UPPER HANOVER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 10, 2009

 

 

 

Call to Order and Roll Call

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Fain, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.  Township Supervisors in attendance were Shannan Bieler, Richard Fain, Eugene Fried, Mary Gibbs Kershner, and Eugene Marks. Staff members in attendance were Larry Buck, Road Foreman, Jeffrey Ashman, Fire Marshal, Edward Skypala, Township Solicitor and Stanley Seitzinger, Jr., Township Manager.

 

Citizen Comments

 

Citizens in attendance did not present comments.

 

Approval of Minutes

 

Mrs. Bieler moved to approve the Upper Hanover Township Workshop Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2009 and the Regular Meeting Minutes of February 10, 2009. The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

Monthly Invoices

 

1.  Previously Paid Bills Authorization

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to approve the previously paid bills in the amount of $55,133.37 from the General Fund, $140,863.89 from the Escrow Fund and $9,390.00 from the Municipal Facility Fund. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Bieler and carried unanimously.

 

2.  Approval of Monthly Bills to be Paid

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to approve the monthly bills payment in the General Fund in the amount

of $98,589.34, Municipal Facility Fund in the amount of $876.38, Escrow Fund in the amount of $20,800.29, Parks and Recreation Fund in the amount of $138.51, and Machinery Fund in the amount of $9,928.75. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fried and carried unanimously.

 

Monthly Reports

 

1.  Treasurer’s Report

 

Manager Seitzinger entered the monthly Treasurer’s Report into the record.

 

 

 

 

2.  State Police Report

 

Manager Seitzinger entered the monthly State Police Report into the record.

 

3.  Building Inspector Report

 

Manager Seitzinger entered the monthly Building Inspector Report into the record.

 

4.  Fire Marshal Report

 

Mr. Ashman entered the monthly Fire Marshal Report into the record.

 

5.  Road Report

 

Mr. Buck presented the monthly Road Report.

 

(Vice-Chairman Eugene Marks assumed the chair of the meeting.)

 

Special Items

 

A. Resolution # 2009-09, Five Year Service Recognition Award – Richard K. Fain, Planning Commission

 

Mr. Fried moved to adopt Resolution # 2009-09. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Bieler and carried unanimously. A copy of the resolution was presented to Richard K. Fain.

 

(Vice-Chairman Marks returned the chair of the meeting to Chairman Richard Fain. Mr. Fain turned the chair of the meeting over to Township Solicitor Edward Skypala.)

 

B. Public Hearing, Jeffrey and Robin Lukens Conditional Use

 

Mr. Skypala called the hearing to order in the presence of a court reporter. Clifford Stout of Stout, Tacconelli & Associates, Inc. represented the applicant. Testimony was presented.

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to deny the application. The motion failed for lack of a second.

 

Mr. Marks moved to approve the Jeffrey and Robin Lukens Conditional Use subject to conditions outlined in the Order. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fried and carried affirmatively with Mrs. Kershner voting no.

 

(The chair of the meeting was returned to Richard Fain.)

 

C. Public Hearing – Parks and Open Space Grant Applications

 

The Board of Supervisors reviewed and discussed proposed Parks and Open Space Grant Applications, including an application to Montgomery County for the Centennial Park Trail Extension, an application to Montgomery County for the Peevy Road Open Space Area Trail and an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the construction of a pavilion at Camelot Park.

 

Mr. Marks moved to adopt Resolution # 2009-08 concerning the Centennial Park Trail Grant Application. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Kershner and carried unanimously.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the Peevy Road Open Space Area Grant Application and Resolution # 2009-10. Mrs. Bieler indicated that she would recuse herself from the vote since a portion of the proposed trail involved a section of property owned by relatives. Mrs. Bieler commented upon recent issues involving a turnaround on the property. Richard Bieler commented that he is not in favor of providing a requested easement to connect the trail from the Fruitville Road Bridge to the East Greenville Borough Property. Further discussion ensued.

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to adopt Resolution # 2009-10 with the exception of eliminating the Bieler Property from the grant application. The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks. The motion carried affirmatively with Mr. Fried voting no, Mrs. Bieler recusing herself from the vote and with Mr. Marks, Mrs. Kershner and Mr. Fain voting yes.

 

Mr. Fried moved to adopt Resolution #2009-11 regarding the submission of a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the Camelot Park Pavilion Construction Project. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Kershner and carried unanimously.

 

Planning and Zoning

 

1.  Zoning 

 

Manager Seitzinger provided a brief update on the status of currently active zoning matters.

 

2. Subdivisions and Land Developments

 

Waivers Approval – Traynor Tract Subdivision

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to approve the following waivers:

 

            Section 402.7 – Road Widening, Geryville Pike

            Section 403.6 – Ultimate Right-of-Way Width, Geryville Pike

            Section 405.4 – Street Intersection Spacing on Minor Arterials – 400’

            Section 410 – Sidewalk, Curb, Storm Sewer, Geryville Pike & Traynor Lane

            Section 411 – Traffic Impact Study

            Section 500.2 – Identify Species and Condition of Existing Trees

            Appendix A, Section 3 – Minimum Arc Radius at Intersections

 

The motion was seconded by Mrs. Bieler and carried unanimously.

 

Waivers Approval – YMCA Land Development

 

The waivers were tabled for further review.

