The Scott Township Board of Supervisors met on the above date in the Municipal Building, 350 Tenny Street
(Espy), Bloomsburg, PA. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance
to the Flag. In attendance were Supervisors Paul R. Eyerly IV, Frederick D. Ackerman, Jr., William G. Hafner,
Lanny R. Sheehan and Dennis N. Wildt. Solicitor Anthony J. McDonald from Marinos, McDonald & Knecht LLP,
Police Chief Raymond J. Klingler, Maintenance Supervisor Mark J. Koons, and Secretary/Treasurer Brittany M.
Stasik were also in attendance.
QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE
None appearing
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the September 20, 2017 meeting were presented for approval. Mr. Wildt made a motion to approve
the minutes as presented. Mr. Hafner seconded the motion, which carried 5-0.
APPROVAL OF MONTHLY REPORTS
The September Budget, Police, Roads, Treasurer’s, Zoning, and Tri-County COG IBC Inspection Service Reports
were presented for approval. Mr. Sheehan made a motion to approve the reports as presented. Mr. Ackerman
seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
APPROVAL OF BILLS TO BE PAID
The General Fund bills to be paid were presented as one transfer of electronic funds and check numbers
14737—14780 for $128,019.84. In addition, Liquid Fuels Fund bills to be paid were presented as check numbers
1675—1676 for $1,466.97. Mr. Ackerman made a motion to approve the bills to be paid, totaling $129,486.81.
Mr. Wildt seconded and the motion carried 4-0, with Mr. Eyerly abstaining due to a conflict of interest regarding
the Press Enterprise payment, check number 14768.
SUBDIVISION & LAND DEVELOPMENT
Regarding the Robert C., Jr. & Patricia A. Christiansen Minor Subdivision Plan, Ted Oman, PLS, of Ted L. Oman &
Associates, Inc., was present to represent the applicant. This parcel is located on the south side of Old Berwick
Road, near the boundary line with South Centre Township. The purpose of the Subdivision Plan is to divide one
2.676-acre lot into two lots of nearly equal size. Township Engineer Todd Pysher of Pysher & Associates, Inc.,
reviewed the plan in a letter dated September 12, 2017, and recommended approval with the condition that the
applicant must obtain sewage planning approval from PA DEP. The County Planning Commission reviewed the
Plan. The Township Planning Commission reviewed the Plan and recommended approval with the condition as
advised by Mr. Pysher. Mr. Eyerly made a motion to approve the Minor Subdivision Plan with the condition that
the applicant obtain sewage planning approval from PA DEP. Mr. Ackerman seconded and the motion carried 5-
0.
OLD BUSINESS
Regarding the flood buyout program, Mr. Eyerly stated one of the requirements to qualify is for the property to
be located within the 100-year floodplain. Another qualifier is the applicant’s income. The program is designed
for low to moderate income homeowners. The Board directed Ms. Stasik to contact the seven applicants with
homes within the 100-year floodplain to determine if their income fell within the guidelines.
Regarding the municipal building roof repair, Mr. Koons stated Mr. Patrick Brady of B&R Roofing & Contracting,
Inc., provided a quote of $8,673.00, with a 5-year warranty on material and labor. Mr. Wildt made a motion to
accept the quote from B&R Roofing. Mr. Sheehan seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
Regarding the agreement that Township Engineer Todd Pysher, of Pysher & Associates, Inc., provided for
developers to sign, Mr. Eyerly stated he made some minor changes to it and is waiting for a response from Mr.
Pysher. The Board tabled this.
Regarding the Fire Hydrant Tax, the Board tabled this until the 2018 Budget agenda item.
NEW BUSINESS
Regarding the Berkheimer Resolution, Mr. Eyerly stated he suggested some changes and has not gotten a
response from Berkheimer as to whether they accept the changes. This was tabled until the November meeting.
Mr. Sheehan made a motion to adjourn into an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters relating to the
2018 Budget. Mr. Ackerman seconded and the motion carried 5-0. Executive Session began at 6:55 p.m., and the
Board reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
Mr. Eyerly outlined the proposed pay increases. Mr. Sheehan made a motion to discuss the increases and Mr.
Wildt seconded. The motion carried 5-0.
