MINUTES

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                                                                           LOWER ALLEN TOWNSHIP

REGULAR MEETING                                                               NOVEMBER 9, 2015

The following were in ATTENDANCE:

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS                                           TOWNSHIP PERSONNEL
H. Edward Black, President                                               Thomas G. Vernau Jr., Township Manager
Peddrick M. Young, Sr, Vice President                              Erin Trone, Assistant Township Manager
Lloyd W. Bucher                                                                Frank Williamson, Director of Public Safety
Richard Schin                                                                    Daniel Flint, Community Development
John T. Titzel                                                                    Richard Grove, Director of Finance
                                                                                         John Eby, Building and Zoning Coordinator
                                                                                         Steven P. Miner, Solicitor
                                                                                          Julie Echterling, Recording Secretary

 
President Black called the November 9, 2015 Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners to order at 7:00 pm followed by a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. He announced Proof of Publication was available for review.

APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES
Commissioner SCHIN moved to approve the minutes for the October 19, 2015 budget meeting. Commissioner TITZEL seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Vice President YOUNG moved to approve the minutes for the October 26, 2015 regular meeting. Commissioner BUCHER seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0-1. Commissioner Schin abstained, as he was absent from this meeting.

RESOLUTION 2015-R-32 – RED LAND LITTLE LEAGUE
Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve Resolution 2015-R-32, recognizing the players and coaches of Red Land Little League for winning the 2015 United States Little League Championship. Commissioner TITZEL seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION – RED LAND LITTLE LEAGUE
President Black read Resolution 2015-R-32 to the coach and players of Red Land Little League. The coach and players thanked the Board and community for their support. The coach and each player received a copy of the resolution.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: ANY ITEM ON THE AGENDA
There was no response.

CONSENT AGENDA
President Black advised that any Commissioner, staff member, or anyone in attendance could request any item on the Consent Agenda be removed for further discussion and asked if there was such request. There was no response.

Vice President YOUNG moved to approve the following Consent Agenda items:
     a. Resolution 2015-R-27, establishing an OPEB Integral Part Trust.
     b. Resolution 2015-R-28, establishing an OPEB funding policy.
     c. Resolution 2015-R-29, establishing an investment policy statement for the OPEB Trust.
     d. Resolution 2015-R-30, establishing an investment policy statement for the Volunteer Fire Service Award Program Trust.
     e. Resolution 2105-R-31, establishing Act 44 procurement procedures.
     f. Appointing Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC as the investment manager for the OPEB Trust.
     g. Community Development Report for the month of July.
     h. Executing a Revised Memorandum of Understanding with Charter Homes & Neighborhoods regarding road improvements in and                  around the Arcona development.
     i. Moving Scott Harbold from probationary to regular full-time employment status in the Public Works Department.

Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

PRESIDENT BLACK
Approval of Check Registers
Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve Check Register of October 30, 2015, in the amount of $731,627.96, and voided check for October 13, 2015, in the amount of $93.64. Commissioner TITZEL seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve a manual check for Black Landscaping for October 16, 2015, in the amount of $680.00. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0-1. President Black abstained as he is related to the owner of the business.

Conditional Use Docket No. 2015-01- Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Commissioner TITZEL made a motion to approve affirmative adjudication for Conditional Use Docket No. 2015-01, granting a conditional use permit to Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, to construct wireless communications facilities on a vacant lot in the 3600 block of Lisburn Road, Tax Parcel No. 13-11-272-010. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

ANY BUSINESS PERTINENT TO THE TOWNSHIP
There was no response.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Zoning Hearing Board Report.
Mr. Eby discussed Docket #2015-03, an application requesting a special exception to modify a lawfully existing non-conforming use in an R-1 district at 1603 Carlisle Road. The proposed business will continue the former country store theme, but will eliminate the second story apartment and use the second floor for commercial purposes. This is the former Country Patchwork store. Mr. Eby stated staff has reviewed the case and believe the Solicitor is not needed for the Hearing. The Board agreed.

