Lower Alsace Township News
2015
www.latownship.org
610-779-6400
Municipal Merger proposal
During the Spring and Summer municipal
meetings of 2014, the Township Supervisors
together with members of Mount Penn
Borough Council were involved a very deep
examination of any and all options available
to help the Antietam Valley Community
withstand this slow economic recovery and
attempt to build a stronger future for the tax
payers. The result of these meetings was a
plan that was supported by an overwhelming
majority of voters the Township.
Please stay involved, attend meetings, reach
out to your neighbors and join community
groups with similar goals for the community.
The Township Web site is
www.latownship.org and for those on Face
Book, there is a constant stream of
information posted about community
activities as well as other pertinent Township
information. This is a wonderful community
with a bright future if everyone commits to
working together.
The Board of Supervisors meets at 6:30 PM
on the second and fourth Wednesday of each
month. Please see the web site for the posted
agendas and minutes for each meeting.
The Planning Commission meets only as
needed and that date is the first Wednesday
of each month at 7:00 PM
The Central Berks Regional Police
Commission meetings are held on the First
Thursday of each month. Please check with
the Township to find out which municipality
is hosting the meeting you are interested in
attending.
Unfortunately it failed to win the majority of
voters in the Borough so the effort ended.
The Board of Supervisors is very grateful for
that show of support and unity. As they begin
to rethink the future of the community, please
know that your support and dedication to the
future remains just as important.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
The Antietam Pool is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day
from 12:00 noon until 7:45 p.m. weather permitting. On Saturdays, the
pool opens at 10AM. (Olympic pool hours will be posted)
In addition, the AVRCC office is open for membership enrollment May
1 through September 2 (check their calendar for office hours).
Antietam Pool is located at 905 Byram Street, Reading, PA 19606.
Contact us at 779-5240 or e-mail at [email protected]
The Antietam Valley Community Partnership is managed entirely
by community members who commit their time and talent to help
improve our community. There are many ways for you to get
involved. See www.antietamvalley.org for current and past events.
Contact them at:
ANTIETAM VALLEY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
Mailing address: 2651 Hill Road, Reading, PA 19606
Email: [email protected]
Please e-mail [email protected]
if you are interested in reserving a space.
Mount Penn Area Business Association
www.mountpennarea.org
Promoting and strengthening the business, professional, and civic
interests of our community.
Watch their web site for information for the 2015 block party
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Antietam Valley Summer Playground Program
The success from last year’s joint playground
program that involved cooperation with Antietam
Valley Community Partnership, the Antietam
Valley Recreation and Community Center , Lower
Alsace Township and Mount Penn Borough
continued with a dramatic increase in the
attendance. The total number of children from the
community who signed up for the Playground
Program in 2014 was 110,(2013-81); Average
attendance per day was 33 (2013-22); total
program attendance: 1,014 (2013-657).
Appreciation on behalf of the community goes out
to Lydia Faro, Andy Wrobel and Kaley Harman, the three camp supervisors who managed an
excellent season with the camp during 2014. Kaley and Lydia are 2013 graduates from Antietam
High School, and Andy is an upperclassman at Antietam. For more information on this year’s
program, please phone the Township Office or visit www.antietamvalley.org/events
Introducing the Antietam Valley Farmers' & Artists' Market
....coming May 16 - October 31, 8 am to 12 pm!
The Antietam Valley Farmers’ and Artists’ Market
(AVFAM) was created and organized to operate a
local farmers market, offering consumers a wide
range of locally grown produce and products
made by the vendors themselves. The market will
serve a long established residential community of
over 9000 people, as well as become a destination
market for walkers and drivers alike. The market
is designed to create an enhanced sense of
community, and will help to sustain our local
farming families and artists by providing a strong and direct market sales site. Both vendors and
shoppers alike will enjoy the beautiful park setting of the market: an open-air market when the
weather is agreeable, and a large indoor covered space for when nature does not cooperate with
us. The 2015 market season will begin on Saturday, May 16th and end on October 31st. The
market will be open every Saturday (except October 17, 2015) due to a previously scheduled
event.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Master Development Plan
Following up on the 2013 Peer Study of the area’s recreational resources, the Township partnered
with the Antietam School District and formed a study committee of citizens representing the
Antietam Valley to consider enhancing the usability of the property locally known as Carsonia Park.
This park is owned by the Mount Penn Municipal Authority and serves as a watershed for the
region.
