CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP
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The Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, August 12, 1991, at the Charlestown Elementary School.
| Present: | Irene W. Ewald, Chairman; John C. Martin, Jr., Vice Chairman; Vincent G. Kling, Sr., Member; John D. Snyder, Esq.; James E. McErlane, Esq.; Surender S. Kohli, P.E.; Ruth W. Buckwalter, Secretary; and those on the attached attendee list. |
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:00 pm.
Mrs. Ewald reported that an Executive Session was held during July at the law office of Lamb, Windle and McErlane with the Consultants and the Supervisors to discuss the Ordinance Amendments and Charlestown Brae.
At this time, Mrs. Ewald turned the meeting over to Mr. McErlane for a continuation of the July 1st Public Hearing on Ordinance #60-91. A court reporter recorded the minutes of the Hearing. Ordinance #60-91 is an amendment of the Charlestown Township Zoning Ordinance to provide a revised definition of “net lot area” and to revise the minimum lot area required In the FR District from 100,000 square feet to 80,000 square feet. At the conclusion of the Roaring, Mr. Martin moved to approve the amendment with the deletion of Section 1, p.E, Mr. Kling seconded the motion. A brief discussion of p.E ensued afterwhich the motion on the floor was withdrawn and Mr. Martin moved to approve the amendment with the deletion of the phrase “or accessway” in p.E. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
A brief recess followed the Hearing. Mrs. Ewald then called the regular meeting to order.
Mr. Kling moved to approve the minutes of July 1.1991. Mr. Martin seconded the motion, the minutes were unanimously approved.
Mr. Kling moved to approve the July. 1991 Treasurer’s Report and commended the Treasurer for the fine work she is doing for the Board. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it unanimously carried.
Mr. Martin moved to approve the August 12. 1991 Accounts Payable. Mr. Kling seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.
Zoning Officer’s Report: Mr. Kohli submitted his monthly report listing Building and Use & Occupancy Permits issued during July. He reported checking out a complaint from Mr. Mclntyre, who lives just off Rees Road, re. the cutting of weeds and thistles.
This matter has been taken care of. He also checked out a complaint on Benburb Road re. the running of a chipper for long periods of time. Mr. Kohli was unable to reach the individual personally so he sent a letter and will follow up on this at a later’ date.
Planning Commission Report: Mrs. Ewald reported that the primary issue before the Commission at this time is the study of a recycling program for the Township. The Commission does not meet during the month of August.
Roadmaster Report: Mrs. Ewald reported on the three major storms that hit the Township during July. The first storm closed all major roads for 5.5 hours. Downed trees took out electricity for many residents. The State Police were unable to contact PENNDOT and therefore requested Charlestown to also open state maintained roads. Mrs. Ewald commended Delaware Valley Paving Co. for the excellent work they accomplished in clearing the storm damage. She also thanked Mary Jane and Bob Duncan and Bob Wert of Townwatch for their aid in this and the two storms that followed on the next two consecutive weekends. The trimming back of vegetation on Mine, Rees, Unionhill and Howell Roads was completed and basins cleared; also, a mudslide on Howell Road. Tinkerhill Lane residents will be contacted this week before paving begins. The Supervisors will meet at the close of this meeting to write a job description for the position of Roadmaster.
Parks and Recreation Report: Bob Elmer reported: 1) the County Board of Health rejected the White Horse Road property for composting, it has therefore been moved to the Nature Center property. 2) The Biennial Report to the Deot. of Interior is being worked on, but to date is incomplete. 3) The open space trails are being used extensively. Several trees are down and need clearing. 4) At the last Parks and Recreation Board meeting, a Public Hearing was held re. the use of park land by the Phoenixville Marian Youth Club. Mr. Elmer stated that the Hearing was favorable to the PMYC and the Board recommends the Supervisors enter into a contract with this organization.
