Greenfield Township Board Members Recognize Boy Scouts

Greenfield Township board members accepted a bid of $114,194 from New Enterprise Stone & Lime to pave Evergreen Road, Locust Street, Mansion Drive, Spruce Street, Hickory Drive and portions of Walnut Street at their July 6 meeting. Work is to be completed no later than Sept. 15.

The township passed an ordinance enacting the volunteer firefighter tax credit. Any member of the Claysburg Volunteer Fire Company or Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company who resides in the township and participates in at least 30 percent each of their organization's calls, training and fundraising will be eligible for a credit on their municipal property tax and earned income tax.

Supervisors moved to donate a soon-to-be retired police car to the Blue Knob Volunteer Fire Company for their QRS program. The car will be replaced by a 2021 Ford Explorer. The township secretary was authorized to sign documents and release payment for the new vehicle.

The township's two other police vehicles will receive new graphics to match the design of the new vehicle and provide a consistent look.

The Claysburg-Kimmel School District decided not to renew its contract with the township to provide a school resource officer, Matt Treon, board chairman, reported. The township's police department will still have the ability to make visits to the district's schools during the day, he said.

No action was taken on a land development plan for proposed athletic field improvements at Claysburg-Kimmel High School. Originally submitted in February, the plan encompasses enhancements for the football field and softball field, which are located on school district property as well as adjacent township property.

An agreement for use of the township's property is needed before the plan can move forward, according to Eric Casanave, township engineer. NPDES and stormwater permits are also needed for the project, among other items, Casanave said.

There was "a lot of homework not done," when the plan was first submitted, Oldham stated.

The school district requested the board consider conditional approval to begin upgrading the sewer system at the athletic fields.

It has generally been the township's practice to not allow construction until paperwork has been reviewed, according to the engineer. This allows the township to understand how individual components fit into the larger plan, although he said approval for this item would present a "low amount of risk."

After discussion by the board members, Joe Claar, vice-chairman, made a motion to deny the conditional approval, stating that it is customary to see plans before allowing a project to advance. Treon, made a counter motion to conditionally approve the request, with supervisor Jordan Oldham providing a second to Treon's motion. Approval to begin work on the system passed by a 2 to 1 vote.

Treon and Oldham also voted to approve a building permit for new bleachers at the site. Claar again dissented, citing similar reasons as the sewer system vote. He said he "knows it's going in, but do it right the first time."

The students will be the ones who are ultimately affected by how the project progresses, Treon said.

Supervisors have until October to act on the full land development plan.

Boy Scout Troop 365 was recognized by the board for their assistance with the township's annual clean-up day in April. The township was thankful for the troop's contributions and presented members with a $150 check, Treon said.

The board voted to spend $11,000 to hire Zelenkofske Axelrod LLC to provide technical assistance related to American Rescue Plan Act grant funds. The expense will be covered by the grant.

Permission was granted to the Claysburg Church of God to utilize the Claysburg Area Community Park from 8 to 11 p.m. on Aug. 7 for a nondenominational event.

Claysburg's annual softball tournament will be held Aug. 13, 14 and 15. Claysburg Area Community Days will be held Aug. 14 and 15.