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Bethel Township supervisors met on the morning of Dec. 30 to conduct year-end business, including the purchase of new equipment and the hiring of a new employee.
With two of the three supervisors in attendance, chairman Richard Rudy and Bruce Light unanimously approved all items on the agenda. The third supervisor, Michael Saphore, was available via telephone in case his vote was needed to break any deadlocks.
Supervisors agreed to purchase through the commonwealth’s COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing program a new T770 T4 Bobcat compact track loader for $77,442.92.
COSTARS is the state’s cooperative purchasing program through which registered and eligible Pennsylvania local public procurement units like Bethel Township and Pennsylvania state-affiliated entities, collectively known as “members,” are able to leverage contracts established by the Department of General Services to cost-effectively and efficiently identify suppliers with whom to do business.
Rudy said after the meeting that this type of equipment can run as high as $100,000.
In other business, supervisors hired Thomas Brewer to work in the township’s maintenance department, effective Jan. 19. Rudy said this is a newly created position.
Concerning township roadways, supervisors hired C.M. High repair to perform preventive maintenance work at two intersections within the municipality.
A repair at the southeast corner of the intersection of state routes 22 and 343 involves a light fixture that was illuminated during the day when it should have been off, according to a bid sheet provided by township manager Melissa Johnson to LebTown. The bid notes that High will replace the photocell within the light fixture for $277.52.
The second repair by the Myerstown-based company is the replacement of a signal head backplate that serves eastbound traffic on U.S. Route 22 at Blue Mountain Road. The company’s bid notes they will replace adjacent backplates with retro reflective backplates at the same time. The cost for this project is $1,614.
Supervisors also approved the minutes of their Dec. 11 meeting and paid remaining 2025 invoices prior to the end of the township’s fiscal year.
Invoices totaled $270,129.18 from the General Fund, including the first payment to Chalfont-based Doli Construction Corp. for the Treeline Avenue project at $233,244, and staff payroll in the amount of $16,964.52, among others. Park and Recreation Fund invoices totaled $491.15 for the period ending Dec. 30.
Rudy said at the start of the meeting that “an executive session was held on Dec. 12 to discuss personnel issues regarding the hiring of a maintenance crew member.” All three supervisors attended the session, according to the meeting agenda.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is on Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. for the purpose of reorganization of the township supervisors and other departments within the municipality.
Bethel Township supervisors typically meet the third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the municipal building at 3015 S. Pine St., Fredericksburg.
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