PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

NOVEMBER 6, 2006

 

A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, November 6, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the community room of the Palmer Library with three supervisors in attendance.  Dave Colver and Robert Lammi were absent.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Public Services Director, Police Chief, Township Engineer, and Township Solicitor.  David Anderson from the Lehigh Valley News Group represented the news media.  Mitchell convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag.  

     

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – NOVEMBER 6, 2006

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The report will be provided at the meeting.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Panella , seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the disbursement of funds for November 6, 2006.

 

3.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES – OCTOBER 24, 2006

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of October 24, 2006.

 

4.      HIGHLAND PARK BID AWARDS

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The township engineer will bring bid information to the meeting and make a recommendation to the Board for the Highland Park project.  The Board needs to approve/disapprove the bids.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Dillman said he is looking for an indication from the Board for intent to award the contract subject to receipt and approval of bonds and insurance information from the contractor.  Dillman said the township will also need Easton Suburban Water Authority’s approval of bid three for the portion they will be funding.  Dillman said he received the bids October 26 with eight contractors submitting bids.  Dillman said the bids were broken into four sections.  Dillman reviewed the documents with the Board.  Dillman said bid three is the water line construction that was kept separate for the work that will be completed by Easton Suburban Water Authority.  Dillman said the low bidder was Imperial Excavation and Paving LLC.

     

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the intent to award the base bid in the amount of $1,195,086 to Imperial Excavating & Paving LLC subject to satisfactory review and approval by the township engineer and township solicitor of bonds, insurance documents, and execution of a final agreement between the contractor and the township. 

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the intent to award bid one in the amount of $349,451.25 to Imperial Excavating & Paving LLC subject to satisfactory review and approval by the township engineer and township solicitor of bonds, insurance documents, and execution of a final agreement between the contractor and the township. 

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the intent to award bid three in the amount of $230,575 to Imperial Excavating & Paving LLC subject to approval by Easton Suburban Water Authority and satisfactory review and approval by the township engineer and township solicitor of bonds, insurance documents, and execution of a final agreement between the contractor, Easton Suburban Water Authority and the township.

 

5.      CROSSROADS OF NAZARETH – PLANNING MODULE POSTCARD EXEMPTION

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the planning module postcard exemption.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      The Board tabled this item to the next meeting.

 

6.   PUBLIC COMMENT

     

      Tina Lilly, 2735 Northampton Street, said she has concerns about permits being issued by the township for people selling products door to door.  Lilly said two weeks ago she had two older women from a church at her door.  Lilly said another friend of hers who lives on Alpine Drive had someone at her home selling some kind of cleaning products.  Lilly said a permit only costs $2 a day so anyone will get a permit issued to them at that cost.  Lilly said enough is enough.  Lilly said her concern is these people could be staking out homes by going door to door.   Lilly asked what can be done to deter this in the township.  Chief Fretz said anyone who solicits in the township needs to register at the police station.  Fretz said prior court cases have stated we cannot limit the amount of people that use the permit.  Fretz said we check that they are legitimate businesses and we request they only solicit during day light hours.  Fretz said we could change the fee but due to prior court cases we have restrictions we need to adhere to.  Panella asked if the Boy and Girl Scouts need a permit.  Fretz said he believes non-profit organizations are not required to have a permit.  Fretz said the permit is $2 for one day. 

 

      Panella made a motion to increase the solicitation permit fee to $50 per day.  Smith asked if the Board could increase the fee to this amount.  Bruno said he didn’t feel it was an unreasonable restriction and he didn’t believe it would be a problem to increase the fee.  Panella said the fee is charged to companies who make money.  Panella said we’re not charging non-profit groups so the companies should be required to pay.  Lilly asked if a photo could be taken of the individual requesting the permit.  Fretz said they are required to show a photo ID when they request the permit.  Smith seconded the motion, it was agreed by all, to raise the solicitation permit fee from $2 per day to $50 per day and to authorize the solicitor to produce the required paperwork.

 

      Robert Gumlock, 109 Berks Street, asked how soon the Highland Park work will start.  Dillman said he would like to get under construction as soon as possible but as soon as all documents are in place with the contractor and the township.

 

6.      REPORTS

 

      Solicitor

·        Bruno had a resolution to accept various pieces of right-of-way from the Mangle, Archer, Calantoni, Faith Community Assembly of God, Gotto, Miller-Young, and Shriver residents, as they relate to the Highland Park project.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the resolution accepting these right-of-ways.

·        Bruno had a signed agreement from Randy and Barbara Oakley to allow a portion of their property as part of the Highland Park project.  Bruno said they would like to do a swap of township land.  Bruno said law requires the township to put the township property out to bid and he will begin that process. 

 

      Township Manager

·        Anckaitis said there is a problem with the heating system at the field house and we have an estimate for $2,200 for installation of a new furnace.  Smith said furnaces were donated a few years ago.  Smith said one furnace was installed and the other was put in the attic area but never hooked up.  Smith said each year the pipes in the bathroom freeze because there is no heat in that end of the building.  Smith said this amount would be to hook up the second furnace that was never completed.  Anckaitis asked if this is our responsibility or the Athletic Associations.  Smith said normally it is covered by the Athletic Association but they are spending $3,500 for improvements in the refreshment stand area and have asked for help with this heating system.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board agreed to have the installation completed on the heating unit in the field house for $2,200.

 

      Public Services Director

·        Adams said demolition of the Shannon house will begin tomorrow and the new roof will be put on the library in the next two weeks.

 

      Supervisors

·        Smith reported that the varsity and junior varsity football teams are now going into their final football playoff games.

·        Smith said wrestling started November 1 and basketball will be starting November 20.

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. with no items for executive session. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager