FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The Butler Township supervisors held their reorganization meeting for 2016 on Jan. 4 that included most appointments remaining the same as in 2015.
The board of supervisors retained David Kessler for the seventh time as its chairman, with Paul J. Fetterolf re-elected as vice chairman. The third supervisor is Robert “Bob” Burns.
Fetterolf ran unopposed in the General Election to win re-election.
The status quo was held with the reappointment of Fetterolf as treasurer at a rate of $250 per month. Kessler was reappointed as roadmaster at $500 per month.
The following appointments and reappointments were made:
• Secretary/assistant treasurer: Kate Staudenmeier.
• Township solicitor: Christopher Riedlinger at $100 per hour. Riedlinger was also retained as planning commission solicitor at $100 per hour. The supervisors also retained the law offices of Siana, Bellwoar and McAndrew LLP, as counsel for the township as needed.
• Zoning hearing board solicitor: Brian Urban at $100 per hour. Urban will recuse himself from any windmill issues.
• Vacancy board chairman: Francis Lally.
• The supervisors appointed Jones and Co. to perform the 2015 township audit in lieu of the township auditors.
• Sewage enforcement officer: David Siminitis of the Larson Design Group. Alternate SEO is William Anders of Lehigh Engineering LLC.
• Forestry consultant: Joseph Brackman.
• Bank depository: BB&T Banks, Ashland.
• Meetings, grant programs (HOME and CDBG) and other legal advertising will be published in The Republican-Herald in 2016.
• Emergency management officer: Mark Cuttic. Alternate EMO is Michael Kehler.
• Zoning and code enforcement officer: William Anders.
• Uniform Construction Code inspector: Glenn Everet.
• Consulting engineering firm: Lehigh Engineering LLC, Pottsville.
• Fire marshal: Mark Cuttic at a rate of $25 per month.
• Mutual aid contracts were renewed with Rangers Hose Company and Girard Hose Company, both of Girardville, at $500 each.
• Planning commission recording secretary: Lorraine Reese at $20 per meeting.
• Zoning hearing board secretary: Reese at $20 per hearing.
• Police Chief Edward Tarantelli was reappointed as chief administrative officer of the police pension fund. If Tarantelli is not available, the duties will be performed by Lt. Daniel Holderman.
• Staudenmeier was reappointed as chief administrative officer of the non-uniform pension fund. If Staudenmeier is unavailable, Dale Bolich will perform those duties.
• Renewal of $100,000 bond for treasurer.
• Allow township employees to attend the annual Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors convention in 2016 in accordance with Section 1402 of the township code and to reimburse them for approved expenses.
Grant Coordinators: Prodesign Plus LLC, Shamokin, and Schuylkill County as grant coordinators for the Community Development Block Grant and HOME programs.
• Environmental certifying officer: David Kessler. In the same motion, Kessler was also authorized to sign all CDBG and HOME applications and forms.
• The following paid holidays were approved for non-unionized employees (road crew and secretary): New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after, Christmas Day, employee’s birthday and six personal days.
• Any person who is not a resident of the township must give at least 48 hours notice and reason for request to be placed on the meeting agenda.
• Northern Schuylkill Council of Governments delegate: Fetterolf. Alternate delegate is Robert Burns.
• Schuylkill County Tax Collection Committee representative: Staudenmeier. Alternate is Fetterolf.
• Appointed Lisa Tarson and David Fey to the Butler Township Planning Commission for a four-year terms expiring Dec. 31, 2019.
• Appointed Fetterolf to the Butler Township Municipal Authority for a five-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2020. The supervisors tabled a decision to fill an open position on the municipal authority until a later date.
Regular monthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month in the municipal building. Workshops are held at 6:45 p.m. prior to the regular meeting.