Waterline project discussed at meeting
CUMBERLAND TWP. – At last week’s meeting, the township supervisors set in motion plans to begin waterline replacements for Cumberland Village. Marcia Sonneborn, the township grant writer, explained that the project will involve fund allocations from two years of township Community Development Block Grant allocations. The first township contribution to the project will be $65,500 from 2000 allocations and $45,400 from 2001 funds.
The township’s role in the project, said Sonneborn, is only to cover the material costs and assistance with boring beneath Browns Ferry Road. The rest of the project, construction and other associated costs, will be the responsibility of the water authority. The waterline replacements will benefit about 150 families.
In order to begin the project, the township needed to budget the funds. Sonneborn said that now that the project is ready to go to construction, the supervisors needed to apply for the money. To that end, the board agreed to have her advertise for the release of the funds for the project.
Also under CDBG programs, the supervisors voted to hire Community Preservation Inc. under a contract to be negotiated by Sonneborn to provide services as housing specialists.
Annually the township budgets a set amount of money for improvements to low- and moderate-income homes, Sonneborn said. The only stipulation is that homeowners agree to a four-year lien against the property. If the home is sold within those years, the money spent is returned to the township for use in the housing rehabilitation program, she said.
Typically, when a person applies for home improvement funding, an initial inspection is conducted to determine the scope of work needed. When the work is complete, it must be inspected so the contractor can be paid and inspected again before the lien can be removed, Sonneborn said.
In their vote, the supervisors agreed that the sum for the three-fold inspection service is not to exceed $650 per housing unit.
Moving to other matters, Joseph Vrana of the township parks and recreation board informed supervisors that sometime next June the group will host flea markets in Wana B Park to help raise money for park improvements. More details on the plans will be available in the spring. Still ongoing at the park are pavilion rentals for special occasions, and those interested should call the board at 724-966-5874.
In the meantime, Vrana noted that the recreation board still has an opening that needs to be filled. Anyone interested in serving on he board should send a letter of interest to the supervisors’ offices.
The supervisors also conducted the following business:
– Hired Debbie Rush as township secretary under conditions of probation, as outlined in township hiring policies.
– Appointed Milinovich & Co. to audit the township financial records for 2002 at a cost of $4,500. The supervisors noted that Milinovich has performed the same duty in the past.
– Agreed to close Sherman and Roosevelt boulevards in Nemacolin on Sunday for the Cub Scout’s annual mobile race day. Rain day for the event will be Oct. 26.