PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
MAY 27, 2008
A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Tuesday, May 27, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with all Supervisors in attendance. Also in attendance were the Director of Public Services, Planning Director, Police Chief, Township Solicitor, and Attorney Christy Schlottman. The Township Manager was absent. Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag.
2. APPROVAL
OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – MAY 27, 2008
INFORMATION
The report will be provided at the meeting.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board voted to approve the disbursement of funds for May 27, 2008.
3. APPROVAL
OF MINUTES – MAY 19, 2008
DISCUSSION
On motion by Smith, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the Board voted to approve the minutes of May 19, 2008.
4. DISABILITY PENSION
APPROVAL
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the monthly disability pension benefit for
Dan Monek in the amount of $2,562.77 per month.
DISCUSSION
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the disability pension for Daniel Monek in the amount of $2,562.77 per month.
5. ORDINANCE AMENDING
THE PALMER TOWNSHIP BUILDING CODE TO REQUIRE SUBMISSION OF AN INDIVIDUAL LOT
GRADING PLAN IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPLICATIONS INVOLVING PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION
OF ANY NEW PRINCIPAL RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE AND ANY NON-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the ordinance.
DISCUSSION
Bruno noted even though this was a building issue not a SALDO issue the LVPC had no comment or problem with it. Lammi questioned B7 regarding what the engineer needs to include on the plan. Lammi said assuming it is the homeowner building the house; it is requiring a lot of things, streets, curbs, sidewalks, drainage facilities. Dillman said this is right out of the subdivision plan set. Dillman said the whole purpose is to prevent problems too far down the line.
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the individual lot grading plan ordinance.
6. ORDINANCE AMENDING THE
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the ordinance.
DISCUSSION
Dillman said this is not anything new, per say, it is taking a series of loose documents we have been using and now we have put it together in a booklet form. It will keep everyone on the same page regarding guidelines. Dillman said in the past when developers were building basketball courts and tennis courts in their subdivision we started putting together the required guidelines so they were building to standards the township accepted. Dillman said as time progressed we included additional items. Dillman said the document includes acceptable and not acceptable construction requirements in the township.
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the ordinance incorporating standard construction documents as standard for any required improvement in the township.
7. ORDINANCE AMENDING
THE PALMER TOWNSHIP SUBDIVISION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH
PROCEDURES FOR ESTABLISHING, RELEASING, AND UPDATING IMPROVEMENTS SECURITY
INFORMATION
The
Board needs to approve/disapprove the ordinance.
DISCUSSION
Dillman said this ordinance puts in writing the methodology we have been going through in the planning department in working with developers to establish their initial security as well as an explanation of the step by step process. This document makes it a uniform policy. Dillman said again we have been doing this but now we are adopting it as a policy and it will be given to developers with their improvements agreement.
On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the ordinance to establish procedures for establishing, releasing, and updating improvements security.
8. TOWNSHIP
ENGINEER CAPITAL PROJECTS UPDATE
INFORMATION
The
township engineer will update the
Board on the status of all capital projects.
DISCUSSION
Dillman said they
finished surveying the houses around the
Dillman said the
storm sewer pipes are being installed at the community center site. Colver said Chrin has suggested the curbing
and final wearing course not be completed until the fall. Dillman said he will take a look at it and
get with Penndot to see what they say.
Colver said we need to get the request regarding curbing to
Dillman said he received
comment from one Penndot employee and Tom Adams and
9. PUBLIC COMMENT
None
10. REPORTS
Solicitor
· Bruno had an extension agreement for the Villages of Mill Race, Phase 4, requesting an extension to complete public improvements until December 31, 2008. On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension agreement.
· Bruno had an extension agreement for the Villages of Mill Race, Phase 3, requesting an extension until December 31, 2008 to complete public improvements. Mitchell asked how long it will take to complete their improvements. Dillman said the amount of work that remains could be done in a month. Lammi suggested they give an extension until September 30, 2008 not December 31, 2008. