Bad language, rowdy audience discussed at meeting
CUMBERLAND TWP. – Homer Nicholson was elected chairman of the board of supervisors during their reorganization meeting Monday and had some strong words for people who use profanity at public meetings or use the meetings as a forum to badmouth others: tone it down or risk being escorted from the meeting. Nicholson said some of the meetings have gotten out of hand with name-calling and profanity and said, as chairman, that behavior will no longer be tolerated.
“I’m not going to put up with it,” he said. “If you want to get rowdy, you’re out.”
At least one person in the audience questioned whether the supervisors were permitted to take such action, and if that step was just the beginning of a bigger plan to silence the public.
Solicitor Dennis Makel quickly clarified Nicholson’s statements, saying that the supervisors have no intention of stifling public comment at their meetings, but they plan on enforcing their public participation policy in the year ahead.
Nicholson was elected chairman, with James M. Sokol to serve as vice-chairman in 2003.
In other matters, Mark Gaydos asked supervisors to continue working to repair some of the less-traveled roads in the township, saying they ruin the township’s appearance and have ruined his vehicle.
Gaydos, who has lived in the township for eight years, said he believes in developing the tourism potential that the township, and Greene County as a whole, has. He fears that people will not return to visit the county, or to locate in the township, if the roads are not upgraded.
“People are coming in for festivals and we’re trying to promote them, but to see these roads, it’s terrible,” he said.
Nicholson said the roads Gaydos inquired about were slated for improvement last summer, but were delayed, but should be completed this year. He said in the past two years, over 27 miles of country roads in the township were repaired and more will be done in 2003.
“It will be taken care of this year, as far as we know,” Nicholson said.
Supervisors reappointed Joan Clites to the township parks and recreation board, reappointed Donna Jean Broadwater to the zoning hearing board and reappointed William Harr to the township planning commission. Supervisors noted that two vacancies remain on the planning commission, and asked anyone interested in serving on the commission to send a letter to the township or to contact the township office at 724-966-5805.
In reorganization business, supervisors voted to retain Makel as solicitor at his current pay rate, changed to Community Bank as the township’s primary depository, and kept their meetings at the same date and time. Supervisors will meet on the first Monday of the month at 3 p.m. in the township building, and will meet on the second Monday if the first Monday is a holiday.