Manager's Corner
Current News
Welcome, everyone, to Hampden's Website. Our purpose, of course, is to share with you news and information that is relevant and timely, so, if you have any suggestions on what you would like to see on this website, please feel free to send us an email.
s/ Keith B. Metts, Township Manager
Emergency Services
Hampden's Emergency Medical Services Department conducts an annual subscription drive to help partially finance operations. I encourage you to take advantage of the subscription offer. The EMS Department provides emergency medical coverage 24 hours a day, seven days a week to residents and visitors of the Township and neighboring Shiremanstown and other communities through a mutual aide agreement. Subscribers also receive Advance Life Support service from Penn State Health Life Lion.
Annual Membership fee varies depending upon the number of individuals in the household. The fee provides unlimited emergency calls for residents who require “medical necessity” transports to an emergency room. For more details about the service and a Membership Enrollment Card, view links. EMS Subscription Brochure (View) Subscription Enrollment Card (View)
The Township EMS, founded in 1975, cost more than $1 million annually to operate and is staffed around-the-clock by paid professional EMTs who answer approximately 3,000 calls a year, according to William Cook, EMS Director.
As a reminder, Township ordinance requires that each residence in the Township be visibly marked with its street number. The purpose for this is to facilitate finding your home in case of an emergency. Our ambulance and all-volunteer fire company are asking that those address numbers be as large as possible and placed conspicuously so that precious seconds can be gained in an attempt to find you in your time of need.
A copy of the Family Preparedness Guide is available electronically by selecting this link.
In this continued time of uncertainty, be assured that Hampden Township has a detailed and frequently reviewed Emergency Operations Plan. The plan outlines specific procedures for Township officials and first responders to follow in order to protect lives and property. Because there are many different scenarios that may constitute an emergency, the Commissioners would like to remind residents that your best source of information will come from your local radio and/or television stations. The Cumberland County Department of Public Safety also provides emergency alert notifications for those who subscribe to the service. Sign up for the service by clicking here. The Township recommends that you always have basic emergency essentials such as flashlights, radios, extra batteries, water and non-perishable food along with any prescribed medicines in your home.
Armitage Golf Club, routinely voted as “Simply The Best” public course, offers Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities.
Each tee box sponsorship includes a bench, ball washer, hole layout, trash and recycling receptacles and, of course, a 12” x 17” sign with your company logo and name. Additionally, as a tee box sponsor, your company will be recognized on our website with a direct link to your website. This will encourage patrons who access our website to learn more about your business as well. Along with the attractive and highly visible advertising, your company will also receive 20 complimentary rounds of golf, excluding a cart, to be used each year of your sponsorship.
SEE OUR SEPARATE WEBSITE @ http://www.armitagegolfclub.com for additional information
Yard Waste Recycling
The Yard Waste Facility is currently open weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The facility will also be open the first and third Saturday of each month from April through the first Saturday of January 2024 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The facility is closed on holidays (including holiday weekends such as Saturday, April 8 due to the Easter holiday) and during inclement weather. For complete details on the Yard Waste Facility, click here
Budget
The Board of Commissioners would like to take this opportunity to remind you that the current Hampden Township real estate tax rate is .156 mills which means for a home assessed at $100,000 a resident would pay $15.60 a year in real estate taxes to the Township. The School District, County and Township are separate taxing bodies and the Township receives no tax revenue from the School District or County and there is no revenue sharing between them.
Miscellaneous
At its May 2, 2024 meeting, the Board of Commissioners took the following actions:
Approved an Eagle Scout project from Aidan Lilianthal to install Bat Boxes and informational signs at the Veterans Park.
Tabled the Preliminary/Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan for Overlands of Atizazul and Tahmina Mansoor and Hampden Summit Homeowners Association, Inc., located at Summit Way and Creekview Road.
Approved full-time, regular employment for Maxx Miller, Public Works Maintenance Worker I, effective May 20, 2024, upon successful completion of a probationary period.
Approved a list of part-time and seasonal employees for various Township Departments.
Approved purchase of new ambulance from Phase 2 Vehicle Specialties at a cost not to exceed $376,259.00 through Co-Stars Contract No. 013-E22-256.
Approved Change Order No. 1 for the 2023 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project resulting in a reduction in the amount of $111,813.60.
Authorized award of line striping and pavement markings at various locations throughout the Township to D. E. Gemmil at a cost not to exceed $30,859.70 through the COG Contract.
