PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

SEPTEMBER 4, 2007

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with four Supervisors in attendance.  Mike Mitchell was absent.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Director of Public Services, Police Chief, and Township Solicitor.  Chairman Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

 

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – SEPTEMBER 4, 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 September 4, 2007. 

 

3.      APPROVAL OF MINUTES – AUGUST 28, 2007

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Lammi added to the second bullet on page 9 after the second sentence, “Lammi indicated he was interested in discussing the plan.”  The third sentence he changed to read, “Lammi said he talked to Dave a few weeks ago about him requesting elected officials from member municipalities attend a meeting with the Two Rivers Council of Government to see how area communities feel about a regional plan.”

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes for August 28, 2007, with the above changes. 

     

4.   DIESEL FUEL AND UNLEADED GAS BID AWARDS

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      Bids were received from two vendors for supplying diesel fuel and gasoline from September 2007 to December 2008.  Bidders were requested to supply both firm (fixed) and fluctuating prices for each fuel.  The Director of Public Services is recommending awarding the bids to the firm price low bidder pursuant to the attached memorandum.  The Board needs to approve/disapprove the awarding of the bids.

           

      DISCUSSION

     

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the diesel fuel bid award to Farm & Home Oil Co., Telford, PA as follows:  27,000 Gallons Diesel - $2.4450/gallon (ultra low).

 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the unleaded gas bid award to Farm & Home Oil Co., Telford, PA as follows:  50,000 Gallons Unleaded Gasoline - $2.2500/gallon.

 

5.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      Bill Wallace was in attendance and stated he was running for County Council and he wanted to understand any issues Palmer Township may have for County Council.       

     

6.   REPORTS

     

Solicitor

·        Bruno had an extension agreement for Fairfield Development Associates.  Bruno said they are currently in default but the developer is requesting an extension until the end of this week, September 7, 2007.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension agreement.

·        Bruno said Mr. Marron of Easton Self Storage has submitted a check for $8,500 to the township so the township can complete necessary public improvements in the detention basin area.  Bruno said they can now go into the maintenance period and they have extended their letter of credit.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the land development maintenance agreement contingent upon the original letter of credit arriving in the solicitor’s office.

·        Bruno said he had a resolution to accept roads and right-of-way for the Villages of Mill Race, Phase I.  On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the resolution accepting roads and right-of-way as follows:  Orchid Court right-of-way, Tulip Court right-of-way, Newlins Mill Road right-of-way, Water Wheel Lane east of Willow Drive right-of-way, Water Wheel Lane west of Country Side Court right-of-way, Water Wheel Lane between Country Side Court and Mill Race Drive, Water Wheel Lane between Mill Race Drive and Willow Drive, Willow Drive right-of-way, Cobblestone Court right-of-way, Mill Race Drive right-of-way, Countryside Court right-of-way, Lot 1-19B, Paved area for maintenance purposes along existing cul-de-sac. 

·        Bruno had a resolution for the Villages at Mill Race, Phase I, to accept the parking lot area located to the rear of Lots T17-T24.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the resolution accepting the parking lot area.

·        Bruno had nine storm sewer easement agreements related to the Villages at Mill Race, Phase I.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the nine storm sewer easement agreements.

·        Bruno said the Chairman can now execute the 18 month maintenance period for the Villages of Mill Race, Phase I, subject to receipt of the original letter of credit in the solicitor’s office, pertaining solely to open space recreation area and the ecological filter.  On motion by Smith, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the maintenance agreement.

 

      Manager

·        Anckaitis confirmed that it was his understanding regarding the Lower Nazareth meetings related to the warehouse development off Newburg Road, that the Solicitor, Township Engineer, and Planning Director will be putting together a list of concerns that the Board of Supervisors can review prior to the next Lower Nazareth meeting.  Bruno said that was correct.

·        Anckaitis said we received in the mail a citation sponsored by Representative Richard Grucela from the House of Representatives acknowledging our 150th Anniversary.

·        Anckaitis said this year we budgeted $54,500 to pave the remaining portion of the parking lot at Riverview Park and also $37,500 for paving the parking area at LaBarre Park.  Anckaitis said since LaBarre Park is now stone and level he did not see the purpose of spending money to pave it at this time.  Anckaitis said he ran it by Bob Smith as the liaison to the Recreation Board.  Anckaitis said we agreed it would be best to just pave one area for the handicapped access.  Anckaitis said the Public Services Director and Superintendent did not think it necessary to pave Riverview Park either.  Anckaitis said he would recommend we take the $25,000 left from LaBarre and $54,500 allotted for Riverview and use it toward the first $80,000 payment on the land acquisition from the school district.  Smith said the area above the field house at Palmer School will eventually need to be paved because it is a dust bowl.  Colver said he thinks LaBarre needs to be paved.  Colver said he is fine with taking LaBarre paving out of this year’s budget but to include it in next year’s budget.  Colver agreed to waiting until next year to pave the whole LaBarre lot and to use the  funds allotted this year for LaBarre Park for the new property at Palmer School.  Adams asked if he should seek permission from the school district.  Colver said yes they should not have a problem with it since it is at our expense.

 

      Police Chief

·        Fretz said back in July he gave information to the Board about the accreditation process.  Fretz said RMS has given us a timeline and a December go live date for the new RMS system.

·        Fretz said at a Chief’s meeting today it was discussed to approach the Northampton County District Attorney to discuss coordination with other departments that have the same system.  Anckaitis reminded the Board that the RMS system is being paid for out of the drug enforcement money we received.

 

Supervisors

·        Lammi said several months ago we signed an agreement with the City of Easton that would allow us FEMA money should we help them with public works emergencies.  Lammi said it was discussed at COG meetings and there is interest to do it with other surrounding communities.  Lammi said he gave the COG a copy of our agreement with Easton and it was reviewed by other township solicitors and the final version was sent to Bruno to review.  Bruno said he didn’t get the attachment with the email.  Lammi said he will re-send the email.  Lammi asked if the Board is interested in going into a regional agreement.  The Board agreed it would make sense to do it.

·        Colver said the new fire truck is here and it should take about two months to put all the equipment on it and for everyone to receive training.

·        Panella said she will be absent at the September 25th meeting.

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager