Board of Commissioners
12-12-16 Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING DECEMBER 12, 2016
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | TOWNSHIP STAFF |
| H. Edward Black, President | Thomas G. Vernau Jr., Township Manager |
| Peddrick M. Young Sr., Vice President | Erin Trone, Assistant Township Manager |
| Richard F. Schin | David Holl, Director of Public Safety |
| Jack R. Simpson, Jr. | Richard Grove, Director of Finance |
| Daniel Flint, Community Development | |
| John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator | |
| Steven P. Miner, Solicitor | |
| Julie Echterling, Recording Secretary |
President Black called the December 12, 2016 Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 7:00 pm. He followed with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review. Commissioner Holtzman was absent with excuse.
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 28, 2016 meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
There was no response.
PRESIDENT BLACK
Approval of Check Register
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve the Check Register of December 9, 2016 in the amount of $189,628.85. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve Manual check register from November in the amount of $909.25, voided check register from November in the amount of $854.00, and replacement check register from November in the amount of $650.00. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0-1. President Black abstained as a relative of his is on the check register.
Advertise Ordinance 2017-02
President Black highlighted the agreement with Capital Region COG for using their building inspection and plan review services. He stated that there is a startup fee of $250 and the contract is renewable each year in September.
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to authorize staff to advertise Ordinance 2017-02, amending Chapter 23 of the Codified Ordinances of Lower Allen Township, Intergovernmental Cooperation, by adding Article XIII addressing entering an agreement with the Capital Region COG for building inspection and plan review services. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Resolution 2016-R-30 – Erin M. Mulhearn – Girl Scout Gold Award.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-R-30 recognizing, commending, and honoring Erin M. Mulhearn of Ambassador Troop 1026 for the attainment of her Girl Scout Gold Award. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Resolution 2016-R-31 – Allison J. Baker – Girl Scout Gold Award.
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-R-31 recognizing, commending, and honoring Allison J. Baker of Ambassador Troop 1026 for the attainment of her Girl Scout Gold Award. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0
Resolution 2016-R-32 – Afton K. Weaver – Girl Scout Gold Award.
Commissioner SIMPSON made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-R-32 recognizing, commending, and honoring Afton K. Weaver of Ambassador Troop 1026 for the attainment of her Girl Scout Gold Award. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0
Resolution 2016-R-33 – Karla G. Otto – Girl Scout Gold Award.
Commissioner SIMPSON made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-R-33 recognizing, commending, and honoring Karla G. Otto of Ambassador Troop 1026 for the attainment of her Girl Scout Gold Award. Vice President YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0
Resolution 2016-R-34– Sale of Township Property Valued over $1,000.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve Resolution 2016-R-34, a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of Lower Allen Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, authorizing the sale of Township property valued over $1,000 for the 2001 Dodge 2500 Pick-up truck. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Tax Collector’s November 2016 Monthly Report.
President Black noted that the Tax Collectors November 2016 monthly report was included in the packet for review of the Board.
ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP
There was no response.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Civil Service Commission Recommendation
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to accept the Civil Service Commission’s recommendation of the top three candidates for police officer from the recent Consortium Testing and follow-up interviews. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Conditional Job Offer to Timothy J. Cox
Director Holl spoke about the three candidates to fill the 21st Police Officer position. He spoke about the background of Mr. Cox including his degree, being a parole agent since 1997 and his Act 120 certification. He recommended Mr. Cox for the position.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to make a conditional job offer to Timothy J. Cox to begin physical, psychological and polygraph testing. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Resolution 2016-R-35, Appointing Timothy J. Cox as a Police Officer
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to adopt Resolution 2016-R-35, appointing Timothy J. Cox as a Police Officer, effective March 6, 2017 at a starting hourly wage of $28.2872. Vice President YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Zoning Hearing Board Report
Mr. Eby spoke about the Zoning Hearing Board meeting for Docket #2016-03. The applicant, located at 310 Pinewood Drive, Shiremanstown, wanted to establish a home occupancy hair salon at her residence. The Zoning Hearing Board approved her application contingent upon satisfying LATA requirements to purchase additional capacity and separately meter the salon wastewater.
