Board of Commissioners
1-11-21 Minutes
MINUTES
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 11, 2021
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
Carolyn Holtzman David Holl, Public Safety Director
Thomas H. Kutz Dan Flint, Public Works Coordinator
John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator
Leon Crone, Police Captain
Tony Deaven, EMS Captain
Steven P. Miner, Solicitor
Tina Thomas, Recording Secretary
President Villone called the December 28, 2020 Zoom Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 6:01 pm. He instructed any members from the public wishing to speak during the Zoom meeting to notify the hosts. President Villone expressed his condolences to those suffering from COVID-19 as well as those affected by the issues in Washington D.C. This was followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. He announced that Proof of Publication was available for review.
MEETING MINUTES
Vice President BLACK moved to approve the minutes from the December 28, 2020 Regular Meeting. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
LIEUTENANT PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY
President Villone explained that the ceremony would be taking place in Gorgas Hall with Captain Crone and MDJ Delozier being present. Mr. Holl said that Sergeant Douglas Foltz and Corporal Donald J Sentman were being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and that the Oath of Office would be administered by District Justice Delozier. Lieutenant Foltz was sworn in by DJ Delozier and he was congratulated by the Commissioners. Lieutenant Sentman was sworn in by DJ Delozier and was congratulated by the Commissioners as well.
EMPLOYEE RECOGNITIONS: Length of Service and Performance
President Villone presented a Performance Award to Facilities Manager Scot Emerson for going above and beyond the scope of his normal job duties. Scot worked with the consultants on the Bon Ton Project and at the same time worked on the Public Works Building addition. This saved the Township $56,000 in costs.
President Villone presented two Performance Awards to Aaron Duncan, who is a mechanic in the Fleet Maintenance Department. Mr. Duncan used innovation to save the Township money by creating a rear step for the new prisoner transport van for the police department. Mr. Duncan also replaced a blown engine in a police car, saving the Township money in repairs.
President Villone recognized Officer Laura Tamanosky and Officer Torrie Shiley for five years of service, Robert Hamsher of the facilities department for ten years of service, and Officer Katie Justh for fifteen years of service.
AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Any item on the agenda.
Bruce Seagrist wishes to speak on item 9b, Zoning Map Amendment Application for 701 Belmont Street.
PRESIDENT VILLONE
Check Register
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the Check Register of December 31, 2020 in the amount of
$137,298.42. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion and the motion carried 5-0.
Retirement of the Township Engineer Dan Flint
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the retirement of Township Engineer and Public Works Director Daniel J. Flint, effective April 30, 2021 with his regards. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion with regret and the motion carried 5-0. President Villone thanked Mr. Flint for his years of service.
Resolution 2021-R-01: Hiring of a fulltime EMT.
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the hiring of EMT Jacob Meyer for a full-time position in the Public Safety Department. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion. Director Holl noted that this is a replacement position and one more position remains to be filled. Motion carried 5-0.
ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP:
There was none.
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Resolution 2021-R-04: County Hazard Mitigation Plan
Mrs. Trone spoke about Cumberland County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. She said the County looks at factors like population, weather, buildings, and natural hazards. They use the information to create a risk assessment to help with planning. She said this is different from an emergency response plan which comes after a disaster has already happened. Mrs. Trone noted that the plan is updated every five years and it was last adopted in 2014. She added that each municipality must adopt the plan to be eligible for grants. Mr. Holl said that the Township has been involved from the early stages and has had input in the plan. He added that if there are disasters, mitigation funds are available only if the plan has been adopted.
Commissioner SCHIN moved to adopt Resolution 2021-R-04 and Vice President BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Ordinance 2021-02: Zoning Map Amendment Application
Mr. Vernau noted that in addition to Mr. Seagrist, Christine Hunter was in attendance, representing the plan. Mr. Seagrist, 5225 Wilson Lane, spoke first on Ordinance 2021-02 Zoning map amendment for 701 Belmont Street. He expressed his concerns that Belmont Avenue is a narrow lane, with no parking, no curbs, and in poor repair. He added that there is only room for one car at a time to pass through. Mr. Seagrist does not feel that the blighted house is reason to rezone the property and he would like the property owner to be held accountable for letting the house become blighted. He said that the area is currently a family friendly neighborhood of single-family homes and that R-3 zoning would have a negative affect on this. He also has concerns about maneuverability for fire trucks, emergency equipment, and garbage trucks on this street. Mr. Seagrist said that the equitable owner will gain profit by putting six units in this lot and he does not feel that the property owner should be rewarded by rezoning this area. He had the following recommendations for the Township: improve neighborhood streets, reject the rezoning requests, hold the property owner accountable, and wait until someone can build a single-family home on this location. President Villone thanked him for his participation.
