innovation Park.

[21:54] A DRI report was presented

[21:56] and the Lucy members were asked for comments.

[22:00] It was noted that the university could not find adequate

[22:04] acreage, continuous acreage within the existing growth

[22:07] boundary to meet their needs.

[22:09] The committee postponed making the motion

[22:12] to forward a recommendation for this project's DRI

[22:15] to the general Forum pending more specific information on

[22:18] why the university couldn't accomplish its goals within the

[22:22] existing growth boundaries.

[22:25] The committee will review additional information

[22:28] at our meeting in March.

[22:30] The last topic was a quick review

[22:32] of the Centre Region Sustainability trends

[22:35] included were climate trends, weather related power outages,

[22:38] energy consumption patterns, energy sources,

[22:42] and renewable energy development.

[22:45] And just a final note, there was a review

[22:47] of the lands within the regional growth growth boundary

[22:51] and the total lands available currently is 3,321 acres

[22:55] with 1,723 acres already approved for development,

[23:00] allowing for a potential of 7,046 units.

[23:04] There's 1,598 acres of vacant land available, allowing

[23:09] for an additional 7,300 units.

[23:11] And there's 63.6 acres

[23:14] for non-residential use is available

[23:17] yet within the growth boundary.

[23:19] And that sums that one up.

[23:23] I can get back to Spring

[23:28] Creek Water shed.

[23:32] That was a reorganization meeting.

[23:35] They did a nice presentation

[23:37] to three new members on that board.

[23:42] The cleanup last year was really effective.

[23:44] They listed a number of

[23:49] thousands of pounds of trash

[23:50] that was picked up in that project.

[23:55] The new project for 2026 is Two Deck Park

[23:58] is got a regenerative storm water project

[24:01] that fishing boat is working on providing a grant as well

[24:05] as there's some other contributors to that project.

[24:08] And apparently there's a stream that runs through the park

[24:10] that collects water currently and it's pretty well run down

[24:13] and dilapidated and it's causing water

[24:15] to go places they don't want it to.

[24:17] So they're gonna start possibly in July of cleaning up

[24:22] that stream bed, putting in water diversions

[24:24] or water calming control tools

[24:28] and ease storm water impacts for that runout area

[24:34] 4 0 2 of 26.

[24:38] So about April 2nd is the third to annual watershed event.

[24:42] And on the 18th of April is the planned watershed cleanup

[24:48] day at 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

[24:51] and our next meeting is the

[24:53] 18th of March. That's all I have.

[24:56] - Okay, thank you. And we just have anything from the,

[25:01] I think Ron has Oh, oh, okay.

[25:03] I was just gonna check with Karen

[25:04] yet on the c board of directors.

[25:06] Okay. Ron, did you have a question on,

[25:10] - I did, I had a question with regard to,

[25:12] I heard it mentioned twice regard

[25:14] to the Meets Lane pumping station that has to do with UAA.

[25:20] Did they, in any of those discussions,

[25:22] did they mention anything about increasing capacity

[25:30] - In terms of including Halfmoon Township

[25:33] or potential future growth in the Township?

[25:35] - Yeah, that's, yeah, we had this discussion in 2024

[25:39] and UAJ at that time basically pulled any plans to increase

[25:44] the capacity of that station.

[25:47] So I'm just wondering if, if they have changed their minds

[25:51] or if any, any change has occurred with regard to that.

[25:54] - No, the, the current plan for the Meeks Lane

[25:58] upgrade does not include any growth

[26:01] that may happen at Halfmoon Township.

[26:04] - Okay. Thank you. - That was pointed out.

[26:06] - Thank you. - You're welcome. Okay.

[26:10] - Do we have anything for the CA board of directors?

[26:16] Is that so, Karen? Okay.

[26:21] - No, I, I didn't make the January meeting so

[26:25] there isn't anything until the next meeting.

[26:27] - Great. Okay. Thank you Karen.

[26:29] - Sure. - All right.

[26:30] And now we have staff reports

[26:34] and we have written reports with a new structure

[26:38] and content, which I think will

[26:40] provide more overall information about what's going going on

[26:43] with, with staff.

[26:45] And Amy, you have the secretary report.

[26:50] Is there anything you wanna highlight on that?

