PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

FEBRUARY 5, 2007

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, February 5, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with four Supervisors in attendance.  Robert Lammi was absent.  Also in attendance were the Director of Public Services, Police Chief, and the Township Solicitor.  Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

     

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – FEBRUARY 5, 2007

 

      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 February 5, 2007.

 

3.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JANUARY 23, 2007 AND JANAURY 31, 2007

 

      DISCUSSION

 

Bruno had one correction for the January 23, 2007 minutes.  Page five under #10 – Realty Transfer Tax Ordinance should state that the Board approved the advertisement of the realty transfer tax ordinance.  After this change was made on motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of January 23, 2007. 

 

Bruno had one correction for the January 31, 2007 minutes.  Under #2 in regards to the residential solid waste the word “bidding” was spelled incorrectly.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of January 31, 2007 after the correction was made.

     

4.   FULTON FINANCIAL POLICE PENSION UPDATE

 

      INFORMATION       

      Bob DeSilva and Liz Peris from Fulton Financial Advisors will review performance of the police pension fund. 

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      DeSilva introduced Liz Peris who reviewed the police pension fund.  Colver asked Fretz if he had any comments or questions and he responded no.

     

5.   LEHIGH VALLEY MARATHON DISCUSSION

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      Rick Weaver will be in attendance to request the use of Palmer Township roads for a Lehigh Valley marathon.

 

      DICUSSION

 

Rick Weaver was present requesting permission to hold a marathon through Palmer Township.   Weaver reviewed the list of roadways requested to be used for this marathon.    Smith highlighted what was reviewed at the Recreation Board meeting as well as the Athletic Association meeting. 

 

Smith and Tom Adams have met with Weaver to discuss the route.  Adams noted he discussed the route with the township manager and the police chief.  The only change they had was to use Jones Blvd. instead of Division Street since Jones is a wider roadway and the intersection of Greenwood Avenue and Jones is a lot safer than Division Street.  Colver asked if there needs to be an insurance policy and Weaver stated there is an insurance policy to cover this and Bruno asked to have it forwarded to the township.  Weaver stated he was limiting the race to 400 participants and stated that the participants all start out together but will end up in single file so there will not be a large group traveling through the streets together.   Chief Fretz asked for a time frame of the runners and Weaver noted that was no problem.  He noted an average runner would take approximately four hours so he feels the race should be over in the early afternoon. 

 

On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board of Supervisors approved the Lehigh Valley Marathon using township roads on Sunday, October 28, 2007 and requested that all insurance information and race information be forwarded to the township for review and approval. 

 

6.   SHADE TREE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove appointing Steve Shadle to the Shade Tree Commission.  Term will expire 12/31/08.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Colver discussed this position which became available with the passing of Karl Edinger.  Mr. Shadle was present. 

 

      On motion by Panella , seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board appointed Steve Shadle to the Shade Tree Commission’s vacant position, term to expire 12/31/08.

 

7.   CHARLES CHRIN COMMUNITY CENTER CHANGE ORDER

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      Contract Change No. GC-3 is a credit of $20,287 for township directed changes; unused subsidiary items; and a valve engineering design change on the building foundation.  The changes are detailed on the enclosed CC Inc. letter.  The Board needs to review the change order and approve it, if it is acceptable.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Colver discussed the change order which is a credit owed to Palmer Township.  Colver reviewed the list and there was no problem with the items.

     

On motion by Colver, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved Contract Change No. GC-3 for the Charles Chrin Community Center project.

 

8.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Colver stated this is a public comment period for anyone to discuss any topic they would like but they will be limited to five minutes.  He also stated that as there are representatives in the audience from the various trash collection companies who recently submitted bids for the township hauling contract he informed them that the Board will not be making any decisions tonight in regards to this topic.

 

      Mr. Sam Augustine of J. P. Mascaro & Sons stated he was before the Board tonight because of the recent bid opening.   Augustine discussed the company and highlighted their record in the area.  He also noted that they have their own landfill.  He noted that the township had asked for three options in their recent bidding and he reviewed the “unlimited” status and what it really means.  People have to watch what they put in the trash which should be recycled. Augustine noted he feels the township would be cutting back service to the residents if they went with the toter service. 

 

Mr. Al DeGennaro of J. P. Mascaro & Sons noted that he knows the Board has the right to award to who they feel is the best for their township and he echoed Augustine’s words. 

 

Mr. Robert Natkie, 2626 Spring Garden Street, stated that he has been traveling throughout the township and in his observations he feels that a family of four will have more bulk items than a household with fewer occupants.  He stated that with the toter option he feels the township would be penalizing a resident for having a bulk item.  This does not have anything to do with recycling.  Natkie said the township has a lot of families, so there is a lot of garbage during a normal garbage collection day.  Every home has recycling and he feels the township does a good job with recycling but why punish residents with not being allowed to put out bulk items.

 

Charles Pantaleo of Raritan Valley stated they have been contracted by South Whitehall Township since 2003.   South Whitehall used to be totally unlimited two times a week.  Within 12 weeks the recycling numbers went up 40%.  Pantaleo stated the proposed toter program is a long term program and since it is not unlimited it will affect about 5% of the residents.  The rest of the residents will start to understand what they have to recycle and will put only trash in their toter.  He guarantees the residents will be very happy and satisfied with the toter system.   Cindy Oatis, Recycling Coordinator for Palmer Township asked if there were any statistics stating how often bulk items are put out for curbside pickup.  No one had any to report but did note that most people now realize that when you get new furniture/white goods the company should be taking the old stuff.  Augustine stated he felt it is not unreasonable to see a small amount of bulk items throughout the township.  Colver asked if white goods are considered bulk and he was told yes they are bulk and would not be included in garbage. 

 

Jim Berg - 6 Riverview Circle, stated he lives in Palmer and in the past has lived in other communities that have the cart system.  He feels it is a clean service and the service now is a messy one.  He is very supportive of the cart system as well as the recycling system we have. 

 

Augustine stated he would like a time table for this.  He stated that current contract is until May 1st and asked when there was going to be a meeting to discuss this.  Colver stated the next meeting would be February 19th and after that would be February 27th which is a planning night.  Colver said the Board would probably not be discussing this until the first meeting in March.

     

9.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·        Bruno – nothing to report.  

 

      Public Services Director

·        Adams – reported the library roof is done.

 

Police Chief

·        Fretz  - reported that there were four individuals that they are proposing for part-time officers; they are James Taylor, James Alercia, Matt Allshouse, and Thomas Vogel.  They interviewed nine applicants.  The four officers have to pass physicals and background checks.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the hiring of the four part-time police officers pending their passing physical exams and background checks. 

 

      Supervisors

·        Nothing

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager