CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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The Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors held their regular monthly meeting on Monday, May 20, 1996 at the Charlestown Elementary School, Charlestown Road, Devault, Pa.
Present: |
John B. Sauser, Chairman, Robin J. Kohn, Vice Chairman, Irene W. Ewald, Member, Thomas F. Oeste, Esq., Surender S. Kohli, P.E., Linda M. Csete, Secretary, and those on the attached attendee list. |
The Chairman called the meeting to order at 8:07 P.M.
Mr. Sauser announced that the Township received $9,287 from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association to cover certain approved costs of the January blizzard, which is less than the amount requested of approximately $12,000.
Mr. Sauser moved to approve the minutes of March 18, 1996, draft revision #1, Mr. Kohn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the minutes of April 1, 1996, draft revision #1, with the additional change on page 1 under Accounts Payable Report, amending “research of properties in the Historic Properties” to “research of historic properties in the Township”. Mr. Sauser seconded and all were in favor.
John Martin commented on the high speed of traffic on Howell Road since the potholes have been repaired. He asked why the portion of this road in Tredyffrin Township has a speed limit of 25 MPH when it is 35 MPH in Charlestown. Mr. Kohli responded that when this matter was reviewed in the past, the road didn’t meet PennDOT’s requirements for providing the lower speed limit, and that in Tredyffrin Township, the road is steeper and narrower, which allowed them to post the lower limit.
Mr. Sauser informed Mr. DiLello that the removal of the double utility poles along Charlestown Road should take place within the next 2 weeks according to Hersh MacLaughlin of Bell Atlantic at the Pottstown office.
Mr. Kohli stated that he recently received a complaint about truck traffic and materials stored at the property of Robert Jones, 83 West Valley Hill Road, who has been operating a landscaping business from his home for approximately 2 and 1/2 years. Mr. Kohli issued a cease and desist order. Mr. Kohli said that this type of business doesn’t fall under the home occupation categories allowed by conditional use and that Mr. Jones must move the materials and have his employees pick up mowers and other equipment from another location. The Board agreed to grant Mr. Jones 30 days in which to relocate the business and instructed the Secretary to send him a letter to confirm. Mr. Oeste noted that this extension does not indicate that the Board of Supervisors is prejudiced in Mr. Jones’ favor.
Mr. Kohli referred to a letter he received on April 26, 1996 from Realen Homes requesting a review of escrow figures for Phases 2, 4 & 5 since they wish to post escrow in order to begin improvements in these areas. The solicitor was directed to send a response refusing the request until the Broadwater Lane issue is resolved as required in the Agreement.
Mr. Martin referred to the bid received from Christiansen & Sons for cleaning and refinishing the 6 X 6 granite monument and (2) 2 X 3 bronze plaques for $700.00. The granite will be pressure washed and the bronze plaques cleaned and painted with two coats of a paint recommended for bronze and then sealed with polyurethane.
Mrs. Ewald suggested that before this work is undertaken, poison ivy control be started without delay.
Mr. Sauser moved to approve the Christensen & Sons bid in the amount of $700.00.
Mrs. Ewald moved to amend the motion to include undertaking poison ivy control measures to commence before Memorial Day and to approve the Christensen & Sons bid in the amount of $700.00. Mr. Kohn seconded Mr. Sauser’s motion. Mr. Sauser offered to take care of the poison ivy himself prior to the Memorial Day weekend for the cost of materials only.
Mrs. Ewald seconded Mr. Sauser’s motion and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald questioned the propriety of John Martin’s participation in the Township audit for 1995, his signing of the audit report, and presentation of the audit report to the Board of Supervisors with recommendations at the April 1, 1996 meeting. She read from the State’s Government Auditing Standards publication, 1994 edition, which outlined circumstances under which personal impairments exist and suggested that Mr. Martin make a determination of whether any impairment exists with regard to his participation in the audit and that the Board and solicitor prepare to discuss the matter again at the next Board meeting.
Tim Townes of J. Loew and Associates was present to discuss what steps he should follow to seek a zoning amendment for the neighborhood commercial district to allow day care centers. Although an educational use such as a nursery school is a permitted use, a day care facility is not considered an educational use. He was instructed by the Board to submit a draft ordinance amendment for conditional use in the NC district. This would be reviewed by the Township Planning Commission and Chester County Planning Commission before going to the Board of Supervisors.
Mr. Sauser referred to the Re-numbering Committee’s Final Report dated May 3, 1996. Both Mr. Kohn and Mrs. Ewald stated they haven’t received a copy and the Secretary was instructed to copy them to give them an opportunity to provide input. Mr. Sauser stated that the Final Report could be used as a framework to form the resolution to adopt the re-numbering plan and to develop instructions to the Township staff on how to assign numbers to new residences. Mr. Oeste distributed copies of a draft ordinance that would be adopted along with the resolution. Mr. Sauser suggested changing the effective date from 5 days after notification to a more reasonable period of time. He also would like the ordinance to specify the posting of numbers at the road for any home not visible from the road. He suggested tentatively planning to advertise the ordinance for the June 17, 1996 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Mr. Sauser referred to Mr. Berry’s attorney’s letter of April 29, 1996 withdrawing his conditional use application. Mr. Oeste will reply to this letter. Mr. Sauser then stated that Mr. Berry has filed a second conditional use application for a driveway off Merlin Road which will be reviewed by the Planning Commission on June 11, 1996. The Board then scheduled the conditional use hearing for July 15, 1996.
Mr. Sauser referred to a letter dated May 17, 1996 from Woody Kielinski requesting a continuance of the hearing scheduled for this evening. The Board re-scheduled this hearing for July 15, 1996.
Mr. Sauser submitted a written draft to be used in advertising and contracting the 1996 agreements for both road materials and equipment rental and requested that the Secretary distribute them to the other board members, along with the engineer and solicitor for their comments.
Mr. Kohn requested that Mr. Kohli look into the procedure for adopting the 1996 BOCA Code, as the township is using an earlier edition and needs to be updated.
Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn and Mr. Kohn seconded. All were in favor and the meeting was adjourned at 10:00 P.M.