Two applicants emerge for commission vacancy

Two Ross Township residents have applied to represent the second ward on the board of commissioners.

Commissioners plan to appoint a replacement for former commission President Steve Korbel at their Feb. 16 meeting, which was moved one day because of Presidents Day.

Mr. Korbel resigned Feb. 4 after serving for seven years.

His predecessor, Chris Rand Eyster, and Matthew DeReno, founder of the Across Ross news Website, applied for the open seat.

Mr. Eyster, a criminal defense attorney, served as the second ward commissioner from 2004-2013. “Over the years, I have managed to keep abreast of what is going on,” he said. “I believe that this is one of the best townships in Pennsylvania.”

In addition to starting Across Ross, Mr. DeReno, a technical writer, has developed websites for businesses and state and local governments. He is a former president of the Kinvara Civic Association.

“I am very passionate about the community,” he said. “I would like to continue Steve Korbel’s good work.”

In other business, the board approved a subdivision for Christ Episcopal Church on Babcock Boulevard. The church’s rectors would like to sell 1.7 acres to Action Housing, which plans to construct apartments for senior citizens.

The vote was 6-1 with Frances Salachup dissenting and Sarah Poweska absent.

Two neighbors of the church expressed concerns about the traffic that would be generated by the apartment building.

“This is a very bad road. People speed on it all the time,” said Pete Panyon.

“Putting up a structure like this is only going to bring more people to the area.”

Dominic Rickert, Ross director of planning and zoning, said that traffic studies are part of a later phase of the approval process, but not part of a subdivision request.

Commissioners also introduced an ordinance rezoning that parcel from R-1, single family residential, to R-4, multi-family residential.

Also, Commissioner Bill McKellar reported that Suburban Whitetail Management’s hunters harvested 37 deer in the township, and found illegal tree stands in three township parks.

“I think we are going to have to look at the legality of removing those stands,” he said.