Logistics have not been settled yet, but the township anticipates on the event being bigger than years’ past
By KRYSTAL NURSE
The Sun
The township committee agreed to move Harrison Township Day from William Wilt Soccer Complex to South Main Street as the township and two neighboring municipalities celebrate the 175th anniversary of Old Harrison Township.
Logistics have not been fully worked out, but Township Administrator Mark Gravinese said the township’s recreation commission is planning to have a multitude of activities throughout the afternoon and into the evening.
“At this point, with the amount of detail Mark and Bob Johnson and recreation have invested, I think we’ve got the bones of this figured out,” said Committeewoman Julie DeLaurentis. “We’re adding the historical society and preservation.”
The driving force behind relocating Harrison Township Day was to formally celebrate the 175th anniversary of Old Harrison Township (which includes Elk and South Harrison townships). Gravinese said he’s looking to get Elk and South Harrison’s mayors to join, as well as a few members of their governing bodies at Old Town Hall for the display on Old Harrison Township.
A street closing is anticipated for South Main Street, however, times and an exact perimeter have not been set as more logistics have to be worked out with a possible fireworks display at Friends School and craft and food vendors. When the street closing details are known, Gravinese said the south end will have shuttle service, much like what happened during Lights on Main.
There are no plans to close the intersection at Route 322, Mill Road or the bypass.
Near the graveyard next to Friends Meeting is likely to host high-end crafters, Gravinese added, such as glassblowers, wood carvers, ice carvers and other things of that nature relating to the 1804s.
Mayor Louis Manzo inquired how people will be able to get to see the anticipated fireworks display with the street closures and vendors expected to be along the walkways.
“The ability to watch on the street will be there,” said Gravinese. “We’re looking at deploying mostly rockets so they can see it way up.”
It is unknown where the safety barrier will be for the fireworks. According to the recreation’s calendar of events, Harrison Township Day is scheduled for May 4 with a rain date of May 5.
In other news:
- Deputy Administrator and Superintendent of Public Works Dennis Chambers said the lot of the former Pennsgrove Water was cleaned up. He added he, DeLaurentis and Brian Duffield, township solicitor, have plans of converting it to a parking lot in the near future.
- Police Chief Thomas Mills provided the latest crime numbers for 2018 where they had 434 motor vehicle crashes, 4,815 motor vehicle summons, 433 arrests, patrolled more than 180,000 miles and had 37,557 calls for service. Mills added the numbers are typical for the department.
- A resolution was adopted to allow the township to serve as the sole negotiator, for Clearview and Harrison school districts, for rates on a future solar field to power township-owned buildings and the two school districts.
- The committee also adopted a resolution to amend how the costs of school resource officers for Harrison and Clearview Regional districts are recalculated each year based on the lowest-costing officer, and charge the districts 66 percent of that cost (the township pays for 34 percent of it). The officers could also receive pay raises each time the township recalculates the costs.
- Volunteer time-off was tabled until the next meeting due to uncertainty on compensation, employee coverage and verification of community service.
- Solicitor permits for Allied Energy Efficiency Experts were tabled as well due to unclear language in when the solicitation will occur.
- During public comment, a resident asked why an age-restricted housing development is in the works for North Main Street as opposed to commercial or retail development. Manzo said it was agreed upon by the Joint Land Use Board and it can change up until ground breaks on the development.
The next committee meeting is scheduled for Feb. 4. Another meeting is expected to occur on Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Court Room of the Municipal Building.
