Board of Commissioners
6-12-17 Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING JUNE 12, 2017
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
| BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS | TOWNSHIP STAFF |
| H. Edward Black, President | Erin Trone, Assistant Township Manager |
| Peddrick M. Young, Sr., Vice President | David Holl, Director of Public Safety |
| Richard F. Schin | Daniel Flint, Community Development |
| Carolyn Holtzman | John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator |
| Jack Simpson, Jr. | Gregory Thomas, Police Lieutenant |
| Steven P. Miner, Solicitor | |
| Mary Ellen Banks, Recording Secretary |
President Black called the June 12, 2017 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.
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve the minutes from the May 22, 2017 meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0 with President Black and Commissioner Holtzman abstaining since they were not in attendance.
Presentation by Michael Baker International: Troy Truax, AICP on the progress of Lower Allen’s Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Truax reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the progress of Lower Allen’s Comprehensive Plan, including the results from the various meetings held throughout the Township during visioning week in May and the on-line survey results.
Note: There was an incorrect date on the presentation as “June 6, 2017 Commissioners Meeting”, which should be “June 12, 2017 Commissioners Meeting”.
Mr. Truax answered a question from Mr. Schin on the open house exercise and on-line survey results listings, explaining the process further and how it was tabulated.
A further discussion on municipal services and evaluating the shortage of volunteer firefighters. Mr. Truax explained they will be able to further break this down as to where this area of concern is coming from. It was also stated that the hiring of the Fire Captain will assist in this area.
Commissioner Young asked for counts on the number of attendees during Visioning Week. Mr. Truax explained the number was 67 participants total; he does not have the actual breakdown with him.
Further discussion ensued.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
There was no response.
CONSENT AGENDA
President Black advised that any Commissioner, staff member, or anyone in attendance could request that any item on the Consent Agenda be removed for further discussion and asked if there was such request. There was no response.
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items:
a. Renewal of Improvement Security for SLD Docket No. 2013-06, Hollinger Office Building, 4600 Lena Drive, establishing a new amount of $544,352.60 and a new expiration date of June 12, 2018.
b. Reduction of Improvement Security for SLD Docket No. 2014-01, Highpoint Phases 1.1, 1.2 and 1.4, establishing a new amount of $565,690.00 and a new expiration date of June 12, 2018.
c. Release of Improvement Security for SLD Docket No. 2016-01, Weis Market Gas and Go.
d. Tax Collector’s May 2017 monthly report.
Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
PRESIDENT BLACK
Approval of Check Registers
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve the Check Register of May 26, 2017 in the amount of $39,654.05. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve the Manual Check Register for May in the amount of $4,801.91. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0 with President Black abstaining due to a relative of his receiving a check.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve the Check Register of June 9, 2017 in the amount of $386,552.99. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP
Mr. Rhody Ross, owner of property at 1852 Sheepford Road, gave the history of the sewer system since he purchased this property. He explained the situation that last year he did not meet the approval of the Township in respect to reporting and therefore he received a notice on April 7, 2017 that the system was suspended and he had to have a self-contained tank system until meeting certain requirements. Mr. Ross stated the two reasons he is coming before the Board tonight is 1) for the Township to hold to the original five suspension requirements and 2) clearance from the Board of Commissioners that once Mr. Eby and staff says yes, he has met those five items he can be reinstated. He would like to have a contingent approval for re-instatement so once Mr. Eby says it is good to go it will be and also to only be held under the original five items. Over the last week, he has now been told he must be held to another two or three months of testing.
Mr. Eby explained further to the Board there was no certification/reporting for 18 months nor was there any communication. He has recommended the further testing of three consecutive months of clean testing explaining the staff does not have confidence in the ability of Mr. Ross to operate the system correctly; he is trying to straighten that out and we are demanding that we see these consecutive periods of evidence with written reports that meet DEP requirements Mr. Eby also stated various items with the system still are not fully compliant with its design and installation requirements presently; therefore, eighteen months later in order to earn that trust level they need to see either two quarters of everything done correctly or three months of just the water testing to give us an assurance that the system is continually operating for a period of time in accordance with the design specs so there is a comfort level of allowing that water to go into the Township’s pipe and on to someone else’s property and eventually into the Yellow Breeches Creek. Discussion ensued.
Commissioner SIMPSON made a motion to accept the recommendation of the staff, with Vice President YOUNG seconding the motion. Motion carried 4-1, with Commissioner Holtzman opposing.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Accept the Civil Service Commission Eligibility List for the rank of Sergeant.
