Nov 26, 2013 3 min read

After discussing the placement of a gate on a private portion of Mt. Blaine Drive during the past several meetings, Peters Township Council agreed Nov. 25 to take action to have the gate removed, citing reports from the three emergency services that cover the township.

Residents on the private portion of Mt. Blaine Drive erected a gate on the road that, while not locked, is likely to impede traffic traveling from one public side to the other, and the police and fire chiefs, as well as a representative of the ambulance service, notified council that the gate would require a longer response time in the case of an emergency.

In most cases, the township would not become involved in a dispute between neighbors. However, when the three services agreed the gate would slow responders, council members agreed to take action.

Jordan Russell of 103 Mt. Blaine Drive lives on the private portion, and asked council Nov. 25 to leave the issue of the gate alone, citing what he called excessive traffic on the private portion as the reason for the gate.

John Smith, township solicitor, told Russell that public safety is the issue with which council can become involved.

After about 40 minutes of discussion, Council president Frank Arcuri said there was an agreement of council for Smith to contact the attorney representing residents in favor of the gate and attempt to seek an agreement. If no agreement is reached, Smith was authorized to take the matter to court. Council also agreed to ask the police chief to discuss a way to enforce what Russell said are speeders on the private part of the road.

Also at issue Nov. 25 were complaints about missed garbage collection in the Great Meadows plan. One resident on Scenic Ridge Road said garbage pick up is missed about 15 percent of the time. Michael Silvestri, township manager, said he is aware of the complaints and has contacted Waste Management. Silvestri said he would ask a representative of Waste Management to attend a future council meeting to explain why areas in the township are being missed.

In other matters, council:

• Voted unanimously to officially change the name of Teaberry, which does not have an official designation as a road or drive, to Teaberry Lane. The road is in the Sienna Woods plan.

• Accepted the resignation of Jamison Hardy from the Youth Commission. Hardy won a seat on the Peters Township School Board Nov. 5. His term was to expire January of 2016.

• Accepted the resignation of Marie Legowik from the Planning Commission. Her term was to expire January 2015. Frank Kosir Jr. was approved to replace Legowik with only Councilman Robert Lewis voting against the appointment.

• Approved a request by the Peters Township High School cheerleaders to place signs at various places in the township to advertise a Dec. 9 Toys For Tots Stuff the Bus project. The signs are to be removed Dec. 10.

• Approved a bid to Hosack, Specht, Muetzel and Wood for three-year- auditing services. Hosack Spect was the lowest of three bids received.

• Learned the proposed comprehensive plan will be distributed to the council with hopes to have the plan on the council agenda Dec. 9.