Sandy Supers Hear Comments on Proposed Outdoor Furnace Ordinance

DUBOIS - In a packed room with some members of the public standing outside the Sandy Township Supervisors heard comments for, against and modifying the proposed outdoor furnace ordinance. Heading into the meeting the supervisors were open about the fact if all went well they could vote to approve the ordinance at the next meeting.

“We want to do it right and proper the first time, and I appreciate everyone's comments,” said Supervisor Chairman Brady LaBorde after the meeting.

LaBorde mentioned how it was tough to pass an ordinance that would become law that would affect people as this one does. As such, the open comments were to get more of a feel for the issue beforehand. Information given, both positive and negative, lead the supervisors to table the voting on the ordinance for the time being.

The comments mostly fell into several camps.

Those in support of the ordinance were split between why it was a good idea and enforcement. Most of the support for the ordinance came from those who seemed to have had bad experiences with their neighbors burning things that either produced noxious smoke or too much spoke to breath easily.

One person stating the need to use a wet rag over his mouth to breath and another going so far to increase the list of items that shouldn't be burned to include coal.

Enforcement was the concern for others who seemed to lack faith in the ordinance being enforced in a timely matter. Several times the supervisors reminded the gathered citizens the township didn't have the manpower to patrol looking for furnace violations, but said citizens could call in complaints to the township.

“We'll do our best to do it, but we can't perform miracles,” said LaBorde.

Most of the spoken concerns against the ordinance were from those with furnaces or boilers that would become labeled as furnaces once the ordinance passed that provided scenarios the supervisors admitted they hadn't considered when writing the ordinance to forbid their use in months were people are most likely to be outside.

One man purchased his furnace to heat not only his house, but also his pool which means under the ordinance as written the furnace used to heat the pool for swimming won't be allowed to be run the months the pool will be in use. Another said he needs his furnace, built to match old requirements, to keep his greenhouse heated. However, the date cutoff is a month too early. A third, a retiree, has used his outdoor furnace for both home and water heating. As written he would now be left without hot water for the Summer months even if he burned compliant materials.

The supervisors admitted the ordinance wasn't perfect at the meeting, and had called for the session in hopes of hearing such unforeseen situations to get the kinks worked out.