PALMYRA TOWNSHIP – WAYNE COUNTY August 4, 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. 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 #8 was presented. Chairman Steffen made a motion to pay the bill list, with a second by Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes. Prior to the bill list reading Chairman Steffen asked the board of supervisors to contribute to National Night Out in the amount of $350.00. Chairman Steffen made a motion to donate $350.00 to Hawley Borough Police Station for National Night Out with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Police Report was given and is on file.
Fire Report will be placed on file.
No one was present. PPH Ambulance Report has not received any response to any of the letters sent to townships that were assisted by PPH ambulance. This is disheartening for the PPH organization as they had hoped other neighboring townships would take the need for ambulance assistance as seriously as possible especially since their townships used PPH showing a need for them. There will be a more aggressive letter sent out asking for funds to townships that received the most help from PPH in hopes of getting a response. PPH hopes the surrounding communities will act and contribute to keeping this vital service in place. Jeff states that maybe with the upcoming budgets being done for 2026, maybe townships will allocate funds for the PPH Ambulance.
Road Report was given by Roadmaster Kmetz and is on file. The pipe repair on Beechnut will hopefully be done this month. The pedestrian Crosswalk at IGA is still not repaired. Shayla has received a proposal from Kuharchik for the replacement. The bill for removal of the debris was already paid by the township. Shayla has police reports and all the insurance information. After she spoke with Erie Insurance, Shayla did not feel confident in receiving reimbursement for the repair of the Pedestrian Crosswalk from Erie Insurance. Jeff Treat suggests that we sign the proposal and pay incoming bills, send a copy of all bills, police reports, and insurance information to him, and he will send a letter to Erie Insurance sighting the claim and damage and will get the township the reimbursement. It may take some time, but Jeff states that a crosswalk is a safety precaution that should be in place. Chairman Steffen makes a motion to allow solicitor Treat to proceed to collect funds for the crosswalk repairs, with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes. Shayla can proceed with paying the bill and getting the repairs scheduled.
Correspondence The Township received its normal newsletters, pamphlets, brochures, and magazines. Wayne County Association of Township Officials Fall meeting is scheduled for October 8th at Lukans Farm Resort. Lake Wallenpaupack Centennial Anniversary Book is asking if the township would like to take out an advert in the new publication for 2026 publication. DEP is scheduling a meeting between 6 entities including Palmyra Township in discussion with the Hawley Area Authority and the sewage planning for our area. DEP would like to take these separate entities and their projects and group them into one large project. This affects Kuzmiak’s Gravity Road buildings and the Railroad properties.
Planning Commission has nothing to report.
Public Comment Ned Sader was present on behalf of Middle Creek Quarry. They will be night working until Thursday August 7th. The next round of night-time work has yet to be determined. Ned also stated that the trucks have deactivated their back up alarms during this night work to try to keep the noise down.
Lynne and Gregory Landrey are present from Milestone Estates. A copy of their presentation is attached to the agenda. They ask that the Board of Supervisors revisit the nuisance ordinance. They claim that there is an intentional noise nuisance that is targeting toward them. They ask that the township revisit this nuisance ordinance to give the residence more leverage to seek help in cases of these issues. The Landrey’s state that these nuisance acts are targeted toward them as retaliation from a past issue. This has been going on since October of 2024. They do not feel safe approaching this individual in fear of escalation. They are trying to address this issue as a township issue as they feel neighboring townships have taken the necessary steps to keep the well-being of the residence in the community. Chairman Steffen asks them to keep a record of when these issues happen. Jeff Treat states that he feels this is a harassment issue. He asks the Hawley Borough Police to patrol the area more or possibly speak to this individual. Lynne states that this happens more frequently when they can be seen out in their yard with company seemingly enjoying their property. Gregory states that this request is more of a nuisance ordinance not so much the noise. Paul states the ordinances that they have provided as examples are bare minimum and enforceability becomes difficult. Others from Milestone are present and all agree this individual is hard to speak too. Hawley Police are asked to patrol the area by Board of Supervisors. Chairman Steffen asked the Landrey’s to call Hawley Borough Police when they are in town and are having issues. The Landrey’s still feel that an ordinance is needed as this will help residents in the community. Paul has been asked to research and write a nuisance ordinance concerning harassment by noise ex: Barking dog, targeted noise disturbances, excessive noise etc. to be added to the Junk and Nuisance ordinance that we are currently updating. Jeff Treat suggests violations first be a warning from our Zoning Officer, then take these issues to the magistrate. Chairman Steffen makes a motion to have Jeff Treat work on writing an amendment to our Zoning Ordinance 78-1 concerning nuisance behavior and adding sections covering certain nuisance behavior, with a second from Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.
