Board of Commissioners
7-12-2021 Minutes

Posted on July 27, 2021
By Helen Grundon
In Board of Commissioners Minutes

MINUTES

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS	LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING	JULY 12, 2021

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS	TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL
Dean W. Villone, President	Thomas G. Vernau, Jr., Township Manager
H. Edward Black, Vice President	Richard A. Grove, Finance Director
Richard F. Schin	David Holl, Public Safety Director
Thomas H. Kutz	Brad McCullough, Public Works Director Steven Miner, Township Solicitor Leon Crone, Police Captain
	Tony Deaven, EMS Captain
	John M. Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator
	Michelle Kilgore, Recording Secretary

President Villone called the July 12, 2021 Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 6:00 PM. He noted that Commissioner Holtzman was absent with excuse and announced that Proof of Publication for this meeting was available for review. This was followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

MEETING MINUTES

Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the minutes from the June 28, 2021 Regular Meeting. Vice President BLACK seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-0.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Any item on the agenda.

President Villone advised the audience that if there were any item on that evening’s agenda that they wish to comment on, to please come to the podium. Chris Hoover stood from the audience to discuss item 9 from the agenda. After some discussion from the Board, it was decided to move Mr. Hoover’s comments to “Any Business Pertinent to the Township”.

Employee Recognition – Performance Award for Richard A. Grove

President Villone recognized Richard Grove, LAT’s Finance Director, for his work in assisting the Township’s defense counsel in a lawsuit filed against the Township. President Villone read a commendation letter to Mr. Grove and the Board.

CONSENT AGENDA

Items from the Consent Agenda:

a. Check Register of July 2, 2021 in the amount of $121,823.11.

b. Increasing Financial Security for SLD Docket No. 2018-03, Arcona Phase 2.3, from $315,423.63 to $346,965.99, and establishing a new expiration date of July 12, 2022.

President Villone advised any Commissioner, staff member, or anyone in attendance who would like to have an item on the Consent Agenda removed for further discussion should state their request at that time.

Commissioner KUTZ moved to approve all items on the Consent Agenda in its entirety. Vice President BLACK seconded. The motion carried 4-0.

PRESIDENT VILLONE

Motion to appoint Bradley McCullough as Township Floodplain Administrator and Margarita Warner and Rebecca Davis as Assistant Floodplain Administrators

Commissioner SCHIN offered the motion, and Vice-President BLACK seconded. The motion carried 4-0.

Motion to accept the Civil Service Commission’s recommendation of the Police Officer Eligibility List

Commissioner KUTZ offered the motion, and Commissioner SCHIN seconded. The motion carried 4-0.

ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP:

President Villone noted that if anyone wished to speak at that time, there would be 15 minutes allotted per person to speak at the podium.

Joseph Swartz, resident at 1706 Letchworth Drive, Camp Hill, 17011 came to the podium. He indicated he noticed a topic for the Executive Session agenda regarding a discussion of the Development Authority’s property on Yetter Court. Mr. Swartz stated he has been following previous discussion by the Development Authority and the Board of Commissioners (BOC) around a potential plan to use the property for solar panels, offsetting electric costs of LAT. He added that although he is not privy to the specific discussion to take place in Executive Session, he wanted to express his advocacy for using the property for solar energy. He asked that the BOC work with the Development Authority to develop the property to further the financial, environmental, and developmental goal of the Township as a whole. He summarized by asking the Board to consider developing on the other properties that were in the proposal, should the Yetter Court property not be deemed a good fit for development.

Doris Conway, resident of 708 Upland St (Harrisburg Manor), Mechanicsburg, 17055 came to the podium. President Villone presented a letter written to him by Ms. Conway. In that letter, Ms. Conway inquired as to why LAT Tax Collector Bonnie Miller does not pay rent to the Township for her office, as she is a private contractor. Further, she indicated that the tax office has been vacant for the last year and a half. Last, she asked the Board to consider renting the space to a party that would use it. President Villone stated that public discussions took place in the past, and that it was decided that if action were to be taken, there is a timeline that would need to be followed, to which, he added, the Township Solicitor would provide more insight. President Villone also stated that the Township previously chose to not burden the taxpayers by not having someone in the seat, and that the office vacancy had been due to the COVID restrictions. President Villone then deferred to Mr. Miner to discuss further. Mr. Miner clarified that in previous discussion, the Board had to make a decision by February 15^th due to it being an election year. He added that Ms. Miller’s compensation package at the time she was appointed included her office rental, and that the Board decided in late January or early February not to change it.

Ms. Conway pled that she does not understand why her tax dollars are paying for Ms. Miller’s office when her street cannot be black-topped, or therefore dedicated by the Township.

President Villone responded to Vice President Black’s suggestion that if the residents of Harrisburg Manor joined in an effort to have their streets dedicated, that there could be potential for the Township to assess paving, curbing and sidewalks. President Villone indicated he would be happy to facilitate a conversation with Harrisburg Manor’s residents, along with LAT staff and at least one other LAT commissioner. Commissioner Schin asked what specifically would be required to happen to get Upland Street dedicated. Mr. Vernau stated that there are three houses on that section of street, approximately 16 feet wide, and that 50 feet is required at today’s standard. He added that taking 34 feet of their properties would push the road to the owners’ front doors. Mr. Miner replied that because there are 3 homes on that part of the street with private right-of-way, all three property owners would need to petition to have the street transitioned to a public right-of-way. He added that he could not predict the outcome of such a petition, but that further discussion would be justified should such a petition be brought forward. Commissioner Schin asked if it would be possible for LAT to blacktop that section of Upland Street. Mr. Miner said that as long as the road is considered private right-of-way, he would not recommend it.

TOWNSHIP ENGINEER

SLD Docket No. 2021-04, Minor Final Subdivision Plan of 701 Belmont Street

Mr. McCullough explained that the purpose of the plan is to combine two parcels into one lot, and then sub-divide the consolidated lot into two lots to be used for residential purposes. The applicant is requesting five waivers, all of which were approved by the Planning Commission at their recent June 15 meeting. He noted that this is the subdivision plan, and that each lot will need stormwater management facilities which will be discussed in the future. The applicant requested these waivers based on the existing conditions of the neighborhood, and that if the Township develops that neighborhood in the future, needed changes to the property will be at the owner’s expense.

Commissioner Schin asked for clarification on Mr. McCullough’s comment stating that future improvements would be at the owner’s expense (versus the developer). Mr. McCullough responded that the liability falls on the owner because the Township cannot assume that the developer will still be in business. Commissioner Schin asked how large the property is. Mr. McCullough stated the building area is 1,520 square feet for each lot.

Commissioner Schin inquired as to what it would look like for the Township to begin an effort to retrofit older neighborhoods with wider roads so that they could meet the current day zoning standards. Commissioner Kutz suggested that such an effort could cause the property-fronts of residences to be reduced in size, but that it could be discussed in the future for instances where residents may not be opposed to the idea. Mr. McCullough agreed.

Mr. McCullough requested motions to approve each of the following:

Waiver of the requirement contained in Section 192-57.B(2)(h)[2] to provide additional right-of-way along Belmont Street.

Commissioner Schin asked for clarification on the waiver. Mr. McCullough stated the right-of-way width at this property is 40 feet, but the ordinance requires 50 feet.