[26:55] There's nothing, no,

[26:56] unless somebody, anybody had a question.

[26:58] Okay. So we had different things that went on in the office

[27:01] for the last month.

[27:03] Great, appreciate that.

[27:06] And treasurer report. Brett,

[27:11] - Nothing of real importance.

[27:12] It's your typical year end

[27:14] W twos 10 90 nines getting ready for the new tax season.

[27:17] - Okay, thanks.

[27:19] And I know you provided a lot of data on there too with

[27:22] what was going on with the budgets

[27:23] and things so appreciated.

[27:25] And we have our Roadmaster report.

[27:28] - I didn't have anything to add as far as from

[27:31] what was written, but certainly

[27:33] happy to answer any questions.

[27:35] - Okay. If there's no, we just appreciate all the work you

[27:38] and your staff did with all the snow that came down.

[27:43] - We'll see what we continue to get.

[27:44] So thank you. Finish out the winter.

[27:46] - Yeah, and I appreciate the change in everybody's reports.

[27:48] They're more concise, more thorough, more information.

[27:52] I really appreciate that. Thank you. Well,

[27:56] - Alright, so we will move on to the Consent Agenda.

[28:01] We have three items on the Consent Agenda this month.

[28:03] One is the approval of minutes, February bills list,

[28:06] and the appointment of Dan Truax

[28:08] as a seasonal Public Works laborer is,

[28:13] does anyone want to pull any of those

[28:16] - Mad chair?

[28:17] I would like to pull CA three from the Consent Agenda.

[28:22] - Okay. Do we vote on that or do, is it just happen?

[28:30] - I think, will we vote on the rest

[28:31] of the Consent Agenda then?

[28:33] - Yeah, I guess we vote on the re rest

[28:35] and then we'll vote on this one separate.

[28:36] That's what you're looking for, correct, Ron?

[28:38] - Yes. Okay. Yeah, I want discussion on it.

[28:41] - Okay, that's fine. Okay.

[28:45] So we will, does somebody wanna make a motion eliminating

[28:48] ca three when you read it?

[28:51] - I move that the board of Supervisors approve items CA one

[28:54] and CA two as listed on the February 19th, 2026

[28:58] Consent Agenda.

[29:01] - I'll second that. - I'll

[29:03] - Second.

[29:04] Okay. Okay. Thank you. Are there any comments?

[29:10] Okay, all those in favor please say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye.

[29:14] Any opposed? Okay, now we will look at ca three.

[29:20] Yes. And we'll go ahead and start with you Ron.

[29:24] - Well I just had a concern that I know there was

[29:28] been experience in the past that

[29:31] about the availability of Mr.

[29:32] Truax and I just wanted to make sure that this is something

[29:37] that was thoroughly vetted and,

[29:40] and that we can actually depend on this person to,

[29:45] to be available.

[29:48] That was my main concern. Alright,

[29:50] - Mr.

[29:51] Beck, would you like to respond?

[29:53] - I mean, I can't speak to his, his maximum availability

[29:58] as he does also work for Warrior's Mark Township,

[30:02] but he did express interest in, in helping us

[30:07] as much as he could.

[30:08] I'm not sure exactly what that means,

[30:12] but he did express interest in providing help to us.

[30:15] - What types of things do you generally

[30:19] - He's more helped with some traffic control

[30:22] and kind of small projects.

[30:26] - So just there hopefully available when you need

[30:31] little support on things. So not a major, he

[30:33] - Helped with our riff wrap event, things like that.

[30:35] Okay. Yeah, just as an as needed basis.

[30:39] - Okay. - Any, so I would like to ask one question.

[30:45] I, I assume then that you, you don't have

[30:48] to depend on Dan

[30:50] for your court work that you have to complete.

[30:53] - That is correct. - Okay, thank you.

[30:58] - Okay. - Any comments from anyone else? Any questions?

[31:04] Okay. Would someone like to make a motion?

[31:09] - I move to approve Consent Agenda item three.

[31:17] - Okay. And second. Second. Second. Okay. Thank you Bruce.

[31:21] All those in favor please say aye. Aye.

[31:24] - Aye. Aye. - Any opposed? Okay.

[31:29] Motion approved. We'll move on

[31:32] to number 6 20 25 0 5 house

[31:37] self storage land development plan.

