DAMASCUS, PA — On June 15, the Damascus Board of Supervisors began going over old business regarding PPL’s reimbursement for damage their heavy utility trucks have caused traveling on Dillmuth Road. Joseph Canfield, chairman of the board, had suggested charging interest if nothing was received within a month from PPL regarding reimbursement for the damage. Canfield asked Steven Adams, administrative supervisor of the board, if he got in touch with PPL; Adams said it was on his list of things to do. Canfield said, “If we don’t get a response soon from PPL, maybe we should have [Attorney Jeffrey Treat, solicitor] pursue it.” 

In new business, the board discussed the special meeting they had earlier in June regarding the Boyds Mill pavement project. Due to the chip seal not holding up, Boyds Mill Road needed to be resurfaced and have asphalt put down. Canfield said that meeting had been called to try to find a permanent solution to fix the road rather than chip sealing it. “The chip seal is not holding up. Each time we have to reseal, reseal and reseal it again and again. Time-wise and cost-wise, it will be cheaper several years down the road. The project will cost more, but in the long run, it is worth it.”

Daniel Rutledge, vice chairman, went over the specifications of the four bids they received to fix the road. Adams suggested going with the second option for $381,644.15. This would include the grading, shaping and compaction of the road, three inches of 19-millimeter super-paved binder, inch-and-a-half to nine-and-a-half millimeter finish, two-foot-wide shoulders and a prime coat of an oil sealant to help stabilize the shoulders.

Rutledge said they are saving $100,000 on this project for what it would have cost them a year ago or even what it would cost them next year. Rutledge then made a motion to go with the low bidder, option two. Canfield seconded the motion and the motion was carried.

Canfield pointed out that the town did a pre-bid walkthrough with the contractors so, that way, if there are any problems in the end, the bidder can’t come back and say the township screwed up the grading. They are responsible for that. In reply to this Adams said, “The road also comes with a one-year warranty.”

In response to the global pandemic, supervisors wore face masks at their meeting in April and only one person was in attendance, a reporter. In May, students from Damascus School would have participated in their 25th annual “Supervisor-for-a-Day” joint collaboration, but due to the ongoing global pandemic, schools were closed and the program was canceled. This collaboration gives the student government class the opportunity to shadow board members for the day, visiting local businesses and co-running the board meeting during the evening, giving Damascus students a first-hand look at how local government works. The Damascus Board members said they missed sharing this experience with the Damascus students and hoped they’d be able to return next year. 

During the current night’s meeting, the board members and all in attendance continued to practice keeping a six-foot distance.