At last month’s meeting of the Schuylkill Township Supervisors, resident John Bashago of Tuscarora questioned whether firearms can be discharged within the residential areas of the township.

At this month’s meeting, Police Chief Frank DiMarco said he reviewed the township’s ordinances and that currently there is no ordinance or law in the township that would prevent someone from discharging a weapon.

He said the closest thing that would apply would be a game law, but that as long as the person discharging the weapon is using a backstop and not firing the weapon in the direction of a house, they would be allowed to do it. DiMarco asked that if the situation rises again, police be contacted so they can determine if the activity is being conducted properly and safely.

The chief also requested that the police department be allowed to purchase game cameras to place in areas of the township where illegal dumping is occurring. DiMarco said two cameras would run the township approximately $300.

“It would help us catch them a lot better,” he said. The board of supervisors did not act on the request but asked for more information. DiMarco said the police department did catch someone dumping and was in the process of investigating another instance of dumping but were being delayed by the weather.

DiMarco also outlined the purchase of an ENRADD system, which he requested the supervisors look into purchasing. The device, which runs about $3,800, would allow the police department to better enforce speed limits within the borough. DiMarco said the device could be used anywhere in the township, since it doesn’t rely on lines being painted on the road. Supervisors said they would take the matter under advisement.

In other emergency-service related matters, the supervisors approved the Mary D Fire Company fundraising events and work details for 2018. They also approved a resolution for submission of a DCED grant for matching aid for the merger of the Brockton and Mary D Fire companies.

The motions were questioned by resident Joe Leskin, who asked why the motions were being approved when the public has not been informed of activities during the proposed merger, and the merger hasn’t happened yet. Supervisor Charles Hosler explained that both fire companies are working together with a lawyer on the merger and the matter is being handled properly.

He also said that until the merger goes through, both fire companies are operating independently, as they always have. Any money the township gives to the individual fire companies will still belong to the fire company after the merger and will still remain in the township.