Jun 5, 2014 By Erin Hayes for The 3 min read

PERRY TWP. — Supervisors are delaying plans to construct a new township building in order to address more urgent matters.

At their monthly meeting on Tuesday, supervisors said they must make major repairs to a road that is sliding from its foundation on a steep incline on Whitsett Hill before they can consider any other projects.

“It comes with the territory,” said Supervisor A.J. Boni of River Road, which has literally begun to slide from its shale rock foundation.

Supervisors did not provide a cost estimate for the repairs but said that an allocation of $54,052 in gas impact fees this year will help pay for the project.

“That money will come in handy to do the repairs,” Boni said. “It’s nice to have that cushion of money in the bank. It’s nice to have, and it needs to stay local.”

In December, supervisors adopted a resolution authorizing the development of preliminary plans for the construction of a new township building on three acres of township property located behind the current township building. To be constructed mostly of steel, the cost of the new building is estimated around $750,000, with a set spending cap of $850,000.

Gas impact fees in the amount of $78,000, along with $50,000 allocated yearly in the township budget, was to help pay for the new building. The new building would provide 10,000 square feet of space, nearly 3,000 square feet more than the old building.

But those plans are now shelved.

“We need to continue to maintain what we have and continue to live within our means,” Boni said. “We’ve got a good group (of people) here. The township is in good shape and should be in good shape for a while. We’ve come a long way.”

Also at the meeting, supervisors announced that they want to fill a township position that became vacant with the retirement of Joe Kulikowski on May 30.

“It will be a shame to lose him,” Boni said of Kulikowski, who had worked as a general laborer for the township for the last 12 or 13 years. “Joe did a good job. He helped us come a long way and saved the township a lot of money” by working part time and not requiring healthcare insurance. “He’s going into retirement, and, at the age of 76 or 77, and who can blame him?”

Candidates can apply for a temporary or full-time position by submitting a resume to the supervisors, 1 Township Dr., P.O. Box 183, Star Junction, Pa. 15482. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and must pass a drug test and background check.

Boni said the township may hire two people to help keep up with the ball fields, which require mowing twice a week this time of year. He also reminded that residents need to keep their yards mowed, as well. Last month, the code compliance officer issued a dozen citations to residents who failed to cut their grass, he said.

In other business, supervisors announced that they have pushed back opening bids for the 2014 paving projects until next month’s meeting and reported no updates on the status of grant applications to upgrade the Star Junction ball field and Weiss Memorial Park.