Walker Township held its annual reorganizational meeting followed by the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Ann Ostergaard was appointed the temporary chairperson. Craig Wagner was nominated and renamed chairperson and continued the meeting.

The following positions were nominated and appointed for 2023:

• Vice chairperson - Kent Heisler

• Secretary - Ann Ostergaard

• Treasurer - Dana Brubaker

• Assistant treasurer, secretary of Planning Commission, and secretary of Zoning Hearing Board - Ann Ostergaard

Other nominations and appointments:

• Roadmaster and emergency management coordinator - Chad Felty

• Assistant emergency management coordinator - Dave Duffy

• Township solicitor - Chris Riedlinger

• Assistant solicitor - Eric Brown

• Zoning Hearing Board solicitor - Robert Frycklund

• Engineer - ARRO Consultants

• Sewage enforcement officer - Bill Brior, primary; Robert Fugate, alternate

• Zoning officer - Bill N. McMullen, ARRO

• Assistant zoning officers - Ann Ostergaard and Shannon Darker

• Building Code official - Comprehensive Inspection Agency

• Flood plain administrator - Bill N. McMullen

• Assistant flood plain administrator - Shannon Darker

• Chairman of Vacancy Hearing Board - Christine Troxell

• Delegate to Eastern Schuylkill Recreation Commission - Kent Heisler, primary; Christine Troxell, alternate

Other business

Additional actions by the supervisors:

• The amount of treasurer’s and assistant treasurer’s bond was voted to be $250,000 each for 2023.

• Increase mileage reimbursement as per IRS to 65 cents per mile.

The following Resolutions were approved:

• Resolution 1: Re-enacting all local taxes for 2023.

• Resolution 2: Setting wages and salaries for 2023. Supervisors, $50 per meeting; secretary/treasurer, $6,734 per year each; tax collector, 4% commission; roadmaster, $2,581 per year plus 100 hours paid vacation; police officer in charge (part time), $20.61 per hour; police officer (part time), $20.11 per hour; operator mechanic (CDL or non-CDL), $21.25 per hour; public works (part time, as needed), $13.39 per hour; auditors, $10 per hour, not to exceed $1,000.

• Resolution 3: Appointment of SEO and fee schedule.

• Resolution 4: Depositories for township: M&T Bank, Mauch Chunk Trust Co., PLGIT, and CDs.

• Resolution 5: Depositories for tax collection

• Resolution 6: Appointing building and code enforcement and adoption of fee schedule.

• Resolution 7: Appointing Planning Commission members: Barbara Koch and Benjamin Turrano, both for four year terms.

• Resolution 8: Appointing Zoning Hearing Board members: Charlie Felty, term expires Dec. 31, 2023; Brenda Koch, term expires Dec. 31, 2025; David Bensinger, alternate, term expires Dec. 31, 2023.

• Resolution 9: Authorization of operational support activities for New England Fire Company in order to cover these activities under Workman’s Compensation, which otherwise would only cover emergency responders. The activities covered: maintaining station and equipment, acting as a trustee, organizing fundraisers, providing information technology support, assisting with recruitment, and other administrative tasks.

• Walker Township Fire Police were sworn in by Supervisor Chairman Craig Wagner. They include Donald Houser Jr., Elizabeth Martens, Randy Kraus Jr. and Chad Felty.