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
Bruno added to the end of the sixth sentence of the last paragraph on page 1, “in the typical case.”
On motion by Lammi, seconded by
Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of
4. ARBOR DAY DISCUSSION
INFORMATION
Carl Edinger will be present to discuss Arbor Day activities with the Board.
DISCUSSION
Carl Edinger said the last time they held Arbor Day in the township was in 1967 when they planted the tree that is still in front of the old municipal building.
Edinger said they would like to hold
activities at both
Edinger said they
would have a speaker at each school; Deloris Mariello at Palmer, and Holly
Mueller at
Edinger said they would like to get funds from the township or any corporate sponsors. Colver asked if they would like this to become an annual occasion. Edinger said yes they would. Colver said if the Board is interested in supporting this event we should begin to budget funds annually to support it. Edinger said it will cost approximately $800 this year.
On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board agreed to approve $800 to support this year’s Arbor Day activities, and to begin to budget annually for this event.
5. ACT 192 DELINQUENT TAX COLLECTION
RESOLUTION
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the delinquent tax collection resolution.
DISCUSSION
Anckaitis said
this is a resolution that is required by Berkheimer to allow them to collect
these fees for the township. Anckaitis
said a resolution was never required before but there is something new in Act
192 that now makes this a requirement.
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by
Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the Act 192 delinquent tax
collection resolution.
6. ACT 167 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
ORDINANCE
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the Act 167 storm water management ordinance.
DISCUSSION
Bruno
said the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission in early February circulated a draft
ordinance they would like to see adopted which will guarantee compliance. Bruno said the Board has the draft version in
front of them. Bruno said the final
ordinance was reviewed by Pidcock. Bruno
said the LVPC has a deadline associated with the ordinance. Bruno said he would suggest this item be
tabled until he can review the comments he just received from The Pidcock
Company. Bruno said he would hope he
would have it completed by the next meeting date. Dillman said he’s
modeled it specifically for
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and
agreed by all, the Board approved the Act 167 Stormwater Management Ordinance
for portions of the Bushkill Creek Watershed and the Fry’s Run Study Area,
conditioned upon the final ordinance being satisfactory to the Township
Engineer and the Township Solicitor.
7. ROBERT AND STEPHANIE BELL – SANITARY
SEWER EASEMENT
INFORMATION
The Board needs to discuss Mr.
Bell’s request to be relieved from the obligation to maintain hazard insurance that
names the township as additional insured.
DISCUSSION
Bruno said this easement is not quite ready for approval. There is an issue that came up recently regarding naming the township as an additional insured. Bruno said he requested the insurance requirement and stated it needed to be updated on an annual basis. Bruno said Mr. Bell’s attorney has requested the hazard insurance requirement not be part of this agreement. Bruno said the Board needs to determine whether the liability requirement should or should not be waived. Bruno said he felt the township should be protected.
Colver
asked Mr. Bell for specifics. Mr. Bell said
his insurance company said they have never indemnified this type of thing and
that they cannot do it. Lammi said if
Mr. Bell was running a business and his waste was running into the sewers that
could be hazardous, but this is domestic waste and it’s not considered a
hazard. Lammi said since Mr. Bell can’t
get the insurance through his insurer, and there is no hazardous material
involved, I don’t see it as a risk.
Colver asked if it was only his property.
8.
INFORMATION
The Board needs to
approve/disapprove Kaare Birkeland’s request to allow
three additional tenants to open for business prior to completing the remaining
improvements on
DISCUSSION
Joe Posh, representing
the developer, said they met with Penndot last week and provided a schedule to
the township for road work. Posh said in
May they will begin the roadwork on 27th and
Colver said last time
they were here they had approval for Home Depot, Giant and the 20,000 square
foot retail building. Posh said the two
important tenants now are the bank and Dairy Queen that would like to open the
beginning of May. Mitchell asked if they
were going to trade square footage from the prior approval. Posh said basically. Mitchell asked if they wanted to open the
Dairy Queen, bank, and the retail space.
