The Allen Township Board of Supervisors met May 25 to discuss the results of the trash and recycling survey and details of the building lease on the fire company building.

A trash and recycling survey was open to township residents between April 19 and May 14. The results of the survey will be used to direct the board’s bid solicitation options.

Around 400 residents completed the survey, according to township Manager Ilene Eckhart. She reported 92.9 percent of responders said they would like to see the township continue providing a trash-collecting service for everyone.

One point of discussion among the board was the collection of bulk garbage items. About 53 percent of residents put out a bulk item one to four times in the past year; however, the frequency of bulk item collection is limited to two bulk items during the second full week of each month. This seems to be a point of confusion among residents.

Eckhart suggested, to help eliminate confusion, bulk item collection could be limited to one item per week or only on weeks recycling is collected.

The board of supervisors passed a motion to reach out to Advanced Disposal, the township’s current trash collector, for a one-year contract extension with a change to eliminate confusion about bulk item collection.

The board also discussed yard waste disposal at the meeting. Yard waste is no longer allowed in Pennsylvania landfills, so it cannot be left at the curb.

Allen Township residents currently have two options concerning their yard waste: drop it off at the municipal building drop-off point 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays or take it to the First Regional Compost Authority central processing site on Weaversville Road.

In other business, the board discussed the drafted lease of the Allen Township Fire Company building, 3530 Howertown Road.

The building would be donated to the township, but the fire company will still use the areas it needs to conduct normal business, according to Solicitor Lincoln Treadwell.

The lease was originally drafted for 15 years; however, the fire company asked for a 78-year lease. Future boards may question the validity of a 78-year lease, so it will be lessened to 50 years, as suggested by Treadwell. This would tie the lease to the value of the building.

As for the lease payment, Supervisor Gary Behler suggested the payment be $1 per year to keep the lease active.

After discussion, the board of supervisors, minus board Chairman Dale Hassler, motioned to make the necessary changes to the lease agreement and to allow the fire company to review the changes before moving forward.

The next Allen Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be held 7 p.m. June 8. The planning commission meeting will be held 7 p.m. June 21. Both meetings will take place in the fire company building.