AMITY >> The Amity Police Department promoted Officer Christopher High to corporal at the Feb. 1 Amity Township Board of Supervisors meeting.
High joined the police department on Sept. 15, 2003.
“Chris High is a stellar employee and a true leader,” said Police Chief Andrew J. Kensey, adding that High is also a member of the Berks County Emergency Response Team.
“He always comes to work and takes on any task without question.”
High’s new annual salary is $80,242.
Kensey said High will be an intricate part of the police department’s command staff.
In other business, the supervisors unanimously approved an amendment to the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinances that allows for a revised recreational fee to the township in lieu of non-residential, open space land.
Township Solicitor Brian F. Boland said the amendment establishes a minimum of .038 acres of open space land per resident be dedicated to the township or a fee based on the land appraisal price of $75,000 per acre.
The amendment allows the township to set by resolution a fee for an agricultural use at .001 acres of land for every 1,000 square feet of building structure proposed for development.
Commercial uses would be charged a fee of .006 for every 1,000 square feet of building structure proposed for development.
Fees are paid following the board’s final approval of land development plans.
The amendment was prompted by Barry Shirey, 6359 Boyertown Pike, Douglassville, who is building two, 700 by 63-foot turkey houses on his 75.68-acre property.
Under the previous ordinance, Shirey’s recreation fee in lieu of open space land would have been $66,000.
His fee will now be $6,600.Code Enforcement Officer Steven Loomis said the radon detectors (loaned to residents by the township) have registered readings of 12 to 15 – nothing over 20.
He said the low-teen results are equivalent to second-hand smoke.
The board unanimously approved to change the township’s recycling pick up day from Friday to Wednesday, beginning on March 1.
Township Manager Troy Bingaman said recycling hauler J.P. Mascaro & Sons, Reading, requested the change due to demand and changes at the Berks County Recycling Center, Leesport.
Bingaman said one benefit of a mid-week pickup is that missed pickups can be resolved the following day.
Any recycling that is currently missed on a Friday isn’t retrieved until Monday.