Jun 15, 2015 By Terry Kish 3 min read

Pool committee representative Laura Hartman told Scott commissioners that plans for the new pool at Scott Park are right on schedule. Speaking at the board’s June 9 agenda meeting, Hartman said permits for the pool have been received and bid specs should go out next week.

Township engineer Larry Lennon said the results are back from the geo-technical engineer and test borings indicate that there are no typical signs of mine subsidence, so risk for the new pool is the same as the current pool.

Initial test borings raised questions about possible mine subsidence and the stability of the proposed site. Further testing was done, which required the municipality to push the scheduled opening of the pool on Memorial Day weekend back a week.

Hartman also said plans are being made for a “Blow Up the Pool” party to mark the closing of the old pool and to break ground for the new pool. Scott pool is targeted to close on August 16, with construction to begin the next day in order to have the new pool ready for Memorial Day 2016.

In other business, public works director Randy Lubin told the board that storm sewer overflow on Cardinal Drive needs to be addressed quickly. According to Lubin, the overflow has been reported to appropriate agencies, which want the township to correct the problem as soon as possible.

Lubin said the overflow occurred in an area of heavily wooded terrain, making it difficult to access. He suspects there is a break in the line and township employees can’t get the area cleaned to get there. Lubin suggested making a change order to the contract with Jet Jack, the company the township is using to make sewer repairs needed before starting the municipality’s road program.

The board also heard from Todd Marley of Marley Benefit Group about Cypress Advantage Plan, an employee benefit program. According to Marley, the plan allows contributions on a pre-tax basis, reducing payroll taxes. These savings are then used to purchase supplemental coverage that can replace lost wages.

It is a way to increase employee benefits with no cost to the employee, said Marley, adding that participation in the plan is voluntary. He said that the typical annual savings for the township would be about $350-$400 per employee, and participation in the voluntary program is usually about 90 percent.

Marley said that they typically hold an informational meeting with employees to describe the overall program, and then meet with each employee individually. The township solicitor will review the plan and agreements prior to the board’s June 23 meeting, when the commissioners are expected to vote on whether to present the Cypress Advantage Plan to their employees.