Mar 30, 2024 By Karen Mansfield 5 min read

Donegal Township supervisors on Thursday were presented with a plan for the creation of a new West Alexander Borough.

Dr. Kathleen Miller, who is leading an effort to form a new West Alexander Borough, extended an olive branch to supervisors – literally – and presented them with a letter attached to the olive branch outlining plans to move forward with a new borough, separate from the township.

“Today, we are coming to extend an olive branch to the supervisors in the hopes that you will work with us, the people, on the development of a new West Alexander Borough. There’s a letter attached to (the branch) to the supervisors in the hopes that you will work with us, the people, on the development of a new West Alexander Borough,” said Miller. “I would encourage each and every one of you to meet with me one-on-one to find out more information, to see how we believe that this will not only benefit the water and sewage residents and the new proposed West Alexander Borough but will also benefit you, Donegal Township.”

In 2021, Miller began researching how to revitalize the West Alexander area, which she contends has stagnated since a 2009 merger with Donegal Township, specifically regarding water and sewage customers.

The new borough would be larger than the original West Alexander, and would include about 3,000 acres – roughly 4.5 square miles – and 10 roads, with a population of 800 residents, about 26 businesses, and a budget of about $633,000.

In the letter, Miller wrote, “Our research has extended to making sure Donegal Township can focus on what is important to the remaining township as West Alexander Borough will operate its own government.”

The plan to form a new borough has gained momentum, with a group of residents within the proposed borough meeting weekly to provide input into the project.

Supervisors did not address the proposal during Thursday’s meeting, but board Chairman Jim Bauer said all three township supervisors had approached Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi at a coffee shop in Claysville to inform her about the issue. Bauer called it an “executive session” while Maggi on Friday described it as an informal meeting after a chance encounter at the coffee shop.

Maggi, however, said the county plays no role in the proposed West Alexander Borough’s plans.

Additionally, Melissa Melewsky, legal counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said the decision of the supervisors to meet outside of a public forum to discuss the proposed West Alexander separation does not fall under an appropriate topic for executive session under the Sunshine Act. She cautioned supervisors against creating an appearance of impropriety that harms the public’s trust.

Supervisors on Thursday also unanimously approved a resolution to reduce its road crew department employees’ hours and benefits.

According to the resolution, the township’s two road crew workers will work 32 hours a day four days a week starting April 15. Supervisors also plan to rehire the former township road crew leader – under the same reduced hours – at the end of April.

Supervisors said the reduction in hours “was for economic reasons, and to reduce the labor costs applicable to the road crew department.”

They contend the department can operate efficiently for the residents and still provide necessary services and road maintenance with a reduced work week.

But not everyone agrees, including Ed and Tammy Malson, whose son Heath Malson works for the road crew. And during the contentious three-hour meeting, some residents voiced their disapproval, questioning why their taxes were nearly tripled recently if the township plans to reduce services.

Bauer said the board met Feb. 29 with the road crew union, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 66, to see if they would agree to the reduction in hours. The union believes that its expired collective bargaining agreement does not permit the proposed reduction in hours. The union’s contract expired more than a year ago, in December 2022, said Phil Binotto, the township’s special labor and employment counsel.

The supervisors said in the resolution they will “attempt to meet with the union to amicably address issues, including reducing the hours of road crew employees to 32 hours for four consecutive days.”

If no agreement is reached, the new hours and reduction of benefits will go into effect April 15.

Binotto said the board of supervisors has reached out to the union to set up a meeting date, but has not received a response from the union.

Bauer said the supervisors consulted with a labor arbitrator, who advised them the township has the right to reduce the employees’ hours.

Residents said Thursday that they are not pleased with the township’s services. In recent months, township officials have whittled down the road crew department from four full-time employees to two. Residents questioned whether the smaller staff can keep pace with all of its jobs..

Ed Malson and others argued that the condition of some roads is poor, culverts are collapsing, and storm drains are filled, and asked how the township can justify reducing the crew size when there is a long list of jobs to be completed.

They also contend the supervisors should use a portion of the $1.3 million of Act 13 impact fees the township currently has to maintain the road crew’s 40-hour work week.

Thursday’s meeting also included a nearly two-hour long executive session, which supervisors said was held to discuss personnel and litigation.