Regarding Mr. Koon’s 2018 pay rate, Mr. Eyerly suggested a 4% pay increase, based on the fact that he would
like to honor the arrangement made by a prior Board with Mr. Koons regarding not receiving higher pay
increases than the majority of employees. Mr. Sheehan made a motion to give Mr. Koons a 5% pay increase. Mr.
Wildt seconded and the motion carried 4-1, with Mr. Eyerly dissenting.
Regarding Chief Klingler’s 2018 pay rate, Mr. Sheehan made a motion to increase the Chief’s salary by $3,000,
and to approve a 4% increase for 2018. Mr. Hafner seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
Regarding Mr. Douglas Kashner’s 2018 increase, Mr. Sheehan made a motion to authorize a 12% hourly pay
increase for 2018. Mr. Wildt seconded and the motion carried 5-0.
Regarding the Maintenance Department 2018 pay rate for a part-time worker, Mr. Wildt made a motion to
approve a 12% hourly increase. Mr. Sheehan seconded the motion, which carried 5-0.
Regarding Ms. Lorraine Loreman’s 2018 pay rate, Mr. Hafner made a motion to approve a 4% hourly increase.
Mr. Ackerman seconded and the motion carried 4-0.
Regarding Ms. Stasik’s pay rate, Mr. Wildt made a motion to authorize a 4% pay increase for 2018, with a
retroactive pay increase of 3% for 2017. Mr. Hafner seconded the motion, which carried 5-0.
Regarding the 2018 Preliminary Budget, Ms. Stasik outlined the changes made to Draft E. The total expenses
listed is $1,477,500.00. This would leave a deficit of $42,966.00. This version includes a Real Estate Tax increase
of .57 mills. Ms. Stasik outlined the decreases in some line items on Draft E as compared to earlier drafts.
Mr. McDonald left the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
Because a police vehicle was purchased in both 2015 and 2016, rather than every other year as is typically done,
Mr. Eyerly stated an earlier version eliminated the $17,500 budgeted annually for police vehicles. Mr. Wildt
asked about the condition of the present vehicles and whether a new vehicle would be needed in 2018. Chief
Klingler stated the 2016 vehicle purchase was to replace the 2003 unmarked vehicle, it was not purchased to
replace one of the marked vehicles in the normal replacement rotation. He expressed concern that if the oldest
vehicle, which has over 94,000 miles on it, is not replaced in 2018, it will have well over 100,000 miles on it by
the end of the year. Chief Klingler expressed concern for the safety of an officer who might become involved in a
high-speed pursuit in a vehicle with that much wear on it. Draft E includes $17,500.00 in the Public Safety line
item for Capital Outlay.
Mr. Hafner asked why the Road Improvement line item is not listed in the Streets and Roads section of the
Budget. No one knew the answer. Draft E reduces the Road Improvement line item to $25,000.00. Mr. Koons
and Mr. Ackerman tried to explain what can be purchased with the Liquid Fuels monies. Extensive discussion
ensued regarding the Liquid Fuels account. Ms. Stasik stated the Liquid Fuels account contains a little over
$300,000.00, and early next year the 2018 annual allotment of nearly $200,000.00 will arrive. The State caps
equipment expenditures at 20% of the annual allotment in order to insure that the majority of the tax is spent
on road maintenance and improvement. Mr. Koons stated he has been saving the highest permitted annual
amount, which is over $35,000.00 per year, so he can use a little over $100,000.00 of the current $300,000.00
for equipment. The wheel loader ordered this year, at a cost of $83,997.00, will be paid for from the Liquid Fuels
account. Discussion ensued regarding whether the Township could fund the typical $100,000.00 projected for
annual paving with the budgeted $25,000.00 from the General Fund and the remainder from the Liquid Fuels
account.
The Board directed Ms. Stasik to add $43,000.00 to the Surplus Forward line item and to increase an expense
line item by $34.00 on Draft E. With these changes, the Budget is balanced. Mr. Hafner made a motion to
approve the 2018 Preliminary Budget, with a .57 Real Estate Tax millage increase. Mr. Wildt seconded and the
motion carried 5-0.
The Board will direct Mr. McDonald to prepare and advertise the amended Ordinance No. 3-22-17 for adoption
at the December meeting. This will adjust the Fire Hydrant Tax as decided at the September meeting and
increase the Real Estate Tax millage to 3.75.
Mr. Sheehan made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Ackerman seconded and the motion carried 5-0. The
meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Brittany M. Stasik
Secretary/Treasurer