Approved purchase of a Diamond C Trailer from AJ’s Truck and Trailer Center, Inc., at a cost not to exceed $11,740.00 through Co-Stars Contract No. 025-E22-524.
Approved a subscription agreement with CivicPlus at an initial cost of $11,190.00 for an agenda and meeting management solution, conditioned upon Solicitor approval of the agreement.
Accepted a proposal from Security Fence Co. for fence replacement at Salem Park Field Nos. 4 and 5 at a cost not to exceed $9,960.00, lowest of three quotes.
Approved a professional services agreement with GoSecure, Inc. at a cost not to exceed $7,700.00 to perform a network security test on the SCADA network.
Approved a proposal from CE Swartz Construction, LLC for dug out roof replacement at Salem Park at a cost not to exceed $5,560.00, lowest of three quotes.
Approved Resolution No. 2024-12 for a DCED grant for the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for future development of a park along Smith Drive.
Ratified Resolution Nos. 2024-09, 2024-10 and 2024-11 recognizing Reuben James, Noah Basehore and Arnav Chatrathi on obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
Approved a request from the Cleve J. Fredricksen Library for a financial contribution in the amount of $5,000.00 and a donation of a pool membership at the resident family rate.
Approved a donation of two (2) rounds of golf (excluding cart fee) at Armitage Golf Club to the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital Region SHOE STRUT event.
Approved a donation of two (2) rounds of golf (excluding cart fee) at Armitage Golf Club to the annual charity auction for the Mechanicsburg, PA chapter of the Navy Supply Corps Foundation.
Denied a request for release of Mid Penn Bank Letter of Credit No. 950 for the 3820-3900 Market Street Preliminary/Final Subdivision and Land Development Plan, PC File No. 20-12-03, work is not compete.
Accepted a time limit deadline extension for The Residences on Trindle Subdivision and Land Development Plan, P.C. Fine No. 24-02-01, through July 26, 2024.
Approved an Operation and Maintenance Agreement for Stormwater Practices for the property located at 106 Salem Church Road.
Approved an Operation and Maintenance Agreement for Stormwater Practices for the property located at 200 Lamb’s Gap Road.
Approved an emergency/moratorium Street Cut Permit Application No. 2024-41 for restoring gas service at 1205 and 1207 Summit Way, subject to staff review and approval.
Approved moratorium Street Cut Permit Application No. 2024-44 for gas repair and cross-bore correction at 1819 Signal Hill Drive, subject to staff review and approval. Street was paved within the last five years.
Approved moratorium Street Cut Permit Application No. 2024-49 for installing new gas service at 1836 Red Spruce Lane, subject to staff review and approval. Street was paved within the last five years.
Approved the warrants payable for the month of April 2024.
Approved the regular meeting minutes of March 28 and the special workshop minutes of April 30, 2024.
Approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cumberland County Office of the District Attorney and Hampden Township Police Department.
Accepted the monthly report from Police Chief Yerg.
Accepted the monthly report from Public Works Director Jeremy Miller.
Approved four (4) pay applications and three (3) change orders for the Hampden Pool project.
Approved a proposal from National Utilities Refund (NUR) to act as the Township’s agent for a period of 24 months.
Approved a professional services agreement with MissionCIT for an additional fire service study.
Approved issuance of letters to Senator Rothman and Representative Delozier expressing the Township’s concerns about HB 1632 and SB 365.
Approved Resolution No. 2024-13, establishing the Hampden Environmental Advisory Team (HEAT) along with appointment of various members.
Approved Resolution No. 2024-14, establishing the Special Ad Hoc Committee for future improvements to Good Hope Road which is owned and maintained by PennDOT, along with appointment of various members.
Approved a request for Cumberland County Board of Elections to evaluate the number and location of polling places in Hampden Township.
Bill of Rights
The PA Tax Reform Act, passed as PA Act 50, concerned itself primarily with the ability of school districts to relax their reliance on real estate tax. However, the Tax Reform Act also gave you, the taxpayer, the entitlement to receive a written explanation of your rights with regard to the audit, appeal, enforcement, refund, and collection of all local taxes. Accordingly, the Hampden Township Board of Commissioners has adopted the Hampden Township Taxpayers' Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights covers topics such as municipal requests of information from you, the occurrence of a suspected tax over or underpayment, and the process to be followed during a tax appeal. If you ever have any questions about your rights as a taxpayer, a copy of the Bill of Rights is available at the Township office or, if you call the staff at 761-0119, we'll gladly mail you one — or you can download it from here on our Website.