CHARLESTOWN TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REORGANIZATION MEETING
JANUARY 3, 2005

The Reorganization Meeting was held at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. Kevin R. Kuhn, Chairman, Mike Rodgers, Vice Chairman, Paul Hogan, Hugh Willig, Charlie Philips, Jim McErlane, Esq., 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 7:39 P.M.

Citizen’s Forum/Non-Agenda Items

There were no Citizens' Forum/Non-Agenda items discussed.

Nominations

Chairman, Board of Supervisors

Mr. Kuhn opened the floor to nominations. Mr. Rodgers nominated Mr. Kuhn for the position of Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Vice Chairman, Board of Supervisors

Mr. Kuhn opened the floor to nominations. Mr. Philips nominated Mr. Rodgers for Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Appointments for 2005

Annual Appointments

The following appointments/re-appointments were made:

Township Administrator – Linda M. Csete
Township Secretary/Treasurer – Linda M. Csete
Assistant Township Secretary – Jan C. Bird
Recording Secretary – Melanie M. Lammers
Legal Counsel – Firm – Lamb & McErlane, P.C.
Lead Counsel – Lead Counselor – Jim McErlane, Esq.
Special Counsel – Glenn Diehl, Esq.
Second Alternate Counsel – Gary Bender, Esq.
Township Engineer – Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates
Zoning Office – Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates
Building Inspector – Surender S. Kohli of Kohli & Associates
Fire Marshal – Fred Alston
Public Works Superintendent (formerly Roadmaster) – Fred Alston
Public Works Assistant (formerly Animal Control Officer/Parks Maintenance/Road Maintenance) – Mark Cabot
Auditor – Todd & Sons, CPA – Emory Todd
Land Planner – Thomas J. Comitta Associates
Historical Architectural Consultant – Dale Frens of Frens & Frens LLC

There was some discussion regarding the Auditor appointment. Mr. Philips questioned the need for Emory Todd’s services, stating the Elected Auditors could audit the books, as is done in many other Townships. He was concerned after the questions raised by the elected auditors during the budget process this past fall. Mr. Kuhn said he is not sure it is the job of the Elected Auditors to audit the Township’s budget process. He said he is fine with Mr. Todd as Auditor.

Mr. Rodgers moved to table this appointment until it could be discussed further, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn asked if it is possible to not appoint an auditor at this time, and Mrs. Csete pointed out the auditor needs as much time as possible to conduct the audit. She said the report is due March 15, 2005 and said she generally gets the information to the auditor within ten days of the first Board meeting of the year.

After some discussion, Mr. Philips acknowledged that the Board already determined to appoint an auditor to provide this service in 2005, and this vote was to simply appoint the CPA firm, so he withdrew his second, but suggested the situation be re-evaluated in the coming year. Mr. Rodgers withdrew his motion. Mr. Kuhn suggested they discuss it in the July 2005 timeframe, and Mrs. Csete said she would make a note to add it to a July agenda.

Mr. Rodgers moved to appoint the above-mentioned parties, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Appointments to Boards, Commissions and Committees

Planning Commission

Mr. Rodgers moved to re-appoint Mr. Rick Reis and Mr. Michael Churchill to the Planning Commission for terms ending 12/31/08, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Historical Commission/H.A.R.B.

Mr. Philips moved to re-appoint Grace Mohler to the Historical District resident term to expire 12/31/09, Fran Rodgers to the At-Large term to expire 12/31/09, and to appoint Linda Appler to the Licensed Realtor term to expire 12/31/07, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Parks & Recreation Board

Mr. Rodgers moved to appoint Karen Davis to the Parks & Recreation Board, term to expire 12/31/09, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Vacancy Board

Mr. Willig moved to re-appoint Mr. Russ Hanscom to the Vacancy Board, term to expire 12/31/05, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Zoning Hearing Board

Mr. Rodgers moved to re-appoint Mr. Michael Bowell to the Zoning Hearing Board, term to expire 12/31/07, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Open Space Commission

Mr. Rodgers moved to re-appoint Mrs. Rosemary Philips to the Historical Commission Member term to expire 12/31/07 and Mr. John Pickering to the at-large term to expire 12/31/08, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Valley Forge Sewer Authority 6-Member Board

Mr. Philips moved to appoint Mr. Tom Babacz to the Partner's Board, term to expire 12/31/08, and Mr. Bill Hochwind to the 6-member board, term to expire 12/31/09, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Brightside Farm Committee

Mr. Kuhn moved to appoint the following to the Brightside Farm Committee, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Supervisor Liaisons:

Mr. Kuhn asked if there is any need to continue having Supervisor Liaisons. Others agreed there is no need, therefore the Supervisor Liaison positions were eliminated.

Establish Rates of Pay for 2005

Mr. Rodgers moved to establish the following rates of pay for 2005, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Township Administrator/Secretary/Treasurer - $50,290.00 annually
Assistant Township Secretary - $16.50 per hour
Recording Secretary - $14.50 per hour
Fire Marshal, Public Works Superintendent - $24,000 annually
Public Works Assistant - $17.00/hour, with the hourly labor rate staying the same as in 2004.

Establish Mileage Rate for 2005

Mr. Hogan moved to establish $0.405 as the mileage rate for 2005, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Establish Employee/Employer Match for Employee Benefits

Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the 0/100% employee/employer match for employee benefits, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Establish Holiday Schedule for 2005

Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the attached 2005 Holiday Schedule, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Annual Resolutions

Mr. Rodgers moved to approve Resolution #638-2005 to set depositories for the Township accounts, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Mr. Rodgers moved to approve Resolution #639-2005 for the credit card authorizations, and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor. The only change to the Credit Card Authorization is to add Mr. Alston to the VISA account in order to purchase items relating to Public Works.

Mr. Philips moved to approve Resolution #640-2005, naming the providers for Fire Protection, Ambulance and Police, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Scheduling

Mr. Philips moved to approve the scheduling of the 2005 Board of Supervisors Business Meetings to take place at 7:30 P.M. on the first and third Monday of the month, in Room 154 of the Great Valley Middle School, and Mr. Willig seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.

Adjournment

Mr. Rodgers moved to adjourn the Reorganization Meeting, and Mr. Philips seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,


Melanie Lammers
Recording Secretary