Mr. Eby said that the Township did not initiate any zoning request, but it was the request of the equitable owner. He said that the property owner agrees. He said that there is no record of complaints against the blighted property to the Township. Mr. Eby added that the Township is in the process of updating the list of blighted properties in Lower Allen Township. He referred to the memo he had provided which summarized the public hearing. He provided the following options to the Board: leave the item on the table as there is no time limit for action or deliberate until a consensus for action is reached. Mr. Eby noted that if a consensus for action is reached, the Solicitor can be authorized to prepare an adjudication which is then adopted, and the ordinance voted on at a future meeting.
Commissioner Schin said he agrees with Mr. Seagrist on the character of the neighborhood. He pointed out that there is a single home directly across the street from where the apartments would be going. He is in favor of the Township working on improving Harrisburg Manor and involving the current residents. He said that the answer to a blighted property is not to re-zone so that a developer makes money on the property.
President Villone asked if the Township has sent notice to the property owner regarding its condition in the past and Mr. Eby said that they are looking into listing it as a blighted property. He said property inspectors will be looking at it.
Commissioner Kutz asked why a variance was not requested. Ms. Christine Hunter, representing the applicant, replied that requesting a variance is different than requesting re-zoning. She said that the variance would be used if the property owner was claiming hardship. Ms. Hunter said that the property at 701 Belmont is located in a mixed area of other multi-family units and single-family homes. She said that the property has been on the market for some time and there is a need for multi-unit housing. She added that the intersection of Linden and Belmont is wider than the rest of the street and their computer model showed fire trucks can access it. She said Township staff suggested accessing the property from Linden Street by way of a paper street that can be opened. Commissioner Kutz added that the infrastructure of Belmont St. is his concern and what the additional traffic would do the street. He asked Mr. Seagrist if the alternate access were developed off of Windsor Place if that would alleviate some of the concern. Mr. Seagrist said that it won’t change the fact that the multi-unit structure will still be amongst single-family homes. Mr. Eby said that that there are no Township rights-of-way in Windsor Place because the subdivision was laid out in 1925. He said that any property owner who lives in Harrisburg Manor can develop a paper street. He added that the Township would not be investing money in doing this. In response to Mr. Seagrist’s question, Mr. Miner said that anyone can use the paper street once it is developed.
President Villone asked about the reference to the County’s Comprehensive Plan and if it is a possibility that the County would prefer for the Township in the future to improve this neighborhood. Mrs. Trone replied that the County would like to see denser housing and less blight, but they would not push local government to re-zone. Mr. Miner said action is not necessary tonight.
Commissioner SCHIN moved to authorize the Solicitor to create an adjudication in the negative. Commissioner HOLTZMAN seconded the motion.
Arno Lower joined the conversation on Zoom. He said that the residents of Harrisburg Manor did not receive any letters regarding the rezoning and were unaware until they saw the sign. He asked if Windsor Place were extended if that would be the only access to the multi-unit housing or if they could use Belmont as well. He noted that the Township is not planning to improve the streets in that area for three years even though there will be more traffic. He also asked if anything is going to be done about Maple Avenue.
Commissioner Kutz said he continues to have concerns regarding substandard roads and lack of infrastructure, creating an R-3 zone in the middle of single-family residential neighborhood. He does not feel that they are located close enough to other multi-family units to justify that being a reason. He also is in favor of voting for the negative adjudication.
Commissioner Black said that he will be abstaining from discussion and voting due to his firm being involved in designing the project. He said they felt it was a good way for private money to make an improvement in the neighborhood.
Mr. Miner said he will try to have the adjudication ready in time for the next BOC meeting for a vote.
Motion carried 4-0 with President Black abstaining.
Request to Waive Fees for Construction of Pad #3 in Lower Allen Commons
Mrs. Trone said that this project is the specialty grocery store which is 17,500 square feet. The fees she is requesting waiving are associated with the building permit and zoning and UCC permit fee. She said this would total $18,239.90. Mrs. Trone said that fees are typically waived for development if it is going to benefit the Township on behalf of the Development Authority. Commissioner KUTZ moved to table the item at this time because a memo discussing this was not provided. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. The motion failed 2-3, with Commissioners Schin, Holtzman and Black in opposition.