[31:39] And we have a narrative there about what is being asked.

[31:44] Ms. Smith, do you have any, would you like

[31:46] to summarize or add anything?

[31:48] I, I don't have anything to add

[31:51] the I the motions are as the Planning Commission

[31:55] after their review

[31:56] and approval, that is what they recommend as well as staff.

[32:00] So we have two motions and we will do those each separately.

[32:03] So I'll take a motion

[32:06] and a second if we get it then we'll have

[32:08] open any public discussion and then have board discussion.

[32:13] So would someone like to move the first motion?

[32:16] - Sure. I move that the board

[32:18] of Supervisors approve the waiver request

[32:20] to permit consolidation of the preliminary

[32:23] and final plan submission

[32:25] and review processes into a single final plan.

[32:27] Submission and review.

[32:30] - Second. - Second. Alright.

[32:32] And I'll, oh, since we have a motion on the table,

[32:36] I'll ask if there's any Public Comment.

[32:40] Okay. None. And we'll go through.

[32:45] Does any of the, do any of the board members, we'll start

[32:48] with Bruce, any questions or comments Bruce, on this one?

[32:51] No. Tammy?

[32:53] - No. Do we have someone here that's representing? Okay.

[32:55] Yes. And I probably should have asked this last time you

[32:58] guys were in, and this, this doesn't really impact this,

[33:00] but there's gonna be obviously additional lighting included

[33:06] I assume with the addition of buildings.

[33:08] Yes. And is there plans to try to mitigate that lighting

[33:13] and you know, try not to have light pollution

[33:15] and shining down versus out type of stuff?

[33:19] - Yeah, we filed in our plan revision

[33:22] a lighting plan which shows distribution

[33:26] and guards were put up to project,

[33:28] keep the projection from leaving the site.

[33:30] - Okay. 'cause I know there's homes around there

[33:32] and you know, certainly

[33:34] - Just a question on that,

[33:35] since the use is probably very intermittent, wouldn't

[33:39] that lighting maybe be tied into motion so that Yeah.

[33:43] Yeah. So that when nobody's there lights are off then Great.

[33:47] - Okay. Are there any lights on full-time now?

[33:49] I'm trying to remember

[33:51] - On the existing development very, if there are,

[33:54] there's maybe one

[33:55] - Or two.

[33:56] Okay. And with the new,

[33:57] would there be any lights on full time

[33:59] that are not motioned?

[34:00] No. Okay. Excellent. Okay, great. Thanks.

[34:04] - Okay, anything else, Lauren? Any comments or questions?

[34:08] - No, this is a pretty standard thing through our Zoning

[34:13] hearing process to be able to combine both preliminary

[34:17] and the final plan submission reviews just

[34:20] to further things along if there weren't any major

[34:24] objections or complications

[34:27] that the Planning Commission might have found.

[34:29] So I'm good with it. Thank

[34:31] - You.

[34:32] Okay. Thank you Ron.

[34:34] - This looks to me like the next step in the process.

[34:36] Okay. So I'm Okay.

[34:38] - Alright. And if we're good.

[34:41] Okay then I will say all those in favor

[34:44] of the motion on the table please signify by saying aye.

[34:48] Aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Okay. Any opposed?

[34:52] Okay, thank you. We'll repeat the process

[34:54] with the next motion somebody would like to make that

[34:59] - I will move to that.

[35:01] The board of Supervisors approve the house self storage,

[35:03] land development plan, the following conditions, approval

[35:06] of the Erosion Soil Plan

[35:08] and N-P-D-E-S permit

[35:10] by the Centre County Conservation District

[35:12] and the resolution of all outstanding staff comments.

[35:16] - Okay, - I'll second.

[35:18] - Second. Alright. Any public comments?

[35:24] - Excuse me. - Okay.

[35:27] No public comments, any comments by the board?

[35:33] Okay. Not seeing anything. Okay.

[35:36] All those in favor please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye.

[35:39] - Aye. Aye. - Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Motion passed.

[35:44] We'll move on to number seven.

[35:48] Resolution 20 26 12 Halfmoon acres component three

[35:51] sewage planning module.

[35:54] Amy, again, do you have any additions

[35:56] or any comments on this one?

[35:58] I do not. Thank you. Okay, then I will

[36:03] entertain a motion to get this on the table for discussion.

