PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

REGULAR BUSINESS MEETING

SEPTEMBER 27, 2005

 

A regular meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, September 27, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with all Supervisors in attendance.  Also present were the Director of Public Services, Planning Director, Solicitor, Township Engineer, and Police Chief.  The Township Manager was absent.  Sara Mausolf from the Express Times and Joe Nixon from the Morning Call represented the news media.  Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag.

 

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – SEPTEMBER 27, 2005

 

      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 September 27, 2005.

     

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 19, 2005

 

      DISCUSSION

     

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of September 19, 2005, as written.

 

4.   VILLAGES AT MILL RACE, PHASE III, LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the lot line adjustment.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Ben Serrecchia, of Harte Engineering, represented the developer.  Serrecchia reviewed the plan with the Board explaining the reason for the lot line adjustment. 

 

      Dillman said the only issue was the 20 foot wide drainage easement needs to stay in place.  Bruno said the property owners that buy the properties would buy it subject to the easements.  Bruno said before the plan can be recorded we will need the easement documents. Serrecchia said that is not an issue.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the lot line adjustment for Villages at Mill Race, Phase III, conditioned upon the conditions being met as outlined in the Township Engineer’s letter dated September 9, 2005; and documenting the storm water easement agreement for the northern properties.

 

5.   ZAWARSKI & SONS OFFICE BUILDING – PRELIMINARY/FINAL PLAN

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the lot line adjustment.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Jim Preston, Attorney, and Brian Ritter, Engineer, represented the developer. 

 

      Ritter said the plan is for a proposed two story office building and associated parking to be located to the north side of Charlotte Avenue.  Preston said there are lots with unopened streets and alleys.  Bruno said these properties have paper streets running through the area and the property owners still have easement rights.  Bruno said before the developer can record the plan they will need to show they have acquired ownership of these properties. 

 

      Colver asked about curbing.  Ritter said curbing will be installed.  Colver asked the Planning Director where the Planning Commission stood regarding the waivers and deferral.  Jensen said the Planning Commission recommends approval.

 

      Dillman said the developer willingly proposed making a voluntary traffic contribution at the Planning Commission meeting.  Lammi said the Fire Chief recommended sprinklers in the building but the code does not require it for this size building.  Lammi said for the record he would recommend sprinklers be added even though it is not required by code.  Ritter said he will take that information back to the developer.

 

      Lammi made a motion that the developer file a plan consolidating the various lots and that they prove they hold title for the properties for this development   Bruno recommended the motion include the Board approves the lot consolidation plan conditioned upon the developer acquiring clear title of the properties.  Lammi amended the motion, it was seconded by Smith, and agreed by all.

 

      Lammi made a motion for conditional approval for the preliminary/final land development plan review for Zawarski & Sons Office Building conditioned upon the following conditions:  the developer obtain rights to unopened streets; the developer fulfill the conditions outlined in the Township Engineer’s letter dated September 9, 2005; the developer fulfill the items listed on the township department comment sheet dated September 9, 2005, except the Fire Administrators request for sprinklers; the developer pay a recreation fee of $3,000 per acre or fraction thereof; the township accepts the voluntary traffic contribution of $31,000 from the developer; the applicant enter into a land development improvements agreement to the satisfaction of the Township Solicitor; and the applicant provide financial security in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor; the township authorizes the following waiver requests:  165-63.K(3) – 4 to 1 detention basin inside embankment slope; 165-63.K(4) – 10 foot minimum top width of detention basin berm; 165-63.N(3) – 2% minimum slope of drainage swales; and defers 165-69 – sidewalk along Charlotte Avenue.  The motion was seconded by Smith, and agreed by all.

