TEXAS TOWNSHIP, PA — The Texas Township Board of Supervisors has indicated that it's aiming for brevity and transparency by using a new meeting model at the February 3 meeting, which began at 7 p.m. and concluded just 20 minutes later.

After going through an 11-item business agenda, the board publicly discussed new business for anyone interested in staying to hear it.

Among the meeting items was the need to appoint a new emergency management coordinator (EMC) to replace former EMC Paul Sprague. Secretary Joann Hancock noted that the state now prefers the EMC to be a retired firefighter or emergency medical technician because former emergency responders continue to receive notice of all emergency calls. However, the supervisors pointed out that in all his years of EMC service, Sprague never went out on a single emergency call, despite the occurrence of some well-known weather and fire events during his tenure.

A role that requires extensive training and a broad skill set, the township EMC position is that of an unpaid volunteer. Unless the position is filled by a person who has completed all state-mandated training, the township will be ineligible for PEMA and FEMA funding. The board decided to ask the White Mills and Seelyville fire companies for candidates who might be interested in becoming EMC.

In its EMC candidate requirements, the state says that the EMC should not be an active emergency responder, as all emergency responders will be required to perform their day job duties in the event of an emergency. For more information about the EMC position, see www.bit.ly/TRRemergencymanagement.

The board also considered a planning commission request to hire Michael Wood of Woodland Design Associates, Inc. as a consultant, pending clarification of hourly charges and other cost-related information.

The public brought a growing health and safety issue to the board’s attention: the dumping of household garbage bags against the walls of the shuttered Alden Inn on Route 6.

“The township can pick it up, but we have to pay the same disposal bag fee the public pays. Why should taxpayers have to foot the bill?” asked supervisor Don Doney.