PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

JUNE 4, 2007

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with four Supervisors in attendance.  Robert Smith was absent.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Director of Public Services, Police Chief, Township Solicitor, and Attorney Christy Schlottman.  Zach Lindsey from the Easton News and Courtney Lomax from the Express Times represented the news media.  Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

 

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – JUNE 4, 2007

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The report will be provided at the meeting.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the disbursement of funds for June 4, 2007.

 

3.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES – MAY 29, 2007

 

      DISCUSSION

 

Bruno noted a few changes were made late today and were put in front of the Board tonight.  The Board agreed to hold off on approval of the minutes until the next meeting.

     

4.   CONCRETE MATERIALS, CONCRETE CURBING/SIDEWALK, EQUIPMENT RENTAL, AND MILLING MACHINE BID AWARDS

 

      INFORMATION       

           

      Bids were received on May 30,2007 and are being reviewed.  Adams will email recommendations to the Board on Monday morning.  The Board needs to approve/disapprove the bids.

 

      DISCUSSION

                 

      Adams reviewed the bids with the Board.  Adams noted again there were no bidders for the “paving crew with equipment rental bids” and he recommended it not be re-bid.

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the bid as follows: 

 

      Concrete work awarded to A. J. Testa from Easton, PA, for sidewalk concrete in the amount of $10 per square foot.  Bids for concrete curbing came in too high and therefore will be requested on an as-needed basis.

 

      Concrete (delivered) was awarded to Casilio Concrete, Bethlehem, PA, in the amount of $81/CY for 3500 psi concrete; and $92.00/CY for 4000 psi curb mix concrete.

 

      Milling machine equipment rental to Rota-Mill Inc., Oley PA, as follows:

                  Track drive milling machine                               $500/hr.

                  Skid loader                                                         $90/hr.

                  Rubber tired milling machine                              $400/hr.

                  Mobilization of milling machine              $400 each

                  Mobilization of skid loader                                $200 each

                  Traffic control (flaggers)                                      $35/hr. per person

 

      Equipment rental (with operator) to A. J. Testa, Easton, PA, as follows:

Cat 953 Track Loader \ John Deere                      

                       655 Track Loader                                       $135/hr.

                  Cat D3 Track Dozer                                         $ 85/hr.

                  Case 160 Track Excavator                               $125/hr.

                  Case 330 Track Excavator                               $175/hr.

                  IR 5D-100 Vibratory Roller or equal                $100/hr.

                  Tandem Dump Truck                                        $ 65/hr.

                  Tri-axle Dump Truck                                        $ 72/hr.

                  Lowboy 35 Ton Tractor Trailer                        $ 110/hr.

 

5.      EASTON SUBURBAN WATER AUTHORITY CONTRACT

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the contract.

 

DISCUSSION

 

      Attorney Schlottman said this is a straight forward agreement that continues our existing agreement with the water authority.  Schlottman said the fee remains the same at .35˘ per reading.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the agreement.

 

6.      SMITH BARNEY RESOLUTION

 

INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the resolution authorizing the Township Manager as the authorized officer for the township.  The contract was previously approved conditioned upon approval by the Solicitor.

 

DISCUSSION

 

      The Board agreed to hold off on approving the resolution until Smith Barney agrees to the changes to the contract that were recommended by the Township Solicitor. 

 

7.   EMPLOYEE MANUAL CHANGES

 

      INFORMATION

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the Township Manager’s recommendation for changes to the employee manual.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Anckaitis said he received some comments from Supervisor Panella and also a change from Supervisor Lammi.  Anckaitis reviewed the changes.  Bruno said he believes the recommended change to the “introduction” paragraph takes authority away from the policy.  Bruno said if you make it discretionary, subject to change, it doesn’t give much in the way of finality or something the employee can rely upon.  The Board agreed to allow the Township Solicitor to re-write the change with appropriate language.  Bruno suggested a committee be formed with two Board members and other appropriate township representatives, to evaluate the changes and then come back to the Board with recommendations.  The Board agreed to create a committee to include Panella, Lammi, Anckaitis, and Bruno.  Bruno said he fells the third item recommended by the Township Manager changing the “Retirement Pension Plan” portion should be taken out of the manual now.  Colver read the paragraph the Township Manager recommended removing from the manual.

 

      Mitchell made a motion to approve removing paragraph 1.b. from Page 66 of the employee manual regarding the “Retirement Pension Plan.”

 

      Ron Grimsby, 337 Springfield Way, said he was retired from the New York Pension Board and he believes anyone who commits a felony should not be eligible for a pension.  Bruno asked if it applied only to felony charges.  Grimsby said anything that you could be fired for - like lying or falsifying records.  Colver recommended all changes be reviewed by the new committee before implementation.  Mitchell withdrew his motion and the Board agreed to have it reviewed by the new committee.

     

8.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Ron Grimsby, 337 Springfield Way, said his neighbor is still not in compliance with state and township code.  Grimsby said people are drowning all over the country in swimming pools and this issue needs to be resolved.  Bruno said a week ago a cease and desist notice went out to the property owner.  Bruno said there was no response from the property owner so the next step will be to seek an injunction given the nature at risk.  Bruno said the injunction will be filed within the next week or two.  The injunction needs to be accompanied with a detailed complaint.  Colver asked if the cease and desist was the normal notice issued.  Bruno said you have to give them the opportunity to cease and desist.  Bruno said we are following the normal course of action. 

 

      Ruthann Cardell, 379 Stones Crossing Road, asked if a citation was issued to the property owner for being non-compliant.  Bruno said a citation is to collect monetary judgment.  Grimsby said you can impose a fine of $1,000 per day according to the state.  Grimsby said he expects the township to do their job. 

 

      Charlie Schmidt, 111 Willow Drive, asked when the park and walking path along the Bushkill Creek will be opened.  Adams said the park at Villages at Mill Race is getting close to being turned over to the township and the final wearing course should be completed on the bike path in the next couple of weeks. 

     

9.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·        Bruno had one litigation item for executive session.

 

Public Services Director

·        Adams had a cooperative repair agreement between Penndot and Palmer Township to do repair work on Greenwood Avenue between Northampton Street and Green Pond Road.  Adams said Penndot wants to get started soon and he is concerned that approvals might hold things up.  Bruno asked if the Board agreed with the concept.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the cooperative repair agreement with Penndot conditioned upon satisfactory review by the Township Solicitor.

 

      Police Chief

·        Chief Fretz said he heard there were going to be fireworks at community weekend this year and asked if a meeting could be set up between departments to coordinate the event.  Fretz said security needs to be addressed since it is a dangerous situation.

 

Supervisors

·        Colver said yesterday he was taking his recycling to the recycling center and the Director of Public Services, Tom Adams, was manning the center.  Colver said the regular scheduled employee called off so Tom opened the center.  Colver thanked Adams for covering for the employee and keeping the center open.

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m. with one litigation item for executive session.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager