While township commissioners attended to administrative items during their virtual meeting July 6, the better part of the hour was spent discussing options for sports in the coronavirus era.

Township athletic association Vice President Eric Vernon called in to coordinate the opening of facilities for fall sports. He said papers were filled out and cooperating organizations were ready, but there were 600 athletes with nowhere to play. He also said a lengthy six-page “return to play” safety and procedures plan for cleanliness and distancing was ready for commissioner review, but they took the opportunity to ask him all their questions directly while he was on the line.

Thus courtesy of the floor lasted 30 minutes, with commissioners agreeing to try to get an athletic reopening plan on the agenda for the next meeting, though it would be later than Vernon said would allow for a smooth transition with the many organizations involved. Commissioners didn’t want to let him and the athletes down, however, and scheduled the discussion for an hour before an expectedly long special emergency response meeting July 13.

Commissioners later voted to allow the township manager to act with their authorization on a few action items, such as a $27,000 electrical upgrade of the public works facility, which they hope will prove a show of commitment in a difficult time and attract future grants.

Commission Melissa Davis questioned a $7,270 expense of repairing the great timekeeping piece at town hall.

President Michael Hudak, member John Gallagher and others also said they gave the clock little thought and figure dnobody actually relies on for timekeeping, considering it more of a decoration than anything else, and wondered if just removing the hands and saving the township thousands of dollars would be best.

Eventually they decided leaving it broken would appear they don’t care about the township, and, as Hudak said, “If we have a $60,000 clock in front of our building, it should at least work.”