DUKE CENTER — With the two remaining Otto Township supervisors unable to agree on a replacement for Chris Claycomb, who stepped down last month, vacancy board delegate Sharon Schwab cast the deciding vote, enabling Eric Barton to fulfill Claycomb’s position for the remaining of the elected term (through April, 2021).
Larry Schuessler was the other candidate, garnering supervisor Mark Palmer’s vote. Fellow supervisor Mike Ogilvie opted for Barton, thus necessitating Schwab’s tiebreaking vote. Barton is a current member of the Otto Township Sewage Authority and a recent township supervisor.
With Claycomb’s resignation, a new chairman and a police department representative were needed. The chairman’s position was voluntarily — and temporarily — filled by Palmer; and Ogilvie will sit on the police board.
It was unanimously agreed to transfer $75,000 from the reserve fund to the general fund to be allotted for the Depot Street bridge project. The township will receive $3,878 in county aid this year and $10,727 from Act 13 oil and gas revenues. Secretary Cindy Gardner reported that the 2019 audit was completed and approved.
Police Chief Donald Nies reported a total of 118 calls to-date for the year between Otto and Eldred Borough. He then announced that the residents of Eldred will vote this Sunday, July 12, to decide if the borough will continue their joint force with Otto or discontinue the venture and seek other police services, possibly depending solely on the Pennsylvania State Police for coverage. If the borough’s decision is to opt out of the agreement, Otto will then have to make a decision of their own: form its own police force (which it has done in the past), rely on the state police, or possibly join forces with other nearby municipalities.
The park pavilions are available for rent through the township office, and the park’s ball fields are open to the public. Covid restrictions apply and will be prominently posted. A centralized light will be installed in the park, and a contractor will be hired to refurbish the pump house. Nies suggested that cameras would increase park security and provide protection for park users. The supervisors will consider installing them.
An agreement was signed by the supervisors allowing the Depot Street bridge project to move forward. Roadmaster Delong reported that ditching, culverts and grates on Duke Center’s back streets are being completed; and patching and berm work is proceeding throughout the township.
Marilyn Kahle, representing the Blight Committee, reported that ten letters have been sent out to potential violators, and Nies had favorable contact with most of them. He did suggest that the newly written ordinance should be tweaked to plug the inevitable loopholes that certain types will find and exploit.
Nies suggested that the agreement between the township and the high school be rewritten, ceding control (and responsibility) of the township’s park property to the high school whenever there is a school activity that uses any part of the park. A meeting will be arranged with the township officials and Matt Splain, superintendent of the Otto-Eldred school district.
