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By Miranda Startare

The Carroll Twp. Board of Supervisors’ Sept. 1st monthly meeting began with a defensive commentary made by Vice Chairman James Harrison in which Harrison commented on a resident’s public accusations concerning the board that were written in an editorial letter published in the Valley Independent.

The letter to the editor was written by Carroll Twp. resident William Brna and was published in the July 8 edition of the local newspaper.

Brna’s letter contained accusations that the township was not dealing with blighted properties and asked supervisors to resign if they wouldn’t fulfill their duties.

Harrison publicly addressed the matter at the meeting by asking Carroll Twp. Solicitor Herman Bigi, stating, “You’ve been here 41 years. Do you feel we operate in an equitable way?”

Bigi responded to Harrison by stating that the township has never raised taxes and has always operated “in the black” financially.
Bigi continued, “Based on my years of experience, we have an exceptional board. I’m happy to be here. I’m proud to be here.”
Bigi also defended the supervisors, saying, “Every council meeting has people that continually complain. The board addresses true concerns – not just ones meant to ridicule or complain.”

The resident who wrote the editorial letters, William Brna, was present at the meeting, but when given the opportunity by Harrison to respond, chose to refrain, stating only, “I said everything I needed to in the letter.”

Harrison, who accused Brna of lying in the letter, continued to defend the board’s progress in the community, saying, “We’ve never turned down the blight problem. We’ve addressed it by every means. We’ve gone to court over it.”

Harrison took particular offense to Brna’s suggestion that he be removed from his position by responding, “You want to get a lawyer to kick me out of my seat, you do it. You’ll have one hell of a fight on your hands.”

Two other residents present at the meeting had concerns related to the deteriorated conditions on Cinderella Drive. Henry and Joye Flannigan, who have lived on Cinderella Drive for 55 years, asked the board to consider repaving the neglected roadway that, by their descriptions, has been torn up by large cement trucks during the construction of Rt. 43 – and now by pipeline trucks.

Chairman Thomas Rapp explained that when the board determines road projects each year, they analyze conditions as well as traffic to determine the order of need. The board determined Cinderella Drive would not be paved this year.

Mrs. Flannigan responded, “After 55 years, something should be done. I said when I came here tonight I’d be berated or placated. I’ve been placated. Thank you.”

In other business:
• Raymond Colosimo was appointed to the Zoning Hearing Board of Carroll Twp. as an alternate member.
• The board approved for signature the memorandum of the oil and gas lease between Carroll Twp. and EQT. On behalf of the township’s best interests, the supervisors have been working on an agreement that EQT will accept for over a year.
• The township received the second quarter gaming revenue in the amount of $27,444.
• The township received the second quarter Comcast franchise fee in the amount of $28,000.
• The board reported three new homes have been build and three demolitions have been completed.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6th at 6:00 PM.

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