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Home»Board of Commissioners Minutes»Board of Commissioners
11-26-18 Minutes

Board of Commissioners
11-26-18 Minutes

MINUTES

 BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                                         LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

 REGULAR MEETING                                                          NOVEMBER 26, 2018

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                                      TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL

Edward Black, President                                              Thomas G. Vernau, Jr., Township Manager

Jack R. Simpson Jr.                                                               Erin G. Trone, Assistant Township Manager

Richard F. Schin                                                                    David Holl, Public Safety Director

Dean W. Villone                                                                    Dan Flint, Public Works Director

Carolyn Holtzman                                                                  Richard Grove, Finance Director

                                                                        John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator                                                                                              

                                                                                                Leon Crone, Police Captain

                                                                                                Steven P. Miner, Solicitor

                                                                                                Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

 

President Black called the November 26, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 7:00 pm followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.  He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review. 

MEETING MINUTES

Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the minutes from the November 5, 2018 Budget Meeting. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0 with Vice President Simpson abstaining due to his absence from that meeting.

Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the minutes from the November 13, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner VILLONE seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

EMS LIFE SAVING AWARDS PRESENTATION

Public Safety Director Holl began the presentation by speaking about the events leading to this award. On August 31, 2018, a dispatch call came in for a patient initially reporting nausea and palpitations. When the patient went into cardiac arrest, EMS called for help from the Fire Company.  The patient was successfully resuscitated, transferred to the hospital, and eventually discharged. Mr. Holl then introduced Steve Lyle, Regional Director for EMS of South Central Pennsylvania. He complimented Lower Allen Township EMS for their quality of care and decision making. Recipients will receive a letter and a uniform pin, if they have not already received a pin as a previous award. EMS Life Saving Awards were presented to:

Sean O’Haren

Molly Curtis

Marie Calaman

Amy Nye

Thomas Cook

Brian Dunbar

An award was presented to David Holl for Lower Allen Township EMS as an organization. President Black and Mr. Holl presented the Firefighter awards for participation in the same event. They were presented to:

Chris Trace

Eric Tamosaitis

Josh Rokowski

Nick Knull

Gary Frazer

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA

There was no response.

PRESIDENT BLACK

Check Register

Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the Check Register of November 21, 2018 in the amount of $787,505.43. Commissioner VILLONE seconded.  Motion carried 5-0. 

Ordinance 2018-11: Defined Contribution Plan:

Vice President SIMPSON moved to enact this ordinance, which amends the existing Lower Allen Township Non-Uniformed Retirement Plan by adding defined contribution features and to comply with the federal and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania laws and regulations in effect. Commissioner Schin inquired if an employee leaves and comes back if they are put back into the plan? Mr. Grove stated that the vested employee who leaves gets paid out whatever percentage is vested. If he or she returns, they are re-admitted to the defined benefit plan, but years of service begin again. For an employee who leaves before they are vested, the employee is not entitled to the money contributed by the employer and it goes back into the general contribution fund.

Roll Call Vote:            Commissioner Holtzman:  Aye

                                                    Commissioner Schin:  Aye

                                                    President Black:  Aye

                                                    Vice President Simpson: Aye

                                                    Commissioner Villone:  Aye

Ordinance 2018-11 passed by a 5-0 vote.

Appointment of Huntington Bank:

Commissioner SCHIN moved to appoint Huntington Bank as Pension Fund Investment Manager for the Police Pension Plan and Non-Uniformed Pension Plan. Vice President SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Appointment of Conrad Siegel:

Vice President SIMPSON moved to appoint Conrad Siegel as Actuaries for the Police Pension Plan and Non-Uniformed Pension Plan. Commissioner VILLONE seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Department Reports:

Vice President SIMPSON moved to approve the department reports for the month of October for Community Development, Township Engineer, Facilities Maintenance, Public Works, and Public Safety. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Commissioner Villone asked about 2018 budgeted building permit fees difference and how the $375,000 factors into the year-end projections. Mr. Vernau stated that the anticipated surplus does include all revenues collected through the end of the year, including the actual building fees collected.

ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP

Robert Hoobler, 4501 Woods Way, was present at the meeting to ask why the Township feels that a new transportation building is necessary. President Black spoke about the reasons for the Public Works Building expansion, including extended longevity of the equipment, security, ease of connecting plow   equipment. Vice President Simpson stated that the Public Works Department is willing to give up anything  else they have requested in exchange for the building. Mr. Hoobler stated that taxes have just gone up and asked if they are going up again. President Black stated that there is no tax increase this year. It is possible that taxes will increase in 2021 and 2023 by ½ mill. This equates to $120 to $150 for most property owners, per Mr. Grove.

TOWNSHIP ENGINEER

SLD Docket No. 2017-03:

Vice President SIMPSON moved to approve the Release of Improvement Security for the Final Land Development Plan for 1106 Carlisle Road (Starbucks). Mr. Flint stated this amount totals $17,000 and the business has passed its required inspections. Commissioner VILLONE seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

SLD Docket No. 2018-07:

Mr. Flint spoke about the Land Development Plan for Rossmoyne Elementary School at 1225 Rossmoyne Road. This proposed building would include 90,100 square feet and house students in grades K through 4.  A portion of the new building will be two stories. The plan is to construct the new building while the existing building is in use. Mr. Flint provided the school plans on the overhead. He stated that instead of a front sidewalk, a walking trail will be continued from Rossmoyne Manor to the school and to Westport Drive / Allen Middle School. He pointed out the roadway improvements of left turn lanes, access from the rear for service and emergency vehicles, walkways wide enough to permit emergency vehicles if needed, and placement of stormwater basins. Since the school will have no walking students, the school zone signs currently in the front of the school will be removed by PennDOT. Mr. Flint stated that they are still working out with the school district where construction traffic will enter and exit from the school property.  He also stated that 5 of the 6 members of the Planning Commission had approved the plan.  They will be asking the Commissioners for conditional approval on December 10th.

