CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP
|
The Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors held their Reorganization meeting together with their regular January meeting on Monday, January 6, 1992 at the Charlestown Elementary School, Charlestown Road, Devault.
| Present: | Irene W. Ewald, Chairman; John C. Martin, Jr., Vice Chairman; Vincent G. Kling, Sr., Member; Surender S. Kohli, P.E.; Ruth W. Buckwalter, Secretary; and those on the attached list of attendees. |
At 8:04 pm, the Chairman called the Reorganization meeting to order and opened the nominations for officers for 1992.
Mr. Kling moved to nominate Irene Ewald as Chairman of the Board for 1992. Mr. Martin seconded the motion with two qualifications: 1) historically, the Chairmanship has been rotated making this the third and last year for Mrs. Ewald. 2) this seconded motion is not to be construed as an endorsement of certain actions other Board members have taken during the past year. The motion so carried.
Mr. Kling moved to nominate John C. Martin, Jr., as Vice Chairman of the Board for 1992. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion. It so carried.
Mr. Kling moved to reappoint Surender S. Kohli as Township Engineer for 1992. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion. It carried unanimously.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint Dennis Hiller as Roadmaster for 1992, Mr. Kling seconded the motion. It unanimously carried.
Mr. Kling moved to reappoint Surender S. Kohli as Zoning Officer and Building Inspector for 1992. Mr. Martin seconded the motion, it unanimously carried.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint John C. Martin. Jr., as Fire Marshall for 1992. Mr.Kling seconded the motion, it so carried. Mr. Martin accepted the position but stated
he wouId no longer give burning permits due to potential liability. After a discussion,
Mrs. Ewald suggested the Township Burning Ordinance be revised by the Planning Commission and then submitted to the Supervisors for approval.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint Ruth W. Buckwalter as Township Secretary for 1992. Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it so carried.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint Linda Csete as Township Treasurer for 1992. Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it so carried.
Martin seconded the motion, it unanimously carried.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint Thomas Comitta as Township Land Planner. Mr. Martin noted the Board had formerly decided to hire a Land Planner on an ad hoc basis. This was agreed to by all. The motion died for lack of a second.
Mrs. Ewald moved to reappoint John DiLello to the Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it so carried.
Mr. Kling moved to reappoint Carol Altemose. John Foster and Bud Zeigler to the Planning Commission. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it so carried. Mr. Martin questioned Mr. Churchill on the status of the Township recycling program and also regarding a member of the Planning Commission to serve on the Open Space Task Force. Mr. Churchill replied he would have an answer to both inquiries in February.
Mr. Kling moved to reappoint Grace Mohler to the Historical Commission, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it so carried.
Appointments for the Township’s Parks and Recreation Board and Municipal Authority were tabled until the February meeting.
The following rates of pay were established for 1992:
Township Secretary – $7,440 salary, $1, 700 benefits - total of $9,140
Mrs. Ewald so moved, Mr. Martin seconded, the motion unanimously carried.
Township Treasurer – $9,000 salary
Mrs. Ewald so moved, Mr. Kling seconded, the motion so carried.
Roadmaster – $350 monthly salary, $417 monthly expenses (corrected 3/2/92)
Mrs. Ewald so moved, Mr. Kling seconded, the motion so carried.
Resolution #451-92. Fire Protection and Ambulance Service for Township residents. Mr. Kling moved to adopt Resolution #451-92, Mr. Martin seconded the motion, it carried unanimously.
Resolution #450-92. Depository of Township accounts. Mr. Kling moved to adopt Resolution #450-92, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it so carried.
Mr. Martin noted there was a vacancy for an auditor due to the resignation of James Devine and suggested Emory Todd be approached to fill this vacancy. This matter was tabled until the February meeting.
All business of the Reorganization meeting being completed, Mr. Kling moved to adjourn, Mr. Martin seconded the motion, the Reorganization meeting was adjourned.
The Chairman opened the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors.
At this time, Mr. Martin announced that the Charlestown Hunt final plan has been submitted and a public meeting will be held sometime in February.
The minutes of the December 16.1991 meeting of the Board of Supervisors were amended on page 1, line 4 in the paragraph concerning the independent auditor to delete from the word “however” to the end of the sentence. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the minutes of December 16, 1991 as amended. Mr. Kling seconded the motion. A roll call vote was requested: Mr. Martin - no, Mrs. Ewald - aye, Mr. Kling -aye. The motion so carried.
Mr. Martin moved to approve the Treasurer’s Report of December, 1991 -seconded the motion, it unanimously carried.
