Jun 10, 2013 3 min read

It was business as usual Monday as the Robinson Board of Supervisors held the first meeting since two of the township’s three supervisors failed to win re-election bids during last month’s primary. Incumbent supervisors Brian Coppolla and Terry Love both lost contests to challengers who were more open to natural gas drilling in the township.

The board managed to pass a number of agenda items, all with unanimous 3-0 votes. Most of the motions revolved around new equipment, including new camera equipment to broadcast township meetings over the Internet.

The motion for television equipment passed with little fanfare during the meeting, but afterward Coppola said he hoped it would help engage and inform residents in the future.

“I was surprised by the amount of people who don’t know what’s going on in their township,” Coppola said after the meeting had adjourned. “I found out most people had no idea who the supervisors are.

“My biggest hope is that people start paying attention to the township, it makes for good government.”

The new camera equipment was approved with a price tag of just below $300.

Stephen Duran and Roger Kendall, the pair who would most likely replace the two supervisors, were both in attendance. Kendall did not speak during the meeting, but Duran asked several questions related to road maintenance during the end of the public comments segment. Both won handily during the primary.

After the meeting, Duran said although he was in favor of drilling, “it had to be done responsibly.”

Three items were purchased for the road department using money that had been earmarked for such a purpose over the last three budgetary years. A 2012, 60-inch lawnmower with a 25-horsepower engine will be purchased from Ragan Sales at a cost of $8,400. A heavy-duty trailer will be purchased from Stephenson Equipment for $27,145 and a 2013 Caterpillar 308-E excavator will be purchased from Cleveland Brothers Equipment at a cost of $96,813.

Chris Rimkus, assistant counsel for MarkWest Energy, spoke to the board regarding a proposed set of valves to be installed on a stretch of natural gas pipeline that runs through the municipality. However, once Rimkus explained the installation, supervisors agreed the company could proceed without further action. Township officials originally thought a larger installation would be built.

Supervisors also authorized treasurer Christine Rummell to act as signatory on two certificates of deposit the township was in charge of and a subdivision was approved for a property on 158 Midway Cardinal Road near Bulger. An update to the municipal pension plan was also made in order to conform to state law.

The next supervisors’ meeting was moved to 7 p.m. July 22.