Rush Township supervisors adopted an ordinance that will require residents to remove any non-functioning solar panels from their properties.

“If someone has them on their roof or pole mounted, or on a battery backup systems or anything, they have to be maintained. If it is not maintained, they have to remove it and make the area safe again,” board Vice Chairman Robert Leibensperger said.

The ordinance, which passed during Wednesday’s meeting, amends the township’s property maintenance code.

Residents who have panels that aren’t working should dismantle them, board Chairman Shawn Gilbert said.

“They could be a safety hazard in high wind. It can blow them off and they can hit somebody or kill somebody,” Leibensperger said. “We don’t want to have that issue.”

Also during the meeting, supervisors voted to purchase two parcels containing approximately 5.43 acres of vacant land.

One of the parcels is 4.5 acres on Claremont Avenue (Route 309), and the other is just under an acre and located near Claremont Avenue and Ye Olde Dam Road. The parcels lie across Claremont Avenue from each other.

Following the meeting, Leibensperger said the township does not have any immediate plans for the properties.

Supervisors also appointed Leibensperger to execute documents pertaining to the closing and sale of 43 Chestnut St.

The property, which is behind the Hometown Volunteer Fire Co., is owned by the township and housed the township sewer authority office.

Construction on new sewer authority headquarters on Mahanoy Avenue (Route 54) is nearing completion.

Supervisors noted that a community yard sale for the village of Hometown will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 3 and 4. Residents are invited to participate.

The township administrative office will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday. It will also be closed April 24 and 25 for a conference.