Charlestown Township Board of Supervisors Business Meeting Minutes of April 3, 2017

The first business meeting for April was held April 3, 2017 at the Great Valley Middle School in the Choral Room, #154, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, in Malvern, PA.

Present

Call to Order:

7:00 p.m.

Announcements

Mrs. Csete announced that the Board of Supervisors held an Executive Session on March 6, 2017 following the business meeting to discuss legal matters.

Mr. Philips announced that the Board and the Planning Commission held an Executive Session on April 1, 2017 following the Strategic Planning Session.

Citizens Forum

No issues were brought forward.

Approvals

March 6, 2017 Business Meeting Minutes

Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the minutes for the March 6, 2017 Business Meeting and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Treasurer’s Report March 1 – 31, 2017

Mr. Philips moved to approve the March 2017 Treasurer’s Report and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Accounts Payable Reports for Operating Fund for April 3, 2017

Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the General Fund Accounts Payable Report for April 3, 2017 and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Accounts Payable Report for Open Space Fund for April 3, 2017

Mr. Kuhn moved to approve the Open Space Fund Accounts Payable Report for April 3, 2017 and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Reports

Mr. Rodgers moved to accept the March 2017 reports #1-13 as submitted and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Presentation – Riparian Buffer Ordinances

Mr. Theurkauf and Ms. Vicki Laubach with Green Valleys Watershed Association discussed how the Delaware Valley Watershed Initiative wants bigger impact with their grant funding. Their goal is to improve water quality in 7 cluster areas. Charlestown is in the Schuylkill Highlands cluster. The Township can receive funding from the William Penn Foundation for assistance in updating ordinances to not only improve water quality but also wildlife habitat.

Some points of the presentation were:

• helping farmers preserve buffers without losing land
• chemical and biological thresholds
• guidelines for earth disturbances
• buffer benefits
• impairments

Charlestown Township is in the Pickering Creek High Quality Watershed, however there is also a small area in the southeastern part of the Township in the Valley Creek Watershed. This is rated as an Exceptional Value watershed.

Currently the Township has 100’ stream buffers for building. To strengthen this, the ordinances could be amended to say no disturbance for the 100’. To further increase protection, the Township could make a secondary zone to manage the buffer closer, increasing the buffer to 150’. This is the State recommendation. Exceptions could be built in, like trails and driveways. The State wants 150’ buffers after an acre or more of disturbance, but under an acre it is allowed.

Mr. Kuhn asked if there were any special areas that Mr. Theurkauf felt needed attention. The presence of pathogens in Pigeon Run, and its tributaries, made this waterway one in need of consideration. Mr. Philips asked if Pickering Creek could ever be an Exceptional Quality stream. Mr. Theurkauf suggested that by adding water protection language into easements and preserving open spaces like parks, the stream could improve, however, its current designation as a High Quality Stream affords it the same protections as an Exceptional Quality Stream.

Ms. Laubach stated that this is where the William Penn Foundation funding comes in, by helping to finance measures to improve the water quality. The Township’s first step may be to define “a waterway”.

Old Business

Project Updates

Mr. Wright stated that the parking lot paving at the Park will be done separately from the Township road paving. Bid packages are in process.

New Business

Update on Parking Ordinance

Mr. Wright gave Supervisors an update on the Parking Ordinance. He is waiting for Mr. Comitta’s first draft that simply changes numbers on the chart. The Township needs to raise the parking figure per 1000 sq. ft. from 5 to between 10 and 14. Mr. Comitta’s recent suggestion is for any restaurant over 8000 sq. ft. to have 14 spaces. This may appear on the next Board Agenda.

Award Contract for Road Equipment & Labor for April 1, 2017-March 31, 2017

Mr. Wright reviewed his March 20, 2017 recommendation to award the Labor and Equipment Rental contract to Melchiorre Construction Company, which showed an increase of 4.3% from last year’s rates. He noted, however, that there had been no increases for several years, so he considers the increase to be reasonable.

Mr. Kuhn moved to award the 2017-2018 Road Labor and Equipment Rental Contract to Melchiorre Construction Company and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Ordinance to Vacate Longford Drive

Mr. Thompson explained that an ordinance is required in order to return the abandoned section of road known as Longford Drive to the adjacent property owner, which is SMF Properties. The Turnpike signed the agreement to vacate. Next, a draft ordinance should be sent to the Chester County Planning Commission for review, and then a hearing will be held to consider adopting the ordinance to vacate.

