Cumberland Township Chief Matthew Trostel gave an update on the police department’s activity during the previous month at the June Board of Supervisors’ Meeting on Tuesday. The report included police vehicle dispositions, department staff training, as well as positive communications received commending his staff and the department for exemplary handling of various incidents.
The Cumberland Township Police Department recently received a $25,000 grant from the Pennsylvania DUI Association to support “emerging issues that law enforcement faces or will face related to the enforcement of the Medical Marijuana Act (MMA).” Under this grant, Chief Trostel and Officer Ryan Eiker, the designated certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) for the department, arranged for an in-depth training session this week on the MMA and related issues facing law enforcement. The program was attended by ten law enforcement personnel, and praised by attendees as having been hugely helpful and informative. Additional training is being scheduled.
Chief Trostel further reported that sufficient donations were received to enable the purchase of a speed trailer, a visual notification tool that can be used at big events and as a reminder to drivers to mind their speed, as well as collect data of various times in traffic time cycles, speed ranges, etc. to analyze best time frames and locations for use of the trailer.
Trostel said he plans to spend some of the remaining donation funds to purchase additional bullet-proof vests for his officers who currently have to share vests. Township Manager David Blocher reported on the huge success seen so far upon the rollout of The Savvy Citizen platform to the community. Blocher encourages residents who had not signed up yet to do so, as the app has proven to be useful in several instances already.
Blocher further reminded the board and attendees of the newly established township newsletter, The Cumberland Township Dispatch, which can be accessed at Cumberland Township News or via the Savvy Citizen App.
Public Comments
Several residents addressed the board during the meeting.
Leon Reed of Gettysburg spoke about his concerns regarding the shortage of affordable housing and health services to the elderly that accompanied an aging population in the area.
Frank Fitzgerald voiced his concerns about the long-standing water issues for his and many other properties and the lack of adequate stormwater management between adjacent properties.
Derek and Ann Roden and Joshua Kinard, members of the planning committee that is working on upgrading the Gettysburg Skate Park (see also this story), addressed the board and requested funding for the project. Cumberland Township helps support the Gettysburg rec park with an annual donation.
The team confirmed the township would have no responsibilities with respect to maintenance and management of the site but emphasized that the current conditions at the skate park were unsafe and the improvement would benefit Cumberland residents.
Information on other discussions, including Farmland Preservation updates, subdivision and land development plans, and other engineering projects, as well as bills/budget approvals; numerous requests for project extensions, waivers, and motions regarding legislative/regulatory amendments, agreements, and adoptions of resolutions presented at the meeting can be found in the Regular Board Meeting Agenda here: Cumberland Township BOS Agenda June 27, 2023.
Donate Gardner is a freelance journalist who came to Gettysburg in 2021 from Montgomery County, Maryland.
A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired from the corporate world and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. As an immigrant born, raised, and educated in Germany, Donate still maintains a strong connection to the German language as a freelance writer and translator. Donate is an active musician and has made her new home in Gettysburg available to host house concerts for traveling musicians and local artists in need of support. Donate and her husband have two daughters and three grandchildren.