PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

APRIL 16, 2007

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, April 16, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with all Supervisors in attendance.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Director of Public Services, Police Chief, Ron Gawlick from The Pidcock Company, and the Township Solicitor.  Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

     

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – APRIL 16, 2007

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The report 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 April 16, 2007.

 

3.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES – APRIL 2, 2007

 

      DISCUSSION

 

On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of April 2, 2007. 

     

4.   SWEARING IN OF FOUR NEW POLICE OFFICERS

 

INFORMATION         

     

      The Chairman of the Board will swear in new part-time police officers:  James Alercia, James Taylor, Matthew Allshouse, and Thomas Vogel.

 

      DICUSSION

     

Chief Fretz introduced the four new part-time police officers James Alercia, James Taylor, Matthew Allshouse, and Thomas Vogel.  Chairman Colver swore in the officers.

 

5.   APPROVAL OF POLICE PENSION FUND ACCOUNT MANAGER

 

INFORMATION         

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove fund managers for the police pension fund.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Colver said we had three different groups make presentations to the Board regarding managing the police pension fund.  Bruno said on April 11th he received the packet from Smith Barney and he hasn’t had the opportunity to go through all the fine print.  Colver said one issue that was raised was 1099 reporting.  Ryan Beck said they do not do it, they have an outside firm do it.  Smith Barney said they can do it for a small fee of $500 to $750.  Lammi said he feels when you look at the two firms, Ryan Beck and Smith Barney are both consultants.  Our current provider, Fulton Financial, is also an investor.  Lammi said he feels going with Smith Barney would be the way to go.  Colver said other questions the Board had were the costs associated with the transition from one manager to another.  Colver said Smith Barney said there are no costs associated with making the change.  Colver said the returns Smith Barney has demonstrated were significantly higher than we’ve experienced in the past.  Anckaitis said he also checked with Fulton Financial and there are no fees on their end to transfer funds either.

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved hiring Smith Barney to manage the funds for the Palmer Township Police Pension fund.  Bruno suggested the motion include approval conditioned upon satisfactory review of the agreement by the township solicitor.  Mitchell amended the motion, it was seconded by Panella, and agreed by all.

                 

6.       DISCUSSION REGARDING THE DUCK FEEDING AREA AT THE BUSKHILL CREEK

 

INFORMATION         

           

      Richard Baranowski has requested this item be placed on the agenda for discussion.

 

DISCUSSION

 

      Mr. Baranowski was not in attendance.

 

7.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Steve Paulus, 90 Reno Avenue, Nazareth, said he was here to request a handicapped parking spot for his parents that live at 56 Berks Street.  Paulus handed out information to the Board from his parent’s doctor.  Colver asked if they required one spot or two.  Paulus said it was one spot, but their neighbor who lives in the other side of their double home may also be requesting one.  Colver asked for input from the Police Chief and Public Services Director.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the request for the handicapped parking spot at 56 Berks Street.

 

      Robert Gumlock, 109 Berks Street, asked how emergency vehicles will get to the neighborhood with the detour in place.  Ron Gawlick said he believes the detour plan is through Mine Lane Road.  Chief Fretz said emergency vehicles will use Mine Lane for access.  Gumlock said with the weekend heavy rains we didn’t get anything near what we’ve seen in the past.  Colver said that is good.  Lammi said with the pond changed over to the detention state it also helped the situation.

                 

8.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·         Bruno said he previously emailed the Act 167 storm water ordinance to the supervisors to review and said he is asking for permission to advertise the ordinance.  Bruno said Engineer Ron Gawlick is here to answer any questions you may have tonight.  Lammi made a motion to authorize the solicitor to advertise the ordinance for adoption.  The motion was seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all.

·         Bruno said recently the township entered into an agreement with the Oakley’s that provided an exchange of property between the township and the Oakley’s for the Greenwood Avenue extension project.  Bruno said he needs a signature to convey the property to the Oakley’s and also needs the Board’s authorization for the Chairman to sign the drainage easement.  On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign both documents.

·         Bruno said you recently made the award to J.P. Mascaro for the new waste hauling contract.  Bruno said he has the notice to proceed for the Township Manager to sign.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Township Manager to sign the notice to proceed.

·         Bruno said regarding the Greenwood Avenue project it was previously decided by the Board to file a declaration of taking for the township to acquire the Gotto right-of-way and construction easement needed for the township project.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the resolution for the declaration of taking. 

·         Bruno had one personnel and one litigation item for executive session.

 

      Township Manager

·         Anckaitis said three more sinkholes opened on Beaver Lane, two in the right-of-way, and one on private property.  Anckaitis said we did fence off the one on private property so they wouldn’t have any safety issues.

·         Anckaitis said demolition began on Babbling Brook today.

 

Public Services Director

·         Adams said he wanted to report there were no major flooding issues from the weekend rain storm.

 

      Supervisors

·         Lammi said Penndot indicated they would do a traffic count at Greenwood and William Penn Highway and asked the Public Services Director if he heard back from Penndot.  Adams said he didn’t hear anything yet.

·         Colver said a subcommittee meeting was held at fire station #2 regarding the future expansion project.  Colver said as the process progresses he will bring information back to the Board.  Colver said the new fire truck delivery has been pushed back until after Labor Day.

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m. with one personnel and one litigation item for executive session.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager