Harford addresses noise violations

BY PAT FARNELLI

Harford Township supervisors began to address a possible violation to their Industrial Noise Ordinance at their regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct.11.

Supervisor Garry Foltz said that the F.S.Lopke stone quarry, which was granted approval by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to operate on the William O’Dell property, has been running a stone crusher in the early morning hours, as well as operating heavy equipment there.

The quarry began its operations after the Industrial Noise Ordinance was in effect inHarfordTownship, Foltz said.

The ordinance specifically bans loud industrial activity after11 p.m.

The Lopke quarry has been operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Foltz reported. “We have offered waivers for specific projects.”

He said that the noise ordinance is being ignored, even after the operators were informed of its regulations.

Foltz added that the quarry managers also run excavators with back-up alarms and use jackhammers in themidnight to 2 a.m.hours.

“They said they would cooperate, but then they moved the equipment to the back of the quarry and kept going,” he said.

So far, no resident has filed a complaint, but Foltz says that if someone in the township files a complaint, the supervisors will have to pursue it.

Earlier in the meeting, Supervisor Terry VanGorden told of a deal negotiated with the F.S. Lopke construction company, so that the township could have its choice of any stone they wanted out of the quarry at $5 a ton, which township workers trucked themselves.

“It saved us lots of money,” he said.

VanGorden is theHarfordTownshiproadmaster, and has had his work cut out for him, fixing and re-fixing the roads after the Irene and Lee storms.White Roadwas built up and coated, and its ditches were cut. TheRichardson Roadproject needs to be done soon. “I plan on moving there on Monday (Oct. 17) weather permitting.

He said that the Section 1 road work was done last, includingLandingLake, and Upper and Lower Podunk roads.

VanGorden announced, “My intentions are, by the end of the year, I am retiring, again, for reasons of my own.”

He said that the township therefore needs to advertise for a fulltime employee, qualified to serve as roadmaster, with aCDLlicense if possible.”

Foltz said that at the time the supervisors were applying for grant money for theSchool Streetrepaving project, a gentleman heard of the township’s plans.

A donation was received from Joseph and Mallory Phelan for that purpose, Foltz said.

The Zupp property has its proposed driveway marked, Foltz said.

The supervisors agreed last month to allow Cougar Land Services to use township roads to conduct a geophysical seismic survey.

Two representatives from Williams pipeline attended the meeting to inform the supervisors of their plans within the township. They said that the permits are all scheduled for 2012 or later.

Foltz noted that Southwestern Energy did a nice job onThree Lakes Road.

The township coordinated with the Fire Company for the removal of 53 trees that came down during Hurricane Irene.

After much controversy, VanGorden said that “at this time, I have to second a motion to purchase a time clock” for the township employees.

The township auditors recommended that a time clock be purchased and put to use as soon as possible, and Foltz had brought up the issue at several meetings, only to meet opposition from both VanGorden and Supervisor and Secretary Sue Furney.

“I know I was totally against it,” VanGorden said. “I didn’t feel we had enough employees to justify it. I talked to several lawyers, and they said to cover myself.  I  hope it doesn’t cause bitter feelings either way.”

Foltz said he felt a time clock was appropriate for a business that needs to answer to the general public. Both Furney and VanGorden said that they felt that the honor system worked well for the township.

When the motion carried, Furney said, “In other words, it’s a personal vendetta against me.”