CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ MEETING OCTOBER 19, 1992 MINUTES

The second monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held 8:00pm, October 19, 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.; Thomas F. Oeste, Esq.; Ruth W. Buckwalter, Secretary; those on the attached attendee’s list and others.

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:10 pm.

Announcements: Oct.15 - Mrs. Ewald met with County Commissioner Joe Kenna, accompanied by East Pikeland Township Supervisor’s Chairman Barbara Appleman, Supervisors Ted Ryan and Herman John from Schuylkill Township. At this meeting, Commissioner Kenna was accompanied by Cheryl Flanigan, representing Community Mental Health Services, and Barbara Wilson, representing Chester County Housing Authority. The meeting was precipitated by an announcement of the Chester County Commissioners that there was a 12 million dollar grant to rehabilitate 2 of the 3 buildings on the front lawn of the Valley Forge Christian College for the homeless, with support services supplied for alcohol, mental and drug problems; Oct 15 - Mrs. Ewald and Mr. Kohl met with representatives of the University of Penna. concerning the Bendiner property; Oct 16 - County Parks Chairman, Mr. Mineo, met with Mrs. Ewald at the Charlestown Park to review the soccer fields in Preparation for renewal of a grant application; Oct 17 - Mrs. Ewald, Messrs. Kling, Martin, Kohli and John D. Snyder, Esq., met in Executive Session to review outstanding items on the Charlestown Oaks proposal.

At this time, the Chairman opened the meeting for public comment on the Commissioner’s proposal. The following residents voiced their opposition: Gayla Harvey - Charlestown Road, John Popovich - Marian Road, George Snyder - Green Lane, Joanne Woytowich - Maryhill Road, Richard Osting - Benburb Road, Lois Eastwick - Sycamore Lane, Bob Edelman, John DiLello - Charlestown Road, Jim Michell - Coldstream Road, Charles Isaacs - Valley Hill Road, Mark Tobin - Buckwalter Road, Lynda Franklin - Church Road, Chris Hem - Ravenhill Road, Al Van Brunt -Sycamore Lane, Carol Armstrong - Hollow Road, Michael Churchill - Pickering Road. Mr. Kling proposed petitions be delivered to our Senator to take to Washington stating that residents object to this project as a non-conforming use in a residential area with many children involved. Mrs. Ewald stated there are two processes and two problems with this proposal: 1) the issue of the lack of compatibility with adjoining land uses, children in the park, young students at the Tech. School and students at the College -all at this site. 2) Chester County Housing Authority has a real need to find housing for people with special needs and to find an alternative site that is more appropriate.

Noting that the proposal is for use of buildings which are contaminated with lead paint and asbestos, have no running water nor facilities at this point. In summary, Mrs. Ewald concluded that the Supervisors would move forward in contacting the decision-making government leaders and work with the adjoining townships in pursuing the research on how this went through. Meanwhile, residents will be pulling the community together in support of the Board. The Chairman declared a five minute break to allow residents to sign a petition.

At 9:10pm, the Chairman reconvened and turned the meeting over to Thomas F. Oeste, Esq., to proceed with the Conditional Use Hearing for Michael Bowell re his driveway. The minutes of the Hearing were recorded by a Court Recorder. At the conclusion of the Hearing, Mr. Kling moved for approval, Mrs. Ewald amended the motion to include that Mr. Bowell provide a more level area at the top of the drive and the completed driveway must meet the satisfaction of the Township Engineer. With the addition of the amendment, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion for approval. The motion unanimously carried.

The Public Hearing for the Charlestown Meadows Plan was conducted by Thomas F. Oeste, Esq., and the minutes were recorded by a Court Recorder. The Hearing will be continued at the November 17th meeting of the Board. Mr. Russell Powell presented the plan and at the conclusion, requested permission to have his Engineer meet with the Township Engineer to work out some of the technical issues prior to the next Hearing. Mrs. Ewald stated that the procedure the Board follows for such a request is that if the Applicant is present, one of the Supervisors must also be present. Mr. Oeste noted that a written time extension is not necessary because the matter is covered by the continued Hearing. Mr. Powell requested the schedule of procedure. The Chairman listed the dates of October 27 and November 10 before the Planning Commission and November 17 for the continued Public Hearing before the Board of Supervisors.

The next item on the agenda was the Charlestown Hunt Report. Representing the Charlestown Hunt were Messrs Kaplin, Riley, Plucenick and Dwyer. Mr. Martin reported that an agreement on all issues has been reached, but he needs time to read the written agreement which he just received this evening. Mr. Oeste noted there is a correction on page 6 and several exhibits are missing. No action was taken at this time.

The Greeney Subdivision Plan a single lot subdivision located at Foster and Bodine Roads, was submitted for approval. Mr. Kling moved for approval, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion and opened a discussion period. Mrs. Ewald requested that the minutes reflect that this plan has on it many notes that very clearly state that this is not a suitable parcel for further subdivision and, in fact, points out that there are questions about whether or not it is a buildable lot because there has been nothing established concerning on-site sewage and on-site water on the lot. All of these notes on the plan indicate that this particular parcel may or may not be suitable for the

building of one additional structure. After a discussion of the 21.6 acre parcel, the motion made by Mr. Kling, seconded by Mrs. Ewald, was unanimously carried. Mr. Kohli instructed the Applicant to submit seven signed copies of the plan for recording.

Bob Lawrence of Suburban Cable TV reported that Harron Cable TV installed the cable on Church Road and hooked up the residents per their request (see minutes of September 14, 1992). Since Wyndham Lane is a private lane, permission for a right-of-way for cable installation had to be granted and installation is scheduled to begin on November 1st. Mr. Lawrence stated the cost for connection will be $40 to $45. The Chairman thanked Mr. Lawrence for his prompt attention to this matter.

The Chairman reported that Townwatch is organizing their annual Patrols for Mischief and Halloween nights.

The next item on the agenda was the Oak Hill Subdivision. Mr. Panizza is requesting that the existing escrow fund be transferred from Elmwood Federal Savings Bank to the new escrow agent, the First National Bank of West Chester. The Supervisors signed the appropriate documents for this transfer.

The Ordinance revision was tabled until the next Board meeting.

Mr. Martin opened and read the salt prices submitted for the winter of 1992-93.

Quotes were submitted from Cargill Salt Division, Morton International, Inc., AKZO Salt Inc. and Oceanport. The letters of quotations were turned over to Mr. Kohli for his review.

Stephen Winckelman gave a brief report on the Valley Forge Sewer Authority meeting in which he noted that the Authority will be unable to service Hough/Loew. A joint meeting of the Authority and participating Townships is being scheduled for a date in November.

All business completed, the Chairman entertained a motion to adjourn. Mr. Martin so moved, Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion, it unanimously carried. The meeting was adjourned - 10:30 pm.