CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
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The Reorganization Meeting was held at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. Hugh D. Willig, Kevin R. Kuhn, Irene W. Ewald, Paul J. Hogan, Thomas F. Oeste (arrived later), Surender S. Kohli, P.E. Linda M. Csete, Secretary, and those on the attached attendee list were present.
Mr. Willig called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M.
Russ Hanscom brought forward two matters. The first related to the Brightside Farm. The Binghams have requested permission to install a wood burning stove in the kitchen area where an existing chimney is located. It had been used for that purpose in the past. He requested approval to have the chimney inspected, and if satisfactory, allow the installation to go forward at the Bingham’s expense. Mr. Kuhn said he is not in favor of having a wood burning stove in a rental unit. Mrs. Ewald said the previous tenant had a stove at that location but took it with them when they moved out. Mr. Hogan was agreeable to having the chimney inspected, noting that a wood stove makes a nice amenity for country living. Mr. Willig said he’d like to know the condition of the chimney in any event, which is estimated to be as old as the main part of the house built in 1806. Mr. Alston commented that if the chimney is not lined, its safety is questionable. Mr. Hanscom will proceed with getting a chimney inspection.
Mr. Hanscom, as Treasurer for the Historical Society, requested a partial reimbursement for the cost of the copier at the Rapp House, which is used by both the Society and the Historical Commission. Mrs. Csete said that past practice was for the Township to reimburse 50% of the cost of the copier maintenance and supplies upon receipt of an invoice from the Historical Society. The Board agreed to continue with this arrangement.
Mr. Willig opened the floor to nominations. Mr. Kuhn nominated Hugh Willig for the position of Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Mrs. Ewald seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Willig opened the floor to nominations. Mrs. Ewald nominated Mr. Hogan for Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Linda M. Csete as Township Administrator and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor. Mrs. Ewald said Mrs. Csete has done a superb job.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Linda M. Csete as Township Secretary/Treasurer and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Jan C. Bird as Assistant Township Secretary and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Leah J. Campion as Planning Commission Secretary upon recommendation of Mr. Davison and Mr. Philips of the Planning Commission. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Dorando Faggioli as Roadmaster and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Mark Cabot for Parks & Recreation Maintenance and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Mark Cabot as Animal Control Officer and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates for Township Engineer. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates for Zoning Officer. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates for Building Inspector. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Frederick C. Alston for Fire Marshal and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn/Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Frederick C. Alston for Emergency Operations Coordinator and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint the law firm of Lamb, Windle and McErlane, P.C. as counsel to the Board of Supervisors and James E. McErlane, Esq. as chief counsel. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint the law firm of Forbes, Bender and DiSanti, PC as alternate counsel to the Board of Supervisors and Gary Bender as chief special counsel to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to appoint the law firm of Diehl & Fosnocht as 2nd alternate counsel to the Board of Supervisors and Glen Diehl as chief 2nd alternate counsel to the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor. Mrs. Ewald stated she was impressed with Mr. Diehl’s work on a matter he handled for the Board in 2001.
Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Thomas J. Comitta Associates as Land Planner. Mr. Hogan seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Dale Frens as Historical Architectural Consultant. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Willig read Resolution #585-02 in its entirety appointing Emory S. Todd, CPA as auditor for Fiscal Year 2001. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve Resolution #585-02 and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Willig read Ordinance #98-02 in its entirety appointing the elected Tax Collector as Tax Collector for Delinquent Taxes. Mr. Kuhn moved to approve Ordinance #98-02 and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
The Board made nominations among its members to act as liaisons to the following Boards, Departments, and other interests as follows.
| Subject | Liaison |
| Parks & Recreation Board | Hogan |
| Great Valley School District | Kuhn |
| Valley Forge Sewer Authority | Rodgers |
| East Whiteland Township | Ewald |
| Schuylkill Township | Rodgers |
| Tredyffrin Township | Kuhn |
| Phoenixville Borough | Kuhn |
| East Pikeland Township | Willig |
| West Pikeland Township | Ewald |
Mrs. Ewald moved to approve the liaison nominations and Mr. Willig seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Bill Davison to the Planning Commission for a 4 year term ending 12/31/05. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor. Mr. Willig said Mr. Davison ran the meetings very well last year, with good rapport among the citizens and applicants. Mrs. Ewald asked Mr. Davison to be sensitive to the appearance of issues raised during the past year.
