Ontelaunee Township Newsletter
Fall/Winter 2017
35 Ontelaunee Drive, Reading, PA 19605
Main number – 610-926-4240
Email :
Website:
Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Board of SupervisorsSecretary/Treasurer
Kenneth Stoudt, ChairmanKim Y. Berger, Ext. 200
William Klein, Vice-Chairman
Gary Hadden, SupervisorTax Collector
Donna L. Lash, ext. 204
Meeting Schedule – all meetings are open to the public and held at the township building
Board of Supervisors – 1st Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
Ontelaunee Township Municipal Authority (OTMA) – 2nd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
Planning Commission – 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
Park and Recreation – 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m.
TAXES
The School Taxes are due by October 31, 2017 for the flat rate.
The remaining tax collection sitting hours at the township building from 9 a.m. to 12 noon
OCTOBER 26
DECEMBER 28
Designated Trick or Treat nights will be
October 30 and 31 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The reason there is two nights for Trick or Treating allows parents to take their children Trick or Treating one night and then you may stay home on the other night to hand out treats to the children. If you do not want ghosts and goblins and other masqueraders, please leave your
porch light off.
Recycling information
Ontelaunee Township offers free Single Stream Recycling to our residents. Single Stream Recycling allows participants to place their recyclables in one container without sorting or separate bins.
The single stream dumpster is located at the Township Building. Residents are welcome to drop their recyclables from dawn to dusk seven days a week. The area is monitored by security cameras. The Township does not provide pick-up or recycling containers.
Acceptable:
Aluminum cans, glass food & beverage containers (brown, green & clear), plastics (#1 thru #7), paper and cardboard. - In order to use all the space in the dumpster please smash or crush your plastic and cardboard.
Not Acceptable:
Pots, pans, aluminum foil, ceramic oven-ware, drinking glasses, window glass, mirror glass, light bulbs, Styrofoam, clay pots, plastic bags, foil type paper, paper towels, tissue paper.
Berks County Recycling News:
Electronic Waste & Tire Recycling:
Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 noon – Fees may apply
County Recycling Center, 1316 Hilltop Road, Bern Township
Household Hazardous Waste Collection Date: - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine
October 21, 2017 – Berks County Ag Center, 1238 County Welfare Road, Leesport
Leaves, brush, grass and limb recycling
Berks Soil and Stone, 1 Bellemen’s Church Road, Leesport, 610-916-8301
WINTER WEATHER IS COMING
We don’t know what Old Man Winter has in store for us this year. It could be a very mild, not a lot of precipitation winter or it could be a very cold, brutal, lots of snow winter.
The road crews whether it be a Pa Dot driver or a township driver, they all need your patience and assistance during any snow or ice event.
Please remove the vehicles from the street to give the drive ample room to maneuver the plow.
If possible wait until the road has been plowed before clearing your driveway. There is no way to prevent snow from being pushed into driveways; however, shoveling snow to the right side of the driveway will minimize the amount of snow pushed back into the driveway by the plow. Please do not put any snow back onto plowed roadways.
All major thoroughfares will be done first. After the initial pass, the plow will return to widen the path.
The snow emergency routes are:
Calais Drive (entire length)
Verdun Drive (entire length)
Hannibal Lane
Nantucket Drive (entire length)
Indian Manor Drive from Belleman’s Church Road to Gernant’s Church Road
Gernant’s Church Road from Indian Manor Drive to Loose Lane
Edinboro Lane (entire length)
The township supervisors are asking all residents with a fire hydrant in front of or on their property to adopt the hydrant during the winter months. Please shovel any snow that may accumulate around the hydrant. In a fire situation, seconds count and if the firefighters cannot find the hydrant or have to dig it out the lost time could result in catastrophic damage to your or your neighbor’s home.
Prevent street flooding by clearing catch basins near your home to allow rain and melting snow to enter the drainage system.
All snow plows are angled the same way (to the driver’s right) and will automatically push the snow that direction. It is impossible for the equipment operators to avoid pushing snow into cleared driveways and sidewalks. If you must clear your driveway prior to the completion of snow plowing, please keep in mind that the snow that is in front of the plow will unload wherever there is a cleared area. This is why snow is left in a cleared driveway as the street is plowed. Clearing an area on the side of the driveway from which the plow approaches will provide an area for the snow to unload before it reaches your driveway. This area needs to be at least five feet long and two to three feet wide.
It is unlawful to shovel, plow or snowblow any snow into the street or roadway.
Any property owner/tenant of every property fronting any street in the township is asked to remove from the sidewalks all snow or ice that has fallen within 24 hours after any snow event. Please have a path of 36 inches wide cleared.
Mailbox damage- the township is not responsible for any mailboxes that are located within the right of way, that are hit by snow, ice or snowplows.
It is our mission to make the streets passable and as safe for motorists as we can in the shortest period of time. Every storm is different and poses different challenges.