Commissioner Schin said that this was waiving fees for a builder, but Mrs. Trone said that the Development Authority is trying to redevelop an area in agreement with the Township’s vision and the Authority is paying the fees. Mrs. Trone said action is not required on this tonight. She anticipates the plans coming in by the end of the month. Staff will not review the permit without payment. President Villone suggested postponing the motion until the Board can resolve their questions. There was no further action.
MANAGER
Resolution 2021-R-02: Disposal of Personal Property
Mr. Vernau referred to a memo listing surplus Township property valued over $2,000 that staff would like to dispose of. Since Lower Allen is a First Class Township, a resolution is needed to do this. Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve Resolution 2021-R_02, Disposal of Personal Property over $2,000 in value. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion and the motion carried 5-0.
Resolution 2021-R-03: Petition to the PLCB for Continued Local Noise Enforcement
Mr. Vernau spoke about the need to renew the Township’s permit from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board to do its own noise enforcement on liquor license holding establishments. It is expiring in 2021. He said that the Police Captain and Public Safety Director are in favor of this. He said that the Township was asked to do this by the restaurant owners in past years. It is fairer for the businesses to be held to Township Ordinance. Mr. Vernau said that if the Resolution is passed by the Commissioners, the Solicitor will petition the PLCB and a hearing will be held with the PLCB. Then the PLCB will inform the Township of their decision.
Commissioner KUTZ moved to approve Resolution 2021-R-03 to petition the PLCB to continue local noise enforcement of liquor licensed restaurants in Lower Allen Township. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion and the motion carried 5-0.
Hiring of a Part-Time Clerk
Mr. Vernau spoke about a request to hire a part-time employee to help the stormwater program manager with collections as well as the finance department. He noted that the salary cost would be split 50/50, coming from stormwater fees and the general fund software budget. Commissioner Schin said that the Stormwater Board is in favor of this but recommended a higher salary in order to attract better candidates. Mr. Vernau said that the starting salary for this position per the last salary survey is $14.41 per hour. President Villone wanted to be sure the stormwater fee will cover this because he would not want to see the fee raised. Mr. Vernau said a resolution is not needed for part-time employees and he just needs a consensus to move forward. The Commissioners are in favor of this.
COMMISSIONER REPORTS
President Villone thanked everyone and staff for their hard work. He spoke about swearing in the leadership of the Lisburn Fire Company. He appreciates the dedication of the fire service and volunteers of the fire company and said they are working hard to make up for last year’s shortfall due to COVID-19. He also expressed his condolences to Mr. Eby at the loss of his mother.
Mr. Flint thanked the Board for the action they took earlier in the meeting on his behalf.
Mrs. Trone said that the CED Department is implementing new software and the staff will all be in training on how to use it.
Mr. Eby said that the next BOC meeting is January 25th and there is a public meeting at 5pm regarding a zoning amendment.
Captain Deaven thanked everyone for their support.
Mr. Vernau spoke about Lisburn’s virtual New Year’s Eve on YouTube where they conducted the traditional lowering of the Baby Breechie at 10 pm and Breechie at midnight.
Mr. Holl thanked the Board for their support. He said they are now going to advertise to replace a fulltime PSO position. This was already approved but delayed due to COVID-19. They would like to hire from current part-time PSOs if possible.
Mr. Grove thanked the Board for their decision regarding Mr. Flint’s retirement.
Mr. Emerson thanked the Board for the letter and support.
Vice President Black spoke about a letter he received showing that the Township has been awarded the Growing Green grant by DEP.
Commissioner Kutz congratulated the two new Lieutenants and thanked everyone for the good discussion held tonight.
Commissioner Schin spoke about looking into being a Commissioner 36 years ago. He spoke about the various positions he has held over the years as a Township Commission. Commissioner Schin added that he will not be running for re-election in 2021. The Commissioners and staff thanked Mr. Schin for his service.
Captain Crone said that Officer Lightner started today with the Police Department. He thanked the Board for their support in staffing the department.
President Villone thanked the members of the public, staff, and Commissioners for participating in tonight’s meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned at 8:20 pm.