PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MARCH 19, 2007

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, March 19, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with four Supervisors in attendance.  Dave Colver was absent.  Courtney Lomax from the Express Times, Madeline Mathias from the Morning Call, and Christina Georgiou from the Easton News represented the news media.  Vice Chairman Lammi convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

     

2.      APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – MARCH 19, 2007

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The reports 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 March 19, 2007.

 

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES – FEBRUARY 27, 2007 AND MARCH 12, 2007

 

      DISCUSSION

     

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the February 27, 2007 minutes.

 

On motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by three, Panella abstained because she was absent at that meeting, the Board approved the March 12, 2007 minutes.

 

4.   CONDITIONAL USE LETTER – EASTON AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

      INFORMATION       

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the conditional use letter and authorize the Vice Chairman to execute.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Bruno noted he revised the letter to include the Vice Chairman’s signature since the Chairman is absent tonight.

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the conditional use letter for the Easton Area School District.

 

5.   DESTRUCTION OF RECORDS RESOLUTION

 

INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the resolution.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Anckaitis said this is in accordance with the Municipal Records Manual that the Board must approve the records being destroyed.

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the destruction of records resolution.

 

6.   DISCUSSION OF WASTE HAULING BIDS

 

INFORMATION

     

      The Board will discuss bids received for waste hauling.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Lammi said this past Thursday bids were opened for a new waste and recycling contract.  Lammi said the Board should have received the bid analysis.  Lammi noted - previously bids were submitted and rejected and we asked for a re-bid to change the contract for possible three year and five year options and also we reduced the bond requirement from full contract cost to 50% of the total contract.  Lammi asked if Cindy Oatis had any comments to add.  Oatis said the Environmental Steering Committee (ESC) didn’t have any formal recommendation.  Oatis said she and the ESC agree the Board has to look at the best price as well as what is best for containment in the future.  Oatis said the cart approach is the best for the future as far as cost containment.  Oatis said the low bidder on both options is J. P. Mascaro.  Oatis said if we choose the cart program we would be their first municipality going with the cart program.  Lammi said the vote will take place next Tuesday night when we have a full Board in attendance. 

 

      Lammi said he is concerned that we would be their first municipality using the toter system.  Albert DeGennaro, Corporate Counsel for J. P. Mascaro, said they have had contracts where residents use the cart system but this would be their first using a truck with the side arm.  DeGennaro said our fleet has mechanized vehicles with arms in the front; so we are familiar with the mechanized systems.  DeGennaro introduced Sam Augustine and Rob Natkie and said they would be supervising the township program and said they would welcome any questions.  Augustine said Mascaro has 30 years experience in the industry.  Augustine said we serve 60 communities under municipal contracts.  Augustine said he would like the Board to know that they were the first to have mechanized front load trucks.  Augustine said they conducted intense studies to review the Palmer community and he believes they will be keeping with our current pick up days.  Augustine said they are confident there will be an excellent transition if we choose the cart program.  Natkie said he is also a resident of the township.  Natkie explained the side load mechanical truck program.  Natkie said he currently has two drivers used to the front load type trucks and they would easily transition to a side load truck because a side load vehicle is easier to operate than a front load vehicle.

 

      Oatis said our concerns are more in the implementation and education process of the toter program.  Natkie said there are three major manufactures of side load trucks and he reviewed the manufacturers.  Augustine distributed a sample communication they used in other municipalities regarding education of the residents.  Augustine said the township would be able to add anything they want to this communication.  Lammi asked if the toters would have a 10 year warranty and asked what the warranty covers.  Augustine said they would have a 10 year warranty and it covers the bars and plastic, lid construction, wheel construction, and any moving part of the toter.  Natkie said he has owned a toter for six years and it doesn’t look any different than when he first purchased it.  Anckaitis said regarding the sample pamphlet it talks about questions or problems and it gives the borough telephone number.  Anckaitis said with our current hauler residents are told to call the contractor directly and if they can’t get their problem resolved, then they call the township.  Augustine said we can have them call Mascaro and noted the sample he handed out that borough requested they receive the calls, not the hauler.  Anckaitis asked about the customer service process.  Natkie said he has three people in his office, and a director of operations, and two supervisors.  Natkie said with the addition of the Palmer contract they will be adding an additional supervisor to handle the Palmer account only.  Natkie said they will keep a call log regarding all calls.  Natkie said if there is a missed pickup it will generally be resolved that day.  If it can’t be handled that day the township will be notified.  DeGennaro said you will most likely see our supervisor every day in the township building.  Lammi asked how they will get the toters to the residents.  Augustine said the toter manufacturer provides a service where they send out a team to assemble the toters and deliver them to households. 

 

      Bruno said if we choose the toter system the provider has sixty days to get the service up and running.  They will be required to supply the current pickup service until the toter system is ready for implementation.  Augustine said they looked at the way the township is set up now which is four sections.  Natkie said he would like to sit down with a township representative to review the current set up and see if it is the best way for collection.  Lammi said where we have a six string townhouse unit it probably wouldn’t be conducive for toters because the middle unit may not have any place to store their toter and they can’t take it around to the back of their unit.  Augustine said the contract is for toters but if there are different areas that need to be reviewed and alternatives considered we will do that after the contract is in effect.  Lammi said in the past, with our current hauler, we receive a monthly report in a very timely fashion.  Lammi said we use that information for tracking and use the recycling information for reports.  Lammi said he hopes this level of service will continue and stated if it doesn’t they would be hearing about it.  Natkie said he does it now for seven townships and it is usually done by the tenth working day of the month.  Panella said we talked about a 32 gallon toter for people who didn’t need the larger size and she asked if it would be handled the same way.  Natkie said yes it would.  Panella asked what the cost is for a 96 gallon toter versus a 32 gallon toter.  Augustine said he didn’t think there would be that big of a difference in cost.  Anckaitis said that no matter what size toter the resident chooses, their cost will be the same for pickup.  DeGennaro said we appreciate the fact that you’re sensitive with a new hauler coming on board but we take pride in our company and we employ individuals with long time service and are confident you will be satisfied with our service.