Posh said some of the businesses opening dates in the retail space slid
out. Dillman said the Chinese Restaurant
and the Cingular store won’t be open, which leaves you with the bank and the Dairy
Queen as two new spaces. Dillman said
the best way to address the traffic issue is to check with Penndot to make sure
they don’t oppose the opening of these two additional stores with the
improvements already in place.
Bruno asked Dillman if
he was recommending this Board only approve what Penndot will agree with. Dillman said that’s correct. Bruno said when the
Board approved the Giant opening you requested the letter of credit be extended
to
Colver asked what the
outlining businesses were going to be. Posh
said an Eckert, a WaWa, and a 9,000 square foot building
behind that. Colver said the improvements
needed are the widening of lanes in front of Weis Market, and the improvements
at 27th and
9. ESTATES AT NORTHWOOD STORM SEWER DISCUSSION
INFORMATION
Nick
Pugliese will be present to discuss storm water
issues.
DISCUSSION
Nick Pugliese was in attendance. Pugliese reviewed the design and size of the piping required. Pugliese said Pidcock recommended larger piping and now his price was $89,900 in addition to his initial pricing. Pugliese said he’s willing to spend his cost of $79,800. Pugliese said he pays his engineer to design, Pidcock to check his engineer’s design and then his engineer to redesign again, and Pidcock to recheck. Pugliese said he thinks Pidcock should engineer the job and save him the two engineering fees. Pugliese said he has no commitment from the supervisors on how much the township will spend on their portion of the storm sewer improvements.
Colver said
when this project first came to us there was a plan of you eliminating a storm
basin by using pipe to carry the storm water into the Northwood storm system to
Dillman said his
first recommendation was a detention basin.
Dillman said the problem is you can’t just release from a detention
basin to
Dillman said at this point we need to get a finished design of the system. Pugliese said he can have it designed, but he wasn’t willing to pay for Pidcock to check it over. Pugliese said he’s already checked it three times.
Colver asked the
Public Services Director about funds budgeted for storm water improvements in
the budget.
Bruno said he feels the Board can’t commit to the figures until the design is completed.
Colver said Pugliese is saying we should be paying for Pidcock to review his final plan, not him. Lammi said he recommends Pugliese has his engineer do the design as discussed with Pidcock, Pidcock will review it and then we’ll have to come up with a strategy on where you stop and we start. Colver asked if the Board felt comfortable with the significant cost to the township to do our portion. Bruno asked who’s paying for the review costs. Colver said Pugliese designs it as already discussed with Pidcock, it goes to Pidcock for review, and the township will pay for the township engineer review.
10. KUNKEL ATHLETIC COMPLEX RECREATION USE
EASEMENT AGREEMENT
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the recreation easement agreement.
DISCUSSION
Bruno
said this document was one of the conditions required of the school
district. Bruno said they are still
working on their land development agreement and they’re working with Penndot
regarding that review.
On
motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the
Kunkel Athletic Complex recreation use easement agreement.
11. APPOINTMENT OF TOWNSHIP GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER
INFORMATION
The Board needs to approve
Geotechnical Engineering Solutions, LLC as the new township geotechnical
engineer. Tim Martin previously was the
township geotechnical engineer through Powell Harpstead. Powell Harpstead closed their one office and
Tim has now opened his own business and has permission from Powell Harpstead to
retain some of his previous clients.
DISCUSSION
Tim Martin was in attendance and said it was a continuation of his services under a new company. Anckaitis asked about the liability insurance issue that was an issue with Powell Harpstead, and asked if the amount was correct in this agreement. Martin said he was aware of the liability insurance issue and would work with the township on that requirement.
On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the appointment of Tim Martin, Geotechnical Engineering Solutions, LLC, as the township geotechnical engineer, subject to the conditions in the agreement being satisfactory to the Township Solicitor.
