Heidelberg township supervisor recognized for 46 years of service (2024)

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This article was funded by LebTown donors as part ofour Civic Impact Reporting Project.

Heidelberg township supervisor Paul Fetter was presented a plaque honoring his induction into the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors Hall of Fame at Heidelberg’s meeting Tuesday.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Russ Diamond (R-102) stopped by Tuesday to present Fetter with a certificate honoring this induction and his years of service.

Fetter has served on the board of supervisors for 46 years. In that time, he has seen residential development, the construction of a new municipal building near the time he started, and new or improved roads in the township.

In an interview with Pennsylvania Township News, Fetter, who followed the footsteps of both his father and grandfather in local government, emphasized the importance of being willing to listen to different perspectives.

“As a supervisor, you look to the future, and you see what is good for the community long term,” he said.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board unanimously agreed to advertise a nuisance ordinance.

The ordinance, if adopted, would prohibit the following nuisances:

• Storage of junk and garbage.
• Storage of abandoned and junked vehicles.
• Dumping trash (including appliances) on private or public property in the township
• Dumping of trash, rocks, or organic material in waterways, as well as allowing trees on one’s property to fall into and block waterways.
• Roaming pets or livestock on township property or other residents’ property.
• Animal noise exceeding 10 minutes that disturbs the peace.
• Failing to clean up animal waste on others’ or public property.
• The keeping of vicious or illegal exotic animals.
• Maintaining dangerous structures, particularly dilapidated buildings.
• Loud noises disrupting the peace between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., with exemptions including safety signals, church bells, lawn equipment, heavy construction equipment (under certain circ*mstances), and farm-related activities.
• Unclean drainage onto streets or private property.
• Draining sump water, sanitary sewer, or liquid drainage onto public or private property.
• Obstructing roads or streets with equipment, leaf piles, etc.
• Accumulating dead vegetation on one’s property.
• Failing to cut weeds, vegetation, or grass growing 10 inches or more; or allowing lack of yard maintenance to house vermin.

If the ordinance is passed, violations will be enforceable by the township’s code enforcement officer. If not rectified, the township may involve the courts to abate a nuisance and incur fines of $100 to $1,000.

Supervisors have been discussing revised drafts of this ordinance for several months. They felt compelled to direct a draft of this ordinance after hearing repeated complaints of loose chickens and other livestock wandering onto private property and roads.

Solicitor Amy Leonard said the ordinance is based on similar edicts in other municipalities.

A public hearing will be held by supervisors on June 25, at which point they can choose to adopt the ordinance, revise it, or nix the ordinance altogether.

Leonard noted that while supervisors will hear comment during the meeting, residents are welcome to request copies of the ordinance and submit comments earlier, whether by writing or email.

In other news, the board (Cromleigh was not present for any except the lot addition):

• Unanimously awarded the 2024 Road Project bid to Pennsy Supply for $218,688 (including an add-alternate) with $200,000 budgeted.
• Unanimously awarded the 2024 Seal Coat project of Gibble Road to Martin Paving for $30,305, with $40,000 budgeted.
• Unanimously agreed to direct the purchase of a water fountain including an ADA-compliant spout and a pet watering dish not to exceed $6,000, with total cost more likely to be closer to $5,000.
• Unanimously agreed to draw on the letter of credit from the Bicher financial guaranty, as the letter of credit expires in June and Bicher has not provided a new letter of credit.
• Directed Leonard to draft a bounced check policy.
• Unanimously agreed to appoint Light-Heigel as the code enforcement professional, with this organization already covering the township’s zoning.
• Unanimously agreed minutes and bills for payment.
• Unanimously agreed to grant a time extension for the Kline subdivision plan.
• Agreed to approve a lot add-on annexing a half acre of land from Oxenreider’s 3.64-acre lot to Oxenreider’s 12.5-acre lot, without development planned from this slot of land; Fetter abstained.
• Unanimously agreed to hire John Enck to the maintenance department.

The Heidelberg Township Board of Supervisors meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 111 Mill Road. The next meeting will be held June 25.

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