Mr. Brett Sanders from the West Shore School District and Mr. Jeff Shyk from K&W Engineers were present to answer questions as well. Mr. Sanders stated that PennDOT has designated Rossmoyne Road as a “Hazardous Roadway” so they are required to bus all students who would be coming into the school across this road. The funding is provided to bus them by PennDOT. The school zone speed limit of 15 mph and flashing school zone signs are specific to walking students so PennDOT’s policy is to remove them. Mr. Shyk stated that he would be willing to present a letter written by the Township to PennDOT requesting to be allowed to keep the school zone flashers.

Mr. Flint stated that several resolutions will be coming up at a future BOC meeting for various projects. The HOP for the roundabout at Rossmoyne and Lisburn Roads has been approved.

PUBLIC SAFETY

2019 FRP/KME Tanker for Lisburn Fire Company:

Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve payment of the final balance of $119,874.00 for the chassis that     is to become a tanker for Lisburn Fire Company. The initial payment of $130,126.00 was approved at the July 9, 2018 Commissioners meeting. Commissioner VILLONE seconded the motion was carried 5-0.

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Update on BonTon Financing:

Mrs. Trone spoke about the end of the due diligence period for the BonTon property passing on November 5th. Closing is still on schedule for January 18, 2019. The financing takes approximately one month to get in place before closing. She is hopeful that the financing package can be authorized by the Board of Commissioners at their December 10th meeting. Eckert Seamans, finance attorney for the project, along with Concord Public Financing are putting together the necessary documents. A Guaranty Ordinance is required at closing by the Commonwealth, as well as a Guaranty Agreement establishing the financing, and a Debt Policy Resolution stating that the Board of Commissioners is aware that the amount borrowed exceeds the Township’s self-imposed debt limit. Our RFPs for bank loans are currently out and will close on November 28th. At that time a decision will be made as to which bank the Township is borrowing from. The Development Authority can get a better price on the loan if the Township is backing it. Plan is for the debt to be paid back when the property is sold to a developer. We are still looking for state financing. The meeting with Cumberland Financing Authority, who we submitted a grant application to, has been rescheduled for December 19th. There is also an upcoming meeting with a representative from Congressman Perry’s office to talk about the project.

Vice President SIMPSON moved to approve advertisement of the Guaranty Ordinance, as soon as a bank is selected. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

MANAGER

2019 Fee Schedule Changes:

The proposed fee schedule was distributed with new items in red as well as memos from the various department heads explaining why the changes are needed. The stormwater fee section is new, since the Stormwater Authority was recently created. The EMS fees were increased to match those of other services and based on the EMS study completed earlier in the year. The fee resolution will appear on the next agenda for approval.

Approval to Advertise 2019 Meeting Dates:

2019 meeting dates must be advertised before the new year. Commissioner SCHIN moved to advertise the schedule of 2019 meeting dates. Vice President SIMPSON seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

COMMISSIONERS REPORTS

Mr. Eby spoke about hoping to have the updates to the 2015 property maintenance fire codes synchronized with the updated 2015 uniform construction codes. The resource to update the fire codes has not been available, so this part will be delayed until January. He also mentioned that the Yellow Breeches Watershed Association is conducting its annual meeting on Thursday December 6th at 6:30 in the Barn at LACP. They are hoping to increase membership for the upcoming year.

Township Manager Thomas Vernau spoke about a COG Stormwater Roundtable that he and Becky Davis, MS4 Coordinator, will be attending on December 6th. Credit appeals and other regional items will be discussed. The plan is for COG to serve as an appeal board that residents can go to with credit disputes instead of the Board of Commissioners.

Vice President Simpson requested that his PSATC membership fees be removed from the budget. He is also not planning to attend the conference. He also spoke about the COG meeting that he attended last week which covered MS4 and EPA as far as Township involvement. It was brought up that Lemoyne cannot afford to hire an MS4 Coordinator. They asked about using Rebecca Davis for guidance and reimbursing her for her services. COG had a surplus of $12,500.00 this year which went toward bonuses for the president and secretary. In addition, local use of radar must be started up again.

Commissioner Schin requested that his PSATC membership fees be removed from the Budget. He is also not planning to attend the conference.

Public Safety Director Holl thanked Fire Captain Wirth and Fire Chief Murdoch for their work towards the fire bay floor project. They are very pleased with the job that was done and Mr. Holl invited the Commissioners to come and take a look at the final result anytime. He thanked the Board for their support.

Julie Echterling thanked the Board for approving the last payment on the tanker loan on behalf of the Lisburn Fire Company.

Captain Crone spoke about getting through another Black Friday / Thanksgiving weekend successfully. He mentioned that there were three different incidents involving guns that were all confiscated by our officers.

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

The meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 8:40 pm. Discussion will take place on Board and Commission appointments.