New Amity Township Police Officer Patrick Hedgepeth was sworn into service at the Board of Supervisor’s July 6 meeting.
Hedgepeth will work a maximum of 32 hours a week, at $25 an hour, and will cover for full time officers who are sick, at traffic court, and on vacation.
The police department has 12 full time offices, including Police Chief Andrew J. Kensey.
“Hedgepeth was the number one candidate on the list,” said Kensey, adding, “He is an outstanding candidate and will serve the township well.”
The board unanimously approved the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Ordinance.
Properties located in the township’s highway commercial, shopping center, and light industrial/office zoned areas now qualify for the 10-year tax abatement program on new improvements and additions.
Tax assistance is provided the first year at 100 percent and incrementally decreases 10 percent each year during the program.
“The LERTA would encourage industry to come into the township,” said Vice Chairman and Supervisor Richard L. Gokey on June 1, when the board approved to draft the ordinance.
Board members unanimously approved a $15,331.50 contract with Ridge Support Technologies, Pottstown, for improvements to the township’s information technology system.
Improvements include linking the Amity Township Waste Water Treatment Plant, Old Philadelphia Pike, into the system.
The board also approved expending $8,145.83 for Metropolitan Edison Company to retrofit 86 intersection lights with LED lights.
Township Manager Troy Bingaman said the township will recoup the costs within two years of using the energy-saving and cost-saving LED lights.
Bingaman said the township has been approved for the $30,000, 50 percent matching grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to rehabilitate and make handicap accessible the restrooms at Lake Drive Park.
The grant application was submitted in April 2014 to rehabilitate and refurbish the park’s pavilion.
Former township Manager Charles E. Lyon estimated the total project cost to be $31,500.
Bingaman recommended that the township relocate the pavilion to the tennis courts area and eliminate the pavilion’s bathrooms.
“I love the idea of bringing it down and closing the entrance from Route 422,” said Supervisor Terry L. Jones.
“Violence continues there [at the pavilion], and there’s too much that goes on back there that shouldn’t.”
Kensey said the area mostly has nuisance crimes — nothing egregious.
He announced that his family has recently purchased a house in the Amity Gardens area.
“This is a wonderful safe place to live and raise a family,” said Kensey, who was hired as police chief last December, and added, “We plan to spend many years here.”