Charlestown Township
Board of Supervisors Business Meeting
Minutes of October 16, 2023

The second business meeting for October was held on October 16, 2023, at the Charlestown Township Office, 11 General Warren Blvd., Suite 1, Malvern, PA 19355.

Present

Supervisors:
Frank A. Piliero, Chairman, Charles A. Philips, Vice Chairman, Kevin R. Kuhn, and Hugh D. Willig. Susan T. Bednar was absent.
Staff:
Chris Heleniak, Manager, and Linda Csete, Treasurer
Public:
none.

Call to Order:

6:00 p.m.

Announcements

Citizens Forum –

No matters were brought forward.

Old Business –

none

New Business

Minimum Municipal Obligation 2024 – Pension Plan

Mrs. Csete stated the Township is required to vote each year to provide for the Minimum Pension Plan Obligation in the next year’s budget.

Mr. Kuhn moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Employee Pension Plan Minimum Municipal obligation form indicating that $7,837.00 is due for 2024. Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Review Tax Collector Options for 2024

Mr. Heleniak said that the County Treasurer’s office notified him that they were ending the current collection agreement on 12/31/23, which was open-ended, and proposing a new five year contract. The new contract calls for a charge of $4.00 per parcel to send out and process the real estate bills. The current contract cost is $1.75 per parcel. Postage for both contracts is included.

He then contacted Berkheimer Associates and Keystone Collections to ask for quotes. Both companies proposed a cost of $1.50 per parcel plus postage. Since Keystone Collections already collects Earned Income Tax and Local Services Tax for the Township, Mr. Heleniak recommended that the Board enter into a new real estate tax agreement with Keystone, which will be ready for consideration at the November 6th meeting.

Budget Work Session

Review Draft 2024 Budget for all Funds

Mrs. Csete gave an overview of the seven funds, consisting of three operating funds: General Fund, Liquid Fuels Fund, and ARPA (Covid Relief) Fund, two capital funds: General Projects and Open Space Projects, and three Special Review Funds: Transportation Improvements (Act 209), Stormwater Management, and Recreation Fee-in-Lieu.

Budget in Depth

The Board reviewed the draft budget prepared by the Mrs. Csete and Mr. Heleniak. No tax increase is proposed with the millage rate remaining at .75 mils (3/4 mil).

The following changes were made to the proposed draft budget:

  1. General Fund Revenue & Expenditures
    Acct # Category Adjustment
    411.31 East Whiteland Volunteer Fire Association Increase contribution by 10% from $306,530 to $340,000
  2. State Fund Revenue and Expenditures - no changes
  3. ARPA Fund - no changes
  4. Capital Reserve Fund Revenue and Expenditures - no changes
  5. Capital Reserve Fund for Open Space Projects
    Acct # Category Adjustment
    454.93 Swiss Pines Reduce expenditures for Swiss Pines from $200,000 to $100,000, to represent just the initial costs before settlement after which time cash reserves from the Bartschi Foundation will be transferred to the Township to be used for this purpose.
  6. Recreational Fee-in-Lieu Fund - no changes
  7. Act 209 Transportation Fund - no changes
  8. Stormwater Management Fund - no changes

The budget will be revised and re-distributed to the Board prior to the November 6, 2023 Supervisors meeting, at which time Mrs. Csete will be authorized to advertise and post it on the Township website.

A salary worksheet was circulated for discussion with regard to setting pay rates at the January Reorganization meeting.

There was general discussion on the following items:

  1. Confirm with the HARB which of the many outbuildings at Brightside Farm Park should be repaired and which are to be demolished.
  2. Have a contractor check the condition of the roof and gutters at Charlestown Mill to determine if maintenance is needed.
  3. Awaiting confirmation from the Solicitor as to whether Charlestown Park is restricted from allowing a cell tower due to any conditions placed on the various grants received in past years for the Park’s development.
  4. Mr. Heleniak and Mr. Koenig are speaking with companies that provide camera security so they can obtain quotes for Charlestown Park. Brightside Farm Park isn’t being considered for camera security at this time because both electric and internet service need to be set up first.
  5. Request an estimate from Charlestown Landscaping on doubling the width of the cleared frontage along the Volpi property on Phoenixville Pike.
  6. Arrangements are to be made for an inspection of the Llewellen mansion at Swiss Pines as soon as possible, upon permission from the Bartschi Foundation.
  7. With regard to repair of the Charlestown Cemetery wall, an inquiry will be made as to whether concrete could be poured for the walls and faced with stone rather than rebuilding completely with stone.

Adjournment

Mr. Piliero adjourned the meeting at 7:11 p.m. The next Business meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 6, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Township Office.

Respectfully submitted,


Linda M. Csete
Township Treasurer