The pool and recreational facility has been well managed for over 30 years by a group of local
volunteers known as the Antietam Valley Recreation Association. In 2014, representatives from
Lower Alsace Township, Mount Penn Borough, Exeter Township, St. Lawrence Borough, Antietam
School District, Mount Penn Water Authority, Antietam Valley Community Partnership and
Antietam Valley Recreation Association formed a Regional Park Development Committee and
agreed to contract with YSM Consulting to design a Master Development Plan for the Park. The
Committee held a public meeting at Stokesay Castle attended by over 200 area residents.
Ultimately the Committee successfully included the citizen’s desire to see the historical theme of
this park site continue along with many design elements intended to protect the park’s sensitive
environmental areas. This plan will now enable the committee to begin planning organizational and
funding initiatives to fulfill the dream of completing this exciting Community Park project.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Achieving the vision presented in this master plan for Carsonia Park will of course require significant
capital expenditures and dedication of municipal staff and community volunteers. As with many major
recreation facilities, it is anticipated that the investment will occur in phases over several years. To
guide the rehabilitation and improvements to Carsonia Park, cost estimates will be finalized and
reviewed to assure that they correspond to the various phases of development as determined by the
Regional Parks Committee. The Committee will be meeting with numerous grant funding agencies in
an attempt to draw down those funds established for community projects such as this one. Thus far,
the feedback on the proposed plans from many of those agencies has been very positive. Please stay
tuned, involved and look for future fund raising activities aimed at enhancing the success of this
community park project.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
What’s ahead in 2015??
Working to maintain property values- Township staff is partnering with
staff from Mount Penn Borough and the Central Berks Police Department to
more proactively prevent and resolve property maintenance issues in the
community. By adopting the International Property Maintenance Code the
communities are attempting to ensure a minimum level of safety and sanitation
for both the general public and the occupants of a structure, and to maintain a
building’s structural and weather-resistance performance. Many common
complaints that fall under this code are overgrown weeds, debris, vacant and
dangerous buildings and abandoned or junked vehicles. Additional fire safety
requirements, plumbing, mechanical and electrical requirements are also
addressed in this ordinance which may cause violators to be subject to fines
and penalties.
You may be seeing a new logo for our Property Maintenance Code Officer. Central Berks Police Chief Ray Serafin
and the Township Supervisors share the belief that Codes Enforcement and Police Protection are not mutually
exclusive and therefore feel that the best way to keep crime out of our community is to prevent blighting influences
on the neighborhoods. While many of our citizens keep a good watch and report their concerns, our police patrol
officers are just one more effort that will enable us to correct property maintenance violations earlier. The Township
Property Maintenance Code officer has been working directly with our Police Officers during 2014 and we believe
that by moving the inspector to the Police Department building, it will make this effort more efficient and effective.
We continue to seek the cooperation of our residents to report concerns and issues on your street and we thank you
for helping to be those eyes and ears.
In addition to our ramped up Property Enforcement Inspections, please know that Rental Licenses must be obtained
prior to the residential or commercial rental of any property in the township. These three year rental licenses will only
be issued following a successful inspection by a Township Code Official. In addition to the license, the township also
requires a tenant listing for all occupants over 18 years of age in any rental unit as well as updates to that list when
tenants change. Failure to obtain a rental license or to report any change in tenancy could result in fines and penalties.
Please note that the conversion of single family homes into multiple rental units is no longer a permitted use and may
only be approved after successfully obtaining a Zoning Variance from the Township Zoning Hearing Board.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
The cost of local government services
Your Township Supervisors hope you understand that the smallest portion of your overall real estate tax
burden is what funds your Township services. In 2015 the annual Township real estate tax bill for a home
assessed at $100,000 is $718.00. For that $718 a family in Lower Alsace Township receives snow
plowing and road maintenance services on the 24 miles of Township roads; leaf and brush collection (for
the densely populated neighborhoods); building, plumbing, electric, zoning and property maintenance
code enforcement; a free recycling drop off facility and various community recreation programs including
a playground program. Additionally, your local tax dollars provide 24 hour police protection with the
Central Berks Police Department, emergency fire and ambulance services with the Lower Alsace Fire
Company and the Lower Alsace Ambulance Association.