 

6.   CITIZEN’S ADVISORY COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

 

      INFORMATION

 

      Robert Lammi will have information at the meeting regarding this discussion.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Lammi said some time ago we had a brief discussion whether or not the citizen’s advisory committee should be reinstituted.  Lammi said Bob Daws had run this committee for many years and since he moved out of the township he no longer feels he can do it.  Lammi said at that time I indicated that I wasn’t ready to absolve the committee without talking to some members.  Lammi said he spoke with Dr. Carl Schulze and Virginia Rickert who are members of the committee.  Lammi said he asked them if they were willing to take on the leadership role of this group.  Lammi said he told them that the Board of Supervisors would support the group but we could not dedicate the necessary time to set up monthly meetings.  Lammi said both of these individuals agreed to accept the leadership responsibilities and keep the group going.  Lammi said his recommendation to the Board is that we do reinstitute this group and see how things go. 

 

      Lammi made a motion to reinstitute the Citizen’s Advisory Committee with Dr. Carl Schulze and Virginia Rickert taking the leadership roles of the committee.  The motion was seconded by Panella, and agreed by all.

     

 7.  APPROVAL OF THE MINIMUM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATION FOR THE POLICE AND NON-UNIFORM PENSION FUNDS

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the minimum municipal obligation for the police and non-uniform pension funds.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minimum municipal obligation of $263,634 for the police pension plan and $265,797 for the non-uniform pension plan for 2006.

 

8.   COMPUTER NETWORKING HARDWARE BID RECOMMENDATION

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the bid recommendation.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Colver reviewed the recommendation the Board received from the Planning Director.  Lammi said there is a lot that the bid covers.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board awarded the bid to the sole bidder, Dallas Data Systems, for computer networking hardware, in the amount of $25,794.75.

 

9.   FOX RUN ESCROW RELEASE

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the escrow release for Fox Run.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the escrow release for Fox Run Estates in the amount of $444,328.05.

 

10. PARK VIEW ESTATES, PHASE V, ESCROW RELEASE

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the escrow release for Park View Estates, Phase V.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the escrow release for Park View Estates, Phase V, in the amount of $101,392.

 

11. ESTATES AT PENN’S GRANT ESCROW RELEASE

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the escrow release for Penn’s Grant.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the Board approved the escrow release for the Estates at Penn’s Grant, in the amount of $177,845.83.

 

12. HAY TERRACE SOUTH ESCROW RELEASE

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the escrow release for Hay Terrace South.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the escrow release for Hay Terrace South, in the amount of $257,013.

 

13. TOWNSHIP ENGINEER CAPITAL PROJECT UPDATE

 

      INFORMATION       

           

Brian Dillman will update the Board on capital projects.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Brian Dillman, Township Engineer, said the Township Manager has requested we provide an updated drawdown schedule for the capital projects. 

 

      Dillman said the community center is taking shape and he urged the Board to walk through the building.  Dillman said the site work is moving along as well. Dillman said he will be handing the land development plans to the Planning Director tonight in order to get them to Bethlehem Township so we can record the plan. 

 

      Dillman said the Sales Street/Corporate Drive intersection has been signalized and the 25th Street signalization is completed.  Dillman said we received a bad batch of green signals and the failure rates were higher than what was expected.  Dillman said the contractor will be replacing the green signals and will be covering the costs associated with those replacements.

 

      Dillman said the Hobson Street detention basin plan was delivered to the township for re-grading of the basin.  Dillman said the plan will go to Lehigh Valley Site Contractors for pricing.

 

      Dillman said regarding the Greenwood Avenue/Freemansburg Avenue and Highland Park storm sewer, we received the values of the properties involved for the pieces of property we need to acquire right of way.  Dillman said we are working on the letters to the property owners now.  Dillman said we have technical approval of the project from Penndot.  Dillman said the construction will start some time in 2006.  Colver asked if we are probably looking at bidding the project the end of this year or early next year.  Dillman said yes, with construction beginning next summer.  Dillman said we didn’t want to begin this project until after the Greenwood Avenue/25th Street project was finished.

 

      Lammi asked if the Highland Park storm water engineering work is completed.  Dillman said yes.

