Foster Township is under a declaration of emergency related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Township supervisors passed the declaration at Monday’s regular meeting. Several local governments have made similar declarations, as the status can help make them eligible for state and federal funding, as well as to give them the ability to make faster decisions related to the emergency.
The meeting was held in the municipal building, but officials imposed restrictions in order to follow the COVID-19 mitigation rules in place in Pennsylvania.
In addition to the three supervisors, up to seven other people would have been admitted on a first-come basis. No one had to be turned away, as the only people who showed up were the supervisors, the secretary/treasurer, the police chief and an Era reporter.
Instead of sitting behind one table as per usual, Supervisors Carl McCracken, George Hocker and Gus Crissman were stretched out behind two tables to ensure there was at least six feet of space between them.
Regarding another emergency — recent wildfires — supervisors instituted a two-week burn ban that begins today. Crissman noted that burn permits for that time period are now “null and void.”
Hocker explained that the Rew Volunteer Fire Department requested a ban be put in place.
Rew firefighters responded to two wildfires Monday afternoon, one on Garlock Hollow and a second on Buchanan Hollow.
Regarding code enforcement, Hocker said that, due to the COVID-19 crisis, “We are trying to handle everything via phone.” He added that officials are still going out to look at areas where the complaints are located.
Hocker noted that, as people are restricted to their homes, there is no reason they can’t address code violations on their properties.
After the meeting, Hocker added that access to the municipal building is limited.
“We’re trying to ask people to use their best judgment.”
Also, Police Chief Tom Munn said, “Our office is open,” but he is asking people to follow the rules set forth by Gov. Tom Wolf.
With no members of the public in attendance, supervisors quickly made it through the regular business on the agenda, making for a short meeting.
Other motions they passed, in addition to the emergency declaration, were for general liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance and an engineering proposal by L. R. Kimball for a bridge project.
Supervisors also passed resolutions related to an IRS approved pension plan document and an IRS approved police pension plan document.
They reported that state ethics forms will be sent out, and they are to be returned to the township office before May 1.
A work session that was scheduled for April 18 has been canceled. Also, this year’s spring cleanup will be postponed.
Secretary/Treasurer Shannon Morgan suggested the cleanup be moved to early fall, but no decision was reached on the topic.
