PALMYRA TOWNSHIP – WAYNE COUNTY December 2, 2024
Chairman Steffen called the board of supervisors meeting to order at 6:00 PM
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Roll call showed all Supervisors were present.
We start the meeting with a Public Hearing for Foul Line LLC and Marty Kirsten’s request to transfer a liquor license from Texas Township to Palmyra Township for use at the Wallenpaupack Bowling Alley. The purpose of tonight’s hearing is to hear testimony from Foul Line LLC, and to give the BOS the appropriate time to ask questions to make sure the transfer keeps the safety of the community in mind. Marty is present with his lawyer Ms. Zoey Ottaway.
Currently the bowling alley is a BYOB establishment. This will help the establishment have more control over the consumption of alcohol. Chairman Steffen asked if the plan was to establish a restaurant to the Bowling Alley. Marty stated there will be no change to the snack bar or menu. The bar area will be using plastic cups and will not be a fully functioning bar. There will be no sinks or running water, as well as no glass cups or bottles in this bar area. This will allow him to open the bar area faster.
Chairman Steffen asked if the drawing that was submitted to the LCB was the final draft. Marty stated that the drawing provided was the final drawing submitted to the LCB and then explained the drawing to the supervisors. The outdoor patio area is a project Marty would look to do in the future. Alcohol is currently inside the building only.
Supervisor Bartleson stated he was worried about the outdoor patio area. Marty and Ms. Ottaway stated this is not part of the initial application and if that were to become a consideration in the future, Marty would need permission from the township and the LCB. The BYOB aspect of the bowling alley will be immediately dissolved once the liquor license is obtained.
This will be a Type R license. Marty does not believe he will be doing carry out packaged goods and will only be in operation when the bowling alley is open. Let the record reflect, despite the advertisement, there was no one in the audience from the community to ask questions concerning the liquor license transfer. A new camera system will be installed immediately after the BOS approval at Bowling Alley. Cameras will be placed at the bar purchase area and randomly throughout the building and outdoor area.
Chairman Steffen made a motion to close and adjourn the hearing concerning the transfer of a liquor license to Wallenpaupack Bowling Alley, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all Supervisors voting yes.
Last month’s minutes were reviewed as written. Supervisor Kmetz made a motion to accept the previous month’s minutes, with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.
The Treasurer’s Report was given by Shayla Gouger and is on file as well as posted on the back wall. Chairman Steffen made a motion to accept the treasurers report with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.
Bill List number #12 was presented. Chairman Steffen made a motion to pay the bill list with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Budget for 2025 was presented last month. Motion to accept Resolution 24-05 the 2025 Budget was made by Chairman Steffen with a second from Supervisor Bartleson, and all supervisors voting yes.
An ad was placed for our 2024 Audit from a registered CPA. Motion to approve Brad Murray, CPA, for the independent audit of the 2024 year was made by Chairman Steffen with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.
Tax Levy Millage Resolution 24-6 for 2025 was presented. There will be no changes to the millage for the coming year. Chairman Steffen made a motion to accept the millage rates for 2025 with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Police Report was given by Shayla and is on file.
Fire Report is on file.
Chairman Steffen made a motion to approve the transfer of the liquor license from Texas Township to Palmyra Township for use at the Wallenpaupack Bowling Alley in conjunction with Foul Line LLC and Marty Kirsten, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes. Solicitor Treat then reads the provided Approval Letter sent by Mrs. Ottaway to the BOS which is accepted and signed off on, on behalf of the Palmyra Township BOS.
PPH Ambulance Report has nothing to report. The rescheduled meeting for November will be on Dec 4, 2024. Details to follow next month.
Road Report was given by Roadmaster Kmetz and is on file.
Correspondence The Township received its normal newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, and magazines. We received thank you letters for all our food bank donations made in November. There is an NEIC Christmas Party invite for Friday December 6, 2024. Wayco has submitted an Air Pollution Control Act Renewal Application. Lot consolidation and Subdivision for the Burmingham/Yerk property has been accepted by Wayne County. Local SEO application for consideration for the upcoming year. State Police fines in the amount of $365.44 were deposited today. Gary Linde has filed a Completeness Review from Wayne Conservation District for a permit renewal.
Supervisors break for an Executive Session to discuss Personnel.
Upon returning, Chairman Steffen stated that he wanted to readdress a problem that occurred in the past with loosing personnel due to not having a full time DPW position and offering no insurance compensation. Chairman Steffen stated that he would like to move in the direction of a full time DPW personnel at 32 hours that would work under Supervisor Kmetz, and to get the secretary as well to full time at 32 hours. The township will then offer both employees’ insurance or a stipend to allow them to get their own insurance. The BOS are not sure if this can be completed by January, but they will try to get this going as soon as possible in 2025.
Planning Commission Yerk/Birmingham property subdivision and lot consolidation testimony was heard by the BOS. The engineer explained the subdivision to the BOS. Wayne County has approved the transaction. Chairman Steffen made a motion to allow the subdivision and lot consolidation to occur with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes. BOS then signed all copies of the new map.
Zoning Report was given by Paul Natale for the month. 306 Columbus has been sold. They have already started the cleanup process at the property.
Paul also expressed some concerns about the lack of information that we can provide to the township. He understands that there is no easy way to get information out to the township in an emergency. But he feels that we need to try to draw our township’s attention to our social media or website. Paul brought up the most recent power outage where the building was not open at any point during the storm, which was the point of having the generator, but how would the constituents have known that the building was open for use.
Joyce Carson suggested a letter sign like Hawley Boro has. Then you can change the wording to fit the needs of the township. We could ask the Fire Department or the Post Office if we could park our sign on their property when we have a message to spread. Also, Chairman Steffen suggested the local radio station to spread the word.
Public Comment
Cares Act Money Chairman Steffen made a motion to allow for the purchase of a meeting room floor roughly $9,000, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes. Chairman Steffen makes a motion to place $21,500 of the Cares Money in the Dime General Bank Account for the parking lot to be paved in the spring of 2025, with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes. Chairman Steffen made a motion to use Cares money to pay for the update and reinstallation for the alarm system in the new garage area for $880, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes. Chairman Steffen made a motion to us roughly $11,000 to purchase a new equipment trailer from J and J Trailers in Waymart, with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes. Chairman Steffen made a motion to send $5,000 to the White Mills Ambulance for services rendered with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all Supervisors voting yes.
Report of Digitizing Records has nothing to report.
Emergency Management has nothing to report.
The Solicitor’s Report Attorney Treat has reached out to TotalEnergies to let them know if the denial by the BOS on the Solar Farm Application. Rumor mill has it that there will be an appeal by TotalEnergies, so Solicitor Treat will start the paperwork now and report the findings of facts to the courts to support the decision.
Final Call for Public Comment
Next scheduled meeting is Monday January 6, 2025, at 6:30 PM for the Reorganization Meeting. Chairman Steffen is excused. Motion to adjourn at 7:05pm by Chairman Steffen with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.