Board of Commissioners
11-9-2020 Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 9, 2020
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL
Dean W. Villone, President Thomas G. Vernau, Jr., Township Manager
Edward Black, Vice President Erin G. Trone, Assistant Township Manager
Richard F. Schin Richard Grove, Finance Director
Thomas H. Kutz David Holl, Public Safety Director
Carolyn Holtzman Dan Flint, Public Works Coordinator
John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator
Leon Crone, Police Captain
Steven P. Miner, Solicitor
Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary
President Villone called the November 9, 2020 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. President Villone requested a moment of silence in honor of Kathy Ritter’s father and Bob Hamsher’s wife passing away.
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner KUTZ moved to approve the minutes of the October 19, 2020 Budget Meeting. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
Commissioner KUTZ moved to approve the minutes of the October 26, 2020 Regular Meeting. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Any item on the agenda.
There was no response.
PRESIDENT VILLONE
Check Register
An error was noted in the amount of the check register as printed on the agenda. The motion was amended accordingly for the amount of $283,872.52 from $283,972.52. Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the amended check register and Vice President BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2020-07
Commissioner KUTZ moved to enact Ordinance 2020-07, authorizing execution of a cable franchise agreement between the Township and Comcast of Southeast PA, LLC and to define Schedule A facilities to include only Municipal facilities.
Roll Call Vote: Commissioner Holtzman -Aye
Vice President Black -Aye
President Villone -Aye
Commissioner Schin -Aye
Commissioner Kutz -Aye
Ordinance 2020-07 was approved by a 5-0 vote.
Resolution 2020-R-37
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve hiring Michael D. Quenzer as a Paramedic for the Public Safety Department effective November 18, 2020. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion and the motion carried 5-0.
ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP:
There was none.
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
Advertisement of Ordinance for Traffic Control Devices
Mr. Flint spoke about how the traffic control device ordinances are updated periodically to include new streets that have been dedicated to the Township. He said that typically an engineering and traffic study is done and traffic control signs are installed. Incorporating the streets into the ordinance makes them able to be enforced. He provided the locations in a memo to the Board. Mr. Flint is requesting permission for staff to advertise the ordinance. Commissioner Kutz requested that a discussion be held with Charter and residents regarding Strong Road being posted as “no parking”. Mr. Flint said that Strong Road has a 12 foot travel lane and 4 foot shoulder on each side. He pointed out that the 4 foot shoulder is not wide enough for parking, and removing the shoulder from the road would eliminate the bike lane. Discussion ensued with Commissioner Kutz suggesting that one side of Strong Road be striped for parking. He requested that Strong Road be removed from the list being advertised or that the ordinance be tabled. Mr. Flint said that the ordinance can be advertised without Strong Road because this particular road is not going to be dedicated for a while. Commissioner Schin feels that it is best to go with what was designed by the professionals. He is also in favor of discussing this at a public hearing. Commissioner Kutz requested, in the future, the opportunity to see all of the details of an ordinance before there is a request to advertise it. President Villone said he hears a lot of parking complaints from the residents of Arcona and he would like to keep all options open regarding parking.
Commissioner KUTZ moved to authorize staff to advertise the ordinance as long as Strong Road is removed from consideration. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion and the motion carried 3-2, with President Villone and Commissioner Black in opposition.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Land Partnership Fund for Fun Fort
Mrs. Trone spoke about a grant that the Township received from the Cumberland County Land Partnership Program toward the cost of restoration of the Fun Fort. Due to the COVID-19 shutdown, the Township was unable to remove and replace the Fun Fort in the time allotted for the grant. The County has offered to extend the date that the grant can be used into next year and Mrs. Trone feels confident that the work can be completed. She is seeking permission to approve an addendum that would extend the grant.
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the addendum to the Cumberland County Land Partnership Grant and Vice President BLACK seconded it. Motion carried 5-0.
Zoning Hearing Board Report
Mr. Eby provided an update from the Zoning Hearing Board meeting on November 15th.
Docket #2020-06: A special exception was granted for Chong H. Kim, 5215 Eton Place, to have a hair salon in a single family dwelling including a sign not in excess of 6 square feet. Applicant will have to provide for water used to be separately metered.
Docket #2020-07: A variance request from Section 220-23 was granted for a swimming pool and small pool building at 3422 Canyon Creek. This will exceed the maximum 30% of impervious coverage allowed in the R-2 (rural residential) district. The homeowner is planning to mitigate stormwater by installing an acceptable BMP. Commissioner Kutz asked why there are differences in impervious coverage for different neighborhoods and Mr. Eby said it is based on what the houses are built on and whether they have well water or not.