Until our State Legislature is able to determine an alternative to Real Estate Tax, the taxes you pay on your
property are the largest single source of revenue for the township. The 2015 property assessment for the
Township’s taxable properties is projected to remain fairly flat and the same holds true with the Township's
Earned Income Tax revenue for 2015. Due to this stable but stagnate source of revenue and with the
anticipation of increasing costs in the years ahead, the Supervisors will continue to utilize fund reserves to
balance the budget before they decide incrementally increase real estate taxes. That fact looms large for
the future if you want your officials to continue providing these important community services. Due to
those realities and not unlike many municipalities across the Commonwealth your Township Supervisors
will continue to work closely with their EMS agencies to assure their future is financially viable and are
able to provide the citizens the emergency response services they have grown to expect.
We encourage you to discuss your ideas and concerns about property taxes with your State Legislators
now.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1
Central Berks Regional Police Department
2147 Perkiomen Avenue, Reading, PA 19606
Emergencies call - 9-1-1 for non emergency calls use 610-655-4911
Police Office calls 610-779-1100
During 2014 it was decided to end the lease of a portion of the Police building
which is owned jointly by Lower Alsace Township and Mount Penn Borough.
Police Chief Serafin and the Officers provided much of the labor thereby
keeping the major construction and electrical costs with the outside contractors
under $2,000. The Supervisors wish to thank Chief Ray Serafin, the Central
Berks Regional Police Commission, the Officers and staff for their professional
service and continuing efforts to serve the community in the most
cost effective manner possible.
Lower Alsace Fire Company
1206 Roosevelt Avenue, Reading PA 19606 emergencies call 9-1-1 - non emergencies call
During 2014 the Fire Company responded to many emergency
and non-emergency incidents in and around the community.
Those incidents include responding to automatic fire alarms, traffic accidents,
assists to ambulance calls and of course fires of which only seven structure fires
were reported in 2014. The Lower Alsace Fire Company is still staffed entirely
by volunteers, funded with the Lower Alsace Fire Tax, donations and of course
fund raising activities. Please continue to support your local fire
department!
Lower Alsace Volunteer Ambulance Association
750 N. 25th Street, 610-779-0190
610-655-4911 (non-emergency transport), Emergencies: 911
By becoming a member of Lower Alsace Ambulance, each subscriber who would ever need
to use the ambulance for either an emergency or non-emergency transport would not have to
pay for any expenses that their insurance provider did not cover.
Please look for a membership packet in the mail as we send them out approximately twice a
year! Any questions, please call us at (610) 779-0190. A volunteer is always at station from
9am to 5pm seven days a week and will be able to answer any questions
NEW!! On March 15th The Lower Alsace Ambulance Association will begin providing
Advanced Life Support (ALS) in addition to Basic Life Support (BLS) services for this
community. This change along with several other operational changes will enable the
ambulance association to provide additional services to the community, strengthen its
financial position and better plan for future equipment requirements. The result of this
organizational change will also encourage more communities such as St. Lawrence and
Mount Penn Boroughs to partner with the Township and help to create an even stronger
EMS agency to serve the residents of the Antietam Valley.
Please watch your mail for ambulance membership packets. We encourage your
support and financial contributions to this important organization.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Township office located at 1200 Carsonia Avenue, Reading PA 19606
Hours 8 AM to 4 PM Monday through Friday except holidays
Phone 610-779-6400 – Fax – 610-370-0797
Administrative Staff - Terry L. Styer, Manager/Secretary-Treasurer and Corrie Crupi, Assistant Secretary
Solicitor – Michael A. Setley, Esq. Georgeadis || Setley
Road Crew - Richard Bitting, Road Foreman, Matt Heizmann, Assistant Road Foreman , Roger Stief Jr.
and Rick Gerhart, Jr.
Tax Collector – Patrick Duggan – 484-797-5009
Antietam Valley Municipal (Sewer) Authority - 502 Butter Lane, 610-779-0150
Mount Penn Borough Municipal Authority (Water) - 200 N. 25th Street, 610-779-4900
Building/Zoning Inspector – Terry Naugle, Great Valley Consultants – 610-375-8822
Plumbing and Property Settlement Inspector – Brian Sands, 610-374-8397
Property Maintenance Code Inspector and Fire Marshall – Rick Gerhart, Jr. 610-779-6400
Sewage Enforcement Officer - Quinn Haller, Technicon Enterprises -610-286-1622
Engineer – Joseph Rogosky, Great Valley Consultants – 610-375-8822
Planning Commission - Thomas Watcke, Matt McGough, Homer Williams, Joel Reber and Tracey Larish
Zoning Hearing Board - Frank S. Piehl, Michael Farrara, Charles Snyder
Board of Auditors - Barry Groebel, Linda Orth and Don Pottiger
*************************************************************************************
Be sure to make your voice count!
