Jun 2, 2015 By Terry Kish 2 min read

After 40 years, Scott Township has a new zoning ordinance.

The board of commissioners voted 8-0, with commissioner Craig Stephen abstaining, to adopt the 160-page zoning ordinance at the May 26 regular meeting.

During the public hearing prior to the commissioners’ meeting, members of the municipality’s planning commission spoke about the ordinance.

Ken Lee said the new ordinance was refined for clarity and to meet current standards.

Mark Mox commented that the zoning ordinance put in place 40 years ago included a number of amendments that were in no particular order, making it difficult to easily access information. He said the new zoning ordinance is more consistent and easier to understand, and includes better diagrams.

John Remansky called the new ordinance “user friendly.”

Commissioner Bill Wells stressed that the steep slope section of the ordinance had not been changed at all. Each of the commissioners thanked the committee for their work on the 160-page ordinance, which is available on the township’s website.

Comments from the public were few, and focused mainly on the use of permeable surfaces for driveways and parking pads, especially in light of the township’s sewer issues.

At the same meeting, the board ratified approval of the proposal from Garvin Boward Beitko Engineering, Inc. for deep mine investigation for $11,493, and subgrade void investigation for $6,758 for the existing pool and proposed pool at Scott Park.

Investigative work started on May 26, and was projected to finish by May 29. The pool, which was closed for the Memorial Day holiday, opened for the season May 30.

In other business, in a 7-0 vote, the board awarded a contract for sanitary sewer repairs to Jet Jack, Inc., which had the lowest bid of $192,000. The bid includes $104,000 for CCTV work, with the balance of the bid for spot repairs on sewers before the township’s road program begins. Commissioners Tom Castello and Bill Wells abstained from the vote.

The board unanimously approved a letter of resignation from emergency management coordinator Gary Sawicki, effective June 1, 2015. The board then appointed Jerry Butts as emergency management coordinator, pending confirmation by Governor Tom Wolf. Butts will function as acting coordinator until confirmed.