Zoning Report Paul gave his monthly report. JHA is currently working on the boundary plans. Short-Term Rentals have still not been complying to the Short-Term Rental Ordinance. Paul has confirmed with Joanne that all addresses are correct and that no tax bills have been returned. We have not received one application on behalf of Preferred Management. Jeff asks if Paul has been in contact with Preferred Management about this situation and he confirms that he has. Paul has found recent reviews online posted within the last 2 weeks about these rentals which confirm that they are still being used and rented. Paul feels like he has done more than Preferred Management has done currently. Paul asks if the township should put STOP WORK orders on the confirmed rentals. The Supervisors and Jeff agree that this is a good start. Currently we are aware of 5 short-term rentals in the township. Jeff thinks we should rethink the management company we use come Reorganization time. Chairman Steffen makes a motion to allow the secretary to send a strongly worded letter to Preferred Management to demand some sort of action be taken on the Short-Term Rental Properties before September meeting with a second from Supervisor Bartleson and all supervisors voting yes. Paul asks the BOS if they are familiar with the “signs” at Harmony in the Woods and goes on the record to say “…the two signs, which are clearly signs according to our zoning ordinance, at the mouth of Harmony” have been approved via PennDot. Paul had asked Harmony for a written permit or letter from PennDot saying that these were in fact approved. Harmony used their “pull” and called in a favor to Jeff Olsommer and Fritz to get PennDot approval within a day. Paul states that PennDot stated to Paul that “the signs are not signs but yes they are in the right of way and yes they are illegal, but yes we are signing off on them” and approved immediately. Paul has been calling PennDot since April of 2025 to get a simple right of way measurement for a resident who wants to erect a sign in his yard and has YET to receive an actual answer from PennDot. As a township official he feels that he is being disregarded when if fact he needs actual information and yet, PennDot was overly quick to respond to Harmony’s sign approval since they had pull from Olsommer and Fritz. Paul will not stand for disrespect. With PennDot approving something of this nature, knowing its wrong, Paul wants to know what that says about his position in this office. He has been calling for 6 months and still has no response on the right of ways for a legitimate sign. Paul goes on record again to say “going forward anyone who wants a sign in Palmyra township will need to first get approval from PennDot on their own. Once PennDot has given the resident a letter for approval”, Paul “will then provide them with a township permit”. Paul will no longer deal with PennDot for any permitting reason. Paul is appalled that Harmony in the Woods would call in a favor to our State Representative to ask for such nonsense when there are other things State Representatives should be focusing on. Paul is frustrated that these signs are getting approved and he feels it sets a standard that residents can do these things even when they don’t meet the proper rules, regulations and requirements if they have favors to call in. This is not the precedent Paul wants to set for the township.
The report of Digitizing Records has nothing to report.
Emergency Management has nothing to report.
The Solicitor’s Report complaints have come in about the building being erected by the Railroad on Columbus Ave. Jeff Treat has done research and there is no exemption for the type of structure they are building and what its intended purpose is because it has nothing to do with the crossing area of a train. Jeff Treats states they need to have inspections especially for electrical and plumbing. There will be a stop work order placed on the building by NEIC soon.
A resident asked if there is an amusement tax in the township. Supervisor Kmetz confirmed back in the day there used to be a tax on the game machines that would pay out cash at local businesses.
Final Call for Public Comment Next scheduled meeting is TUESDAY September 2, 2025, at 6:30 PM in observation of Labor Day.
Motion to adjourn at 7:49 pm by Chairman Steffen with a second by Supervisor Kmetz and all supervisors voting yes.