SNYDERSVILLE -- One month after a shocking tragedy hit their community in Monroe County, the Ross Township supervisors held their regular meeting Tuesday night, but not at the municipal building. Instead the meeting was held at the county's public safety building in Snydersville.
This is the first meeting since a gunman opened fire during the August 5 meeting, killing three people and injuring several others.
People coming to the Ross Township supervisors meeting had to pass through a security checkpoint brought out by Monroe County sheriff deputies at the county's public safety building.
Before getting into regular township business, the supervisors thanked those involved in providing the building and the safety detail.
“We would like to thank the Monroe County Commissioners for cooperating with the sheriff's office in their efforts here this evening in granting permission for this county facility to be used for the meeting,” said Chairman Howard Beers.
This is the first time the supervisors have met since tragedy struck their community last month.
During the last regular meeting on August 5, police said Rockne Newell opened fire at the Ross Township Municipal Building. Once inside, investigators said he continued shooting, killing three people and injuring two.
Residents said they felt it was wise to hold the meeting in a different building.
“I’m pretty sure there are bad memories right now, so maybe they're just having it somewhere else to have their mind on the meeting and off what happened in the past,” said Scott Castone.
The supervisors voted to hire security guards for future meetings.
“We felt the need that we had to enter into an agreement with a security company, Legion Security,” said Beers.
At the very end of the minutes from the August 5 meeting was this chilling statement: “At this time gunshots were coming into the building and into the meeting room causing the disruption of the meeting to the point where it could not continue.”