The Londonderry Elementary School gymnasium hosted the Monday, March 5, regular meeting of the Londonderry Board of Supervisors, a marathon session lasting a little over three hours in time.  It was the first Supervisor meeting held since Lyn Coble resigned her vice-chair position from the Board, effective immediately as of Monday February 26, 2001.

The Change of venue was legally advertised in the daily PATRIOT-NEWS, but due to the short lead time, legal advertisements for the meeting were unable to be printed in the weekly publications of  THE SUN and the PRESS & JOURNAL.  The meeting changed was independently posted on the  http://www.LondonderryTownship.com web site, a privately administered site with no official ties to the Township.

Additionally, signs and fire police were posted at the Township Office to direct citizens to the meeting at the School.  Chairman Douglas Gellatly, and called for the changed of venue Wednesday, February 28, and said at Monday's meeting the School would serve as the Township hall for Supervisor meetings for the near future.  (Readers are urged to contact the Township Office at 944-1066, during regular business hours, for updated meeting information.)

A ballpark figure of about 90 citizens took their seats on folding chairs as Board members Douglas Gellatly, chairman, Edward "Doc" Swartz and township staff sat at a table at the far end of the gym.  A podium with a microphone was positioned adjacent to the Supervisors for public comments.

The meeting began on a civilized note, as four members of Brownie Troop 1083 led the public in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Yet, before and after the brief ceremony, an obvious chill encompassed the gymnasium and proved to be an ominous sign of what would unravel during the meeting.

After input from the public was received and placed on the agenda, Ron Kopp tendered the monthly Planning Commission recommended the Supervisors approve was a waiver request from Lytle Farms - Phase 1, concerning curbs, gutters and sidewalks on property surrounded by Swataraa Creek Road, Ironmine and Colebrook Roads and the South side of Route 230.  The Supervisors granted the requested waiver.

Kopp, on behalf of the entire Planning Commission, also recommended the Board approve five waivers and asked for the Plan Approval of the Grace Espenshade Subdivision, which dealt with two lots on eleven acres of property on Schoolhouse Road.  The waivers, ranging from a Preliminary Plat to Storm-water Management, were granted and the Subdivision Plan was approved.

Kopp ended his presentation by informing the Supervisors the Township Zoning Ordinance Update was completed after being worked on for about 2 1/2 years.  The Supervisors accepted the updated and will discuss it at their work-shop session scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, at the Londonderry Elementary School.

In other Township business,

1)  The Supervisors approved a bid of $11,985 from Eshenaurs Fuel to renovate the Sunset Rest room at the request of the Park & Recreation Board.

2)  Re-appointed Douglas Gellatly as the Voting Delegate as the Voting Delegate to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisor (PSATS) Convention in Hershey, April 22-25.  He replaced Lyn Coble as the Township's Voting Delegate.

3)  Accepted the February 26 resignation of Lyn Coble from the Board of Supervisors.

Supervisors Gellatly and Swartz have until March 28, or 30-days, to appoint a successor to fill the empty seat.  If they are unable to agree on one individual, Angela Feeney, chair of the Vacancy Board, will step in and help name a successor.  Thus, action in appointing somebody to the Board most likely will occur at the Supervisors' Tuesday, March 20, work shop meeting.