WRIGHT TWP – Township officials are looking into removal of more dead trees from the municipal park.
Jack Gentilesco, who has already removed a number of dead and/or dangerous trees from the park, discussed with the supervisors at their Feb. 14 work session removal of additional trees. Supervisors noted they budgeted $2,500 for tree removal in 2022, a figure Gentilesco described as “laughable.” Gentilesco explained it would cost him $600 to move equipment to and from the park, leaving only $1,900 for the actual tree removal. Hs said there may be some value in the trees as timber and suggested he meet with township officials to walk through the park to determine which trees should be removed.
Township secretary/treasurer Pamela Heard pointed out dead or hazardous trees along the municipal park road right-of-way would be removed as part of the park’s intermodal grant project. It was agreed that Gentilesco and road foreman Matt Howton would walk through the park to determine areas where trees should be removed.
In other business:
• The township is also working on a lease agreement with Pennsylvania American Water Company to store materials on township property near the public works garage.
• Solicitor Jack Dean is looking into whether the township can enforce a stop sign at the exit from the Weis Plaza. Enforcement by police would require an agreement with owners of the plaza along with a township ordinance.
• At their regular meeting, supervisors voted to apply for a $65,450 Local Share Account grant to purchase a police vehicle and one license plate reader camera system. Since the state Department of Transportation did away with the annual license plate registration stickers, police rely on the camera system to identify vehicles with expired or revoked registrations. The systems also identify vehicles without current insurance. Fairview Township already uses such a system.
• In the township recreation board report, vice chairperson Laurel Prohaska noted once the winter weather breaks, the entire dog park will be treated with diatomaceous earth to combat fleas and ticks. The recreation board discussed the possibility of adding a pickleball court to the park master plan. They noted Rice Township did not receive the grant for which it applied to expand its courts. Use of the Rice Township court continues to be high. Fidelity Bank made a $1,500 donation to the master plan project.