Mr. Kuhn noted that member Pam Smith has resigned and the Commission members have recommended Tom Korber as her replacement. Mrs. Ewald moved to appoint the following members to the Open Space Commission, with the terms to be staggered and worked out by the Township Secretary in accordance with Ordinance 95-01, which formed the Commission. The members are: Andy Motel, Bill Andersen, Alix Coleman, Frank Corcoran, Priscilla Crowell, Bob Davis, Aliena Gerhard, Bob Jones, Mary Ellen Joos, Tom Korber, Kevin Kuhn, Saul Kun, Rosemary Philips, Bob Roggio, Sue Staas and Ed Theurkauf. Mr. Willig amended the motion to name Mr. Theurkauf as a consultant to the Commission rather than a member of the Commission. Mrs. Ewald accepted the amendment. Mr. Hogan seconded the motion and all were in favor. A list will be circulated to the Board prior to their next meeting.
Mr. Davison stated that the Planning Commission recommends Charlie Philips be retained as their representative on the HARB. Mrs. Ewald moved to re-appoint Charlie Philips and Surender Kohli to the HARB for five year terms ending 12/31/06. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn announced that long-time member of the Zoning Hearing Board, Harry Nagel, wishes to retire from the Board at this time. His term ended 12/31/01. Mr. Kuhn spoke to the alternate member, Michael Bowell, who is interested in serving as a member of the Zoning Hearing Board. Mrs. Ewald moved to appoint Michael Bowell to the Zoning Hearing Board for a three-year term ending 12/31/04. She noted Mr. Nagel’s resignation with deep regret. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor. Mr. Willig tabled the appointment for an alternate, but noted one should be appointed as soon as possible and asked the members to consider possible candidates.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Jim Quay to the Parks & Recreation Board for a 5-year term ending 12/31/06. Mrs. Ewald seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Kuhn moved to re-appoint Russell Hanscom to the Vacancy Board for a 1 year term ending 12/31/02, and Mrs. Ewald seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Willig moved to set the Township Administrator/Secretary/Treasurer salary at $40,000.00. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the Assistant Township Secretary salary at $12.50/hour. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the Planning Commission Secretary’s salary at $15.00/hour. Mr. Hogan seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the Animal Control/General Maintenance salary at $15.00/hour. Mr. Kuhn/Mr. Hogan seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the Roadmaster Salary at $10,000.00 per year. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the Fire Marshal Salary at $8,400.00 per year. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to establish a mileage reimbursement rate of $.345 per mile. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to provide a 100% match on the Employee Pension Plan and a 0% match on all other benefits as outlined in the Employee Manual. Mr. Kuhn seconded and all were in favor.
Mr. Willig read aloud the Holiday Schedule as proposed in Mrs. Csete’s memo. Mrs. Ewald moved to adopt the Holiday Schedule as proposed and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
Mr. Willig read Resolution #586-2002 in its entirety, which sets the depositories for Township funds for 2002. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve Resolution #586-2002. Mr. Kuhn seconded were in favor.
Mr. Willig read Resolution #587-2002 in its entirety, which names the emergency service providers for 2002. Mrs. Ewald moved to approve Resolution #587-2002. Mr. Willig seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald moved to set the 2002 meeting schedule for the Board of Supervisors for the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 P.M. at the Great Valley Middle School Room 154 with the following exceptions due to holidays:
In lieu of January 21, February 18 and September 2, meetings will be held January 28, February 25 and September 9. Mr. Hogan seconded and all were in favor.
Mrs. Ewald stated that the maximum compensation for the position of Township Supervisor is $1,875.00 per year. In Charlestown, the compensation has been set at $50.00 per public Board meeting, which has amounted to less than the maximum in every year except 2000. She suggested the Board consider setting the salary for future supervisors at the maximum of $1,875.00 as this compensation serves to defray expenses incurred in performance of the office. Mr. Oeste noted this would be done by Ordinance. There was discussion on how the supervisors are reimbursed for expenses. Mr. Staas said he researched other townships and learned that the Board members may participate in a benefits program. Another way to get additional compensation is to take one of the permitted township paid positions. Mrs. Staas said she would support the change to $1,875.00 per year because anyone in the Township who wishes to run for this office should have the opportunity to do so. Some individuals could be put off by the costs involved. Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Hogan indicated they are not interested in changing the salary.
Mrs. Ewald moved to adjourn the Re-Organization Meeting at 8:40 P.M and Mr. Kuhn seconded. All were in favor.
in favor.