[36:08] - I'll move that the board of Supervisors approve resolution

[36:10] 26 12 to forward the component three sewage planning module

[36:14] for submission to the Department

[36:16] of Environmental Protection for review. Second.

[36:21] - Second. Alright.

[36:23] Any public open Public Comment on this motion?

[36:28] - And again, for clarification,

[36:29] this is just a step on the process, right?

[36:31] Yes. This is not an approval

[36:33] or denial of anything,

[36:34] it's just a step in the process

[36:35] that we have to go through. Correct.

[36:36] - Okay. Any supervisor comments or questions on this one?

[36:44] No. Yes, Ron?

[36:46] - I would just like to repeat that this is,

[36:48] we're basically passing it on to

[36:53] DEP for, for their review and their process.

[36:56] It's not us approving it.

[36:58] - Correct. Okay. Thank you. Anybody else?

[37:03] Okay. Alright, all those in favor, please say aye. Aye. Aye.

[37:08] Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Motion pass.

[37:13] Thank you. Number eight, appoint representative

[37:17] to Center area Cable Consortium, CACC.

[37:22] And Amy, you have it in here.

[37:24] This is a consortium that's just convened every

[37:28] so often when they have major contract or,

[37:31] or something needs updated.

[37:32] It's not an ongoing committee, right? Correct.

[37:35] It's there for a purpose and then it ends

[37:37] and comes back a few years later and it needs to, yes.

[37:39] Okay. I know

[37:41] 'cause I, I did serve on the last one

[37:43] that was up a few years ago when they did the

[37:45] Xfinity contract.

[37:48] I would be willing to serve again,

[37:49] however, if anybody else has an interest in doing that,

[37:52] that's fine also.

[37:55] Yes, Ron?

[37:57] - Well, I'd be willing to, this is something

[38:01] that only happens periodically, is that correct?

[38:03] - Correct. - Well, I'd be willing to serve on it then.

[38:07] - Okay. Thank you. So

[38:12] we could have a motion.

[38:14] - I move to a appoint supervisor velo to serve

[38:17] as the Center area Cable Consortium representative.

[38:21] - I'll second. I'll second. - Okay. Pick one.

[38:26] - Okay. All right. All those in favor please say aye. Aye.

[38:30] Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Okay. Thank

[38:35] - You Ron.

[38:37] - Motion passes. Open Space Preservation program

[38:42] funding request for solicitor services

[38:46] last night at the meeting

[38:48] or No, we have two

[38:52] Properties currently in the queue that

[38:56] we have committed funds to partner agencies to preserve them

[39:00] and they both had taken out advanced lease payments when

[39:03] they entered the lease program.

[39:04] So we need a process

[39:06] and the proper legal documentation so

[39:09] that we can recoup those funds when the,

[39:14] when the properties close on the settlement.

[39:16] So we have to have that set up so

[39:19] that we're recouping those advanced payments at

[39:21] the time of settlement.

[39:23] So what the Open Space board is asking for is permission

[39:26] to spend legal, to spend money

[39:30] for legal advice

[39:31] and documents out of the Open Space fund for this purpose.

[39:38] So again, we will entertain a motion

[39:41] and then go to public and board comment.

[39:46] - I'll move to approve the request

[39:47] to spend Open Space Preservation program funds

[39:49] and direct the solicitor

[39:51] to prepare a legally binding repayment agreement.

[39:55] - Okay. - I'll second

[39:57] - I'll Okay.

[39:59] And now I will open Public Comment.

[40:03] - Okay. - Seeing none, we'll go round.

[40:07] Tammy, you made the motion? Any comments?

[40:11] - No, I, it seems pretty straightforward to

[40:13] - Me.

[40:14] Okay. Thank you Bruce.

[40:15] - None. Thanks. - Okay, Ron,

[40:20] - Is this, do we have any idea of how extensive the work is?

[40:25] - We do not, we're hoping not vary, but,

[40:30] - Okay.

[40:31] This is to correct language or, or

[40:34] - No, - Tom better make it legal to, to

[40:40] collect the advance payments in the event that,

[40:44] that you have a buyout? No.

[40:46] - Is that what it is? We have, we have nothing in place

[40:48] that tells, that shows the proper process to get

[40:53] that money back at closing.

