May 6, 2013 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – People who live near flood-prone areas of Cumberland Township may want to stop by the township building to inspect the new flood hazard maps the township has received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The supervisors voted Monday to approve a floodplain ordinance based on new maps provided by FEMA.

The maps raise the elevation of the floodplain in some areas by about a foot, supervisor Bill Groves said. “Some areas that once were not flood-prone areas will now be flood-prone areas,” he said

The maps will be available for inspection at the township building through May 30. A public comment period on the ordinance also is in effect until the end of the month.

The designation of being in a floodplain may not make a difference to most people, Groves said. However, inclusion of a property in a floodplain may result in some restrictions if a person intents to build there, he said.

Property owners whose homes now fall in a floodplain also may want to consider purchasing flood insurance, he said.

Some of the flood-prone areas of the township include areas near Khedive, the junction of Route 21 and South Branch Muddy Creek Road and areas on Greene Valley Road between Route 21 and Route 88.

In other business, the supervisors accepted the resignation of police Officer George Lewis. Lewis has been with the department for about 10 years. The supervisors also accepted the resignation of part-time officers Terry Robatin and Russell Miller.

The supervisors hired a former officer of the force, Tony Gismondi, as a police detective on a full-time basis at $16.10 an hour with benefits.

The supervisors approved a motion to require drug testing of all township employees, both pre-employment and randomly. Groves said the supervisors considered the motion only because they believe it is a good practice.

The supervisors agreed to provide police protection at the Rices Landing Riverfest June 7 and 8. Organizers of the riverfest will pay the township for the officers.

The supervisors also agreed to hold cleanup days again from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday at the municipal building. The township held an earlier cleanup last month and was overwhelmed with items.

Residents can bring their unwanted items to the municipal building those days. No tires, refrigerants or liquids will be accepted, but computer equipment and televisions will be accepted.

A motion was approved under which road masters, workers and supervisors will now work four, 10-hour days to accommodate summer roadwork.

The supervisors awarded contracts for asphalt to Hanson Aggregates, which provided the only bid. The cost is $55.50 a ton for super pave mixture and $48.50 a ton for super pave binder.

It also awarded a contract for road oil to Suit-Kote Corp. which bid $1.886 per gallon. Another bid was received, but the company apparently inadvertently failed to include the prices on any of its documents.

The supervisors appointed Ed Commons to the parks and recreation board. They accepted the resignation of Bobby Dobbins from the parks and recreation board and Dr. Evan Williams from the township planning commission.