Heidelberg supervisors have questioned whether the projected repairs to Rex Road bridge were worth the $200,000 included in the 2013 draft budget.

"How do we reconcile $190,000 in the budget," Supervisor Steve Bachman asked at the board's Nov. 8 meeting. Bachman was referring to the projected increase in capital improvements over last year's budgeted amount.

He asked whether there was a need to get from the six or seven houses on one side of the bridge to the one house on the other side.

"Could it be two dead ends?" he asked.

Roadmaster Kevin Huber suggested obtaining input from residents, and Supervisor Forrest Wessner III agreed.

"It would be vacating a piece of road," Township Solicitor Charles Waters said.

"The property owners would have to sign off on it," Chairman David Fink added.

Township engineer Roy Stewart said he would work with Secretary Kathy Hermany on involving the property owners in the process.

Another item requiring resident input was the street lights along Route 309 at Pleasant Corner.

Property owners are charged between $41 to $111 a year for the lights, depending on how many they have.

Township Administrator Janice Bortz said letters were sent to the 19 property owners along that stretch of road asking if they wanted to keep the streetlights.

Only eight responded, she said.

Half of those homeowners wanted the lights removed; half wanted to keep them, although one wanted the township to bear the expense.

"This intersection is bad," Huber said. "If we make it dark, it'll be even worse."

"I really think it's a safety issue," said Wessner.

Fink said the township is already paying the largest portion of the bill.

Bachman asked whether all the lights are needed. He suggested the township take over the billing and retain only one light at the intersection.

In the end, the board agreed to keep the lights as they are, and continue charging the property owners.

A brief review of the 2013 draft budget prior to the regular meeting produced no public comment.

Items subject to review included the cost of a new road roller and the need to increase the zoning secretary's hours or consider hiring an additional part-time person.

Bachman addressed the question of the secretary's hours.

"I think we need to budget for full-time or two part-time," Bachman said.

"She's not just the secretary," Bortz said, referring to Hermany. "[She is also] assistant secretary-treasurer. We need to do something about the clerical portion of the job."

Huber said that a new roller would cost between $52,000-$60,000.

Wessner asked if it could be shared with another township. Huber said there could be problems if both municipalities needed the roller at the same time.

Fink suggested the possibility of renting, and asked if the line item for capital equipment rental could be increased from $1,000 to $3,000.

Additional budget workshops will take place Nov. 23 and 29.

Fink said the road crew did an excellent job during Hurricane Sandy, clearing downed trees from the roads.

"Unfortunately, the utility trucks weren't working here for several days, but the roads were clear," Fink said.

Huber said he was told Verizon will no longer cut trees off their wires.

"They're saying it is the homeowner's responsibility," Huber said.

Fink said he wants to see that in writing.

He asked a letter be sent to the company requesting its written policy.

Huber described how he had to cut a tree limb on a power line while a Verizon crew held down the wire to relieve the pressure.

Even so, he said, when he cut the branch it snapped and flew over his shoulder.

Bachman said he should not have to do this, as he is not trained to trim trees, and could be injured.

Huber told The Press the road crew needed to remove the tree from Sell Road because it was still blocking the road a week after the storm.

He saw the Verizon crew working on Mountain Road and asked them to come over.

They referred him to Line Foreman Sean Queen regarding the policy on removing trees.

Queen explained the policy to him in a phone conversation, he said.

He did, however, send the crew to help hold the wire.

Queen could not be reached by The Press for comment.