Supervisors hear complaints about yard maintenance

YEAGERTOWN - Numerous Derry Township residents presented the township supervisors with various complaints, requests and disputes on Monday evening during the supervisors' semimonthly meeting.

Several residents from the Glenwood Avenue area showed up to request the township's help in urging a fellow resident to take better care of his property, which they maintain is overrun with weeds and various foliage.

The owner of the property in question also was present at the meeting to share his remarks and refute the accusations lodged against him.

The supervisors said that they were in the process of enacting a hazardous building ordinance, after which point they would have an enforceable ordinance in place. The supervisors also said that they would have their codes officer, Jim Treaster, examine the property to determine if it is in violation of any township ordinances.

The next request was from Roger Breon, a Yeagertown resident, who brought forward a noise complaint pertaining to Seasons Bar.

Breon said he has made multiple attempts to find a resolution to what he deems is a noise problem originating from the bar on Main Street in Lewistown. Breon said patrons who sit out on the bar's deck are causing a disturbance for the occupants of the various residences located around the business.

The supervisors informed Breon that the township does not have a noise ordinance that police can enforce and the matter was up to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to regulate. The supervisors further stated that they would consider contacting the PLCB to notify them of the perceived problem.

Also during the meeting, area resident Becky Wilson requested she and a group of approximately 18 older adults be allowed to use the Derry Township Senior Citizens Center in conjunction with a "grocery bingo" game, which they would like to hold regularly.

The supervisors said they had some concerns regarding the financial transactions involved, citing their desire to stay away from allowing for-profit groups to use the community facilities. Wilson said all proceeds from the game go to purchase the groceries for the next bingo game. The supervisors informed Wilson that they would look into the request and notify her of their decision.

Another local resident also made a request to use a community facility, and the supervisors again informed the requester that they were wary of allowing groups looking to make a profit the use of the facilities.

Bryson Haubrick of Kratzer Concessions is hoping to open a concession stand at Derry Park, and asked the supervisors to grant him permission and a transient business license. Haubrick confirmed that his request was for the purpose of making a profit but that he would be willing to donate a portion of his proceeds. The supervisors told Haubrick they would consider his request and notify him of their decision.

In other business, the supervisors accepted, with regret, the resignation of Murray W. Laite as township auditor. Laite states in his resignation letter that he also serves on the Derry Township Sewer Authority and felt he must resign his position as auditor because of that commitment.

The supervisors also discussed a letter received from Lewistown Borough regarding a storm water management problem within the borough, which is stemming from a property located in Derry Township. The letter requests that the supervisors take action to correct the run-off of water from properties located in Derry Heights onto Fairview Avenue. The letter contends that damage has been incurred by the residents of Fairview Avenue due to the storm water run-off.

The supervisors said it was their opinion that engineers from both Derry Township and Lewistown Borough should work together to determine a feasible solution to the problem.

The Derry Township supervisors meet at 6 p.m. on the first and third Monday of each month at the Derry Township Building in Yeagertown.