2015 Primary Election day is May 19
2015 General Election day is November 3
For information on registration and voting
please call the Berks County Elections Department at
610-478-6490 or go to www.co.berks.pa.us/elections.
Your polling locations in Lower Alsace Township
Precinct 01 - Lower Alsace Ambulance Bldg. 750 N. 25th Sreet - 25th and Harvey Streets
Precinct 02 - Lower Alsace Township Building 1200 Carsonia Avenue
************************************************************************************
Cable TV Questions????? Please call 1-800 COMCAST
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
2015 Spring and Fall Clean up Days will be scheduled for Saturday April 18th and Saturday
October 17th; 8 am to 3 PM at the Lower Alsace Township
Building - 1200 Carsonia Avenue
Please plan ahead to take advantage of these two Saturdays to
conduct your neighborhood clean up programs or just to bring
junk you’ve been hoping to get rid of for some time. You
may even want to drop in and volunteer your time to help the
Township Supervisors with this community clean-up effort.
The Township will be arranging for several
dumpsters; the purpose of which will be for the
easy disposal of your unwanted items including but not limited to furniture,
appliances, (NO ELECTRONIC WASTE) unmounted car and truck tires – 2 per
household @ $2.00 piece. In addition to the disposal of junk, we will also have
our dump truck available for you to dispose of your brush and tree trimmings.
ABSOLUTELY NO GARBAGE, ELECTRONIC WASTE (NO TV’S OR COMPUTERS) AND
NO HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Please maintain your street trees:
Lower Alsace Township Ordinance No. 37 requires that “trees shall not be permitted to grow on any property
with limbs extending over the sidewalks of the Township at a height of less than 8 feet from the surface of the
said sidewalk or over the Township streets, roads or alleys at a height of less than 12 feet from the surface of
such streets,roads or alleys.” Spring and Fall are good seasons to take care of this responsibility as the
Township will be providing brush disposal opportunities for you! See the dates above.
Leaves – For the residents in Pennside and Stony Creek, please be informed that the Township Fall leaf
collection will begin on Tuesday, October 20th, 2015 (weather permitting) and will continue until the first
significant snow fall or the first Friday in December - which ever comes first. Remember that leaves (and
only leaves) should be placed in such a manner that they will not pose a traffic hazard but will enable the leaf
vacuum to easily collect.
IMPORTANT It is critical that the leaf piles do not contain yard debris and or brush. Please see the
instructions above for the brush collection procedures and date and Thank you for the cooperation we receive
each year.
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Recycling and Rubbish disposal - Township Residents only - 1200 Carsonia Avenue
PLEASE HELP US KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SERVICE
SAFE AND SANITARY BY OBEYING THE RULES
•Material may not be contaminated with food;
•Be sure to fill the recycling bins from the back to the
front;
•Flatten large plastic jugs and cardboard boxes;
•DO NOT THROW BAGS of recyclables into the
bins,
•OPEN bags first and pour
your items into the
recycling bins;
The following paper may be mixed together:
cardboard, newspapers, magazines, envelopes / junk mail, office paper
The following commingled material may be mixed together:
clear, amber, brown and green glass, aluminum cans, tin cans, steel; plastics: PET and HDPE # 1 through #7
provided it is is no bigger than a laundry bottle.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN RECYCLING CONTAINERS:
appliances, lawn chairs, yard waste, flammables, fluorescent tubes, styrofoam,
any type of container containing hazardous materials, pots and pans, plate glass,
window glass, mirrors, any type of oil or oil rags, miscellaneous plastic, light bulbs,
anything containing food such as used pizza boxes or restroom waste.
Lower Alsace Township does not provide municipal trash service at this time. Property owners may
choose from any local trash hauler that is Act 90 Licensed and will also provide you with recycling
services.
For additional information on special waste collection facilities and events, please contact the Berks
County Solid Waste Authority Office at (610) 478-6362, or visit their web site for a wealth of
information on disposal and recycling options in Berks County: www.co.berks.pa.us/swa
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
How to make your community greener
Many of us may be inadvertently producing water pollution in our homes and communities without even
realizing it. These activities can contribute to polluted water runoff, also known as non-point source
pollution, which then enters nearby rivers and streams. Fortunately, there are a number of things that you,
your family, and your community can do that will make a difference in reducing water pollutants before they
reach local streams. They include:
• Join local stream reforestation efforts. Forested streams, also known as "riparian buffers," do many
things to help water quality. They help regulate the streams temperature, help decrease erosion and
flooding, and they also filter out many pollutants water runoff can carry with it. Also, don't mow up to the
edge of the stream bank. Leave a buffer area and allow it to grow "naturally" so that is can act as a filter
for storm water.
