West Marlborough business

From beginning to end, the West Marlborough Township meetings on Aug. 6 lasted just 52 minutes -- and that included ample social time.
First the Planning Commission met and chose Jeb Hannum as its new chairman (former chair Josh Taylor became a township supervisor) and welcomed new member Gus Brown, who was named to the commission by the township supervisors in July. After their brief meeting there was general conversation among the audience members -- we always have plenty to discuss with our neighbors -- before Supervisor Bill Wylie called the supervisors' meeting to order.
The only bit of controversy at the meeting occurred when Springdell resident Bernie Langer stood and read aloud a letter he wrote to the board suggesting that they be more open when choosing new Planning Commission and Zoning Hearing Board members. He said vacancies on the boards should be publicized, candidates' names announced and public input invited on the candidates. He also said living in the township for at least five years and being a regular voter and municipal meeting attender should be prerequisites for serving on one of the boards.
In their letter of response, the supervisors told him they felt that following such a public procedure would be "hurtful and divisive" because it would necessarily create winners and losers. They also thanked him for being such an involved citizen and expressing his views.
In other business, Tom Brosius of Marlboro Mushrooms praised the township road crew for keeping the roadbanks so neatly maintained: he said they waited for him to mow his fields and even tidied a spot he missed. Supervisor and Roadmaster Hugh Lofting seconded the compliments for the crew, adding that they've had quite a job keeping stone on the gravel roads with the heavy and frequent rainstorms this past month.
At the supervisors' meeting, Planning Commission member Anna Myers filled in as minute-taker for township secretary-treasurer Shirley Walton, who had to make a family airport pickup. Anna is certainly no stranger to taking minutes: she does the same thing for the Planning Commission.