Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting

Good evening and welcome to this reorganization meeting of the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors. Would everybody please stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Well, tonight we are fortunate and excited to have the Men of Harmony sharing their talents with us. The Men of Harmony are a fabulous local singing group who perform in the community. They performed at the township's holiday open house last month and they go as far back as 2008 when they helped us dedicate the Veterans Memorial Park in Levittown. Tonight they are led by director Lee Neand accompanied by pianist Susan Delorio. The Men of Harmony will sing the national anthem and God Bless America. So please stand um and welcome the Men of Harmony.

[music] [music] [music] [snorts]

Oh, say can [singing] you see by the dawn early so proudly [singing] we and the twilight last dreaming Whose bright stripes and bright stars through the perilless [singing] we were so gallently [singing] screaming and the rockets [music] went there. The monsters singing [singing] air through the night [singing] and our flag was still there. Oh, say [singing] us that stars spangle [music] and way for the land [singing] of the free and the home of the brave. [singing] Oh, thus be it ever free [singing] shall stand between [music] their love and the war's desolation [singing] blessed with victory and peace and the heaven [singing] and reserve [singing] the nation and coner [music] When our God [singing] is just and his be our [music] motto in God [singing] is our trust and the stars tangle man in triump shall we [singing] for the land of the [singing] free [music] and the hope of the [singing] brave. Hey, [music] [applause]

[music] [music] when the storm clouds gather far across [singing] Let's see. Let us swear al [singing] to a land that's free. Let us all be grateful [singing] for a land so fair. As we raise our [singing] voices [music] in a solemn prayer, [singing] [music] America [singing] that I love. Stand beside her and guide [singing] her. Good night with the light from above [music] from the mountain [singing] with God [singing] bless America. My home sweet home from the mountain [singing] to the pra God bless America [groaning] I hold [singing] sweet home God bless [singing] my Sweet [singing] home. [music] [applause] [applause]

[snorts]

[applause]

Thank you to the men of harmony. That was fantastic.

All right. Um, since we do not have a secretary at the moment, I will call roll. Supervisor Hannah here. Supervisor Kaine here. And we also have township manager Mr. Ratliff, uh, assistant manager Mr. Vala, township solicitor Mr. Espazito, township engineer engineer Mr. Kesler, as well as uh various department heads and directors. So that brings us into our first formal agenda item of the evening, which is the administration of the oath of office to our new uh elected officials. And we have uh Judge uh Dan Baronowski here to administer the oath of office. Judge, and we'll start with our newly elected auditor, David Tilly.

[applause]

You can also hold microphone. Place your left hand on the Bible and raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. I, David Tilly, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that I will discharge the duties of my office and I'll discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. with fidelity. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause] Congratulations, Mr. Tilly.

Next, we will have administration of the oath of office to our tax collector, Ray Chapman. [applause] [applause]

I can give you that microphone. Put your left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand and repeat after me. I state your name. I, Ray Chapman, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I'll support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and I'll discharge the duties of my office and I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. with fidelity. Congratulations.

Thank you. [applause] [applause] Congratulations, Mr. Chapman. Next, we will have administration of the oath of office to new supervisor Ryan Leighton. [applause] Left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand and Repeat after me. I state your name. I, Ryan Leighton, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear

that I will support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that I will discharge the duties of my office and that I will discharge the duties of my office fidelity with fidelity. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause]

[applause]

Mr. Leighton, you can come take your seat up here. [applause] And next we have administration of the oath of office to new supervisor Christian Gallardo. [applause] left hand on the Bible. Raise your right hand [clears throat] and repeat after me. I state your name. I, Christian Gallardo, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, obey, and defend that I will support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and that I will discharge the duties of my office and that I will discharge the duties of my office with fidelity. with fidelity. Congratulations. [applause]

[laughter] [applause]

Yeah. Congratulations to all all of our newly sworn in township officials. I want to thank Judge Baronowski for being here and administering the oath of office to our uh new officials. Um, all right. So, the next order of business on the agenda is reorganization of the board of supervisors. And the first item uh under that category is the election the election of a new chairperson. And so, I will take this opportunity to nominate Bernardet Hannah for chairperson. Is there a second? I'll second. Thank you, Miss Kane. There's been a motion and a second. Any board questions? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I.

Opposed? Carries 5-0. Congratulations, Miss Hannah. who are our new chairperson. [applause] Got to switch our bags. Yeah, thank you. Hi, good evening. Um, the next agenda item is to nominate um a vice chair. Um, at this time I would like to nominate Ryan Lightton for vice chairperson of the board of supervisors.