• Join or organize a community tree planting. Reforesting vacant and community lots will help improve
local water quality by filtering out pollutants before they reach the stream.
• Consider starting a backyard conservation project in your community. Any vacant lot or unused space is
a candidate for improvement with native plants, rain gardens, or other natural habitat.
• Encourage public officials to practice backyard conservation in parks and other public property. Examples of existing projects are found at www.berkscd.com and www.berks-conservancy.org
• Encourage schools and other local organizations to become involved in caring for and helping the local
environment.
• If you live in an apartment or condo, then encourage your building owner to use backyard conservation
practices on the grounds around the building.
• Join/organize a community stream clean-up day. By ridding stream banks of litter, our local streams will
not only look better, but they will be healthier too. The Schuylkill Scrub is an annual stream clean-up effort
in the Schuylkill Watershed every spring season. To learn more or to find a clean-up near you visit: http://
www.schuylkillscrub.org/
• Join/help organize a watershed or river association. Watershed Associations are groups of individuals,
usually volunteers, who represent the interest of the community and the environment with a mission,
goals, and plans, for protecting, enhancing, and conserving local stream health. The goals of various
watershed associations vary from recreation, enhancing stream habitat, project implementation, and/or
education.
This article is complements of the Berks County MS4 Steering Committee
Do you like to garden? Do you like to fish? Learn how you can do what you love while also helping your water
resources, please attend the April 8th Township Supervisors meeting - 6:30 PM as there will be a public presentation
regarding the Townships Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)
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Lower Alsace Township News
2015
Do I need a permit?
The various codes adopted by this community are intended to protect the health and safety of the
citizens. Permits are required to assure that the contractors working for you have the knowledge
and expertise to do the work properly and in compliance with the statewide codes. Managed
effectively, these regulations can help to foster home ownership, ensure the maintenance of the
building stock and stabilize the property value of your neighborhoods. Call before you dig!
Performing a free pre-plan PA one call can save you countless hours of frustration and
needless expense.
Building Permits - The International Building code requires that any owner or authorized agent who intends to
construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install,
enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, shall first make
application to the Lower Alsace Township’s Codes Official and obtain the required permit for the work.
Property Settlement Inspections - Since the adoption of the Property Settlement Inspection ordinance in the fall of
2011 there have been over 200 inspections performed as houses are transferred to new owners. The majority of the
inspections revealed serious building code violations relating to important safety issues such as the installation of smoke
detectors and ground-fault circuit interrupter electric outlets (GFCI) which help to prevent electrical shocks. These
relatively inexpensive items help to ensure that all future residents of these homes enjoy a dwelling unit in compliance
with the latest safety requirements and hopefully enjoy some peace of mind. In addition to the safety benefits, this
process helps to stabilize your neighborhood’s property values.
Plumbing permits may only be acquired by a Master Plumber with an approved plumbing license filed in the Township
of Lower Alsace. Section 106.1 of the International Plumbing Code: Any owner, authorized agent or contractor who
desires to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect,
install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by
this code, or to cause any such work to be done, shall first make application to the Lower Alsace Township Code Official
and obtain the required permit for the work.
Residential Electrical permits may be acquired by the property owner or by an electrician who is registered with the
PA Office of the Attorney General as a Home Improvement Contractor. Electrical permits are required for any new work
to erect, install, enlarge, alter, convert or replace any electrical system. The applicant shall first make application to the
Lower Alsace Township Code Official and obtain the required permit for the work prior to the start of the work. Work
such as repairing or replacing an individual electrical device, such as a switch or receptacle, does not require a permit.
Any work that requires new wiring or devices / fixtures to be installed does require a permit. Commercial electrical
permits may be acquired by the property owner or by a licensed electrician. Commercial electrical permits are required
for any new work to erect, install, enlarge, repair, alter, convert or replace any commercial electrical system. The
applicant shall first make application to the Lower Alsace Township Code Official and obtain the required permit for the
work prior to the start of the work.
Dumpsters
If you need need to arrange for a dumpster to be delivered to your property but have no room, you may be permitted to
temporarily park it on the public street. Prior to doing so, please arrange for a Township Dumpster permit first. The
township will ensure property safety measures are taken for its placement as well as assurances in place to protect the
road surface.
