CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING NOVEMBER 17, 1992 MINUTES

The second meeting of the month was held by the Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, November 17, 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; Thomas F. Oeste, Esq.; Surender S. Kohli, P.E.; Ruth W. Buckwalter, Secretary and those on the attached attendees list.

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:05 pm.

Announcements: Mrs. Ewald announced the following: Oct 20 - meeting of the Open Space Task Force attended by Supervisors; Oct 21 - Budget meeting attended by 3 Supervisors and Township Treasurer; Oct 27 - Townwatch meeting attended by Mrs. Ewald; Oct 29 - Mrs. Ewald met with representatives of the Malvern Police Dept.; Nov 6 - Mrs. Ewald met with Senator Earl Baker and his staff re. Liberty House and the VFAH site; also met with John D. Snyder, Esq., re. Charlestown Oaks; Nov 8 - Mr. Kling received an award from the Charlestown Civic Association and Mrs. Ewald presented an update on matters concerning the Township; Nov 11 - Open Space Task Force meeting attended by Mrs. Ewald and Mr. Martin; Nov 12 - all 3 Supervisors attended the Chester County Convention; also, Mrs. Ewald and Mr. Kling attended a meeting with PENNDOT and the County Planning Commission concerning the Phoenixville spur, and the Board met with John D. Snyder, Esq., in an Executive Session re the MCF case; Nov 13 - Mrs. Ewald did an inspection of the Quarry and met with representatives of the DER concerning the removal of two tanks involved in a stream pollution incident; an appeal was filed in the case of MCF to the Commonwealth Court; Nov 17 - Mrs. Ewald and Mr. Kling met with Messrs. Kohli, Nation and Samar concerning improvements done at the Heatherwood site on Howell Road.

Mrs. Ewald summarized the problem at the Quarry involving decommissioned tanks which spilled fuel into the stream. HAZMAT ordered a clean up along with Mobile. The tanks have been removed.

The Fire Company Report by Mr. Martin was tabled until the next meeting in order to move on with the two scheduled Public Hearings.

The Chairman turned the meeting over to Mr. Oeste for the Public Hearing on a Conditional Use request from the Nature Center of Charlestown for the expansion of their parking lot. A Court Recorder took the minutes. Elliott Goldberg, Esq., representing the Bartschi Foundation, asked to be entered as a party. At the conclusion of the Hearing, Mr. Oeste phrased the motion to approve the Conditional Use Application of the Nature Center of Charlestown to permit the construction of a parking lot as consistent with the exhibit plan presented into the record and marked exhibit A-1, conditional use is granted subject to conditions contained in the Zoning Ordinance and all the conditions noted on the plan, conditionally the requested waivers of the plan are granted subject to compliance with the plan. Mrs. Ewald so moved, Mr. Kling seconded, the motion unanimously carried.

The next item of business was a continuation of the Public Hearing for Conestoga Partners’ application for tentative residential plan approval for a development known as Charlestown Meadows. The Chairman turned the meeting over to Mr. Oeste to conduct the Hearing. The minutes were recorded by a Court Recorder. This Public Hearing will be continued on Monday, December 14, 1992, at which time the subjects to be addressed are water supply, sewage, stormwater, wetlands, environmental impact and traffic control. Mr. Oeste will advertise.

The Chairman reported that four companies submitted quotations for supplying salt for the winter of 1992-1993: Oceanport Industries - $33.62 per ton, Morton International - $33.67 per ton, Cargill, Inc. - $35.00 per ton, AKZO Salt Inc. - $38.72. Because the Township spends less than $10,000 on this item per year, no bidding for a contract was necessary. Mr. Kohli recommended using Oceanport as the initial contact.

The Chairman asked Mr. Martin, Chairman of the Open Space Task Force Committee, for a report. Mr. Martin reported that the meetings are completed and Mr. Comitta is finalizing the report.

Two grant applications were brought before the Board by Mr. Martin. The first application is to the PA Dept. of Community Affairs, Recreational Improvement and Rehabilitation Act (RIRA) Program, for the grant of funds to acquire open space. The second application is to the Chester County Heritage Park and Open Space Municipal Grant Program for monies for acquisition of open space. Both grants would be used to acquire the Baughman property. Mr. Martin made a motion for approval of both Resolutions. Mr. Kling seconded and the motion unanimously carried.

The Chairman made a motion to approve a grant application to the County Small Park Improvement. Mr. Martin seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

Panilquin Plan Mr. Panizza has requested, by letter, a time extension to December 31, 1992. Following a brief discussion, Mrs. Ewald made a motion that the time extension request to 12-31-92 be granted subject to compliance with all the conditions in the original approval and presentation of evidence that conditions claimed to have been met have in fact been met. Mr. Kling seconded the motion and it unanimously carried.

The Chairman reported a request from the Chester County Commissioners for the expression of the Board regarding a Chester County Community College. The Board questioned the need based on the fact that there are several Community colleges and University branch campuses in the area. Charles Isaacs felt that more information was needed on the subject, that is, are enrollments increasing or decreasing, how much does the County propose to spend, source of funding and location. Mrs. Ewald said she would write a letter to the Commissioners for more information on this proposal.

The PA Fish and Boat Commission request was tabled to the next meeting.

The Chairman brought to the table a question on the draft copy of a letter from Lamb, Windle and McErlane having to do with the decisions on Charlestown Oaks. She referenced that letter to a December 18, 1990, Resolution and Interim Order concerning Charlestown Oaks, a copy of which was not enclosed as stated in the letter. Several modifications and clarifications were made by Mrs. Ewald who then recommended to the Board that, with these modifications, the letter be approved for final draft and mailed to Mr. Iacobucci for him to work on the issues addressed in the letter. The consensus of the Board is to send the above letter.

Marsha Solda submitted the petition signed by 250 Township residents concerning the Liberty House project. The Secretary will make 2 copies of the petition.

All business completed, Mr. Kling moved the meeting be adjourned. Mrs. Ewald seconded the motion. The Chairman adjourned the meeting - 11:00pm.