Animal Control Law Adopted in Upper Pottsgrove

An ordinance under discussion since last October that penalizes animal owners for losing control of their animals was adopted unanimously by the township commissioners Monday night.

The specifics of the ordinance, which was advertised previously, were unavailable Monday night other than the responses offered by Commissioner France Krazalkovich in responding to objections by resident Erin Dickey.

Dickey, who has previously been cited by the township for problems with barking dogs, said she has chickens and roosters and worries the ordinance will restrict her ability to raise chickens.

Krazalkoich responded that the ordinance does not limit the number of animals they may have, or require they be kept penned on private property, merely that their presence not disturb others.

We'll have more on this in The Mercury once I get my hands on a copy of the ordinance, which Township Manager Carol Lewis promised to e-mail to me.

In the meantime, here are the Tweets.

A Douglass (Mont.) Blog Post About Nothing

Photo by Evan Brandt

State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., addresses the Douglass (Mont.) Township Supervisors meeting Monday night, but she had nothing to report.

In a meeting reminiscent of the "Seinfeld" episode where George and Jerry pitch a TV show about nothing, the Douglass (Mont.) Supervisors had little to discuss Monday night.

State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., was home from Harrisburg and stopped in, but what did she have to report?

Nothing.

Township Solicitor Bob Brant?

Nothing, (although one wag in the audience asked aloud how much that will cost us.)

Public Works Director Michael Heydt?

Nothing.

Boy was this going to be a short meeting, and it was.

There was something of consequence, however.

Josh Hagadorn, the engineer from Gilmore Assoc., announced that bids for the new public works building are out on the street.

The board rejected the first set of bids at the Feb. 21 meeting. The new bids will be opened on March 27.

The board also voted to hire Bob Dries, the part-time zoning and inspections supervisor to be the township's construction supervisor at a rate of $45 per hour.

Supervisors Chairman Anthony Kuklinski said the township has budget $900,000 for the project and "we will pay for it out of general funds and it will not cause a tax increase."

Dries said the project will take between four to five months to complete. It will be built at the same location as the current facility, 108 Municipal Dr., which will be demolished.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting:

Honors and Mountains of Mulch

Photo by Evan Brandt

Members of the Gilbertsville Fire Co. listen to awards being given to Chief Rick Smith and Harvey Price for serve that, combined among the two, adds up to more than 90 years.

Photo by Evan Brandt

Fire Chief Rick Smith, left, and Harvey Price.

Last night's meeting of the Douglass (Mont.) Board of Supervisors was quite but
fruitful.

State Rep. Marcy Toepel, R-147th Dist., was on hand to provide awards from the House of Representatives to longtime firefighters Rick Smith and Harvey Price.

Together the two of them represent more than 90 years of service to the residents of Gilbertsville. "It doesn't seem that long," said Price.

Then the board got down to some less pleasant business at hand.

The agreement with Mountain Mulch to leave their operation on Sassamansville Road and find a new place to do business expired on March 31.

But they're still there, as neighbor Karen Keyser attested.

So the board has decided to seek sanctions from the county court.

But it may all be moot.

Dave Yusko told the board he is hoping to sign an agreement of sale for the property within several days and return it to its former agricultural use and raise horses there.

All expressed the hope that this happens soon.

Here are the Tweets from the meeting.