Mr. Martin moved to approve the January 6, 1992 Accounts Payable. seconded the motion. It unanimously carried. Mr. Kling Mr. Kling
Zoning Officer’s Report: Mr. Kohli reported a complaint was made to him about the debris being hauled out of the Aldham Hill Subdivision site. The hauler had not obtained permission to use the neighboring access to the site.
Planning Commission Report: Mr. Churchill noted the Commission had not met since the December 16th meeting of the Supervisors. Therefore, there was no report.
There was no Parks and Recreation Report since they had not met since the last Supervisors’ meeting. Mr. Kohli noted that the PMYC has poured the footings for their building.
Roadmaster’s Report: Mr. Hiller reported a quiet month. Road signs continue to be replaced throughout the Township. He submitted a written report for the files. The STOP sign on Maryhill Road was reported missing, but has been replaced. The intersection of Church and Pikeland Roads was discussed. Both roads are PENNDOT road. Mr. Kohli explained that the STOP sign was installed by PENNDOT because the property owner would not allow the shaving of the bank to solve the vision problem. Mr. Kling listed the aerial surveys of three large estates that are being done in the Township. He also suggested that the next road tour taken by the Supervisors should include the PENNDOT roads in the Township and that the tour should be scheduled to suit the senior member of the regional PENNDOT office. Charlestown is not getting the proper attention from PENNDOT. The Chairman asked the Roadmaster to highlight some of the problems on the State roads at the February meeting.
The proposed amendment to the 1992 Budget, which updates the figures to reflect the approved increase of millage, was approved by a motion made by Mr. Kling, seconded by Mr. Martin, and unanimously carried.
Mr. Martin gave an update on the application for a grant from the County for open space. He listed the 5 requirements necessary after the Township obtains approval of the grant from the Chester County Commissioners. He will give a further report at the February meeting.
Transferring the Phoenixville Pike improvement fund from PLG IT to a CID would result in a significant increase in interest according to a report from the Township Treasurer.
The matter was discussed. Mr. Kling moved to approve the transfer of the funds.
Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion. It unanimously carried.
The Chairman related two problems with the Heatherwood Subdivision. It is not clear what relief Mr. Samar is requesting - an amendment to conditional approval or an amendment to a conditional use application. Mr. Samar is under the impression that there is a 45 day time period for a decision. The Solicitor advised the Supervisors move to deny the request for relief, as outlined in the December 2 letter, unless a time extension is submitted by Mr. Samar before the February meeting. Mrs. Ewald so moved, Mr. Kling seconded, the motion unanimously carried.
The approval of a request for the release of the Three Ponds Maintenance Bond Escrow Fund had been deferred until final inspection. Mrs. Ewald and Mr. Kohli made that inspection and found the roads and catch basins in good condition. Mr. Kling moved to release the maintenance bond escrow, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it so carried.
The request made to participating townships by the VFSA to adopt a Resolution authorizing the Authority to act as the lead agency in the preparation of a regional Act 537 Plan was discussed at length. At the conclusion, Mr. Kling suggested the
Supervisors write to the two Charlestown representatives on the Authority Board and ask them to attend the Supervisors’ meetings to make a report to the Township. The matter was then tabled until the February meeting.
The next item on the agenda was the Township’s Workmen’s Compensation policy. The Chairman stated that in 1991 there was a significant increase in cost. She called attention to PSATS’ Township News article on a Workmen’s Compensation program sponsored by their organization. Mr. Kling and Mr. Martin agreed the Board should look into this and the Secretary was instructed to obtain further information from PSATS.
A draft License Agreement by which Devault Crushed Stone could continue to keep storage piles on Township land was discussed. Mr. KIing stated that one condition of rental should be that the quarry cease to overload the trucks causing spillage on the roads, particularly at the intersection of Charlestown Road and Route #29. Mr. Zeigler suggested the quarry should solve Mrs. Street’s problems before an agreement is signed. The matter was tabled until the February meeting.
Mr. Martin called attention to the letter of December 13 from Suburban Cable TV which serves the northern part of Charlestown. Although the letter extols the excellent service Suburban customers receive, Mr. Martin said he had received complaints from residents that they do not get the Great Valley High School station, which is the School District for Charlestown residents. Mrs. Ewald made a motion that Mr. Martin write a letter to Suburban Cable TV re. these complaints, Mr. Kling seconded the motion, it so carried.
The Board of Supervisors received a letter of resignation as Township Auditor from James Devine. Mr. Martin noted that Mr. Devine has served this Township over the years as a Supervisor, a representative to the VFSA and as an auditor. Mr. Martin proposed the Supervisors send a letter of appreciation.
The Chairman noted that there will be no second meeting this month, the next Board meeting will be held on February 3, 1992.
All business completed, Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn, Mr. KIing seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned - 10:16 pm.
Ruth W. Buckwalter
Secretary