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ROTE -- The Lamar Township Supervisors unanimously approved increasing employee wages by five percent.
The decision was made following the board's reorganizational meeting on Tuesday night.
The supervisors' wages and millage rates will stay the same.
Overall, the township will be entering 2024 with a $1.3 million treasurer's bond.
During reorganization, township secretary, Tracy Roberts, was appointed to temporary chairperson for the supervisor position votes.
Wade Vonada was selected to retain his seat as chairperson with no nominations for a new chairperson.
Larry Rhine was selected to continue his role as vice-chair with no other nomination for vice-chairperson.
Dan Chappell will retain his seat as supervisor and Roberts will retain her position as township secretary/treasurer.
For administration/public works, employees were approved to stay the same: Roberts as recording secretary and open records officer; Rhine as emergency management coordinator; Chappell as assistant EMC; Jeff Kreger as sewage enforcement officer; Sean Kreger and Stan Wallace as alternate sewage enforcement officers; Vonada as roadmaster one, Rhine as roadmaster two and Chappell as roadmaster three; and Vonada as public works director.
For township professionals, John Lhota was approved to be the township's primary solicitor with Paul Ryan as an alternate. Randall Webster was approved to continue as the township's engineer with Dennis Norman as an alternate.
For recommending boards, committees and persons, Robert Reem was reappointed to the planning commission for a four year term. It will expire in 2027.
Esther Galentine was approved to continue as the planning commission secretary.
Samuel Duck was reappointed to the zoning hearing board. His term will expire in 2026. Stephen Walker's resignation letter, dated Dec. 11, 2023, was approved. His term on the sewer authority was set for five years and will expire in 2028. J.D. Miller submitted a letter of interest as a candidate on Nov. 20, 2023. He was approved unanimously. There were no others interested in the position.
Frank Miceli was approved to be solicitor for the zoning hearing board with alternate solicitor Stuart Hall.
There are currently no vacancies on the township's boards and authorities.
There will be no change in location, time and place for township meetings. Regular meetings will continue at the municipal building at 148 Beagle Rd in Mill Hall. They will still be held at 7 p.m.
The Lamar Township Fire Department' workman's compensation, annual monetary donation of $12,000 plus fuel were approved However, the donation could be reconsidered and increased at a later meeting.
Previously, the fire company was receiving $18,000 annually from the township. However, it was lowered with an increase in workmen's compensation, according to Rhine.
Chappell felt it would be beneficial to increase the donation back up.
"I would like to be able to reopen it because it is probably going to be needed. I'm not saying we need to change it tonight but at least talk about it... as long as we can reopen it -- if need be," he said.
According to Roberts, the township budgeted for the donation to be $12,000. The board budgeted for the same amount in donation funds for 2023.
Chappell made a motion to accept what the township had proposed for the donation, fuel and workman's compensation. Rhine, who is a Lamar Township Fire Company member, abstained from the vote.
"I am going to abstain from the vote since I am a member of the fire company and I am also one of the trustees. It is kind of a gray area here. I know what they need and I am not going to raise it or anything, but I do understand where Dan is coming from," Rhine explained.
Once the reorganization meeting was adjourned, supervisors called to order their regular meeting.
During the regular township meeting, supervisors approved a snow agreement it's had with Castanea Township. According to Roberts, the agreement is for snow plowing along Burrell Road which reaches across the Castanea Township boundary line.
"It states Lamar Township will plow snow and apply anti skid as needed during the winter months. Approximately 0.2 miles on Burrell Road, located in Castanea Township in exchange for the monetary amount of $500 for each winter season beginning," she said.
Lamar Township has this agreement with both Castanea Township and Greene Township. Supervisors approved to enter into the agreement with Castanea Township for a fee of $500.