Burn Ordinance Discussion at Catharine

“Why have an ordinance if you can’t enforce it?” Catharine Township Vice Chairman Ken Brenneman said during last Thursday evening’s township meeting.

He was referring to the township’s proposed burn ordinance. Supervisors discussed having an enforcement officer, but it was noted that it would be for all ordinances not just this one. 

This enforcement officer would, according to Solicitor Nathan Karn, issue non-traffic citations with the Magisterial District Judge. Karn said that some of the townships he represents use a third-party enforcement agency. 

“We don’t have the enforcement part of these ordinances,” Brenneman said.

The burn ordinance was tabled for the October meeting and the township said they would investigate enforcement agencies for the next month.

Municipal Authority Representative Daryl Cole discussed township supervisors needing to finish the Act 537 plan and then negotiate with the Authority. 

Meeting dates were officially changed to the third Thursday of each month throughout the remainder of the year, beginning at 7 p.m. 

The annual budget meeting for the township will take place on Thursday, September 26 at 4:30 p.m. Per requests last month, a list of bills for the township was presented for the public to see. 

Chairman Heather Flaig contacted the Ethics Board regarding the roadmaster bidding on equipment rentals to get reverified. Michael Fay was verified in 2021 to be able to bid on equipment rentals, but Flaig wanted to make sure it was still ethical for him to be able to bid. 

He said they were looking into a First Commonwealth Bank credit card, one which would earn the township points per money spent. Flaig said more banks were in contact so no further discussion was held on the topic.

Wayne Baker, a resident of Catharine Township, asked why Oak Alley was not coal patched when other alleys were done.

 He offered to get the coal patch needed for the alley, but Flaig said the township would buy it. 

Roadmaster Michael Fay said the township was completing paving projects for the summer. Brenneman asked if they could advertise for paving help for the township.

In his supervisor’s report, Ralph Rispoli suggested the upcoming projects with pipes and drainage, he would prefer they be bid out instead of done in-house.  

“We all need to get along, and we are trying to keep the peace,” he said, to the crowd.