MINUTES OF NOCKAMIXON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS NOVEMBER 17, 2010 Theregular scheduled meeting for November was held on November 17, 2010 in the Township building in Ferndale, PA. Chair, N. Janyszeski, opened the meeting at 7:35 P.M. with a salute to the flag. Other members present: Vice-Chair B. Keyser and Supervisors, A. Santopietro, C. Bahnck and Wm. Sadow. Also in attendance: Secretary, A. Eichlin and Treasurer, K. DeLuca.
SCHEDULING: Chair, N. Janyszeski, reviewed the schedule. A. Eichlin commented that the December Open Space Meeting will be held Tuesday, December 14, 2010 @ 7:00 P.M.
MINUTES OF MEETING: -A motion was made by A. Santopietro, seconded by B. Keyser, to approve the October 20, 2010 minutes as presented. The motion carried 5-0-0.
-A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by C. Bahnck, to approve the September 30, 2010 minutes with the following correction: the word ‘heath’ should be ‘health’. The motion carried 5-0-0
-A motion was made by Wm. Sadow, seconded by C. Bahnck, to approve the October 28, 2010 minutes as presented. The motion carried 5-0-0
PUBLIC COMMENT: There was no public comment.
-The Board of Supervisors met in Executive Session from 7:00-7:30 P.M. to discuss Real Estate, Litigation and Personnel.
REQUEST TO BE ON AGENDA: a. John Brunner – Appalachian Mountain Club - PA Highlands Trail Network – John Brunner, Mid-Atlantic Recreation Planner, discussed the Pa Highlands Trail Network. He presented the Board with a poster and maps of the Highlands. The Highlands extend from Reading, PA to Connecticut and there is currently a 130-mile trail from Storm King Mtn., New York through Northern New Jersey into Riegelsville, PA. Ultimately they would like to extend to the Maryland border and link to the Appalachian Trail. He is before the Board seeking a liaison from Nockamixon Township to serve on the steering committee. A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by B. Keyser, to appoint Shirley Bonsall as the Nockamixon liaison to the PA Highlands Appalachian Mountain Club. The motion carried 5-0-0. The Board thanked Mr. Brunner for his presentation.
b. Melissa Schmidt – Church Lane Storm Water Runoff Issue – Melissa Schmidt discussed the storm water management problem at her residence on Church Lane. Maps and pictures were given to the Board for review. Water comes down her driveway from both sides of Church Lane and has damaged the driveway and retaining wall. She asked the Township to consider sealing the pipe and re-routing the water into the ditch on the south side of Church Lane. She would like to work with the Township on solving this problem. A neighbor, Al Weisberg, voiced similar concerns. It was the consensus of the Board to have the Township Engineer review the problem.
STAFF REPORTS:
-A motion was made by A. Santopietro, seconded by Wm. Sadow, to approve the October 2010 Road Report as presented. The motion carried 5-0-0.
b. Treasurer’s Report: Keith DeLuca gave the Report to the Board. -The Federal Tax Payment System is going paperless effective December 1, 2010. Rather than take a check and coupon to the bank every pay period as was done in the past, funds will be directly transferred from our checking account to the Treasury. He requested the Boards authorization to set this up. A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by C. Bahnck, to authorize the Township Treasurer to set up an account with First Savings Bank to make payments through the Federal Tax Payment System. The motion carried 5-0-0. -He is in the process of applying for two grants from PennDOT. One to convert conventional traffic signal lights to LED and the second to replace guide rails on Township Bridges. The application is due November 30, 2010. -The renewal period for the existing health insurance plan is approaching. At the last work session the Board decided to change health insurance providers to Delaware Valley Health Insurance Trust. The application process takes about four months. He recommended that the Township accept the renewal rates from the current provider and when the application is complete, switch providers. -Attached to this report is a quote from Champion Energy Services. This is available to the Township as part of a piggyback provision in Bucks County’s electric contract. As the Board will notice the savings are quite substantial. He requested approval to pursue. -As of October 31 st, the Township year-to-date expenses are down 8% as opposed to this time last year and it is reasonable to believe that the trend will continue through the end of the year. That combined with a balanced budget for 2011 is a real positive for the Township approaching the New Year. -For the billing period of October 4 to October 29, 2010, the Zoning Officer/Building Inspector collected $3,311.00 in permit fees, while billing the Township $6,050.00 for their services. Year-to-date fees collected $30,933.25, with $60,724.00 billed to the Township. -Included on this month’s bill list is the annual renewal for the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $225.00. Does the Board wish to renew? The Board approved the annual renewal for the U.B. Chamber of Commerce. The Township’s current health insurance is purchased through the Chamber. -Escrow funds being released tonight: Hugh Lapsley/Sue Scarborough-Reshetar, $500.00. -Fire and EMS Tax distribution this month totaled $411.33 -Total bills being presented tonight: General Fund, $27,581.72; Fire & EMS Tax Distribution $411.33; State Fund, $4,765.84 and Escrow Fund, $2,457.67. -Transfers requested; $92.00 from the Recreation Fund to the General Fund. -A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by A. Santopietro, to approve the November 2010 Treasurer’s Report, as presented. The motion carried 5-0-0. -A motion was made by Wm. Sadow, seconded by C. Bahnck, to approve the November 2010 Bill List as presented. The motion carried 5-0-0. -A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by Wm. Sadow, to release the $500.00 escrow for Hugh Lapsley/Sue Scarborough/Reshetar. The motion carried 5-0-0. -A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by C. Bahnck, to transfer $92.00 from the Park & Recreation fund to the General Fund. The motion carried 5-0-0.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT: No report.
