“taking actions necessary to change Old Schoolhouse Way into a public road through eminent domain,” pending a meeting to be scheduled soon among township officials, their staff and concerned residents of the currently private thoroughfare.
The announcement was made at the Sept. 20 board of supervisors meeting, following a 15-minute executive session where officials discussed “eminent domain litigation.” Before that, supervisors entertained a 20-minute public comment session on the matter from the residents. The eminent domain intent had been expressed in the form of a resolution passed at the Aug. 16 supervisors meeting.
In particular, the hiatus puts a halt to surveying that was to take place on the six private properties that remain on the road, which the residents said they would not grant permission for. The township owns four other properties on the road, including Veterans Park.
The road is located off Marienstien Road, near its intersection with Route 611 in central Revere. At the Aug. 16 meeting, officials had noted the eminent domain action as needed to solve “a 25-year history” of interference, by some of the property owners, with delivery and service vehicles, and that they were open to hearing from anyone who “has better ideas” for solving that problem.
At the Sept. 20 supervisors meeting, one resident said he did have another idea to present at the upcoming meeting, which officials indicated would feature “going through what the (eminent domain) plan is and what it isn’t,” with attendance preferred to be limited to those directly affected.
Also at the Sept. 20 meeting, township Treasurer Keith DeLuca reported that the township’s application for the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful grant, toward getting new cameras to monitor proper use of the township recycling facility, had been approved. The grant is actually in the form of the cameras themselves, which DeLuca said would be installed soon. The new technology is designed to prevent illegal dumping at the site by enabling enforcement of posted regulations, in place for two years, by the state police.
During the report by the township’s Environmental Advisory Committee, members noted efforts to further remediate the Hidden Valley landfill; pursue the use of “less harmful” herbicides in Veterans Park; and contain the appearance of the spotted lanternfly menace.
The latter has been reported to the state Department of Agriculture, thereby mandating action from the township, which officials promised to pursue. The next township newsletter, to be mailed mid-October, is to contain further information.
Todd Stone, reporting for the Gallows Run Watershed Association, announced that volunteers were wanted for the annual trash cleanup of Gallows Run and Lynn Island, on Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting in the parking lot near the former American Grill Restaurant, routes 611 and 32, in Kintnersville. Early signup was urged to assure seats on boats to the site, via DCNR events online.