Update on Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2015-02/Ordinance 2015-04
Mr. Eby provided the Board an update on the status of Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2015-02/Ordinance 2015-04, Wireless Communications Facilities regulations. He stated he has reviewed the comments from the County and would like to work with the Solicitor and the Cohen Group prior to submitting an amendment for review. He would like to cancel the Public Hearing for December 14th.

Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to cancel the scheduled Public Hearing on December 14th at 6pm for the Zoning Ordinance Amendment 2015-02/Ordinance 2015-04, Wireless Communications Facilities regulations. Commissioner BUCHER seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Petition by Triple Crown Corporation to abandon right-of-way along St. Johns Road.
Mr. Flint discussed the request from RJ Fisher on behalf of Triple Crown Corporation. He stated a public hearing can be held on December 14th at 6:30 pm if the Board is okay with the request and date.

Vice President YOUNG made a motion to approve a Public Hearing on December 14th at 6:30pm for the consideration of the petition by Triple Crown Corporation to abandon right-of-way along St. Johns Road. Commissioner SCHIN seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

MANAGER
Approving a signer to close on the AP Wireless cell tower lease assignment.
Mr. Vernau discussed the closing on the AP wireless cell tower lease assignment. He stated papers need to be signed upon closing. He asked the Board if they wanted to sign the papers or assign someone to sign them on behalf of the Township.

Commissioner SCHIN made a motion to approve Mr. Vernau, Township Manager, to sign the required papers for the closing on the AP Wireless cell tower lease assignment. Commissioner TITZEL seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Request by Penn Waste to distribute 64-gallon recycling carts.
Mr. Vernau discussed the request by Penn Waste to distribute 64-gallon recycling carts throughout the Township. Mrs. Trone showed the Board the proposed carts. Mr. Ed Ward, Penn Waste, discussed the advantages of the proposed recycling carts. He stated if a resident doesn’t want to use them, they may opt out of them as they did in the past. He stated a potential rollout of the end of December early January for the new carts. Discussion ensued.

Commissioner TITZEL made a motion to approve the proposed 64-gallon recycling carts for the Township. Vice President YOUNG seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

2016 Proposed Budget
Mr. Vernau stated, after the cuts discussed at the last budget meeting, the budget has a deficit of approximately $68,000. He stated one item is still open which is the medics and contract with Pinnacle. He stated the budget has the worst case scenario financially of hiring medics during the last quarter of 2016. He stated there are several things that can be discussed including health insurance, disaster recover, patrolmen, the comprehensive plan, and the third ambulance.

Commissioner Bucher stated he is in favor of adding the third ambulance with a cost of $34,000 to the budget to extend the life of the other two ambulances. Chief Williamson discussed the advantages of a third ambulance and the wear and tear on the current ambulances. He stated if something happened to one of the ambulances, it would take approximately 5-6 weeks to get a loaner in service. Commissioner Schin agrees with the third ambulance being added. Discussion ensued.

Mr. Vernau discussed the current fund balance and how it could cover the proposed budget deficit. He stated Mr. Grove and he would make adjustments to the budget and add back the third ambulance. They would provide an updated budget to the Board prior to the next meeting. Mr. Grove discussed the revenue growth which he feels has reached a peak and like all things is subject to economic changes. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Bucher stated he is fine with the current budget deficit. Commissioner Schin stated the deficit should not go over $68,000

COMMISSIONERS REPORTS
Commissioner Bucher believes they need to make a better effort on street cleaning and picking up the leaves this fall.

Chief Williamson discussed the annual Veteran’s Day activities with the VFW. He spoke about the grants submitted.

Mrs. Trone provided an update on the Police Storage Building.

President Black introduced Commissioner-elect Carolyn Holtzman.

ADJOURNMENT TO EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners adjourned to Executive Session at 8:10 pm to discuss the following item:

a. Chief of Police Vacancy