Resident Dr. Leon Clark had raised the question at the last Chestnuthill Township supervisors' meeting held on Oct. 19 of why there was such a large amount of money ($11,025.13) disbursed to Burnely Workshop in the General Fund check detail account. Township manager, Dave Albright said he would have a breakdown of the report by the next meeting.

At the Nov. 15 meeting, Albright explained that Burnley Workshop provides employment services at the township's recycling center, a full-time supervisor and seven laborers, averaging about 17 hours per laborer each week. In addition, they clean the park and municipal buildings. It usually averages in the $3,000 range.Chestnuthill also pays Burnely to recycle the electronics it receives, paying a set amount for each item. So in the month of October's check detail, there were two pay periods recorded for Garbage Transfer Station, $2,783.82 plus $3,044.56 plus the electronics recycling payment of $2,939, all to Burnely with $772.41 and $808.02 for park maintenance and supplies, $331.03 and $346.29 for building/janitorial services, for a total of $11,025.13.Clark thanked Albright for the breakdown.Resident Al Bourke thought that $120,000 grant from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) for a trail at the regional park was a lot of money when there was a greater need by people in the township and wondered if $60,000 of that grant money could be put to better use. Bernie Kozen, Executive Director of the West End Park & Open Space said that that money was a grant approved for that purpose only.Resident Bourke accused the supervisors of making township decisions behind closed doors."There are no discussions or arguments among you in public. You guys are wrong," said Bourke. He went on to say that he had proof that they made decisions behind closed doors.Supervisor Chris Eckert asked Bourke to reveal his proof and Bourke said he would in private. Gould told him to present it in public. They would not meet with Bourke in private. Bourke did not present anything to the public.At the Oct. 19 meeting, Dr. Leon Clark, Al Bourke and a few other residents, expressed concern at the need and cost for the new county-wide re-addressing system.Supervisor Chris Eckert said he took the initiative to invite Kerry Knapp, administrator/captain from the West End Community Ambulance Association BLS Effort station and Eric Hoffman, Chief from the West End Fire Company to the Nov. 16 meeting to present the benefits of the new county-wide re-addressing system and why it was important to the Chestnuthill community.Knapp said as an emergency responder, they look for house numbers."If we don't see a number, it takes us longer to find the emergency and sometimes we only have minutes."Dr. Leon Clark said it should be a person's choice to choose to have a number to identify their home or not. If an emergency happens, it's a choice they made and can't hold the responder responsible if something happens.Hoffman played a recording of an emergency call the fire company had just been issued that night prior to the meeting for carbon monoxide poisioning."It was a life or death call and no house number was given. Just the name of the street. We had to hunt for the house. In fact, they called again to tell us that we had passed the house."Dr. Clark said, "I'm all for the system. It needs to be done. It's been a problem for 25 years. But don't penalize the cititzenery if they can't afford to buy the new signs."Bourke said that he and others had come up with a grid system years ago and gave it to emergency responders and residents. Hoffman said it was outdated and didn't work.Bourke said that the new system is expensive and may fail."You cannot fine people who opt out. I'll pay for the signs of the first five who opt out and maybe others will pay for the next five," he said.Knapp provided samples of the letters explaining the readdressing system that will be sent out to the residents and a list of some of the most frequently asked questions with answers.Supervisor Dave Fleetwood reported that the new Chestnuhill Township Historical Society is looking for people to come and present programs at its monthly meetings. They are looking into purchasing tarps to cover leaks of the Merwinsburg Hotel and applying for grants to help them fix those leaks. They have been holding discussions on applying for a 501c3 status. They will be holding a holiday get-together at Ye Olde Saylors Inn on Wednesday, Dec. 8 and if anyone would like to join them, call Dave at 570-992-7247. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 7 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Twp. park building.In response to Bourke's accusation of the supervisors meeting to discuss township business outside of the scheduled public meetings, township solicitor, Joseph McDonald, looked up the wording of the Sunshine Act in Pennsylvania (The right of the public to be present at all meetings of certain defined public bodies (i.e., "agencies") and to witness the deliberation, policy formulation, and decision making of agencies is "vital to the enhancement and proper functioning of the democratic process."In addition to guaranteeing this right, the Sunshine Act also requires the advertising and public notice of agency meetings and provides for reasonable public comment during board, council, or authority meetings.It also provides for limited exceptions and establishes penalties for violations of the act. He read aloud the six purposes for executive sessions (defined as a meeting from which the public is excluded,) which may occur for only one of the six purposes:1. Discussions of matters involving employment or performance of officers or employees of the agency, provided that any affected individual is given the opportunity to request, in writing, thatthe meeting be held in public.2. Meetings involving collective bargaining, labor relations, and arbitration.3. To consider the purchase or lease of real property.4. To meet with an attorney or other professional advisor regarding litigation or issues where an identifiable complaint is expected to be filed.5. To discuss agency business which, if discussed in public, would lead to the disclosure of information protected by law, including ongoing investigations.6. Discussions of academic admissions or standing by the governing bodies of State-owned, State-aided, or State-related colleges or universities.At the close of the sometime contentious meeting, resident Stuart Thody stated that he didn't know how much more fair the board could be to the citizens who come to the township supervisors' meetings.