Henderson Township officials learned at their monthly meeting that they are still responsible for maintaining a half-mile cul-de-sac after asking the township attorney to determine ownership and say they are open to leaving the roadway.
Solicitor Greg Jackson, who was hired by the township in September, said the investigation indicates the township still owns Cepex Road, located off McCalls Hill Road. Ownership of the road was questioned by residents at previous meetings.
“It’s still a public road,” Jackson said. “There is no record of an ordinance being passed to leave the road.”
At the September meeting, township residents Peg Vlasak and Bobbi Jo Gearhart asked for an update on road ownership, saying the township had voted to give the road to Jonathan Peachy in September 2021.
Peachey has since installed a gate across the road, which should be left open given the roadway’s status as a public road, Jackson said.
Jackson said that if Peachey’s property owner wants the township to leave Cepex, giving it the property, it must provide a survey that traces the course of the road and collect statements from other residents who use the road indicating that they agree with the municipality vacating. the road.
Once the first two steps are completed, the municipality can prepare, announce and approve an ordinance.
In the meantime, Jackson said, the township will have to continue to maintain the road.
Coffelt said the board of supervisors is interested in turning the road toward Peachey, noting that it’s a half-mile dead-end stretch that serves two private properties. He also said the cost to maintain the road is more than the $600 it generates each year in state funding for liquid fuels.
Jackson said he received a letter from a watchdog group asking him to meet privately with people referred to in the letter as “whistleblowers.” Jackson said it would be inappropriate for him, as the township’s legal counsel, to meet privately with the group.
Jackson said Township Clerk Teresa Laird received a phone call that appeared to be threatening in nature. Supervisor Dave Howe said he also received a call that could be interpreted as a threat. Jackson said this should be reported to the state police.
Coffelt also urged fellow supervisors and township staff to report the incidents to police. He said someone tried to run off the road while making an obscene gesture. He couldn’t get the license plate number of the other driver.
In his report, Jackson also addressed a right-to-know request filed by Vlasak asking for information about supervisors’ salaries. He said there is confidential information included in the documents prepared for Vlasak that will need to be redacted before the township can honor his request.
– Roadmaster Rich Anderson said the weight limit for the bridge along Penns Woods Road has decreased from 29 tons to 14 tons over the past year. He said the reduction, in half, followed the annual inspection conducted by Keller Engineering. Anderson expressed concern that the inspection indicates the bridge is deteriorating rapidly and that the weight capacity will be further reduced after next year’s inspection.
– Following up on a report by Coffelt in September that three-axle vehicles were seen traveling on Ponderosa Road over a bridge with a 10-ton limit, Anderson said Keller has no documentation to back up the published weight limit. Coffelt asked Anderson to get a quote from Keller for a bridge inspection.
– Anderson requested permission to purchase, for $500, a bucket attachment for the Township’s backhoe. Supervisor Ryan Wood confirmed that the second-hand equipment was reasonably priced. Jackson said the issue was not on the agenda for tonight’s meeting, preventing the floor from acting. Jackson recommended that Anderson’s request be placed on the November agenda for board action.
– Laird said the township’s estimated liquid fuels allocation for 2024 is $104,565.89. Laird also reported that the township has received its 2023 allocation for municipal pension plan aid in the amount of $4,663 and its annual allocation for volunteer firefighter relief in the amount of $6,881. He said the relief funds will be disbursed to the Mill Creek and Huntingdon Regional fire companies.