[40:54] Like we have to know what the process is and then,

[40:58] and then have the documents for the landowner to sign

[41:01] that this money will be paid back

[41:04] and then just potentially like a lien or something on that.

[41:07] So to ensure that we get those funds back at closing.

[41:11] So it's, it's the process

[41:13] and the documents involved in order for us

[41:16] to get our funds back.

[41:18] - So we didn't have that before now? No, we, we

[41:20] - Don't have, we've never encountered this before

[41:22] because we're just starting into the per permanent

[41:25] Preservation and we've never

[41:29] - Okay.

[41:30] - Had that. Yeah, the,

[41:32] because Joanne Fisher, when we did her property,

[41:34] she had not taken an advance payment, so we didn't have

[41:37] to go through this process.

[41:39] But the, the two, they're in the queue now.

[41:42] Sam Gray and the monds, they,

[41:45] the owners had taken an advance payment.

[41:47] So we have want to get this worked out

[41:49] and we'll have more probably.

[41:53] So that's where we're at. Any other comments, Lauren?

[41:58] No, I'm good with it. Okay then all those in favor please

[42:02] signify by saying aye a Aye aye.

[42:05] Aye. Any opposed? Okay, thank you. Motion passes.

[42:11] Strategic plan proposal approval.

[42:15] You can, if you've seen up there, the, the board

[42:17] of Supervisors, it's been going on five years

[42:21] that we've done any strategic planning work

[42:24] and we have a proposal submitted by Mr.

[42:28] Plucka who has done two previous sessions for us

[42:32] and we sent out a request for a proposal

[42:34] and he sent us a detailed proposal back

[42:39] and that was linked in.

[42:42] So this is something we've been

[42:45] talking about and working for.

[42:46] So we will, I'll entertain a motion

[42:49] and then we will do discussion.

[42:55] - I'll move to approve the strategic plan

[42:58] proposal provided by Mr.

[42:59] Dave Buca not to exceed $10,000.

[43:03] - Okay. Is there a second? I'll second.

[43:08] Okay, thank you. And I will now open Public Comment.

[43:15] Okay. Seeing no Public Comment online.

[43:18] Alright, go down. I'll start with Tammy.

[43:23] You made the motion.

[43:27] - I I don't have any additional comments.

[43:28] I mean it's strategic planning has,

[43:31] is long overdue for the Township.

[43:34] That's been obvious in many different situations.

[43:37] So I think the plan that Mr.

[43:39] Buca has laid out is very clear and concise.

[43:46] - Thank you Bruce.

[43:48] - One question, one comment question being

[43:52] how do we feel about this level, this $10,000?

[43:55] Is this possibly excessive?

[43:57] We have nothing else to compare it to.

[44:00] No other bids In our discussions today,

[44:04] Brett indicated this is coming out of unencumbered

[44:07] and we're already exceeding budgeted amounts

[44:11] for unencumbered or will be with what we've kind

[44:14] of already put in that bucket.

[44:16] That's, it's a question. It's not really a criticism.

[44:19] I'm just putting it out there

[44:21] and should we maybe have another bid?

[44:25] - Okay. Thank you Brett.

[44:28] I think we are covered though, right?

[44:29] With if we stand under this amount

[44:32] - Yeah, you you don't have to except

[44:34] that if it's technically by

[44:36] - Law know. Right.

[44:37] - And the 10,000 will come out of un uncovered.

[44:39] There were some unforeseen things that happened once,

[44:43] this was some semi plan for that caused un uncovered

[44:47] to be used up earlier than typical.

[44:50] But as we go on with the year,

[44:52] we can make adjustments as we need.

[44:53] The, the 10,000 won't hinder us one way or the other.

[44:56] - Okay, thank you. - I do have one comment though too.

[45:03] In the proposal, we are expressly excluding any form

[45:06] of public participation, Public Comment.

[45:09] That's the way it's written. I, my understanding

[45:11] after speaking with Amy is that's actually in accordance

[45:14] with the specification that we gave them,

[45:15] which I did not know earlier.

[45:17] But I personally, I would like to see that we include

[45:21] public input to this process by whatever means.

[45:25] And maybe that needs to be discussed now, whether

[45:27] or not that has any bearing on the proposal, maybe

[45:32] that's a question too.