 

Lammi said another project that isn’t part of the bond is the signal at VanBuren and Route 248.  Lammi asked where things stood regarding this project.  Dillman said it’s off the scope.  Dillman said they had addressed some comments from Penndot but it’s been placed on a back burner.  Dillman said unless the Board tells him otherwise, that’s where it stands.  Lammi said we’ll need to see numbers when we’re talking about financing of projects.

 

14. PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Sal Panto, Strausser Enterprises, said he is here to make a request to put Belgian block curbing in our Hay Terrace properties and also for our Wolf’s Run, Phase 9 project.  Panto said the nice thing about Belgian block curbing is when it is hit with a plow it only has to be replace in small blocks.  Panto said we think it looks a lot nicer than regular concrete.  Panto said Jensen said no one in the township knows how to repair the block and he said the Strausser organization would be willing to train the township staff.  Colver said Penn’s Grant South is doing it but their roads will not become township roads.  Colver said it’s not currently allowed on township roads.  Dillman said it can be repaired more easily than concrete curb but on the flip side it tends to get damaged more regularly because of the rough curb line.  Panto asked the Board to think about this for future projects.  Lammi said he feels the township staff has to look into it and give us the pros and cons. 

 

      Robert Gumlock, 109 Burke Street, said most of his questions were answered in the Township Engineer’s report.  Gumlock said you said the work would start in the summer of 2006 and asked how long would it last.  Dillman said at least a few months.  Dillman said the work in the Greenwood Avenue area would be first and the storm sewer along Moore Street.  Colver said he knows that it seems like this project has been hanging around forever.  Colver said now that the other projects are coming to a close and the main piece of property is now owned by the township things are starting to fall into place.  Gumlock said when the storm sewers are put in he thinks it is important that it carry all the water because if there is blockage down below we will see the backup.  Gumlock said he hopes money won’t be something that will stop it from being done right.  Gumlock asked if the money isn’t available will there be long range plans.  Colver said the main work would need to be done and we need to see how far the branches go up other streets.

 

15. REPORTS

 

Solicitor

·        Bruno had an extension agreement for Glenmore Realty, L.P. requesting an extension until May 9, 2006.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the extension agreement.

·        Bruno had an extension agreement from Palmer Park Venture for the Carrabba’s Restaurant requesting an extension until February 28, 2006.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the extension agreement for Palmer Park Venture.

·        Bruno had an extension agreement for Somerset Village for an extension until April 4, 2006 to complete public improvements.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the extension agreement for Somerset Village.  Lammi asked if the plan includes paving.  Adams said he believes Selvaggio is to put down the BCBC because the sewer involved a lot more work than expected.  Adams said the wearing course was traded for the extra road rebuilding work on Nulton Avenue and Hartley.

·        Bruno had an extension agreement from RGC Development for Knobhill requesting an extension until March 23, 2006.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the extension agreement for RGC Development.

·        Bruno had one real estate item and one litigation item for executive session.

 

Public Services Director

·        Adams said leaf collection will begin in the township on Monday, October 17.

 

Planning Director

·        Jensen asked the Board if there were any comments regarding the upcoming Zoning Hearing Board agenda.  There were none.

·        Jensen said the computer networking and software project is moving along and she expects to have the software recommendation for the end of October meeting agenda.

·        Jensen said she spoke to Scott Moyer of Imperial, who is doing construction for the school district, and he said they hope to complete the 25th Street project the end of October or November.  Jensen said they will then move on to the Milford Street intersection.

 

Police Chief

·        Fretz said the department will be conducting patrol rifle training for 15 to 20 officers from various municipalities on the east coast.

 

Supervisors

·        Smith had one personnel item for executive session.

·        Colver had one real estate item for executive session.

·        Panella suggested the community center committee send out a reminder to individuals who made pledges as to how much they owe on their pledge.  Colver said that is noted on the letter you receive when you make your payments.

·        Mitchell said at the last meeting he reported that Suburban EMS sent representatives to help out in New Orleans.  Mitchell recommended the township recognize them for this.  Colver suggested a resolution.

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. with two real estate, one litigation, and one personnel item for executive session.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager