PALMYRA TOWNSHIP – WAYNE COUNTY April 7, 2025
Chairman Steffen called the board of supervisor’s meeting to order at 6:30 PM. Roll calls showed all Supervisors were present.
Last month’s minutes were reviewed as written. With one correction 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.
Ordinance 25-02 Increase for Newly Appointed Supervisors Pay has been advertised and discussed with a new cap of $3,145.00 per year. With a motion from Chairman Steffen to accept Ordinance 25-02 to increase the monthly supervisor meeting pay to $75.00 per monthly meeting for newly appointed supervisors in conjunction with the legislative changes in 2024, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Bill List number #4 was presented. Chairman Steffen made a motion to pay the bill list with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Police Report was given and is on file.
Fire Report was given and is on file.
PPH Ambulance Report has decided to send letters to the neighboring townships that have benefited from the use of the PPH Service to see if they can get financial recovery. The PPH is currently working on the language for these letters and should go out in the mail in the next month. The overall goal is to get other municipalities on board with contributions.
Road Report was given by Roadmaster Kmetz and is on file. Supervisor Kmetz has also met with Jeff Roback about paving projects for the year 2025. The paperwork has been processed and is ready to be advertised, so we may open bids at the May meeting.
Correspondence The Township received its normal newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, and magazines.
Construction for the Bridge on Route 6 is set to begin in April of 2026. John Kuharchik spoke with James (Jim) MacKay (Traffic Engineer for the Bridge Project) about the current broken sensor and the plan for the light with that project. It has been determined that Kuharchik will be replacing one of the two broken sensors to save the township some money and should be sufficient until the construction begins.
Milestone will be holding its annual Spring Meeting here at the township building on April 19, 2025, from 9-12 roughly. Paupack Township Supervisors have sent a letter notifying Palmyra Township they are submitting a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development through the Multi-Modal Transportation Fund (MTF) Grant Program.
Wayne County Board of Elections would like to use the township building as a polling place on May 20, 2025. Chairman Steffen makes a motion to allow the Wayne County Board of Elections use our township building on May 20, 2025, for a polling station, with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes.
Preferred Management has responded to us with an update to the search for multiple properties that they assume are Short Term Rentals (STR). There is a list of properties they have followed up on.
Planning Commission has nothing on the horizon.
Public Comment Kerri from Highland Drive is asking if a company can go around the township to get a project done without the actual township approval i.e. a solar farm. There are rumors that Total Energies is going to go around the township to get their solar project up and running. Chairman Steffen states that the company would have to come through the township in some sort of capacity. Solicitor Treat reassures Kerri that this is not the case. Solar Energies did in fact appeal our denial of the solar farm and were going to reapply. Since then, Jeff Treat has been notified via Total Energies solicitor, that they have dropped their appeal and they will not be reapplying for a permit.
A citizen from Milestone states the drainage ditch at the bottom of Milestone is becoming a problem. Supervisor Kmetz states that the drainage pipe has suffered some wear and tear over the years, and that the corner has been widened due to this wear. Supervisor Kmetz also states that the township will take care of the ditch and the drainage issue. Milestone will be paving the road soon and didn’t want to have it done and then dug up again to replace the pipe. She also states that the signs for Oak Street and Deer Run are faded. Milestone constituent asks if we can order new street signs for this intersection. Supervisor Kmetz stated that he will look at the signs and if he cannot reverse them to a better side he will determine, and we will order.
Zoning Report Paul gave his monthly report. A lot was discussed in the workshop concerning our Junk Ordinance and Solar Farm Ordinance. Paul and Jeff will work to make the corrections that were discussed to provide the township with solar ordinances. There will be changes made in the future to scheduled zoning districts, to help with the solar business and keeping them in areas that are primarily industrial or commercial scheduled in the township.
The report of Digitizing Records has nothing to report.
Emergency Management has nothing to report.
The Solicitor’s Report Jeff Treat attempted to call Preferred Management today to ask a couple of questions about the letter that was sent to properties that are suspected of being Short Term Rentals. Jeff will continue to investigate and some under cover work with this issue.
Supervisor Kmetz also asked if there was any progress with the Employee Handbook. He and Jeff will compile other township handbooks to construct one for the township.
Final Call for Public Comment
Supervisor Kmetz called for an Executive Session with the supervisors.
Meeting reconvenes. This meeting was concerning a personnel matter. No action will be taken at this time.
Next scheduled meeting is Monday May 5, 2025, at 6:30 PM. Motion to adjourn at 6:58 pm by Supervisor Kmetz with a second by Chairman Steffen and all supervisors voting yes.