Amity Township Police Chief Kent A. Shuebrook said at the May 6 Board of Supervisors meeting that he will proceed with negotiations, writing a policy, and the purchase of 10 body cameras for its officers.
The U.S. Department of Justice is providing 30 percent funding to municipalities.
“Somewhere down the line it will be a federal mandate,” said Shuebrook, “and they are really good cameras.”
The body cameras will cost the township $10,000.
“I personally think this is a good idea,” said Supervisor Richard L. Gokey.
Shuebrook said the purchase will require a new policy and input from the police union.
“We need a lot of buy-in from the rank and file,” said Shuebrook, “and I will move forward on that.”
Daniel Boone School Board President Richard Martino invited the board and township staff to attend the school board’s May 11 meeting, when it will honor and recognize three local police forces.
The school board will present a resolution to members of the Amity Township Police Department, the Birdsboro Police Department, and the Pennsylvania State Police.
“Police across the country are getting a bad rap,” said Martino.
“We want to recognize the good things the police are doing.”
The resolution states that it is “in recognition, thanks, and support of local law enforcement,” which serve the Daniel Boone Area School District, and protects its students, staff, and community with “professionalism, honor, and distinction.”
The township received on May 6,”record dividends” in the amount of $81,027.81.
Richard I. Hart, president of Richard I. Hart Insurance Co., Mt. Penn, presented the check to the board and said the $11,259.66 portion from Municipal Risk Management Trusts (MRM), represents a 35 percent of the township’s 2014-15 property, liability, and auto premiums.
The other $69,766.85 represents a 74 percent savings of the township’s 2014-15 workers compensation premiums.
He said the dividend return is a result of township employees making “loss prevention a priority.”
“This is an all-time record — one of the highest in the program,” said Hart.
He said the total dividends of all Berks County municipalities is $2,421,900, and total workers compensation dividends is $6,074,538.
The board will begin drafting an ordinance that allows township enforcement of recreational vehicles (RVs), pods, dumpsters, extra-wide trailers, and trucks that are parked on residential streets.
Board members said the ordinance would contain specifications of permitted vehicle width, length of time on the street, reflector and permit requirements, and fees.
“There is currently no ordinance that allows the township to control that, particularly on narrow streets, such as in the Amity Gardens area — and when trailers are parked on both sides, you can’t pass,” said Gokey.
“When two vehicles can’t pass in the street, we have a problem. We really have nothing for Code Enforcement Officer Steve Loomis to enforce,” said Gokey.
Solicitor Brian F. Boland confirmed for the board that its Zoning & Property Maintenance Complaint Form is a non-public record and is not subject to the “Right to Know” law; zoning and property maintenance violators cannot file a “Right to Know” form to obtain the identity of the complainant.
“We have made it [the public complaint process] as easy as possible,” said Loomis, adding that the form is located “Building & Zoning” and “Code Enforcement” on the township’s website.
Township Manager Charles E. Lyon said the township cannot investigate complaints that do not contain the complainant’s name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.
The board unanimously approved the removal of Neil Pestcoe from the Zoning Board due to non-attendance at monthly meetings.
Lyon said the township is accepting applications for the vacancy.