Police investigating explosions rocking residents

            Following more than a year of discussions and review, the amendments to the institutional overlay and institutional overlay zoning map were passed unanimously after township Solicitor Mark Cappuccio read through a revision list and definitions and residents spoke up regarding concerns about Finland Mennonite Church on Ziegler Road.

            At the Oct. 13 monthly meeting, a resident of Ziegler Road, John Wood, asked if the new ordinance would allow the church to build proposed athletic fields which could come very close to his property line and possibly create water flow problems.

            Cappuccio and the supervisors asserted that the new overlay ordinance would not, in and of itself, permit that. However, Township Manager/Secretary/Treasurer Marybeth Cody pointed out that the church did submit a land development plan to the township several years ago that could be grandfathered into effect.  "This zoning plan does not change their development plan," stated Supervisor Brian Doremus.

            The revised ordinance is the culmination of a process kicked off when Marlborough resident John Haines IV, the co-chairman of H&K, requested permission to establish a non-profit museum and host events and conferences on his Marlborough properties.

            Wood also asked about the township's response to explosions apparently emanating from a gun club in Milford Township.  "These explosions are so freaking loud they shake your house," Wood said. He claimed that the people setting off the explosions are mixing chemicals and shooting the mixture with a high-powered rifle. "That's what makes it explode."

            Wood maintains that some of the gun club property is in Marlborough and asked Marlborough Police Chief Darren Morgan if anything could be done to alleviate the problem. The state police are also involved in the investigation.

            "If it's a resident of Milford Township, [the state police] will deal with it, I'll follow up with them though," Morgan said.

            Morgan related that he has dealt with another case of explosions being set off in Marlborough but was told that the chemical being used was "completely legal" by Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and by the PA fire marshall.

            On another police matter, Morgan reported that information was submitted for the grant to supply body cameras for the township's police officers. He is hoping to hear back by Dec. 1.

            Planning for the 2022 budget is well underway and more discussions are scheduled for the supervisors work session on October 25 with the aim of advertising the budget in December.

            Cody reported that the township should be able to carry over approximately $525,000 from this year's budget. "If all goes well, and nothing else changes, we're looking at a net fund balance at the end of 2022 of approximately $180,000 and some change, and that's including the lease for [a new police car] and the loader."

            Doremus described the latter as a multi-purpose machine that the public works department can also utilize as a mower and snowplow.

            Burt Shive, representing Parks and Recreation, asked that the supervisors budget money for the remediation of the lake at Skymount, which is choked with vegetation, and for tree removal at Unami Park.           

            Shive also reported on a potential PECO grant to repair three footbridges and trails at the park.

            Cody spoke in support of the effort to obtain the Green Region grant through which PECO would give $7,500 and would have to be matched by Marlborough.

            Additionally, PECO is proposing to build charging stations for electric cars and run electricity to the pavilions in the park.  "We didn't see any downside to the concept with PECO being involved," said Shive. "We'd like to move forward with it and see what we can find."

            Shive also recommended that the supervisors accept an offer from Matt Dietrich to donate a chainsaw carving to be placed between the pavilions at Finland Road Park.

            Resident Mick Rogozinski, for the second month in a row, asked if something can be done about the dead ash trees on the Boy Scout property that borders Swamp Creek Road. "It's like Russian roulette going down that road anymore. Can we petition them to do something with their property?"

            Rogozinski also asked about the responsibility homeowners have to take care of the trees on their properties. The resident claimed that he was told insurance may or may not cover a fallen tree that does damage if "neglect" is involved as opposed to "an act of nature."

            Rogozinski stated – relying on recent experience with a neighbor's trees coming down on his property – that an insurance adjustor told him that once the trees landed on his property, they were his responsibility.

            "You have to maintain your property," explained Cappuccio, speaking about residents in general. "So, if you have dead trees on it, and there's a risk of it falling in the street, you should cut the tree down."  

            "Legally, we could remove them, but it would be at the cost of the property owner," said Doremus.

            Executive sessions were held on Oct. 5 and prior to the supervisors meeting on the 13th to discuss personnel matters.

            The next supervisors meeting is on Nov. 10.