I'll second. Uh, is are there any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I. I. [applause]

Next agenda on the uh next item on the agenda is election of secretary. At this time, I'd like to nominate Christian Gallardo as secretary for the Middletown Township Board of Supervisors. I'll second. I'll second. I beat you. Um, uh, any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? We have a motion in a second. All those in favor say I. I. [snorts] Motion passes. 5-0. [applause]

I need to go back. Um, vice chair person, I forgot to say motion passes 5-0. Just want that on the rear. Okay. Next agenda item, consideration for um a chairperson to the vacancy board for 2026. At this time, I nominate Helen Ratner for chairperson to the vacancy board for 2026. I'll second. Okay. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I.

I. Motion passes 5-0. Next agenda item is consideration of appointing Eard Seammens as police labor attorney. Uh I make a motion to appoint Eard Seammens as police labor attorney. I'll second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. I.

Motion passes 5-0. Okay. Next agenda item, consideration for appointing Curtain and Heafner as township solicitor. I make a motion to appoint Curtain and Heafner as township solicitor. I'll second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? [snorts] We have a motion and a second. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 5-0. Consideration. Uh, next agenda item. Consideration of appointing Hill Wallik and nonp police as non-p police labor. Oh, I did that one. Sorry. No, you didn't.

I didn't. Oh, consideration of appointing Hill Wallik as nonp police labor attorney. A second. Okay. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 5-0. Next agenda item, consideration of appointing Kilk County Law as zoning hearing board solicitor. I make a motion to appoint Kil Kilk County Law as zoning hearing board solicitator. Solicitor, sorry. A second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes 5-0. I'm a little nervous. Sorry about that. All right. All right. Next agenda item, consideration of appointing Remington and Vernick engineers as township engineers. I'll second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. 5-0. Next agenda item, consideration of appointing Penoni as township traffic engineer. I make a motion to appoint Penoni as township traffic engineer. Second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I.

I. I. Motion passes 5-0. Can I just make one comment, Miss Hannah? Sure. I just want to especially thank Remington, Vernick, Curtain, Heathner, Eert, Seammens, and Hill Wallick all who held their rates uh to the township steady from 2025 2026. There's no increase in their billable hours and we certainly appreciate that. We absolutely appreciate it this year. Thank you. Next agenda item, consideration of appointing the township manager to the positions of assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, and chief administrative officer to pensions. I make a motion to appoint township manager to the positions of assistant treasurer, assistant secretary, and chief administrative officer to pensions. Second.

Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I. I. Motion passes 5-0. Next agenda item, consideration of appointing the finance director as township treasurer. I make a motion to appoint the finance director as township treasurer. Second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion [clears throat] passes. 5-0. Next agenda item, consideration of establishing and authorizing advertisement of the 2026 public meetings of the board of supervisors. I make a motion to establish and authorize an advertisement of the 2026 public meetings of the board of supervisors. Second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. 5-0. Next agenda item, consideration of establishing bond limits in the amount of $4 million for treasurer, assistant treasurer, and township manager for the faithful performance of the duties of said offices. I make a motion to establish bond limits in the amount of $4 million for the treasurer, assistant treasurer, and township manager for the faithful performance of the duties of said offices. A second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes 5-0.

Next agenda item, boards and commissions and appointments. Uh we have consideration of reappointing currently serving members to various boards of commissions on appendix A. I'll second. We got to get through them. Oh, wait. Hold on. I got to make a motion real quick. Make a motion if you want. I got it. Okay. Um, so I will make a motion to uh appoint the following individuals to the financial advisory committee. William Appleton to a 4-year term uh effective December 5th, 2026. Norman Bing to a four-year term effective January 5th, 2026. And Irene Bole to a four-year term effective January 5th, 2026. Any questions from the board? Uh, do we get a second? I'll second.

Any questions from the board? I'm going to Mr. Kizak, Miss I'm just going to stop you. The way that the uh agenda item was written is we were doing all of the those board me all including every single one. So if you want to read every reappointment on that whole list.

All right. I move to appoint to the park and rec uh board Dory Bower to a three-year term effective January 5th, 2026. Christine Piaza Belzer uh to a three-year term effective January 5th, 2026. On the planning commission, Richard Nuttle to a four-year term effective January 5th, 2026. and Peter Tentala to a four-year term effective January 5th, 2026. To the zoning hearing board, Ernie Ernie Peacock to a five-year term effective January 5th, 2026. To the Stormwater Advisory Committee, Joseph Fitch to a three-year term effective January 5th, 2026. And on the Citizens Traffic Commission, uh Roland Meyers to a three-year term effective January 5th, 2026. I will second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I.

I. I. Motion passes 5-0. Next item on the agenda is consideration of appointing members to fill vacancies to various boards and commissions on appendix A. Uh currently we have one person that we're filling, one vacancy that we're filling. So I make a motion to appoint James Roman to the zoning hearing board for the period of oneyear term. I'll second. Any questions from the board? Any questions from the public? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. 5-0.