Mr. Eby spoke about Docket #2016-04. The applicant is New England Motor Freight, 2800 Appleton Street Camp Hill, PA. They need to expand for truck maneuvering, storage and increased customer service demands. They requested a variance to increase the impervious coverage from 70% to 79% to expand their parking lot. The Zoning Hearing Board approved their request contingent upon satisfying all LAT requirements for a formal drainage plan.
Mr. Eby spoke about Docket #2016-05 for William Grace, who is requesting three variances for the December 15th meeting. He stated that the variances would allow an open space development plan consisting of 18 townhouses and eight single family dwellings on 6.7 acres of land located at 145 Locust Street. He showed the Board the location on the map. He stated that the first variance was regarding the perimeter yard setback. The second variance involves the allowable percentage of townhomes to single family homes. The third variance involves the regrading of the entire site. He spoke about the language used in the ordinances and how they are questioning the interpretation/wording of the ordinance. He asked that the Solicitor attend the meeting, as he will need to question the applicant. Commissioner Schin was concerned and asked why the wording of the ordinance is in question and asked if the neighbors know about this. Mr. Eby explained how it could be interpreted and it was up to the Zoning Hearing Board to decide. He stated that the neighbors have been notified by letters, signs and website. Discussion ensued. The consensus of the Board was that the Solicitor attend the hearing.
Mr. Eby spoke about Docket #2016-06 for Pennsylvania-American Water Company, who is seeking a special exception to reduce the number of required parking spaces at their new headquarters building. They are also requesting a variance to exceed the 40’ height limit in the C-2 zoning district. He showed the Board the location on the map and the sketch plan. He stated that they will have 133 employees with 240 spaces. President Black asked if they would consider switching the location of the storage area and parking lot as the parking lot will be toward Wesley Drive. Mr. Vernau spoke about screening and landscaping to help with the parking lot. Mr. Eby stated that the Solicitor is not needed for this docket. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Schin left and returned during this discussion.
FINANCE
Debt and Investment Policies
Mr. Grove stated that the Standard & Poor’s rating agency noted in their last review that we lacked a debt policy. He stated that the Township could continue without one or could chose to adopt one. He spoke about the safeguards that could be built into the policy which would be putting into writing and adopting what the Township already does. He spoke about the types of debts to incur and those to avoid.
He spoke about providing an investment policy which would be putting in writing what the Township already practices. He spoke about Act 10 and the obligations. He spoke about the types of investing available and strategies available for investing. He provided the Board two memos in the packet outlining options for the two policies. Discussion ensued. The Board asked him to provide a bullet-point summary of the two polices for next meeting. President Black left and returned during this conversation.
MANAGER
Radio Update
Mr. Vernau spoke about the last meeting when the Board agreed to use monitors rather than radios. He stated that Cumberland County has become so restrictive that the monitors won’t help. He stated that the Board could keep their radios and they may be swapped out when the County changes radio systems.
Resolution 2016-R-36 – Ann Simonetti – Retiring Capital Region COG Director
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve Resolution 2016-R-36 recognizing and thanking Ann Simonetti for her years of services as the Capital Region COG Director as she retires. Vice President YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Request to Use Fire Bays for Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraiser
Mr. Vernau discussed the request from Briana Gaumer to use the fire and ambulance bay areas on February 11, 2017 for a breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Vice President YOUNG moved to approve the request, seconded by Commissioner SCHIN. The request was approved 4-0.
Year-end Ordinances and Resolutions
Mr. Vernau informed the Board that there would be three ordinances needing approval at the next meeting including the budget and tax rates. There would also be a resolution for the treasurer’s bond.
2017 Fee Schedule
Mr. Vernau spoke about the proposed 2017 fee schedule. The changes are highlighted in the resolution for the Board to review and approve at the next meeting.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS
Mrs. Trone stated that there is a survey out for the Fun Fort project. So far there have been 100 responses.
Director Holl spoke about the recent swearing in of the new CSO and the recent TEAM graduation.
Mr. Flint spoke about the Beacon Hill Trail project, which is out to bid. The bids will be opened by PennDOT and he hopes to have news on this by the second meeting in January 2017.
President Black spoke about the ribbon cutting ceremony at Thea’s. He spoke about the new officer and his background and the potential outreach for him and the Police Department.
ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned to executive session at 8:47 pm to discuss the following items:
- Sewer Authority Appointment
- Personnel Issue