PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING
A regular meeting of
the Palmer Township
2. APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT
OF FUNDS –
INFORMATION
The reports will be provided at the meeting.
DISCUSSION
On
motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the
disbursement of funds for
3. APPROVAL
OF MINUTES –
DISCUSSION
On
motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the
minutes of
4. VILLAGES
AT MILL RACE, BRIDGE 62 DISCUSSION
INFORMATION
Steve Goffredo has requested permission to update the Board on this matter.
DISCUSSION
Steve Goffredo and Attorney Charlesworth
were present. Goffredo said one section
of the concrete bridge is being poured on Wednesday and the development is
complete. Goffredo said the Penndot road
widening is complete on the
Colver asked who gives the blessing. Goffredo said Penndot is first and then the
county. Goffredo said there are no
issues with Penndot. Colver said the
last time they were in front of the Board they left knowing the Board wouldn’t
authorize any certificate of occupancy permits until people were driving over
the bridge. Colver asked where they
stood if the bridge isn’t opened in 14 days.
Goffredo said it was his understanding that the Board said it needed to
be substantially complete. Colver said
we said completed and people driving over the bridge. Goffredo said we had some circumstances that
delayed Penndot like Hurricane Ivan and the high waters. Colver asked if they would be able to pour
this week with the weather. Goffredo
said they have been using heaters and blankets to maintain the appropriate
heat.
Adams, Director of Public Services, said
last week he spoke with Jim Potter, the county permit supervisor for Penndot,
and he mentioned some outstanding issues; 1-completion on some items, 2-pending
litigation, and 3-the design of the left turn lane since it was eliminated may
have some sight distance issues.
Goffredo said the left turn lane was eliminated to resolve the
litigation issue. Dillman said on the
bottom of the Penndot permit there is a sign off that Penndot will have to
sign. Dillman said the township needs to
have a copy of that signed permit for the township file. Dillman added it’s Penndot’s sign off of the
project.
Colver asked what the timing issue was in
the next few weeks for the developer.
Goffredo said they are looking at closing dates of January 25, 26, and
27. Lammi asked the solicitor if the
litigation was filed is it possible they could get a court order to not use the
bridge. Goffredo said the resident used
to have a stone apron and now it is blacktop and she’s disagreeing with the
additional easement. Bruno asked who was
named in the litigation. Goffredo said
he doesn’t believe its actually been filed.
Dillman said he has to believe, since all this work has been completed
in the right of way, that she was just contesting it. Lammi asked what happens if she moves forward
with litigation. Charlesworth said she’s
only challenging the use of the right of way.
Bruno said an injunction would need to be requested by her.
Colver asked what the final number was for
the certificate of occupancy permits.
Goffredo said they needed five units by the end of January. Colver said the initial amount approved in
Phase 1 and 2 was 181 and you’re currently at 170. Lammi said they’ve dealt with the flood and
these types of things are out of their control.
Lammi said he didn’t think the Board should say we don’t care, and that
he was okay with authorizing five certificate of occupancy permits for the end
of the month. Colver said we need to
continue to keep the pressure on until we can drive over that bridge. Panella said she can go along with the five
certificate of occupancy permits but she will continue to be on them to finish
the bridge. Colver also asked the
township to consider putting a weight limit on the bridge to reduce the amount
of traffic.
Lammi made a motion to authorized
certificate of occupancy permits for five units in Phases 2 and 3 of Villages
at Mill Race; any further certificate of occupancy permit requests need to come
back before the
Goffredo asked if the bridge is opened if
they still need to come back before the Board.
Bruno said if the bridge isn’t done the township will be asking them to
post security to insure it gets done.
Colver said the initial approval was for 180 units. Bruno asked if the Board wanted to revisit at
a later date. Charlesworth said we’re
shy of the 180 units by 12. Bruno said
that was for Phases 1 and 2. Smith said
he would like to see Phase 1 and 2 stay as is, and grant the additional five
for Phase 3, any more requests need to come back to the Board. Colver said the maximum number is 180.
Lammi amended his motion so that it would
be a motion to authorize the issuance of additional certificates of occupancy
permits within Villages at Mill Race Phases I, II, and III up to an amount
which does not cause the total aggregate number of certificate of occupancy
permits issued for said three phases to exceed 180; any further requests for
additional certificate of occupancy permits above the 180 figure while the
bridge remains unopened for public use will need to come back before the
5. WHITE
FENCE REQUEST
INFORMATION
Marty White will be present to request permission to place a fence in a drainage easement.
DISCUSSION
White said he bought his house in Mill Race and between him and his neighbors property there is a large drainage easement. White said he and his neighbor would like to put a vinyl fence on their properties. White said Mr. Adams suggested he move the fence in five feet and if he moved it in five feet and his neighbor moved his in five feet it would be a total of ten feet. White said they went through Hurricane Ivan and there were no water drainage issues on the properties with all that rain. White said he didn’t believe the fence would impede the water flow. The Board reviewed photo’s of the property.
On
motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved
Marty White’s fence request for
6. DISCUSSION
REGARDING BASEMENT EGRESS
INFORMATION
Jim Raudenbush will be present to discuss the possibility of implementing an ordinance regarding basement egress.
DISCUSSION
Raudenbush said the state made an amendment to the uniform construction code stating no permits are required unless electrical or plumbing is involved in basement renovations. Raudenbush said in the past we required an exit in case of fire. Raudenbush said the state allows us to require it by ordinance and that he researched on the web and saw that other municipalities have made changes through ordinances. Raudenbush said we can either pursue an ordinance or leave it as is by the state.
Colver said he discussed this with Jim last week and asked him to come tonight. Colver said he feels if there is habitable space in a basement there should be an egress. Lammi said he agreed. Colver said people who already have living space in their basements would be grandfathered. The Board agreed to proceed with drafting an ordinance. Raudenbush said they would have to draw up an ordinance listing the changes and submit it to labor and industry. Raudenbush will get the pertinent information to the Solicitor for him to compile the ordinance.
7. RESOLUTION
APPOINTING TOWNSHIP AUDITOR
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the resolution appointing Palmer and Company as the township auditor.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the resolution appointing Palmer and Company as the Township Auditor.
8. PLANNING MODULE
POSTCARD EXEMPTION FOR BANKO BEVERAGE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the planning module postcard exemption for Banko Beverage development project.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the planning module postcard exemption for Banko Beverage Development.
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
10. REPORTS
Manager
·
Anckaitis asked if all the Board members would
be attending the PSATS convention and Sunday evening dinner and everyone
replied that the would be attending both.
·
Anckaitis said he had received the application
for the Economic and Community Development block grants. Anckaitis said as in the past the township
has no projects that would qualify in the low to moderate income level.
Public Services Director
§
Supervisors
§ Colver said he received a request from the Salvation Army inquiring if anyone would be interested in serving on their Advisory Board. Panella took the information.
§ Colver had one real estate item for executive session.
Solicitor
·
Bruno asked the Public Services Director if the
Board should discuss a request from Sleepy’s for a temporary certificate of
occupancy permit.
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Hillcrest
Acres, Phase 2, Section 2, until
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Hillcrest
Acres, Phase 2, Section 3, until
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Hillcrest
Acres, Phase 2, Section 4, until
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Dunkin
Donuts, Route 248, until
·
Bruno said he had a modification from a previous
Easton Center LLC request that the Board needs to be aware of regarding their
financing. Bruno said they were
initially given until June 30 to complete their public improvements and the
letter of credit was through July 31.
Bruno said they can only get their letter of credit until
· Bruno had a subdivision maintenance agreement for Wolf’s Run, Phase 8. On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the subdivision maintenance agreement.
· Bruno had a maintenance agreement for the Netherland Bulb Company. On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to execute the maintenance agreement.
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Victoria
Place Inc., for
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for Selvaggio
Inc., for
· Bruno said he prepared the resolution regarding 100% Purses Inc., confirming the items discussed during their last presentation to the Board. Bruno said he would get copies of the resolution to the Board for them to review and act on at the next meeting.
· Bruno had six litigation items for executive session.
Lammi asked Bruno where we stood with the outstanding items regarding the school district. Bruno said the recreation item is completed and signed, and the hold harmless agreement he didn’t see a problem with it being completed by month end.
On motion by Panella, seconded by
Mitchell, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Anckaitis
Township Manager