Townwatch Report: A written quarterly report was received from Robert C. Wert, President of Charlestown Townwatch, reviewing the activities and services performed during the past 3 months. The report also included a complete breakout of State Police activities in the Township for the first 6 months of 1991. Mr. Wert enclosed with his report some literature concerning the State Police’s Camp Cadet of Chester Co., Inc. and recommended the Supervisors consider making a contribution to this worthwhile effort. After a brief discussion, Mr. Kling moved to approve a $400 contribution to Camp Cadet of Chester Co., Inc., Mr. Martin seconded the motion, it so carried.
The proposed agreement between the Phoenixville Marian Youth Club and Charlestown Township was drafted by Mr’. McErlane and reviewed by a committee of the Parks and Recreation Board, PYMC, and Mrs. Ewald. A revised draft resulted from that meeting. Mr. Martin moved to approve the contract with PMYC. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it carried unanimously. Mr. McErlane noted that two-small issues could be revised, but a copy of the present contract would be sent to the PMYC for their attorney’s review. The Secretary was instructed to send the copy to Harry Dawson, President of PMYC. It was then noted PMYC already had a copy. The PMYC officers expressed their great appreciation to the Supervisors for the use of Township land for their sports program.
Mrs. Ewald thanked Mr. John Samar, Nova Design Construction, for coming to the meeting to discuss complaints from residents and some serious problems regarding Heatherwood – basically the problem of mud slides repeatedly coming from his property onto Howell Road. Mr. Kling noted that much of the soil erosion is directly due to the tree removal operation and he questioned why the binder course has not been laid as agreed. He also stated the problem must be cured – if necessary, the Township will pave the road at Mr. Samar’s expense because the existing conditions are dangerous to the public health and welfare. Mrs. Ewald recalled that according to the agreement of November 9, 1990, the binder course was to be down within six months, therefore, Mr. Samar is in violation of the agreement and does not have an approved subdivision at this point. After considerable discussion, Mr. Samar agreed to meet with the Supervisors to try to resolve the problem.
Mr. Martin stated there was nothing to report on Charlestown Hunt. Mr. McErlane said no comments nor counter offer had been received to date. Mr. Kling reported that he had received a complaint re. a large tree being taken down on the Hunt property. Mr. Kohli was also notified of the complaint and he found the tree was not being taken down, but broken branches that were blocking the accessway were being cut up.
Robert J. Dunleavy submitted a letter request for conditional use approval for a printing business. Dunleavy has signed an agreement to purchase some .644 acres of land from Robert Clark, on the south side of Old Phoenixville Pike, formerly part of the A.C. Miller property. Current improvements include a house covering about 1,650 square feet of land, gravel driveway and stone parking area, and retaining wall. Proposed improvements include a new driveway from Old Phoenixville Pike and a new parking area for 8 automobiles, all of which is to be paved, and a stormwater retention basin. The property is in the Limited lndustrial-1, which allows printing when authorized as a conditional use under Section 1001.A.3.b of the Zoning Ordinance. The Board of Supervisors voted to approve the conditional use by a vote of 2 to 1 (Kling and Martin voted in favor, and Ewald against), subject to the condition that if it is determined that land development approval is required, that Dunleavy submit land development plans for approval, and then a building permit be issued only if land development approval is granted .in compliance with all applicable Township ordinances and regulations.
Resolution #443-91. a resolution to set review fees for processing of subdivision and land development plans according to the PA Municipalities Planning Code, was adopted along with a revision of the application form on a motion made by Mr. Kling. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Ewald and carried unanimously.
Berkheimer Associates requested all clients to adopt a resolution identifying those persons who should be allowed information on tax records. This was tabled until the September 9th Board meeting.
The Secretary was authorized to advertise for bids for 300 tons, more/less, delivered, bulk ice-control rock salt.
R.C. Legnini Co. paid for the Ranney Moran Building Permit. Mr. Moran has decided not to build and the Legnini Co. is requesting a refund.
The revision to the Act 537 plan was recommended. Mrs. Ewald asked for a motion to amend the Act 537 plan to include Appendix G. Mr. Kling moved that the Supervisors approve in principle the motion of adding amendment G to the sewage facility act plan 537 but that the Supervisors , at this time, do not retain a sanitation engineer. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, Mr. Martin abstained, the motion so carried.
All business completed, Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn the meeting, Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned –11:10 pm.
Secretary
