To the audible dismay of his fellow supervisors, and others from the community also in attendance, Richland Township Board of Supervisors Chair Tim Ritter announced at the June 13 public meeting that he was stepping down from the board, due to moving his family out of the township. Officials indicated they hope to announce a replacement at their July 11 meeting.
Ritter noted he had served the township for a total of 20 years as a supervisor and planning commission member and chair. “I’ll still be around,” he said. “just moving to the borough.”
Earlier at the June 13 meeting, supervisors adopted an ordinance “to prohibit the operation of trucks of any kind over and upon West Pumping Station Road between Route 309/West End Boulevard and Portzer Road, and Portzer Road between West Pumping Station Road and Route 663/John Fries Highway.”
The action followed township engineer Gilmore & Associates’ “conducting and completing a truck restriction study,” which “determined that there exist certain physical conditions of roadways, hazardous traffic conditions, and other safety factors that require the imposition” of the restrictions. The ordinance also notes that it “provide(s) that school buses, emergency vehicles and vehicles making local deliveries or pickups may be exempted from imposed truck restrictions.”
At the outset of the meeting, supervisors entertained a presentation from Heidi Shiver, Bird Town PA Working Group chairperson, which recognized the township for adopting initiatives to become an Audubon Council Bird Town participant.
Bird Town Pennsylvania operates under the slogan “Creating Livable Communities Through the Lives of Birds,” with a mission of “promoting community-based conservation actions to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife, and people.” The group notes it has been doing so in the state “for more than 10 years, in nine counties, and now 35 municipalities.”
The PowerPoint presentation described a variety of programs and activities, and is available on the township website through BoardDocs and the June 13 meeting agenda. Further information is also available via birdtownpa.org.
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