SUBDIVISIONS: a. Lentz Lot-Line Adjustment – Lake Warren & Lonely Cottage Road TMP# 30-13-4 & 30-13-4-9 – Preliminary/Final – BCPC Ltr 10/22/2010; Wynn Ltr 10/27/10 & 11/05/10. Scott Mease, Mease Engineering, was in attendance as well as the applicant, Robert Lentz. The applicant has proposed the conveyance of .6 acre from TMP# 30-13-4 to TMP# 30-13-4-9. No construction or development is proposed. When asked, Mr. Mease commented that the applicant will comply with all items conditions on the Wynn Assoc. letter of October 27, 2010. A motion was made by C. Bahnck, seconded by A. Santopietro, to approve the lot-line adjustment for the Lentz Property on Lake Warren & Lonely Cottage Road TMP# 30-13-4 and 30-13-4-9 and will meet all conditions in the Wynn Assoc letter of October 27, 2010. The motion carried 5-0-0.
b. Geehring Lot-Line Adjustment – 103 Traugers Crossing Road – TMP# 30-4-47 & 30-4-47-7 – Preliminary/Final – BCPC Ltr 10/22/2010, Wynn Ltr 10/22/10 and 11/05/10. Dennis Litzenberger, Professional Land Surveyor, was in attendance as well as the applicant, Michael Geehring. Both of the properties, TMP# 30-4-47 & 30-4-47-7 are owned by the applicant. No new development or construction is proposed. He is changing the existing set back on TMP# 30-4-47-7 to conform with the zoning ordinance. A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by Wm. Sadow, to approve the Geehring lot-line adjustment for TMP# 30-4-47 & 3-4-47-7 and will meet all conditions in the Wynn Assoc. letter of October 22, 2010 and November 5 2010. The motion carried 5-0-0.
LAND DEVELOPMENT:
OLD BUSINESS: a. Executive Session held Thursday, October 27, 2010 – Personnel – An Executive Session was held at the Nockamixon Township Building from 7:30-9:30 P.M. to discuss personnel. NEW BUSINESS: a. 2011 Budget – Approve and Advertise for Public Inspection – A motion was made by Wm. Sadow, seconded by A. Santopietro, to approve and advertise the 2011 Nockamixon Township Budget as written. The motion carried 5-0-0. It was noted that the budget will be available for inspection at the Township office.
b. 2011 General Township Purposes Tax – Resolution # 11-17-2010 – A motion was made by N. Janyszeski, seconded by C. Bahnck, to approve Resolution #11-17-2010 that reduces the tax levy for General Township purposes by .5 mills. The motion carried 5-0-0. The tax reduction will take effect in the year 2011.
c. Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce – Primary Contact – A motion was made by A. Santopietro, seconded by B. Keyser, to appoint the Chair, Nancy Janyszeski, primary contact for the Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce. The motion carried 5-0-0.
COMMITTEE REPORTS: a. Zoning Report –C. Clayton, Zoning Officer, was not in attendance. – The Board discussed the request for waiver of fees for Hidden Valley. Chair, N. Janyszeski commented that the Township does not have an application for a permit because there were contingencies to make that application. A motion was made by C. Bahnck, seconded by Wm. Sadow, to approve the Zoning Report, except for the waiver of fees for the Hidden Valley permit, until additional information is received. The motion carried 5-0-0.
b. Emergency Management – N. Janyszeski, liaison, commented that Emergency Management Coordinator T. Macfarlan has assured the Board that the current radios are capable of being updated.
c.Environmental Advisory Committee – J. Petersen, Co-chair, attended the meeting. The liaison, B. Keyser, addressed several action items including, but not limited to: a request for copies of the application/plans for Conditional Use hearings in order to comment/review environmental issues. – has/will an Environmental Impact Study for Hidden Valley site been conducted and ongoing work at the Cabot site.
d. BNT Ground Water Committee – S. Donovan and T. Stone attended the meeting. The Board of Supervisors will be attending their November 18, 2010 meeting at the Bridgeton Township building.
e. Open Space Committee – There were no action items.
f. Park & Recreation Committee – There were no action items.
g. Nockamixon Historic Commission – There were no action items.
A reminder to the Committees: approval is required prior to spending monies.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion was made by A. Santopietro, seconded by B. Keyser, to adjourn the Board of Supervisors meeting at 8:55 P.M. The motion carried 5-0-0
Respectfully Submitted,
Arlene E. Eichlin Recording Secretary |