13
Lower
Alsace Township
News
Winter
Activities
- Please
help us help you
2015
We would like to remind homeowners and those in the snow removal business to avoid depositing
snow, ice or slush on any roadway or highway when plowing out driveways. This happens frequently
when plow operators push snow across the road or along the shoulder adjacent to driveways and it
can cause hazardous driving conditions on our roadways.
Our plows sometimes push snow onto driveways as the snow leaves the plow and we really don’t
have a choice. We know that it’s frustrating to shovel your driveway and then have the plow come by
and push snow back at the base. Although we’d like to minimize the problem, there is no “efficient”
way to plow the roadway so that your driveway remains snow free.
One way to assure that minimal snow will be piled in your driveway entrance is to follow the
diagram provided above. Remember you could create a hazardous condition when you plow or blow
snow back on the roadway after the road has been plowed. All shoveled or blown snow should be
piled in your yard. Please follow the suggestion below to minimize windrows in your driveway
opening.
Shovel the snow to the right side
of your drive as you face the road,
and clear a pocket of snow on the
opposite side of your driveway.
The accumulated snow on the
plow will dump into the pocket
and NOT in your driveway. This
simple procedure will minimize
the amount of residual snow being
plowed from the roadway into
your driveway.
If an accident were to occur because of the snow you (or your plowing service) had placed on the
public right-of-way, you could be held liable. Your best bet when clearing snow is to pile all of it on
your own property. While you’re out there, clear the area in front of your mailbox (if yours is at the
curbside) after the plow has passed.
!!!If there’s a hydrant in the in front of your home, clear a path to and around it from the roadway so
firefighters can find and get to it quickly in case of an emergency!!!you (or your plowing service) had
placed on the public right-of-way, you could be held liable. Your best bet when clearing snow is to pile all of it on
14
Lower Alsace Township News
2015
What NOT to do with Snow
Do not shovel, plow, push or throw your driveway snow onto the public (or private) roadway and do
not try to push it all the way to the other side This practice will create a hazardous surface when
traffic passes over it. Please be sure your plowing contractors honor these restrictions too; you are
responsible for their actions on your property.
A note of caution is in order. Please be extremely careful when working next to the roadway
especially when snowplowing operations are in progress.
In the interest of assisting the township road crew with effective curb to curb snow removal on the
Township's emergency routes, please don't wait for a snow emergency to be declared to move your
vehicle from the street. Help us help you by not leaving your vehicle parked on the following
roads during a snow storm.
If a snow emergency is declared, the information will be posted as an announcement on the home
page of the Township’s web site, Face Book page and also on and TV 69 News.
Remember, during a declared emergency, any cars parked on an emergency route are subject to being
ticketed and towed.
The following roads are designated Township Snow Emergency Routes:
Harvey Avenue – from Carsonia Avenue to Exeter Township line.
Columbia Avenue – from Carsonia Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue
Marshall Avenue (Stony Creek) – from Antietam Road to Logan Street
Prospect Street – from Carsonia Avenue to its intersection with North 26th Street
Cherrydale Avenue – from Friedensburg Road to its intersection with Carsonia Avenue
North 25th Street – from Harvey Avenue to Park Street (west side)
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Lower Alsace Township
1200 Carsonia Avenue
Reading PA 19607
Lower Alsace Township Board of Supervisors
To serve as a township supervisor, an individual must be a
resident and registered voter of the township and must
have resided in the township continuously for at least one
year before their election. In addition to their task as a
legislator in the formation of policy and the enactment of
laws, supervisors are also responsible directly or
indirectly for the day-to-day operations of the township.
In this capacity, they will be acting as an executive and an
administrator concerned with law enforcement, preparing
an annual budget, suggesting systems of taxation,
preparing an annual municipal report, preparing grant
applications, appointing members of boards and
commissions and contracting for municipal purchases.
Local government is becoming more complex every day.
Residents are demanding more services and federal and
state governments are placing more responsibility at the
local level. The administration of local government has
reached the point where it is extremely difficult for a
governing body to handle all of the day-to-day
administrative functions without help.
Lower Alsace Township like a number of municipalities
have delegated administrative powers to appointed
officials such as a Township Manager, however John
Theodossiou, Jim Oswald and Todd Weikel (pictured
below) remain very active in the municipality. In addition
to their elected positions , they serve on numerous boards,
volunteer in emergency service associations and other
community enhancement efforts.