Near the end of this week’s Warriors Mark Township supervisors meeting, representatives of developer John Gilliland asked for approval of planning modules for a number of developments in the township.
Solicitor Larry Clapper took exception to the developer’s request because of the manner in which the information was introduced. Clapper noted the issue was not on the agenda for Tuesday evening.
“Since at least July of last year, plans that have been submitted have gone through a formal process going to the township planning commission and being reviewed by the township engineer,” said Clapper.
Development matters are also being submitted to the Huntingdon County Planning Commission for its review and comment.
“When plans or modules are ready, then the engineer contacts the township secretary to have those items placed on the formal agenda,” Clapper told The Daily Herald.
Clapper explained it is no different than him preparing an ordinance and then informing the secretary when it is ready to be put before the supervisors for adoption.
Clapper was named as township solicitor last summer, and one of his objectives has been to restore some sense of order to the meetings and shorten the length. There have been previous cases of township meetings lasting “past midnight” according to officials and residents in Warriors Mark.
Meetings are scheduled on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the fire hall.
Even with Clapper on board, January’s meeting lasted more than three hours, and February’s regular meeting lasted more than two and a half hours. This week’s meeting ending in what some thought was “record time,” lasting about an hour and forty minutes.
“We are trying to make sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed,” said Clapper. “It came to a head tonight, and I just wanted to be sure it was a procedure we are going to follow.”
In the end, the developer got what he wanted, as the supervisors voted to approve the planning modules contingent on the engineer’s final review and acceptance.
Fred Henry of Henry Mease Surveyors was present at the meeting and attempted to present the planning module information on behalf of Gilliland. He also noted another developer had recently come before the board with planning modules and was heard without objection from the supervisors.
Records from the regular February meeting show the supervisors were approached by developer Bruce Cox on a planning module issue and did receive approval.
“We’ve tried to get matters on the agenda,” said Henry. “We’ve been unable to reach the township secretary and have left messages. We really don’t have a problem with it (following township procedures) if they are consistent with it.”
After the meeting, Clapper received thanks from at least two members of the public who approached him and said they were appreciative of his efforts to bring order to the meetings.
Chairman of the Warriors Mark Township Supervisors L. Stewart Neff addressed the issue after the meeting and concurred with Clapper on the efforts being made by the township to do things in a more orderly and professional manner.
“Within the last year, we have tried to establish some policy and procedures when it comes to subdivision issues such as how they should be submitted and when,” said Neff. “So, once it gets to the supervisors the plans have already been reviewed by professionals in the areas that need to review it.
“Perhaps, this is one area we have been a bit remiss in,” Neff told The Daily Herald. “I think because of the amount of volume (regarding development issues) we needed to put some structure and consistency into the meetings.”