Director Hall reviewed the information from the Commission certifying the three candidates, Douglas Foltz, Troy McNair and Edward Curtis, as candidates for possible promotion to Sergeant. Vice President YOUNG made a motion to accept the Civil Service Commission list of the three candidates. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Approve Douglas Foltz from the eligibility list for promotion to the rank of Sergeant.
Director Holl explained the process of the selection of Douglas Foltz for promotion to the rank of Sergeant and asked the Board to approve this which will be effective June 26, 2017. Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve Douglas Foltz for promotion to the rank of Sergeant effective June 26, 2017. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Resolution 2017-R-16, Appointing Douglas L. Foltz to the rank of Sergeant of the Lower Allen Township Police Department.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to adopt Resolution 2017-R-16, appointing Douglas L. Foltz to the rank of Sergeant of the Lower Allen Township Police Department. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Renewal of Improvement Security for SLD Docket No. 2005-24, Final Subdivision Plan for Liberty Point, establishing a new amount of $77,659.95 and a new expiration date of June 12, 2018; and authorizing Township Staff and Solicitor to act on the existing Letter of Credit if renewal security is not provided by the current expiration date of July 1, 2017. Mr. Flint stated this is just extending their Improvement Security for the remaining work to be done; no reduction involved, just an annual 10% increase for the work not yet completed. The second part is only because of the timing involved due to the Commissioners not meeting again before July 1, 2017. Vice President YOUNG made a motion for the renewal of Improvement Security SLD Docket No. 2005-24. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Time Extension for SLD Docket No. 2017-01, PA American Water Co. Capital Campus Plan, establishing a new expiration date of September 18, 2017. Mr. Flint stated they are still taking a little more time than expected and explained fully the situation. Discussion ensued. Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to accept the Time Extension for SLD Docket No. 2017-01 until September 18, 2017. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Authorizing Staff to draft a Resolution requesting the County Board of Commissioners to proceed with establishing the Blighted Property Demolition Fund.
Mr. Eby stated this is regarding legislation passed last year amending the recorder of deeds fee law and enables County Commissioners to adopt an ordinance to impose a fee not to exceed $15.00 when a property changes hands. There is a fee paid for recording and this fee would go into a pool administered by the County which would facilitate use to demolish private properties. Discussion ensued. Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to authorize Staff to draft a resolution requesting the County Board of Commissioners to proceed with establishing the Blighted Property Demolition Fund. Commissioner SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Establishing a public hearing date: ZOA 2017-01, Ordinance 2017-03, and ordinance amending Chapter 220, Zoning, by allowing indoor agricultural growing operations in certain industrial and commercial zoning districts. Mr. Eby stated they are recommending July 10, 2017 at 6:30 pm. Vice President YOUNG made a motion to authorize the solicitor to publish this notice and establish this hearing date and time.
Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
COMMISSIONERS REPORTS
Mr. Eby stated the Commissioners had authorized the Manager to communicate to Sewer Authority that you would like them to design, fund and build a sewer extension to serve Fair Oaks Development. There have been staff discussions and the Authority expects an engineer proposal authorization at their July 6 meeting. They expect to be able to do a postcard exemption for planning to DEP, since it is within a served area. Mr. Flint and he have given them some additional replies, and hence they mapped out the development and at our request are going to design the system to give the nine properties along Rossmoyne Road the ability to hook up to the sewer extension.
Commissioner Schin inquired about the repaving of Carlisle Road. Mr. Flint stated it is under contract to start work this week. It is not known if it will be completed this year.
Commissioner Schin also stated there are election signs for one person that has not retrieved these signs which are on right of ways, not private property.
Director Holl followed up on the Corporal’s exam, which will be completed the 30th of this month. He hopes to be able to have a Civil Service meeting prior to the Board’s meeting on the 10th of July. He should be able to come before the Board with the recommendation for the two Corporal positions. The Fire Captain’s orals were held last Friday. Five candidates were interviewed; he states they are negotiating with the top candidate currently and hopes to have this result for the July 10, 2017 Board meeting also.
Lieutenant Thomas thanked the Commissioners for their action this evening on approving Corporal Foltz to Sergeant and wants them to have the utmost confidence in him as they did in him. Lieutenant Thomas feels he will do a great job. President Black thanked him for saying that and also thanked Lieutenant Thomas for his service.
RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners recessed at 8:45 p.m. for the following personnel discussions:
Extension of 12-Hour shift scheduling for police.
RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners reconvened at 8:50 p.m.
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to accept the continuation of the 12-hour shift scheduling for the police department and instructs the Manager to draft a letter notifying the Association of our intent to do so. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 8:55 pm to Executive Session to discuss the following:
Triple Crown Stone Gate Village fee appeal