Cumberland to advertise ordinance
CARMICHAELS – Cumberland Township supervisors agreed Monday to advertise an ordinance under which fines can be imposed against the occupants or owners of houses to which police are repeatedly called for problems.
The supervisors voted to advertise a “disorderly house ordinance,” that will allow police or code officers to cite the occupants or owners of houses to which police are called for certain crimes or violations at least three times during a 12-month period.
“We do have certain houses in the township that occupy the majority of the time of the police department and emergency services,” police Chief Craig Miller said. The ordinance will help the township address those problems, he said.
The violations police respond to that will be used to determine whether a house is a “nuisance house” include rioting or fighting, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, cruelty to animals, illegal gambling, corruption of minors, underage drinking, drug violations, including drug overdoses and property maintenance and other local ordinance violations.
The new ordinance will allow the township to impose a fine of up to $300 on the occupants as well as on the owner of a house.
In other business, the supervisors agreed to purchase a diesel generator and automatic transfer switch for $22,034 from the state bidding list for Nemacolin Volunteer Fire Company fire hall.
The equipment is being purchased with the township’s Community Development Block Grant money and will enable the fire hall to be used as an emergency shelter.
The supervisors also approved a motion to award a contract to install the generator and switch to Frank G. Uhrin and LLC Electrical Contractors at a cost of $15,600. Quotes had been received for the work.
The supervisors also voted to reaffirm an agreement with Sheetz Inc. regarding the company’s responsibilities in addressing storm water runoff associated with the expansion of company’s Paisley Intersection store.
The company announced last year it would build a new store almost twice the size of the existing store at the site that will feature an inside dining room, drive-through window and a full menu.
The company earlier purchased the property north of its existing site on Route 88 to accommodate the expansion. The company also has been attempting to work out an agreement with the state Department of Transportation on a road entry permit.
Sheetz has set no timetable for work on the project to begin.