State, Greene officials outline major township issues
WAYNESBURG – Greene County and state officials spent most of Friday morning outlining issues that affect township officials and the people they represent during the 87th annual convention of the Greene County Association of Township Officers. County Commissioner Farley Toothman took his turn at the beginning of the gathering to discuss many of the projects and issues that the county wants to tackle.
He rattled off a number of areas, including solid waste, water and human services, as well as the recently announced plans to tackle the myriad of issues facing the former Shannopin Mine site in Dunkard and Monongahela townships.
He noted that, within weeks, contracts could be signed for the first tenants at EverGreene Technology Park, and more than $500,000 could be coming to the Greene County Community Foundation to “add horsepower” to some important county projects.
Ann Bargerstock, county director of planning and development, spoke to the group about the cooperation of the county’s 20 townships on establishing a delegated local sewage agency.
She said all townships will receive an ordinance and some sample bylaws that she would like to see adopted by June 1 in those municipalities that wish to be a part of the agency.
“If you take this leap of faith and act upon the ordinance, it will allow us to coordinate what happens in on-lot sewage issues, which are at the forefront of your work every day,” she said. “Give thought to being a part of it, so we can coordinate the services offered to people so they can build their homes or start their businesses.”
Along with sewage issues, all townships will be involved in the update of the county’s comprehensive plan.
She said municipal officials are important to the planning process, and the updated plan will help areas receive some different grant money because the plan will no longer be out of date.
State Sen. J. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville) stressed that the state’s growing budget deficit will make for a “challenging year” for all officials, and the effects of the tough financial times will trickle down to the township level.
As chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, Stout said improvements to Route 21 and easing of the traffic congestion in the Morrisville corridor are projects very important to the county’s future. He said the Masontown Bridge replacement is slated to occur in a few years and will be crucial to improving traffic flow on Route 21.
Stout also said the county’s work to develop the EverGreene site will begin to pay off this year, with companies providing jobs in a county that is feeling the effects of the coal industry’s decline.
“I think EverGreene is one of the most innovative industrial projects in the commonwealth, and it will be successful,” he said, noting that he will attempt to find more funding to move EverGreene’s progress further along.
Featured speaker Marion Nailor, director of township services for the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors, spent much of her time Friday discussing legislation enacted in the past year that could affect township supervisors and some proposed legislation that officials may want to look at in the months ahead.
She said the statewide building code is finally coming to fruition, and townships have the right to enforce it, but are not required to do so.
Townships that adopt the code must have a certified building inspector, and hiring and training that person could be costly, she said.
Townships can now compensate members of their planning commissions, but that rate cannot exceed the compensation rate for supervisors, she said.
Nailor also went over several items of proposed legislation that have not yet been signed into law, including an update of the Open Records Law that is still working its way through the General Assembly.
“Any document you have that deals with the receipt or expenditure of township money, that is public information,” she told the group.
Nailor also took some time to discuss what services the association provides and what supervisors can learn from contacting the organization.
Friday’s event also featured updates on the emergency management system, Greene County’s chapter of PA CleanWays and a discussion on a possible all-terrain-vehicle trail within the county.