Two hot topics – the revised zoning ordinance and the status of Kahler Road – warmed the Hereford Board of Supervisors’ regular meeting on a chilly and damp evening March 2.

                Hereford resident Bryon Young presented his concerns about the revised zoning ordinance, which was adopted by the supervisors in 2008. 

“I believe the zoning ordinance is excessive,” stated Young, noting that many regulations were unwarranted for a rural municipality.  “It’s burdensome and costly for the residents and the township,” he added.

Young had supplied the supervisors with a 32-point document detailing his disagreement with the ordinance.  He was looking for answers to his points, and the supervisors were not prepared to give them.

“When the ordinance was passed,” Young stated, “John [Membrino] and Karla [Dexter] made a commitment to have a meeting to discuss specific amendments.”

Young further commented that this commitment had not been fulfilled.

Supervisors’ Chairman John Membrino demurred.  He stated that he did not commit to a meeting, and he did not want to open the ordinance up to revisions.

“We don’t always want to be tinkering with the zoning ordinance,” Membrino said.  He also noted that the planning commission had discussed Young’s points at length at their meetings.

                At the public hearing prior to the zoning ordinance, many residents had expressed their concerns about the aspects of it. 

                “I might add,” commented supervisor Karla Dexter, “that some of the people at that hearing came in before the planning commission.” 

                She noted that the commission and the residents had worked through the issues, and the residents had left happy.

                Young argued that the supervisors had promised a mailing and an invitation for a meeting to address the residents’ concerns at the ordinance public hearing.  “I brought up 32 points, and I want an answer for every one of them,” Young said.

                Dexter agreed that he indeed had raised valid points.  There were 12 points that the planning commission had agreed with, and those sections of the ordinance were in the process of revision.

                Young was advised by Membrino to contact the township’s right to know officer in order to obtain minutes of the planning commission meetings.

                The decision as to whether the township should vacate Kahler Road was another hot button issue on the agenda.

       At the February workshop meeting, the supervisors discussed the hazards of plowing the road, which leads to one residence, and the absence of a safe turn around for snowplows, emergency vehicles, or school buses.

                Solicitor Eugene Orlando stated that the township has the power to vacate a road, and that a process was involved of notice, public hearing and adoption of an ordinance.

          Membrino said, “That’s probably the number one road,” but added that a “section of Bob White that is just a dirt road into a residence” was also problematic for the township.

                Membrino explained that he had been informed that Kahler Road, off of Huffs Church Road, had once linked to Route 100, and Bob White to Seisholtzville Road, but these outlets had long been closed.

                Dexter voiced her concerns about the Kahler Road residence becoming landlocked if the road is vacated, because the property would have no public road frontage.

                Dexter also paid a visit to the property owner, who told her he was fine with waiting for his snow removal until the crew had plowed the other township roads.

                Planning commission member Keith Masemore was in attendance at the meeting, and stated in response to Membrino’s comment that the road was nothing more than a driveway, “Kahler Road was never a driveway.”

                Masemore noted that the road appears on an 1881 map and was closed off in the early 1950s.  He also stated that the road actually runs through his property. 

                Membrino said, “If Mr. Kahler wants to improve that road to an agreeable standard, maybe I will consider it.”

                In other road news, Engineer Jeff Kerlin provided the supervisors with a quote of $2,495 for surveying costs for a proposed cul-de-sac/turn around on Fetterman Road.   The condemnation of the Fetterman Road Bridge at Tollgate Road necessitates the construction of the turn around, which will be far more inexpensive that a new bridge.    The supervisors approved the costs and gave Kerlin the go-ahead.

                In Superfund site news, Dexter reported that the EPA was moving the proposed treatment facility for the tainted water from the former Crossley farm Superfund site from Dairy Road to off of Dale Road.

                The facility would be enclosed in a barn type structure, set back in the woods.  The EPA will be accepting new bids for the building this month.  Additionally, the agency will be drilling eight to ten wells along Dale Road, and discharge galleries will be constructed on adjacent properties. 

                Dexter added that the clean water pumped into local streams will be at a temperature of 50 degrees into the 72 degree water during the summer, making for happier trout, but in the winter, the 50 degree water will make the streams warmer.

                She added that the EPA had not yet received approval from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission for this activity, nor had they signed agreements with property owners.