Building Resilient Community Application
Mrs. Trone spoke about a grant from FEMA for electronic services for executing building codes. She explained that difficulty that existed during the COVID-19 shutdown when the plans and permits are in the office, but the public was unable to come in. This program would allow for online plan review and virtual inspection. The grant would provide $45,000 toward the electronic services, or 75%. The Township would need to come up with the remaining 25%, or $11,000. She said that time of notice is 2021 and it could be budgeted for in 2022. The Board was in favor of Mrs. Trone applying for this grant.
MANAGER
Appointments to Boards and Commissions
Mr. Vernau said that everyone who was contacted about being reappointed to Township boards and commissions has accepted the reappointments. They will be formally appointed at the last meeting in December and may be sworn in at that time or prior to being seated for their board or commission meeting.
Municipal Recycling Program Performance Grant Application
Mr. Vernau informed the Board that the Township has applied for the Section 904 Municipal Recycling Program Performance Grant. It is based on how much is recycled and 55 more tons were collected in 2019 than in 2018. The Township may be receiving additional grant money for this.
Health Insurance Renewal Summary
Mr. Vernau provided a PowerPoint update on the Township health insurance renewal. He said that rates are based on increases in prescription and health costs, deductibles, and how the Township has done in the past 18 months. He pointed out that claims in 2019 were less than 90% of what was anticipated and in 2020 were 75.2% of expected. This has resulted in a surplus of $221,796 currently, although more claims will come in and reduce this. He said that the renewal for 2021 is less and rates will be decreasing by 1.3%. Mr. Vernau gave an overview of where the Township falls compared to other municipalities in the Trust as far as out-of-pocket expenses. He said that typically surpluses go to help with post-employment health coverage for Police or toward reducing employee co-pays. President Villone asked when the refund could be expected, and Mr. Grove said usually mid-year.
President Villone announced that the meeting would recess to Executive Session following Commissioner Reports. The Board would reconvene to take action on an item.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
Mr. Vernau spoke about meeting with Chief Murdoch and discussing apparatus price increases which are anticipated to be 5% per year. Money in the Fire Fund will allow for purchase of the chassis around June. The remaining cost will be covered with a loan from the General Fund at 3% for 2 years. Money budgeted for this in 2023 will be used to repay the loan. Mr. Vernau said this item will be in the upcoming budget meeting.
Commissioner Schin asked Mr. Flint if he knew what the large poles and cables are that are going up behind Rossmoyne Manor. Mr. Flint said that it is being done by PP&L. Commissioner Schin also spoke about a letter from a resident regarding dog licenses thanking the Township for issuing them. Mr. Vernau said that the Tax Collector does that and keeps the commission.
Commissioner Kutz thanked Public Safety for the masks they provided. He also said he had visited more small businesses in the Township including Blaze Pizza and Harvest. He enjoys getting to know small businesses and finding out how the Township can help support them. He also spoke about participating in the cornhole tournament benefiting Cedar Cliff Baseball.
Mr. Miner noted that he would not be in attendance at the November 23rd meeting, but Ms. Trimmer would be filling in.
Mrs. Trone said that she has submitted the application to PennDOT for the Multimodal grant and will be advertising soon for a design consultant for the Gettysburg Road Corridor study.
Mr. Eby spoke about the Yellow Breeches Watershed Association hosting a virtual annual gathering on November 19th from 6:30 to 8pm. He said it will focus on stormwater management with guest speakers Becky Davis and Shawn Fabian.
Captain Crone said that Coffee with a Cop is resuming November 17th at 8 am. He also noted that the patches from the Pink Patch project are still available, all benefiting Pink Hands of Hope.
President Villone expressed his appreciation for the new masks. He mentioned signs that have appeared in the right-of-way with a pedestrian and a car showing 4 feet in between. Captain Crone said that he also saw them and they are for reminding drivers to leave 4 feet of space for bicycles. He is not sure who put them up. President Villone mentioned seeing a lot more pedestrian and bike travel since COVID-19. He also spoke about meeting some Upper Allen residents at Arcona this past weekend visiting the businesses. He said that they commented on how nice it would be to have a way to easily cross into Lower Allen Township. He also had spoken with an Upper Allen Township Commissioner at the ribbon cutting ceremony and feels it would be worth initiating another discussion with them about connectivity. Mrs. Trone noted that Upper Allen has sent a letter of support for the bridge grant.
RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners recessed at 8:14 pm to discuss 2021 pay increases and the tax appeal by Courtyard by Marriott.
RECONVENE
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners reconvened at 8:56 pm.
Commissioner HOLTZMAN moved to authorize the Solicitor to intervene in the tax appeal filed by the Courtyard by Marriott at 4921 Gettysburg Road. Commission SCHIN seconded the motion and the motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 8:57 pm.