 

      Michael Kist, 3641 Timberlane Drive, said the current contract allows us to place out one large item per week and asked how the new contract would handle that.  Lammi said the new contracts would allow one item per week under the toter program and the all inclusive would be just like you have now.  Oatis said three times a year you would be allowed yard waste or clippings pickup and you would continue to have the ability to drop off at the township yard waste site.  Oatis said you could put yard waste in your toter also.  Oatis said if the Board chooses the all inclusive option your waste would be picked up as it is now.  Kist said there should be a significant cost savings if you go with the toter because you’re eliminating people. 

 

      Bob Gumlock, 109 Berks Street, said he would like to see the township increase the amount of people that recycle.  Gumlock asked if there is a cost to take items to the township centers.  Lammi said the Berks Street Yard Waste site has fees and the Recycling Center on Hartley Avenue doesn’t have fees.  Gumlock said he would like to see the township go to the toter system. 

 

      Augustine said he believes the last contract the township had with Waste Management was for a four or five year program.  Augustine noted the longer you lock in for, the better off you will be.  Natkie said a great way to introduce a new program would be during earth week.  Natkie recommended getting elementary students involved because once you get school age children excited they will help get their parents involved in the program.

 

      Lammi noted that at next Tuesday’s meeting a vote will be taken regarding the contract.

 

7.  PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Ron Grimsby, 337 Springfield Way, said he’s back with his same issue, his neighbor’s fence.  Grimsby said he received a call a day before the court date stating the hearing was cancelled and asked if the Board was aware of it.  Bruno noted the hearing was cancelled since the last time this Board met.  Bruno noted the attorney for the party being sued requested a hearing in front of the Board of Appeals.  Bruno noted our township has a Board of Appeals that went into effect when we adopted the Uniform Construction Code.  Bruno noted the individual has the right to make this request and it is the avenue he is taking first.  Bruno noted the code says if the request is made it has to be heard.  Bruno said the Board of Appeals is being coordinated and a date is being set.  Bruno said Mr. Grimsby will be getting a letter within a week with the scheduled date and time.  Grimsby said he thought once you issued the summons he had to go to the court of the common pleas.  Bruno noted this step is a process he can follow prior to going to the court of common pleas.  Bruno again noted the process and stated the proper letter of the law has to be followed. 

 

      Bob Gumlock, 109 Berks Street, asked for the time schedule for installation of the storm water pipes from Starlite Estates down to Moore Street.  Adams said the contractor ran into rock down by Moore Street and he believes they will be connecting some time in April.            

 

8.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·        Bruno had an extension request from Atlantic VanBuren Road L.P., the Fox Run Development, requesting an extension until June 30, 2007 in order to complete public improvements.  Smith asked if it includes any of the recreation area.  Bruno said recreation is part of the scope of this project so it would be inclusive of this extension request.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Vice Chairman to sign the extension request.

·        Bruno had an extension agreement for Parkview Estates, Phase 3, requesting an extension until June 1, 2007.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the board authorized the Vice Chairman to sign the extension request.

·        Bruno had an extension request from Palmer North Active Adult Community requesting an extension until December 30, 2007 to complete public improvements.  Lammi questioned what work was left and said it has to be the work on Corriere Road.  Bruno noted he could bring it back to next weeks meeting when the township engineer will be present to comment.

·        Bruno had a subdivision improvements agreement for the Kocsis Minor Subdivision.  Bruno said there is a new developer, Ruby Real Estate, LLC, for the 7,200 square foot lot on the east side of Craigie Street.  Bruno said the Board previously approved a two lot subdivision on the property.  Bruno noted they are securing $6,000 worth of work.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Vice Chairman to sign the agreement.

·        Bruno had one litigation item for executive session.

 

Manager

·        Anckaitis said the township received a check in the amount of $10,388 from Benecon for our portion of the surplus distribution related to our healthcare coverage for 2006.  Anckaitis said this is 75% of the payment and we will receive another check for the other 25% in the near future.  Anckaitis said this was the first year we were in the self funded arrangement.

·        Anckaitis had two personnel items for executive session.

 

Police Lieutenant

·        Lieutenant DeMarco said the Officer Phil program that you previously approved will start up again this week.

·        DeMarco said Detectives DeBiasi and Marshall attended detective school last week.

·        DeMarco said the department will be hosting classes regarding party prevention and control at the Charles Chrin Community Center and at Northampton Community College on April 4th.  DeMarco said the classes will address under age drinking parties and will be open to residents in Northampton County.

 

Supervisors

·        Lammi asked when the banners will be put up in the township.  Anckaitis said they were ready a long time ago but because some of the poles we intend to use belong to utility companies some agreements needed to be signed.  Anckaitis said we’ve been back and forth with CGI and the utility companies.  Adams said he believes there may still be some issues with Verizon poles.  Anckaitis said as soon as they are resolved we’ll get the banners up.  Lammi asked if the contracts the business owners signed run from the date they signed or from the date the banners are put up.  Anckaitis said it’s a year from the time the banners go up.

·        Panella had one personnel item for executive session.

 

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager