Stop signs requested
GEORGES TWP. – Wary of speeding and afraid that someone will be killed in a car accident, residents asked township supervisors Wednesday to consider placing two stop signs on Walnut Hill Road, near Ball Diamond Road and Clay Street. Gary Morgan, who resides on Walnut Hill Road, told supervisors people speed on the road and that there are frequent vehicle accidents.
Morgan said vehicular traffic has increased over the last several years and that the roadway had become unsafe. Stop signs, he said, will at least slow some people down.
and alleviate the problem.
Supervisors said they agree stop signs are needed but that Walnut Hill is a state road and that they do not have the authority to put any signs up.
Supervisor Mike Bartock told Morgan and the other concerned residents that the township will send the state Department of Transportation a letter asking the state to consider putting up two stop signs.
Bartock said he would also contact the state police to see if extra units could be sent to the area in order to catch speeders.
As for other matters, the supervisors heard from Milt Cunningham who, for at least the third meeting in a row, asked that the monthly meetings be held at 5:15 p.m. instead of 3:45 p.m.
In July, Cunningham presented the supervisors with a petition allegedly signed by 408 residents who he said wanted the meetings to be held later in the evening so that more people can attend.
Cunningham asked the supervisors why they are against pushing the start time of the meeting back a couple hours. He also asked them why they refused to give a reason for keeping the time the same.
In response, Supervisor Frank Churby told Cunningham that the petition did not contain 408 signatures and that many of the signatures were those of retirees who do not work and could attend the 3:45 p.m. meeting if they chose to.
Churby said he and the other supervisors already made up their decision about the meeting times and have decided not to change the time.
“We gave you an answer two months ago,” Churby told Cunningham.
In June, supervisors announced the meeting times would remain the same. He offered no explanation then, only telling residents supervisors decided to “keep it the same time.”
As for other matters, residents questioned the supervisors about their health insurance and pension plans, asking them how they could be covered by the Teamster’s but not be members of the union.
A resident also asked the supervisors why three road masters were needed, when other townships get by with only one. In Georges Township, all three supervisors – Bartock, Churby and Mark Migyanko – also work as road masters.
Supervisors did not comment extensively on either matter but did say everything they do is legal and that residents are more than welcome to look into any matter they would like.
Supervisors also conducted the following business:
– Authorized secretary Linda Smith to advertise bids for the sale of the township’s used mower.
– Gave Smith authority to re-advertise bids for the collection of recyclables in the township. Supervisors rejected two bids from Waste Management of Pennsylvania and Goodwill Industries at last month’s meeting.