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Having received complaints from residents on irresponsible burning, the Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors is seeking feedback from residents so it can pursue revisions to the township’s burning ordinance.
Heidelberg’s burning ordinance, established in 1995, allows the burning of paper, cardboard, and green waste throughout the township.
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Solicitor Amy Leonard has presented the board with examples of ordinances in other locations that restrict burning by day of the week and zoning. Some ordinances ban all burning in certain districts, or allow only recreational burning.
Residents have voiced complaints that other residents are burning trash, something already prohibited by the ordinance. Some residents also say that, in Schaefferstown, excessive burning can cause a low-hanging level of smoke that makes it unpleasant to be outside.
Supervisor Ted Cromleigh said that while he was open to banning fires in non-agricultural zones, he worries this could pose a hardship on residents that burn green waste.
The board discussed that allowing recreational fires while prohibiting other fires would still allow Schaefferstown residents to burn green waste.
The board indicated favor for prohibiting burning outright on Sundays and holidays.
Cromleigh said that while a burning ordinance isn’t something that will be able to make all residents happy, he wants to hear more feedback from residents before putting forward a draft for review.
Residents are asked to provide feedback to htsewer@comcast.net or during public meetings.
In other news, the board:
- Tabled decision on a quote for lighting repair and fan installation for public works, opting to wait until they can have someone examine whether any of the rest of the building is also in need of these items.
- Unanimously approved the sale of a used snow plow for $500.
- Discussed ways to fix and maintain the ball field long term, with supervisors voicing support for doing what is needed to keep the fields usable.
- Heard that the township was not the recipient of a trail grant applied for last year.
- Granted numerous time extensions to developments.
- Heard that there is still water accumulating on the township building roof, something that roofers promised would not happen. The township engineer is having the installers take another look to see if the roof was improperly installed.
- Authorized Leonard to reach out to those who did not comply with three-year on-lot septic program pumping requirements.
- Directed Leonard to draft a resolution for a cellphone reimbursement policy for township employees.
- Heard that the remodel of the interior of the township building is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
- Unanimously agreed to direct the township manager to look into replacing 10-year-old township laptops with five new ones, totaling $8,812.20 in costs.
- Discussed PennDOT intersection analysis, with Cromleigh noting “When you bring things to PennDOT’s attention, they kinda just fall into a black hole.”
- Unanimously approved minutes and bills.
Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. These meetings are open to the public and do not require prior registration.
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