Township of East Deer

During the Reorganization Meeting, the Board proceeded with organizational matters. Key actions included the election of Mr. Taliani as Board President and Mr. Rick Stoneburner as Vice President. The board established the schedule for future meetings, setting the first Thursday for the Agenda Meeting and the second Thursday for the Regular Meeting at 7:30 PM. Appointments were made unanimously for various roles, including committee approvals, appointments to the Allegheny Valley Regional Police Department Board for Mr. Taliani and Mr. Stoneburner, Mr. Ted Paulovich to the Vacancy Board, Mr. Craig Alexander as Township Solicitor, Senate Engineering (Division of LSSE) as Engineer, the depositor of PNC Bank, and the reappointment of Ms. Chrystal M. Carmen as Township Secretary. Additionally, Ms. Sandy Armbrust was appointed as Treasurer, with one member abstaining.

The board suspended the rules to pass three resolutions unanimously honoring James Ostrovecky for 40 years of service, Dan McKenna for 52 years of service to the Volunteer Fire Department, and Bernie Paulovich for 42 years of service. The board also addressed communications, noting a clean Water Supply Inspection Report and the approval of the 2024 Audit. Committee reports recognized the staff and Recreation Board for a successful Light Up Night event. Under committee reports, the board discussed starting to review zoning ordinances, specifically mentioning data centers and billboards. They also reviewed updates on the Murray Hill water line and Marion St Sewage line projects, a pump station repair, and an undercharge of $10,000.00 on gas bills from People's Gas due to an incorrect meter reading. New business included accepting the resignation of Auditor Jennifer Savka, followed by the approval of the monthly bills.

The special meeting focused on the appropriation of funds for the upcoming fiscal year and the closing of the previous year's financial records. The Board unanimously approved Ordinance 857, which appropriates the estimated sums required for the Municipal Government during the 2026 calendar year, noting that the only changes made to the budget involved fund balances. Additionally, the Board honored Bernie Paulovich for 42 years of dedicated service as the Tax Collector and Township Treasurer before unanimously approving the closing of the 2025 East Deer Township books.

The meeting included the election of officers, resulting in the reappointment of Jean Jessup-Tatananni as Chairperson, Nathan Daily as Vice-Chairperson, and Anthony Carmen as Secretary. The board reviewed roles and responsibilities, emphasizing objectivity and adherence to legal requirements such as the Sunshine Act and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code. Communication protocols, including appropriate use of email and texts, were discussed. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the pending billboard application by Oliver Outdoor, noting the history of the case, the upcoming remand hearing, and the retention of legal counsel. Finally, the board established a regular monthly meeting schedule for the first Tuesday of each month.

The meeting addressed old and new business, including a vote to approve the previous month's minutes. Key discussions in new business focused on the engagement of legal counsel, where the board ultimately voted to engage Mr. Stephen Korbel after tabling a motion to interview a second candidate. A significant portion of the meeting involved determining dates for a court-ordered remanded hearing; after several failed motions, tentative dates of October 2 or November 6, 2024, were unanimously approved. Additionally, the board discussed the premature submission of the 2023 Year End Summary to the East Deer Commissioners and the need for proper communication and in-person meetings with the newly engaged legal counsel regarding the remanded hearing. Attendee discussion regarding proposed billboards was also noted, with the chairman stating the board must follow the law.