12. FIRE STATION II - VOTING POLLS
DISCUSSION
INFORMATION
DISCUSSION
Fire Chief Grube said every election the problems are getting worse at the fire station during voting days. Grube said now there is a business in the area and when we have an election we have no place to park the firemen who are coming in on a call. Grube said there are people outside handing out materials and at past elections there were people who actually parked in the front and back ramps of the station. Grube said we’ve tried cones, and people picked them up and moved them. Grube said my concern is there is a safety issue. Grube said he feels it’s time to look at this before we have any real problem.
Colver asked Anckaitis how we go about informing the County to change the location. Lammi said the call volume has increased for the fire station and he can agree with us starting to look at another alternative. Anckaitis will send the form back to the County allowing them to use the location in 2005, and he will set up a meeting with whomever at the County to discuss them moving the location for future years.
On motion by Colver, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the use of Fire Station #2 as a voting poll location for 2005, and that the Township Manager follow up with a letter to Voter Registration to have the location changed for next year.
13. RECREATION BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove recommendations from the Recreation Board
regarding dugouts for the legion field at
DISCUSSION
Smith said there were two issues to
discuss. Smith said at the last Recreation
Board meeting they recommended the
Colver said lets talk about the
dugouts first.
On motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell,
and agreed by all, the Board approved the concept of the dugouts for
Colver said regarding the signs, most of all our parks are in a residential area. Colver said I feel we’ve gone to great strides to keep away from signs in the township. Lammi said some of these tend to look trashy, especially after a few years. Lammi asked how much revenue the signs create. Smith said the Recreation Board wanted to give 50% of the revenue to the community center as a donation. Smith said he’d go back for more information on the signs.
14.
INFORMATION
The
following change orders are required for the subject project. The significant changes requested are: a time extension; removal of the above ground
traffic signal north at Palmer Town Center Driveways C and D from the township
contract to the Developer’s project; a revised storm sewer alignment on 25th
Street (near K-Mart) due to conflicting utilities; and various changes
resulting from differing site conditions.
The Board needs to approve/disapprove the
contract change orders. EASD has given
their “blessings” to their “work.” The
developer, who is responsible for all work above $1 million, has (not) given
their “blessings” for the change orders.
DISCUSSION
Dillman said the time extension is
because of the redesign at
Dillman said it results in a $9,000
deduction in the total costs. Lammi said
he’s still concerned with not having a left turn arrow when heading south on
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella,
and agreed by all, the Board approved the two change orders for the
15. PENN’S GRANT SOUTH EXTENSION REQUEST
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the sixty day extension request.
DISCUSSION
Colver reviewed the letter requesting the extension of time.
On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the sixty day extension request for Penn’s Grant South.
16.
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the
DISCUSSION
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved escrow release #10 for $515,613 for Somerset Village, Selvaggio Enterprises, Inc.
17. VILLAGES AT MILL RACE, PHASE I, ESCROW
RELEASE
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the Villages at Mill Race, Phase I escrow
release in the amount of $12,845.03.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved escrow release #11 for $12,845.03 for Villages at Mill Race, Phase I.
18. VILLAGES AT MILL RACE, PHASE II,
ESCROW RELEASE
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the Villages at Mill Race, Phase II escrow
release in the amount of $12,845.03.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved escrow release #6 for $6,591.75 for Villages at Mill Race, Phase II.
19. VILLAGES AT MILL RACE, PHASE III,
ESCROW RELEASE
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the Villages at Mill Race, Phase II escrow
release in the amount of $12,845.03.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved escrow release #2 for $319,994.40 for Villages at Mill Race, Phase III.
20. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
21. REPORTS
Solicitor
· Bruno had one real estate and one litigation item for executive session.
Public
Services Director
·
Police Chief
· The child safety seat check is scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at the police station.
· Computer system has been accepted by Penndot to do file transfer protocol by the computer instead of paperwork.
· We are starting to use the NIBR’S system that replaces the UCR reporting system for transferring information.
Supervisors
·
Colver had one real estate and one personnel
item for executive session.
On motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell,
and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Anckaitis
Township Manager