Board honors police department members for service
Members of the Whitpain Township Police Department have become familiar faces both in the station and out in the township. That familiarity has grown over the years and, for some members, over the decades they’ve served the people of Whitpain.
The board of supervisors honored two members of the department who have been with the police for a quarter-century during its Oct. 2 meeting.
“We have two people who have given 25 years of outstanding service,” board Chairman Joseph Palmer said.
The board presented both Sgt. Cathy Penecale, who serves as the department’s public information RIfiFHU, DnG 1HDO .HUU, WKH GHSDUWment’s records clerk, with plaques recognizing the 25 years they have spent with the department.
“For the success of a township, it is really important that we have long-term people who embrace the FRPPXniWy ... DnG DUH XnVHOfiVK in their giving,” Palmer said.
In other business at the meeting, Public Works Director Ron Cione gave an overview of the township’s upcoming tree trimming efforts.
“We get a rash of phone calls from residents, bus drivers that there’s sight obstructions at intersections,” he said, noting each fall, many road signs get blocked by trees.
“It’s hard to enforce regulations if you can’t see the signs,” he said. “It’s important these signs are not obstructed.”
In addition to the safety issue, trees need to be trimmed to prevent damage to the large public works vehicles, such as snow plows, paving vehicles from outside companies and emergency vehicles.
“It saves a lot of headaches for us if we can get the residents to trim back” their trees, Cione said.
The area above the street must be clear of trees 12 feet up from the pavement, while the area above sidewalks must be clear up to 10 feet, according to Cione. The township will be sending “friendly reminders” to residents about the tree trimming requirements.
“Our preference would be for the homeowners to trim the trees,” Township Manager Roman Pronczak said, noting if that is not done, township crews will have to do so.
Cione said the tree trimming would start on main roads before moving into neighborhoods and likely would not all happen this year.
Additionally, the board announced the dates of its three public budget work sessions as it gets set to draft the township’s 2013 budget.
The work sessions will be Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., Oct. 23 at 9 a.m. and kov. 13 at 9 a.m. The Oct. 16 work session will precede the regularly scheduled 8 p.m. board of supervisors meeting. All work sessions will be held in the meeting room at the township building.