Charlestown Township
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The first business meeting for October was held October 9, 2003, at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. Hugh Willig, Vice Chairman, Irene W. Ewald, Mike Rodgers, Kevin R. Kuhn, Thomas Oeste, Esq., Surender Kohli, P.E., Linda M. Csete, Township Administrator, Melanie M. Lammers, Recording Secretary, and those on the attached list were present.
The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M.
Mr. Willig announced Executive Sessions were held on September 15, 2003, and on September 29, 2003, to discuss legal matters.
Mr. Willig announced that a representative from the quarry is being invited to the next meeting to give a brief presentation and answer questions.
Mrs. Ewald asked Mr. Alston if he had an update on the condition of Mary Jane Duncan. Mr. Alston replied that she was at Bryn Mawr Rehab following a stroke.
There were no Citizen’s Forum/Non-agenda Items discussed.
Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the September 15, 2003, minutes as written, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the September 1-30, 2003, Treasurer’s report as presented, and Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the September 8, 2003, Accounts Payable report as presented, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the October 9, 2003, Accounts Payable report as presented, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion. Mr. Rodgers said he felt the charges for mowing were out of hand. He said the distance to be mowed along Green Lane Road is only 3/10 of a mile and should not cost $1,200. Mr. Kuhn also questioned the costs of weedwacking. Mr. Alston indicated the weeds were growing rapidly due to the heavy rains, and that the mower cannot cut them all. Mr. Kuhn added he thought the mowed areas look fantastic, but questions the need for them to be so manicured. Mrs. Ewald suggested Mr. Alston look at those roads that are primarily residential to determine if they can be removed from the mowing contract. She said it doesn’t make sense to mow the roads that homeowners are already maintaining on their own.
Mr. Rodgers indicated he contacted 10 Townships to inquire about their mowing costs, and felt the mowing should be taken away from C.M. Jones due to what he saw as over-charging. He cited examples of more area in other townships costing less to mow. Mrs. Ewald questioned whether the bill received contained a mistake and asked Mr. Alston to contact the vendor to inquire about it. She also asked Mrs. Csete to look at past invoices to determine how much the Township had been paying previously.
Mr. Rodgers questioned the Valley Hill Road mowing, stating the contractor mowed 20 feet off of the road. Mr. Alston indicated he requested that be done due to a sight distance issue. Mr. Kuhn said he viewed that as a major improvement. Mr. Willig suggested the current invoices be checked for accuracy. He also added that the work is being done by a landscaping company, not lawn crews. Mr. Kuhn agreed and said the Township may just need to provide better direction to the contractor as to what they want done. He asked Mr. Alston to check the costs of other Townships to see if Charlestown was being over-charged.
Mr. Rodgers said he spoke with State Troopers, PennDOT, and 10 other Townships regarding the need for a shadow vehicle. He said they all responded that it was not necessary. Mr. Alston said the PennDOT code requires it, and he does not want to cause a liability issue for the Township. Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Oeste agreed they must follow the PennDOT requirements. Mr. Kuhn added, however, that C.M. Jones has room to ‘sharpen his pencil’. Mr. Alston said he would meet with the contractor to discuss the billing.
Mr. Willig revised the motion to include pulling the C.M. Jones check until it has been verified, and Mr. Rodgers seconded.
Mrs. Ewald restated her objection to check #1092 to Allen G. Heist Consulting Services. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kohli indicated he received a call from Mr. Chris Zaro of Hollow Road. He shares a driveway with Mr. Wert, and indicated Mr. Wert has not been cutting his back field. Mr. Kohli spoke with Mr. Wert regarding the situation and indicated Mr. Wert plans to resolve the situation as soon as he can get to it. Mr. Kohli said there is nothing in the ordinance suggesting that Mr. Wert is in non-compliance.
The Planning Commission report is on file.
The Historical Commission report is on file. Mr. Philips said the Historical Commission had their bid meeting for the Charlestown Woolen mill and six or seven contractors participated. They were very pleased with the level of interest and in their qualifications. Mr. Kohli said the bids should be available before the October 20, 2003 meeting and that it is a requirement that the specs of the awarded contract include winterizing the Mill. Mrs. Ewald asked if there were a requirement to have the work completed by winter, and Mr. Kohli replied there was not, that the contractor awarded the project has 90 days from their start date in the spring.
Mr. Kuhn said that at the last meeting, it was determined that each member needs to start communicating on a regular basis with five to ten large property landowners.
The Roadmaster report is on file. Mr. Alston said he would like to thank the people involved in all the clean-up efforts needed due to the recent hurricane. He specifically thanked Verizon for the use of their truck when they were not required to help at all. He also added that Route 401 should re-open next week.
