At Thursday's meeting of the Washington Township Board of Supervisors, officials rejected a request from Buckeye Pipeline to reimburse the company $52,000 to relocate facilities in the pipeline's right of way along Barto Road. 

            Sometime in the future, the township intends to straighten winding Barto Road.  It is making progress to get all the requirements for the road straightening in place.  Buckeye Pipeline has a right of way with equipment that must be crossed for the road straightening.  The pipeline's right of way has sat dormant for 22 years. 

            The township supervisors contend the pipeline has a right of way that is the pipeline's obligation to maintain.  Vice Chairman, Dave Moyer noted, "If they want to move their anodes (equipment), it is their responsibility."

            The board of supervisors agreed to review parking regulations in the township zoning ordinance.  Currently, two parking spaces are required per dwelling unit.  However, a garage counts as one parking space.  It is possible the township will decide to not count a garage as a parking space in a revised zoning ordinance.

            Officials also discussed the inspection of rental units in the township.  Many nearby municipalities require periodic inspections of safety features such as smoke detectors and electrical equipment as part of their routine inspections.  It is possible, the township could require, if enacted, an affidavit from a landlord who will swear under penalty of perjury that a rental unit meets township safety codes. 

            Alternatively, the township could require an inspection of rental units by the township every few years.

            Township Engineer John Weber, LTL Consultants, informed the supervisors the full-depth reclamation (FDR) of a portion of Washington Road and Meitzler Road is ready to be paved. 

            Road markings at the traffic signal intersections of Barto Road and Route 100 as well as Niantic Road and Route 100 will be completed shortly. 

            The supervisors approved chip and sealing Weisstown Road.  The bid for the work was approximately $43,000.  The township will do the labor at a savings of $14,000. 

            PennDOT requested a contribution of $23,000 from Washington Township for a stormwater project along Route 100 near Mill Street.

            The original budget to remove dead ash trees along the township right of way was $120,000.  Merkel Tree Surgeons and Dallas Tree Surgeons performed the work at a cost of $90,350, a saving to the township taxpayers of $29,650.

            A resident of the township questioned the supervisors about what Prestige Properties Partners, LLC, the developer of a 10-acre parcel located on Old Route 100 and Barto Road, will do to ensure there are no unidentified mine shafts on the property from previous mining activity nearby. 

            While no formal plans for the site have been presented to the township for review, there has been discussion the property could support townhouses.  The supervisors explained the developer's engineer must certify to the satisfaction of the township and the township's engineer the property is safe to construct any kind of building.  Test borings to check for unidentified mine shafts have been conducted on the site.

            A hearing to remove a deed restriction that will enable the township to trade a four-acre parcel to Prestige Properties Partners, LLC, for a 26-acre parcel owned by the developer will be held at the Berks County Orphan's Court on August 24 at 2:30 p.m.

            The supervisors appointed Michael Ewing to the planning commission.  Ewing currently serves as an alternate to the Washington Township Zoning Board.  He must resign his position on the zoning board to hold a position on the planning commission.  Mark Beadle, a planning commission member was appointed to serve on the recreation committee.

            The Outreach Director, Beth Bittner Mazza, from State Senator Tracy Pennycuick's office (R.24th district) attended the supervisors meeting to inform the township Senator Pennycuick's office is ready to offer assistance to the township, especially in the township's search for grant money. 

            Senator Pennycuick will offer mobile offices in the future in Bally, Longswamp, and Amity Townships.  Information is available on the senator's website (senatorpennycuick.com).

            Vice Chairman Moyer reminded residents to be careful with fireworks over the Memorial Day weekend.  Moyer said, "It is very dry right now.  It might be a good idea to let professionals do the fireworks."  He wished all Washington Township residents a "Happy Memorial Day."

            The next Washington Township Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 22 at 7 p.m.