At their September 26 meeting, the Cumberland Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a $75,000 grant requested by the Gettysburg Area Recreation Authority (GARA) to fund various park activities in 2024. In addition, it approved the purchase of a truck chassis in the amount of $118,127, as well as other various purchases, rentals, and contractor hires.
The Township Engineer’s agenda items included updates, review and approval of various development plans, requests for extension and release of financial securities, related to the Susquehanna Regional Airport; Thomas E. Clowney subdivision; Cambridge Crossing Phases 2 & 3; Cumberland Village Phase 2B; Old Mill Overlook; Meadowview Townhomes; Speranza Hangar land development plan; Brian and Patrick Redding land development plan; BR Smith Sewage Planning Module, and the Keystone Service Systems (KSS) land development plan, among others, all as further detailed in the board meeting agenda (see link below).
Active business discussions included, among others, approval of revisions to the 2024 Minimum Municipal Obligations for the Police Retirement Plan; ratification of the Battlefield Blast Soccer Tournament Special Event Permit; resolutions regarding an RACP Grant and statewide LSA grant request for the police department; approval of an indemnification and coop agreement to be drafted between the Township and the Historical Society.
The board also passed a resolution to include active support personnel for the Barlow Volunteer Fire Department in its workers’ compensation insurance program.
A member of the community brought to the board’s attention his ongoing issues related to the unauthorized use of his property for an outside waterline and pointed out discrepancies in various PA/Municipal Codes that have been making resolution of this issue a major challenge.
Police Report:
Cumberland Township Police Chief Matthew Trostel introduced Officer Tim Mayer as the newest addition to his department. Officer Mayer comes to Cumberland Township from Carlisle, PA, and was selected after a competitive process. Since he already is a certified PA officer, his appointment was approved quickly by the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission to begin his new tour of duty at Cumberland TS as of September 11, 2023. Officer Mayer also currently serves in the US Army Reserve as a Staff Sergeant.
25th National Prescription Drug Takeback, October 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Officer Mayer will be assisting the Carroll Valley Police Department with this event, which will take place at the Carroll Valley Police Department station. On that note, Chief Trostel would like to remind the public that the Cumberland Township Police Department also has a 24/7-365-day drug drop box at the CTPD station that can be accessed by calling ahead, using the dispatch non-emergency number, or simply using the blue phone outside the station to contact the on-duty officer.
Chief Trostel and Officer Dakota Myers attended Crisis Intervention Training which is critical for the department’s Co-Responder Program conducted with mental health professionals. Trostel was proud to report that the CT Police Department now has seven officers trained in CIT, which is more than half the department.
Officer Dan Barbagello and Sgt. Josh Rosenberger received praise from the Adams County Historical Society for providing de-escalation training to its staff and volunteers.
The department’s new TRAFCON Radar Speed Trailer has been in continuous use in varying locations throughout the Township. Chief Trostel was pleased with the benefits provided by this new resource. “We already have been able to gather critical data related to areas that experience risky traffic behavior”, he stated. The data will determine whether the location warrants the assignment of a detail for closer monitoring.
The Board acknowledged the retirement of staff member Louis Holbrook from the Maintenance Department as of January 2, 2024. The Board thanked Mr. Holbrook for his devoted service and approved the advertisement and hiring process for the Skilled Laborer vacancy.
Information on other active business discussions, including operations, budget, and committee reports, can be found in the Regular Board Meeting Agenda: Cumberland Township BOS Agenda, September 26, 2023 and will be available in further detail on the Cumberland Township website, once the minutes of this meeting have been posted: Cumberland Township BOS Meetings 2023.
Pictured above is Cumberland Township Police Chief Matt Trostel (left) with Officer Tim Mayer
Donate Gardner is a freelance writer and journalist who came to Gettysburg from Montgomery County, Maryland. A former linguist-turned-legal professional, Donate recently retired and is eager to support her new community in a variety of ways. She currently serves as the news communicator for the Adams County migrant outreach program, Pasa La Voz and supports various pro bono legal services to migrants in the area.
An immigrant born, raised, and educated in Western Europe, Donate uses her multi-lingual background to maintain connection to other cultures, both as a writer, historical researcher and advocate.
Donate is also an active musician, multi-instrumentalist and award-winning songwriter, enjoying the rich music and arts community in Gettysburg, and supporting traveling musicians coming through the area. Donate can be reached at: dvbgardner@gmail.com.
This is how the news media should cover local government! An excellent report on all that is going on. Keep up the good work.
The Connection: Gettysburg’s Newspaper of Record. Not that far from fact.nd quite right, good job of letting us know what happened at the meeting.