The Fire Marshal report is on file.
There was nothing to report.
There was nothing to report.
Mr. Rodgers indicated that no meeting took place in September due to lack of a quorum.
Tom Oeste, Esq. handed out a revised Stipulation which incorporated comments from the prior meetings. He explained that the Stipulation provides for a two lot subdivision of the parcel. Lot 1 will be the homestead parcel containing the existing house and other buildings. Lot 2 will contain the remainder of the tract, and will later be subdivided into 8 lots. The approval of the two lot subdivision will be contingent upon the applicant placing a conservation easement on the homestead parcel. He added that it is most likely the Township’s intention to have the French & Pickering Creeks Trust join the Township as a party to the easement and suggested their standard easement form should be used. Approval of the Stipulation should be approved subject to the easement being fully executed in recordable form by the Applicant and approved by the Board to be recorded with the Final Plan. The easement will include the delineation for a trail.
Mrs. Ewald pointed out that there are two paragraph 6’s in the Stipulation document, the first appearing on page 6. Mr. Oeste will adjust the numbering.
Mr. Willig asked what will happen if a review letter indicates the plan needs to be revised, but the applicant does not think a revision is necessary. Mr. Oeste answered that the consultants’ recommendations will go to the Board to decide.
Mr. Rodgers made a motion to approve the Stipulation subject to Mr. Oeste’s recommendations on the conservation easement, and Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. Four were in favor and Mrs. Ewald was opposed. Mr. Kuhn asked why Mrs. Ewald was opposed, and she responded it was to be consistent since she was opposed from the beginning.
Mr. Willig read the Notice of Intent to adopt the Earned Income Tax in its entirety. Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the advertising of the Notice of Intent to adopt the Earned Income Tax, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald questioned whether the 2004 Budget Work Session needed to be public, and Mr. Oeste said that it does. The 2004 Budget Work Session was scheduled for October 27, 2003, at 7:30 P.M. in Room 154 of the Great Valley Middle School.
Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the $180,280.98 Sal Lapio Homes escrow release request. Mr. Willig announced that there was $1,246.058.00 remaining. Mr. Kuhn seconded the motion. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kohli indicated this is the final escrow release. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the Pennfield Knoll Association, Inc. $32,636.00 escrow release, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kohli indicated the ordinance is not yet adopted, and Mrs. Csete said it was on the Planning Commission agenda for October 20, 2003. After some discussion, it was decided that Mr. Kohli would bring up the issue at the next Planning Commission meeting, and if the applicant is non-compliant, he will issue a Cease and Desist order. He said he requires documentation in order to cite the applicant. Mrs. Csete was asked to send a letter to the applicant letting him know his application was rejected, stating that the use is not currently permitted in the Township. Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Kohli expressed his concern over rejecting the application, as it was submitted at the direction of the Planning Commission. Mr. Willig called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn asked how the quarry issue should be handled, and Mr. Kohli asked if traffic count studies for trucks entering and exiting the site are needed. Mrs. Ewald asked Mr. Alston if he could do a truck count. Mr. Kuhn asked what the penalty is for having too many trucks. He also asked what is included in the truck count. Mr. Kohli answered it should include all trucks hauling stone. He added there are no stipulations for the asphalt plant on the opposite site of the road, also owned by Independence Construction Materials.
Mrs. Ewald recalled that there was a separate hearing for the asphalt plant and asked Mrs. Csete to research the meeting minutes from 1987-1988 to see if there were any conditions placed on the asphalt plant.
Mr. Philips asked if the quarry has a limit on the hours when they can work, stating the backup alarms on the trucks are loud during the night. Mr. Kuhn asked Mr. Kohli and Mrs. Csete to provide a bulleted list of operations and conditions associated with both sides of the street.
Mr. Kuhn said that initial counts done by the consultants two years ago on Union Hill Road indicate approximately 50% of the traffic is turning left off of Route 29. He suggested getting an updated car count of those turning left off of Route 29. Mrs. Ewald said Mr. Alston should be paid separately for this type of work. Mr. Kuhn asked if it could be done before the next meeting, and Mr. Alston said he would try to have it complete by then.
Mr. Alston notified the Supervisors that they are invited to attend the Limerick Bi-annual Drill at the EOC to be held on November 18, 2003.
Mr. Willig indicated the Brightside Farm is up for tax sale again, and Mr. Oeste said he would take care of it.
The Board discussed a letter sent by Robal & Associates, Inc.
Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 8:54 P.M. The next meeting will be held on October 20, 2003, 7:30 P.M. at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154.