Next on the agenda, we have public comment. Is there any public comment? Congratulations,

Miss Hannah. There are uh three other vacancies on Appendix B. Um if the board wishes to make appointments to those or if anyone in the audience is interested in filling those vacancies, we can certainly fill out an application for the board to consider. Absolutely. We have, let's see, we have um parks and wreck, traffic commission, EAC, and storm water. Is that correct? As well as the planning commission.

And the planning commission. Um so tell your friends. Um there are applications on the um the Middletown Township website. Um also um if I could just make a public comment real quick. I just wanted to take this opportunity to um thank everybody um on the board. It's awesome to work with such dedicated people and to welcome Christian and Ryan. Um we really do work hard to work together to serve the community. Um also want to take the opportunity to serve um the township staff, Mr. Eden, Mr. Vala um and all of the uh everybody in the different departments that have been just very encouraging and supporting through this transition time. So, thank you.

Okay. Um any other business?

Uh sure. Thank [clears throat] you. So, the board of supervisors has asked me to facilitate a conversation about uh the opportunity for a public comment policy. Uh so currently the board of supervisors um has sort of allowed for there to be public discussion during its public meetings, but they're certainly permitted if it desires to adopt a policy that would put sort of parameters around what that policy could look like. Um you know, you could do things like uh putting a time limit on that. You could sort of structure when there's going to be comment at the beginning of a meeting, at the end of a [snorts] meeting. You could address non-resident comment. Uh the board's been uh generous allowing um residents of other communities to make comments. you could sort of create an agenda item of when that would be uh sort of organized during public meetings. Um and if that is something the board of supervisors is interested in, you could provide feedback to myself and our solicitor, Mr. Espazito, um to pres to prepare that and present that to you for consideration. Uh so sort of just softly introduce that topic uh at your request and if you have questions or feedback, we'd be happy to sort of answer those for you. Okay.

Thank you. Um any other business from Mr. Keiesler? I would just like to thank the board for reappointment this evening. Uh it's really an honor to work with the township uh over the years and looking forward to the year ahead. So thanks very much Mr. Valor. Nothing. Congratulations to the new members. Thank you Mr. Espazito. Just wanted to say congratulations to the uh two new board members and to Miss Hannah for the election as chair. Also wanted to thank you for my reappointment. And then one business uh item to uh to say is that the board did hold executive session on December 19th to discuss personnel matters. That's it.

Thank you. Any other business, Mr. R? No, I echo the uh the comments before me. Congratulations and looking forward to a successful year ahead. Thank you. Um any other business? Uh Mr. Gallardo? um humbly uh thank everyone for getting me in this position and and giving me an opportunity to help out the township. I look forward to working with everybody on this board and uh and definitely throughout the community. Um congratulations on being the chair and uh just look forward to getting to work. Thank you, Mr. Kac.

Um I'll just also congratulate uh my two new colleagues. Welcome. Thrilled to have you here. can't wait to uh see everything you're going to uh bring to the township in these roles. I also want to congratulate Mr. Tilly and Mr. Chapman on uh their appointments this evening. I also want to just take an opportunity to thank all of the members of the township who have agreed to reserve on various boards and commissions. We could not do what we do without these boards and commissions. They are vital to the business of the township and these people give their time and dedication to their community um for nothing in return. And so we really really appreciate everybody who um um volunteered to be reappointed tonight. And as Miss Hannah said, we do have vacancies on other boards and commissions. So if you're interested in serving your community, please come out and volunteer. We we definitely need you.

Thank you. Any comments, Mr. Lane?

Uh yeah, I just wanted to take a moment to thank um everyone in this room, everyone who helped Christian and I uh get here. It was a very hard-fought uh process. Um, and it's there's not a lot of glamour in serving your local community, but it's something that we both care deeply about. And after talking with my new colleagues up here, I know that all of us want what's best for this community. Um, I also want to thank my family, uh, my friends for supporting me and my mentors. Um, it wasn't for them. Uh, just a few years ago, I was just some neighborhood kid who was really into government and politics. And now I get to serve the community that I've called home my entire life and give back to it. and I can't express how much that means to me um and how hard I'm going to try um to make this community as good as I can. Thank you, [applause]

Miss Kane. Any comments? Welcome to the two new board members. Um looking forward to working with both of you, Ryan and Christian. Um looking excited for uh you, Miss Hannah, to be chair. I know we've worked together closely over the past year. Um so excited to see what we can accomplish. Yeah, I'm excited too. Um we have a lot of um similar interest and goals for the township. Um this is an amazing opportunity. I thank everybody so much. Um but uh if that is it, I make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Second. We're [clears throat] adjourned. [applause]