[45:33] I'm sure he can shuffle his buckets and dollars

[45:37] and whatever to still not exceed the 10,000,

[45:39] but include some phase

[45:41] of Public Comment if we agree to do that.

[45:44] - Okay, thank you. Let's see, we'll go to Lauren.

[45:50] - I'd just like to add that, you know, all the previous

[45:54] strategic plan meetings were open to the public

[45:58] and from my understanding there was never any

[46:00] public participation.

[46:03] The last one was at the COG building,

[46:05] but this is an open meeting.

[46:06] Anybody from the Township,

[46:08] any resident is welcome to attend.

[46:12] So I just wanted to make that point clear as well for Bruce

[46:15] that it's not a closed meeting, it's not a a

[46:21] executive meeting, but this is will be open

[46:25] and anybody from the community that wants to attend

[46:27] and put their input in while we're discussing

[46:30] the various topics that will be on the meeting are welcome

[46:34] to come and participate.

[46:39] - Okay. And Ron?

[46:43] - Well, as I understand this process, I read the,

[46:46] the proposal I don't see in there where

[46:51] the board sits in a meeting

[46:54] and debates some of the issues, the planning issues

[46:58] that each of us would come up with as individuals.

[47:01] And I think it is important

[47:02] that rather than just have interviews independently,

[47:06] individually, that we also partake in a review or a,

[47:10] or a discussion of those same points that we come up with.

[47:14] But I think it is important that, that we

[47:18] have the opportunity to debate those points

[47:21] or discuss those points in, in an actual, you know,

[47:24] in a meeting as a group

[47:25] and not just in individual interviews.

[47:28] So I I I, and maybe that's in there and I didn't see it,

[47:31] but I wanted to be sure that we had a discussion, you know,

[47:35] on those points once we have a draft

[47:38] of each person's opinions, I don't know

[47:41] how the interview is gonna take place,

[47:42] but I, I've been part of these before.

[47:45] I just wanna make sure that we as a group of Supervisors to,

[47:49] to discuss those points that we end up with at some point.

[47:53] - Okay, thank you. Yeah, it, it's my understanding

[47:56] and based on how he's run them in the past

[47:59] and from what I've read, he will be talking to staff

[48:02] and he'll be talking to the Supervisors,

[48:04] but he's gathering the, the data

[48:06] and he's preparing for the session.

[48:07] That mostly likely will be an all day session here.

[48:11] And that is where we will be discussing and prioritizing

[48:14] and bringing all that information together.

[48:18] So yes, there, there will be what you're asking for

[48:21] and I think it's a very necessary part of everything.

[48:25] - Alright, thanks. - Yes.

[48:28] And there will be like, like Lauren said, the,

[48:30] the meeting is open to the public to, to observe

[48:34] and also when we have the strategic, the draft

[48:37] of the strategic plan, we will be presenting

[48:39] it during a meeting.

[48:41] We will present, we'll take input

[48:42] and feedback from the public, then we will make any updates

[48:47] that are needed and we will approve.

[48:48] Plus then once we use that strategic plan,

[48:51] we will be using it to then pull items onto our agenda

[48:55] based on what's on the strategic plan for out for one year

[48:59] or two years, you know, up to potentially five years.

[49:02] So then the public then has also,

[49:05] when those items appear on the agenda,

[49:07] it'll just be like everything else.

[49:08] You'll have Public Comment and, and feedback then.

[49:12] So there will be multiple opportunities for public to

[49:17] review, see, and participate.

[49:21] So that's anything else from the board on

[49:25] that subject?

[49:28] Okay. Then all those in favor please signify by saying aye.

[49:32] Aye. Aye. Aye. Any opposed?

[49:37] Did Ron Vo? He did. Okay. I didn't hear, let start call.

[49:40] Oh, okay. Okay. Wanted to make sure I got 'em.

[49:43] Okay. Alright. I

[49:45] - Can't, I can't work the microphone fast enough.

[49:49] - Alright, thanks. Alright.

[49:51] I don't, I will accept a motion to Adjourn. So moved.

[49:56] - Second. Second. - Don't have Chuck to second. Okay.

[50:00] Meeting adjourned. Thank you.

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2/19/26 Halfmoon Township Board of Supervisors

Agenda

Transcript