Development Authority
4-19-2021 Minutes
MINUTES
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP
REGULAR MEETING APRIL 19, 2021
The following were in ATTENDANCE:
AUTHORITY MEMBERS TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL
Max Stoner, Chairman Erin Trone, Township Assistant Manager
H. Edward Black, Vice Chairman Mary Ellen Banks, Recording Secretary
John Eby, Secretary Thomas Vernau, Township Manager
Salvatore F. Marone, Treasurer Steven Miner, Solicitor
Due to COVID-19 this meeting is being held virtually as permitted by law during this emergency. The link to the meeting registration will be made available at 4PM on February 16, 2020 on the Lower Allen Township website and on its Facebook page. This meeting is being recorded. The recording will also be made available on the website.
Max Stoner, Chairman called the meeting of the Lower Allen Township Development Authority to order at 6:00pm and announced Proof of Publication was available for review.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF MARCH 15, 2021
Mr. EBY made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 15, 2021. Mr. MARONE seconded the motion. Motion carried, 3-0.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
ACTION: APPROVE CONTRACT WITH EASTERN PCM FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FOR THE LOWER ALLEN COMMONS SITE FOR $236,000.00
Solicitor Miner stated he received the contract and the only problem he saw was on page 16, where arbitration rather than litigation was checked 8.2.4. Mrs. Trone explained she had informed Mr. Morgan of this prior to the meeting. Mr. Morgan explained they will uncheck the arbitration box; they will modify the contract and re-issue.
Mr. Black joined the meeting at this point.
Mr. EBY made a motion approve contract with Eastern PCM for construction management for the Lower Allen Commons site for $236,000.00 subject to the revision requested by the solicitor to change “arbitration” to “litigation”. Mr. BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
Mr. Morgan reviewed the contract bids for the retail center; Contract 02, General Trades, Contract 03, Mechanical (HVAC/Plumbing), Contract 04, Electrical. The total of these three bids will be $2,284,005; York Excavating was $1,846,059 with a total of $4,130,064. The estimate at the end of last year was $4.3 million.
ACTION: AWARD BID FOR LOWER ALLEN COMMONS RETAIL CENTER: CONTRACT 02- GENERAL TRADES TO WAGMAN CONSTRUCTION INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,767,935.00
Mr. EBY made a motion to award bid for Lower Allen Commons retail center: contract 02- general trades to Wagman Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,767,935.00. Mr. MARONE seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
ACTION: AWARD BID FOR LOWER ALLEN COMMONS RETAIL CENTER: CONTRACT 03-MECHANICAL (HVAC/PLUMBING) TO AMES CONSTRUCTION, INC IN THE AMOUNT OF $179,150.00
Mr. EBY made a motion to award bid for Lower Allen Commons retail center: contract 03-mechanical (HVAC/plumbing) to Ames Construction, Inc. in the amount of $179,150.00. Mr. BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
ACTION: AWARD BID FOR LOWER ALLEN COMMONS RETAIL CENTER: CONTRACT 04- ELECTRICAL TO LEER ELECTRIC, INC. IN THE AMOUNT OF $336,920.00
Mr. Morgan explained on this item that the low bidder, WY Electric has withdrawn their bid at around 4:30 today; an email from them was forwarded to Mrs. Trone stating this fact. Mr. EBY made a motion to award bid for Lower Allen Commons retail center: contract 04- electrical to Leer Electric, Inc. in the amount of $336,920.00. Mr. MARONE seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
Mr. Morgan explained the documents require them to mobilize on or before May 1st. Greg Lamay informed the Board that York Excavating has been on-site and they already delivered pipe and other materials; they also have brought the building pad up to the sub-grade that is required; they are waiting on the underground sewer and sanitary and stormwater structures to be delivered before they do further excavation. They expect they will be back on site later this week to commence their excavation. At this point, they are ahead of schedule. There was a progress meeting last week and there are a small list of activities that are upcoming; they have submitted all of their materials so Mr. Lamay does not expect any delay.
ACTION: APPROVE THE 2020 990 TAX FILING
Mr. MARONE made a motion to approve the 2020 990 tax filing. Mr. EBY seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
ACTION: APPROVE THE 2020 IDA REPORT
Mr. MARONE made a motion to approve the 2020 IDA Report. Mr. BLACK seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0.
DISCUSSION: TOWNSHIP’S REQUEST FOR YETTER COURT PROPERTY DEED FOR SOLAR FARM
Thomas Vernau, Lower Allen Township Manager, joined the meeting at this time to discuss this request. He explained to the Board the Township is looking to convert the Township Buildings to solar for electric usage, primarily for the Township Building and the Public Works Building. In searching for likely places for the solar panels, the best options is to place them on the Public Works Building and across the street where the parcel is now that the Development Authority owns. This is just one option and Mr. Vernau would like to know how the Authority would feel about turning this parcel back over to the Township. Doing this, the Township would replace about 93% of the Township’s electricity usage which over a 30-year period would save the Township about $1.3 million. Mrs. Trone explained the history of this to the Board since the property was deeded to this Authority including the amount of money they have already spent since then. Mr. Vernau did explain also, without this property, the amount would go down to only 72% of electricity usage. Mr. Vernau is going to ask the company to give two proposals, using this property and also a proposal not using this property to compare numbers. Discussion ensued. The Board has tabled this for further discussion.
REMINDER: ETHICS FORMS TO BE RETURNED TO TOWNSHIP SECRETARY BY MAY 15, 2021.
RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Development Authority recessed into Executive Session to discuss real estate transactions and personnel matters @ 6:56pm:
- Review Offer for Unit 2
- Review LOI for Unit 3
- Review Lease for Unit 3
- Review Offer for Units 1 & 2
- Sunshine Law & Executive Session
RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING
The Regular Meeting of the Development Authority reconvened @7:48pm.
NEXT MEETING OF THE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
The next meeting of the Development Authority is scheduled for Monday May 17, 2021 at 6:00pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. EBY made a motion to adjourn. Mr. MARONE seconded the motion. Motion carried, 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:49pm.