Northern Berks Regional Police Department
Serving the residents of Maidencreek Township, Ontelaunee Township, and Leesport Borough
Contact Information
Northern Berks Regional Police Dept
37 Ontelaunee Drive
Reading, PA 19605
Chief Brian Horner
Office:(610)926-2999 Records office hours between
Fax:(610)926-03098 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday-Friday
MESSAGE FROM CHIEF BRIAN HORNER
REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
Report suspiciouspersons and vehicles immediately, a vehicle’s license plate number is the best identification. Don’t wait……Call 911 as soon as possible!!!!
PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE AND CONTENTS
Lock your vehicle when it is parked outside, even in your driveway. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
PROTECT YOUR HOME
Interior lights on at dusk and use a timer if not home. Leave interior lights on when you go away after dusk. As the holidays approach please be mindful of package deliveries.
MOVE OVER LAW
3327. Duty of driver in emergency response areas.
(a) General rule.--When approaching or passing an emergencyresponse area, a person, unless otherwise directed by anemergency service responder, shall:
(1) pass in a lane not adjacent to that of the emergency
response area, if possible; or
(2) if passing in a nonadjacent lane is impossible,
illegal or unsafe, pass the emergency response area at a
careful and prudent reduced speed reasonable for safely
passing the emergency response area.
(b) Penalty.--Any person violating subsection (a) commits a
summary offense and shall, upon conviction, pay a fine of not
more than $250.00
Please visit our Web site for additional NBRPD information
BERKS COUNTY MEDICATION DROP BOX PROGRAM
Free disposal of unused, unwanted or expired medications.
Accepted: prescription and over the counter medications, including pet medications, ointments, inhalers, powder or patch form medication.
NOT accepted: any loose pills not in standard container or bag, syringes, thermometers, bandages, sunblock, lipstick, deodorant or skin creams.
List of locations where these items can be dropped off in our area
- Bern Twp. Police Department - 1069 Old Bernville Road, Bern Twp.
- Berks County Detectives - Berks County AG Center, 1238 Welfare Road, Leesport
- Fleetwood Police Department - 110 West Arch Street, Fleetwood
- Muhlenberg Twp. Police Department - 5401 Leesport Avenue, Muhlenberg
For a complete list of locations go to:
Northern Berks EMS
Forthcoming!!
Union Fire Company #1 of Leesport
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Union Fire Co. #1 of Leesport
18 East Wall St.
P.O. Box 777
Leesport, PA 19533
Non-Emergency: 610-926-4090
Emergency: 911
Fire Chief – Kenneth Quell – 610-926-4090
Drill nights – every Tuesday evening at the fire station
Bingo every Thursday night from September thru May
Meat tray/cash bingo
Doors open at 5 p.m. – games start at 6:30 p.m.
Hard Cards and paper specials
Stormwater – what you need to know
What is storm water? Storm water is water from precipitation that flows across the ground and pavement when it rains or when snow and ice melt. The water seeps into the ground or drains into what we call storm sewers. These are the drains you see at the street corners or at low points on the sides of streets. Collectively the draining water is called storm water runoff.
Why is storm water “good rain gone wrong”? Storm water becomes a problem when it picks up debris, chemicals, dirt, oil and grease, lawn clippings, pet waste and fecal coliform and other pollutants as it flows or when it causes flooding and erosion of stream banks. Storm water travels thru a system of pipes and roadside ditches that make up storm sewer systems. Contrary to what you may think, stormwater runoff does NOT flow into the sewer going to the wastewater treatment plan for treatment. This polluted water eventually flows directly to a lake, river, stream, wetland or coastal water.
What can you do?Recycle motor oil and other fluids. Throw litter into receptacles. Clean up after your pet, even in your own yard. Never dump anything that you wouldn’t wat to drink or sim in on the ground, onto the street, down a storm drain or into a drainage ditch. Minimize the amount of hazardous wastes generated at home. Do not plow yard clippings or leaves into your street. Wash your vehicle on your lawn rather than on the pavement.
Do your best to project our drinking and recreational waters!!
Building/Zoning/Code Enforcement
A common question we receive is “Do I need a permit to have work done?” In most cases, yes you do. A permit is required for, but not limited to additions, decks, fences, pools, renovations, signs, driveway paving, concrete, roof, electrical and plumbing work.
Our Building Inspector/Code Enforcement is handled by Kraft Code Services.
Please visit their website at kraftcodeservices.com to obtain permit applications.
Please submit your completed application with the application fee of $50 for residential applications and $150 for commercial applications to the township office. The application fee will be deducted from the permit fee.
Ontelaunee Township Municipal Authority
(OTMA)
35 Ontelaunee Drive, Suite 100
Reading, PA 19605
Office Number: 610-916-3445
Emergency number: 610-223-9054
Board Members
Richard Reilly, Chairman
William Klein, Member
Melvin Bailey, Member
Kasia Azzolina, Member
Melissa Becht, Member
Public Water customers are billed quarterly $74.00 for the first 6,000 gallons. Additional fees apply for those customers whose usage over 6,000 gallons.
Public Sewer customers are billed $115.00 monthly
Payments are due by the 5th of the following month or late fees will apply.
Failure to receive bills does not excuse payment. If you do not receive your bill, please call the office.