Charlestown Township
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The first business meeting for October was held October 3, 2005, at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. Kevin R. Kuhn, Chairman, Mike Rodgers, Vice Chairman, Paul Hogan, Charlie Philips, Hugh Willig, Mark P. Thompson, Esq., Surender Kohli, P.E., Linda M. Csete, Township Administrator, and those on the attached list were present.
The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.
No matters were brought forward at this time.
Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the September 19, 2005 minutes and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the September 1- 30, 2005 Treasurer's report, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the October 3, 2005 Operating Fund Accounts Payable report, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Philips moved to approve the October 3, 2005 Open Space Fund Accounts Payable report, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Philips moved to accept the monthly reports as submitted, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mark Thompson, Esq. opened the hearing for the application, which is a conditional use plan for expanding the parking lot of the Apostolic Christian Church into areas of steep slopes as well as locating a portion of the building addition in steep slopes. The proceedings were recorded by Tom Corcoran, Court Reporter. The following witnesses gave testimony:
The following exhibits were entered into the record:
By the Township:
| • | T-1 | Proof of Publication and Public Notice |
By the Applicant:
| • | A-1 | Application for Conditional Use dated 8/18/05 |
| • | A-2 | Variance and Conditional Use Plan prepared by Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. dated 10/3/05 |
| • | A-3 | Letters to property owners within 250 feet of the property |
| • | A-4 | Deed to property dated February 28, 1980 |
| • | A-5 | Architectural Renderings of Floor Plan/Roof Plan prepared by Moser, Pilon & Nelson Architects, dated August 2, 2004 |
| • | A-6 | Architectural Renderings of elevations of proposed additionprepared by Moser, Pilon & Nelson Architects, dated August 2, 2004 |
| • | A-7 | CV of Allan Zimmerman, Civil Engineer for Commonwealth Engineers Inc. |
| • | A-8 | (a) – (f) Photographs of slopes on property |
| • | A-9 | Environmental Impact Assessment prepared by Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. dated September 20, 2005 |
| • | A-10 | Summary of Impacts into steep slopes and very steep slopes |
| • | A-11 | Original sketch plan of proposed addition, parking lot, driveway reconfiguration prepared by Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. 1/24/05 |
| • | A-12 | Memorandum from Thomas Comitta Associates Inc., dated September 1, 2005 |
| • | A-13 | Memorandum from Thomas Comitta Associates Inc., dated September 27, 2005 |
| • | A-14 | Letter dated September 7, 2005 from Surender Kohli to Chairman of Planning Commission |
| • | A-15 | Zoning Plan with steep slopes highlighted in yellow |
The hearing was closed.
Mr. Rodgers moved to grant conditional use approval to the Apostolic Christian Church subject to the decision of their zoning hearing board application to be heard on October 12, 2005. Mr. Philips seconded and all were in favor. The Board will render a written decision within 45 days.
Mr. Willig requested that this item be tabled.
Mrs. Csete said the following bids for road salt for the 2005-2006 winter season were opened at the Township Office at 12:00 noon:
Mr. Rodgers moved to award the road salt contract to International Salt and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Kohli suggested postponing approval of the plan until the Planning Module is submitted, plans are revised to reflect the consultants’ review comments, and the variance to allow 4 lots on the cul de sac is decided by the Zoning Hearing Board. He said he has advised EDC Affiliates to submit the application for the variance. PennDOT approval will be needed but subdivision approval can be made subject to road occupancy approval.
Mr. Philips asked that the draft bid document be prepared by Mr. Diehl to be ready for review at the Board’s October 17th meeting. The Supervisors asked Mr. Alston to coordinate with Mr. Diehl on obtaining a road construction cost estimate from Melchiorre Construction to incorporate into the bid package.
Mrs. Csete briefly reviewed two memos from Jim McErlane with regard to minor changes and corrections to the seven-year evergreen contracts for the Phoenixville Area Soccer Club and Phoenixville Area Youth Club that are expiring this year. The contracts have already been reviewed and input received from the Parks & Recreation Board. Mr. Philips moved to execute the contracts after the recommended revisions are made. Mr. Rodgers seconded, and all were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn explained that the tax collector’s term ends 12/31/05, and the Board reduced the salary for future tax collectors to $500.00 per year in order to allow for contracting the collections out to a professional agency. Since Centax already collects the EIT taxes, it was decided that a contract with them would be pursued for 2006. Mrs. Csete explained that in order to enter into the Agreement, a draft Addendum to the existing Earned Income Tax Collection Agreement is needed to include the collection of Per Capita and EMS Taxes, as well as a draft Agreement for the Collection of Real Estate Taxes. The basic cost for the service will be $2.00 per parcel and $1.00 for interim bills. This translates to about $4,000 per year compared to the present tax collector’s commissions that are capped at $8,000 per year. The Solicitor’s review of the contract documents is pending.
Mr. Kuhn asked what the procedure is for turning over collections to an appointed collector from the elected collector. Mr. Thompson responded that a letter is needed from the current tax collector appointing the agency for duration of the next term of office. Mrs. Csete will request this of the current tax collector, with a deemed approval clause if there is no response within a given time frame, following the solicitor’s review of the documents.
Mrs. Csete asked for a count of board members planning to attend the November 10th convention of the Chester County Association of Township Officials, to be held at the Mendenhall Inn. Mr. Kuhn, Mr. Willig and Mr. Rodgers plan to attend.
Mr. Philips moved to approve Escrow Release #4, Phase I for Toll Bros Inc in the amount of $173,787.35, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mr. Philips moved to approve Escrow Release #2, Phase II for Toll Bros Inc in the amount of $239,369.06, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Mrs. Csete said she has yet to receive caretaker language as requested from the Brightside Farm Committee Chairman. Mr. Kuhn asked her to proceed with a draft without this input in order to move things along. He said he wants to ensure there is a tenant before winter sets in. Mr. Philips moved to engage Pat Thomas, realtor to handle the leasing of the farmhouse, and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn will contact Rosemary Philips, HARB Chairman, and Eddie Scott, representing the Stonorov family, to explain that the next step is to conclude the hearing on the demolition permits on Tuesday, October 11th, and for the HARB to send written recommendations to the Supervisors within 45 days. Mr. Frens will be asked to draft the Certificate of Appropriateness.
Mr. Thompson said Lamb, McErlane’s review of the agreement would be completed by the end of the week.
Mr. Thompson will review the 3 building permit applications for billboards and draft a response.
The Board reviewed the first budget draft prepared by the Township Administrator. The budget will be redrafted to include changes discussed this evening, and placed on a future agenda to authorize advertisement for adoption.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M. The next meeting is scheduled for October 17, 2005, 7:30 P.M. in Room 154 of the Great Valley Middle School. A brief executive session was held following the meeting to discuss personnel matters.