Ordinance # 2009-02 An Ordinance Amending Sections of the Upper Hanover Township Zoning Ordinance and the Upper Hanover Township Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance

 

Mrs. Bieler moved to authorize advertisement of the above referenced ordinance. The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

Committee Reports

 

1.  Budget and Finance Committee

 

Mr. Fain reported that the 2009 budget year started on a sound basis with beginning balances in order as per the adopted budget.

 

2.  Personnel Committee

 

A report was not presented.

 

3.  Open Space, Parks and Recreation Committee

 

Mr. Fried reported that the hours of operation sign was installed temporarily and that the player benches were relocated at Camelot Park.

 

Mr. Fried moved to award the additional fence work to Anchor Fence Company, Inc. in the amount of $6,894.00. The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

Mr. Marks moved to authorize signature to the Community Revitalization Grant Agreement for the Camelot Park bleachers. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Kershner and carried unanimously.

 

4. Renewable Energy and Recycling Task Force

 

Mrs. Bieler reported upon the status of future mandatory recycling in Upper Hanover Township following the completion of the next U.S. Census.

 

5.  Regional Planning and Planning Committee

 

Mr. Fain reported that Mrs. Bieler was elected Chairman of the Upper Perkiomen Valley Regional Planning Commission in 2009.

 

Mrs. Bieler reported upon current projects and programs of the Regional Planning Commission.

 

Mrs. Kershner commented upon a discussion at the last Regional Planning Commission Meeting regarding improvements at the intersection of Route 663 and Geryville Pike.

 

 

 

 

6. Sewer and Water Committee

 

Mr. Marks reported upon options for the construction of a new office building and garage for the Upper Hanover Authority.

 

Mr. Fain reported upon the progress regarding the installation of a new water line on Church Road.

 

7.  Bridge and Road Committee

 

Bridge Maintenance Project Bid

 

Mr. Fried moved to award the 2009 Bridge Guiderail Bid to MorganRail, Inc. in the low bid amount of $24,263.75.The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

Bituminous Seal Coat Bid

 

Mr. Fried moved to award the 2009 Bituminous Seal Coat Bid to Asphalt Maintenance Solutions, LLC. The motion was seconded be Mrs. Bieler and carried unanimously.

 

Road Materials and Equipment Rental Bid

 

Mr. Fried reported that the Road Material and Equipment Rental Bid opening is scheduled for March 30, 2009.

 

Township Engineer’s Report

 

Escrow Releases

 

Mrs. Bieler moved to approve the following escrow releases and financial security reductions:

 

1.  Northgate Phase 2 Financial Security Reduction No. 7 - $43,303.18

 

2. Paul Forstater Saldo Escrow Release - $1,000.00

 

3. Lapio Homes, McDonald Tract - $8,180.00

 

The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

Township Manager’s Report

 

A report was not presented.

 

Township Solicitor’s Report

 

Mr. Skypala reported that the Bogaski/Vermeesch Zoning Hearing Application was rejected by the Zoning Hearing Board.

 

Mr. Skypala reported that state law preempts the township from regulating areas identified as regulated hunting grounds. Benjamin Fiorito inquired about the applicability of the township zoning ordinance as it relates to safety hazards at regulated hunting grounds.

 

Old Business

 

Traynor Tract Open Space Appraisal

 

Manager Seitzinger presented a proposal from Indian Valley Appraisers regarding obtaining a second opinion on the Traynor Tract Open Space value. The Board of Supervisors requested additional appraiser proposals from Barndt Real Estate and Lechner and Stauffer.

 

Larry Mark Property

 

Mrs. Bieler requested an update on the status of the Larry Mark Property.

 

Auditor Proposals

 

Mrs. Bieler inquired on the status of the Auditor Proposals.

 

New Business

 

A.  Authorization to Bid Administration Building Sidewalk Replacement

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to authorize bidding of the Administration Building Sidewalk Replacement Project. The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

B.  Real Estate Transfer Tax Refunds Request – American Tower

 

Mr. Marks moved to authorize a Real Estate Transfer Tax Refund for American Tower in the amount of $1,998.14. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Bieler and carried unanimously.

 

C. Carol Schultz Occupation Privilege Tax Refund Request

 

Mrs. Bieler moved to authorize an occupational privilege tax refund to Carol Schulz in the amount of $10.00 due to the previous payment of the occupational privilege tax to a separate employer. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Kershner and carried unanimously.

 

D. Resolution # 2009-12 St. Luke’s Hospital Project – Industrial Development Authority

 

Mr. Marks moved to adopt Resolution # 2009-12. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Kershner and carried unanimously.

 

E. Resolution # 2009-13 – Resolution for Sewage Facilities Plan Revision – Chipakitis Tract – Arcadia Estates

 

Mrs. Kershner moved to adopt Resolution # 2009-13. The motion was seconded by Mr. Fried and carried unanimously.

 

F. Township Engineer

 

The Board of Supervisors discussed the format for rating the Township Engineer.

G. Northgate Dumpsters

 

Mrs. Bieler presented comments on overflowing dumpsters at the Northgate Subdivision.

 

Adjournment

 

Mrs. Bieler moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Marks and carried unanimously.

 

 

                                                                                    Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    Stanley W. Seitzinger, Jr.

                                                                                    Township Manager