Donegal Township residents question how road maintenance will be handled following layoff of road crew
Donegal Township residents are questioning how the township will maintain its roads now that the four-man road crew has been laid off indefinitely.
Several residents spoke at Thursday’s regular meeting of the supervisors and asked how the township will address road maintenance.
Supervisors did not address the issue, telling residents only that it is weighing options and saying they couldn’t get into specific details because of ongoing contract negotiations with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66.
Road crew employees, who worked four days a week, had been working under the terms of an expired contract since Dec. 31, 2022.
The road crew was laid off indefinitely effective Sept. 20.
One resident, Barry Ray, said he is concerned about his 85-year-old grandfather navigating the roads in bad weather, while others wondered what will happen if there is a weather-related or traffic-related emergency.
Some residents said not having a road crew could have an impact on the safety of residents, and wondered what outside road maintenance would cost the township.
A petition asking for the resignation of the three members of the board of supervisors was circulated at the meeting, and some residents asked during the meeting for the supervisors to step down.
Members of the road crew, who attended the meeting, asserted the supervisors have wanted to eliminate the union and the layoffs were a way to do that.
The supervisors maintain that the road crew was not performing up to expectations and have said that the township will explore other options for road maintenance if they do not reinstate the road crew. They contend their goal is to make the best use of taxpayer funds.
In action, supervisors passed a resolution that residents who are on the local water and sewage service must register with the township to receive push notifications for township emergencies.
The board meets again on Oct. 15 for its regular agenda meeting.