Jun 14, 2013 By Cindy Lee Cumpston for The 4 min read

EAST BETHLEHEM TWP. — Commissioners approved a contribution on Wednesday to help fund the fireworks display to be presented during the upcoming eighth annual Riverfest celebration in Fredericktown on July 6.

Commissioner Mike Packrall made the motion, and it was unanimously approved to donate $1,500 toward the fireworks display, an increase of $500 over last year’s contribution. Commissioners President Paul Battaglini said the money would come from township funds generated through the local-share assessment earmarked for tourism and economic development efforts from the state Gaming Control Board.

Denise DeWitt, who was present at the meeting, expressed her gratitude for the commissioners’ generosity.

DeWitt is the events coordinator for the Fredericktown Area Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event.

“They’re always great fireworks,” said DeWitt, “and we are expecting a crowd of over 1,000 this year.”

DeWitt noted the celebration is always packed with people and boats on the river, and this year is made even more special because the Monongahela was named Pennsylvania’s River of the Year earlier this year by the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers.

In other business, the commissioners once again were questioned by Ray Corcoran, representing Deborah’s School of Dance in Fredericktown, as to when he will be given a decision on the question of the business being in compliance with the zoning ordinance where the building is located.

Township secretary Maryann Kubacki read an email communication from township solicitor Lane Turturice stating it was his opinion the dance school is a business and can therefore locate in an industrial zone. His communication further stated he would write a letter of caution to the dance school that there exists the possibility of some type of heavy industry locating near the dance school in the future.

The commissioners took no action when Battaglini said he wished to discuss the matter with the solicitor before proceeding any further.

Battaglini and several other commissioners expressed their displeasure in Turturice not being present at meetings and being slow with his response on various matters. Kubacki said Turturice is on vacation.

The building purchased by Corcoran in October is the old Mine Union Hall, located at 727 Front St.

In another matter, the commissioners took no action on a proposed assault rifle policy for the township’s police department. Police Chief Mark Pompe and Cpl. William Dennison expressed their deep concern for the need of officers to be equipped with assault rifles.

Dennison noted officers in police departments in surrounding communities are all equipped with some type of assault weapon.

Pompe said simply, but emphatically, “We are getting shot at!”

After a lengthy and, at times, heated exchange between the officers and some of the commissioners, Packrall instructed Pompe to write a proposal to include what type of assault weapons are being carried by police departments in surrounding communities and get it to Kubacki immediately.

Kubacki was instructed to forward Pompe’s proposal to Turturice, with the explicate instructions to the solicitor that it must be reviewed and written up in proper form to be voted on at the next regularly scheduled meeting on July 10.

In other business, the commissioners:

n Voted to advertise for two part-time police officers for the township’s police department.

n Adopted a resolution officially appointing Bernice Skobel as the collector of delinquent per capita taxes for the township. Skobel is currently serving as the township’s tax collector.

n Approved the purchase of a new time clock for township employees at a cost of $300.

n Voted to sell a 1995 International 8-ton dump truck to Route 21 Stone of McClellandtown, which submitted the high bid of $6,001.

n Approved a request from the Washington County Housing Authority for a stop sign, painted crosswalk and road patching work where needed in Fredericktown Terrace.

n Approved the zoning permit for Tri-County Joint Municipal Authority to construct a prefabricated building on a concrete pad that will meet state specifications for the purpose of storing chlorine. The building must be clearly marked as containing hazardous material with a restricted entry for authorized people only.

n Announced they are still seeking a person to serve as the zoning hearing board secretary. The position is compensated at a rate of $50 a hearing.

n Announced they are seeking volunteers to serve on a committee to review and recommend changes to the township zoning ordinances.