Mr. Kuhn moved to schedule a hearing on June 5, 2017 to consider the ordinance to vacate Longford Drive, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Review Cost Estimate for 2017 Road Project and Authorize Advertising

Mr. Wright distributed the cost estimate for the 2017 road project previously outlined at the March 6^th meeting. The Township will purchase the material through COSTARS, as in prior years. Mrs. Csete stated the budget for paving is set at $200,000 but since there was very little snow this year, there would be sufficient funds for the $309,482.83 project. A budget amendment will be proposed for the May 1^st meeting.

Mr. Rodgers moved to authorize Mr. Wright to post the bid documents on SharePoint and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Bid Project for Paved Trail at Brightside Farm

Mr. Wright said the Board authorized advertising at the March 6, 2017 meeting with the bid due date depending on obtaining all necessary permits. Comments from PennDOT and the Chester County Conservation District have been addressed. Mr. Wright will update the Board with a bid open date and coordinate with Mrs. Csete on advertising.

Mr. Wright confirmed that the driveway into the Farm will be handled separately by the road contractor, Melchiorre Construction Co.

Devault Rails-To-Trails

A letter to convey Township support for the Devault Rails-To-Trails project is to be sent to the County. Although Charlestown would like to relay that this support could be financial, Supervisors were hesitant to name a dollar figure. Mrs. Csete will collaborate with Mr. Churchill, drafting a letter to the Chester County Planning Commission. It will relay support for the popular project and suggest that the Township might financially contribute. A Member of the Board will sign it before it goes to the County Planning Commission.

Authorize Advertising for Bid Project for South Parking Lot at Charlestown Park

The bid documents are in process per Mr. Wright. This paving will be bid separately from the Township road paving.

Mr. Kuhn moved to direct the Manager to advertise for bids for paving the south parking lot at Charlestown Park, to be opened on a date to be determined by Mr. Wright. Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Bid Project for Interpretative Signage and Lighting at the Charlestown Mill

Mr. Philips said a lighting representative came to the Mill with samples and met with him and Rosemary Philips about two weeks ago. The lighting was agreed upon and specs are available from the representative.

Mr. Philips moved to direct the Manager to advertise for bids, for the interpretative signage and lighting at the Charlestown Mill. The bid will be opened May 1, 2017. Mr. Kuhn seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Schedule Conditional Use Hearing – Donald & Elizabeth Andersen

The Conditional Use Hearing for Donald and Elizabeth Andersen was scheduled for May 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. This is on the Planning Commission Agenda for April’s meeting. Mrs. Csete has a draft legal ad for Mr. Thompson to review.

Mr. Philip moved to direct Mrs. Csete to advertise the Conditional Use Hearing and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion, there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Auchincloss Property – Sales Agreement

Mr. Thompson discussed the brokerage fee percentage for Cynthia Thompson Ilaqua, the prospective listing agent. Once the Board agrees to this 5% figure, he will draft a sales agreement for the Auchincloss Property for the Board to ratify. The tenant, Ms. Sheila McFadden, said the lease will be done this August. Ms. McFadden and the Board discussed inspections, and a month to month lease arrangement with a 60 day notification requirement after the lease expires in August.

Mr. Kuhn moved to adopt Resolution #888-2017 authorizing the sale of the Auchincloss property and directing Mr. Thompson to finalize the agreement with Cynthia Thompson Ilaqua with a 5% brokerage fee, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Piliero called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Other Business

Mr. Kuhn attended a presentation by the Great Valley Community Organization. The group has 20-30 programs for about 900 people of all ages. They have outgrown their building. Mr. Kuhn reminded Members that the group had attended a Board Meeting looking for financial support from the Township last year, but they were asked to return when they were farther along in the process. Tonight Mr. Kuhn had the GVCO’s Revenue and Expense Projections and he suggested inviting them back to present to the Board in May.

There will be an Executive Session following tonight’s meeting.

Adjournment

Mr. Piliero adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2017, 7:00 p.m. at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154, 255 N. Phoenixville Pike, in Malvern, PA 19355.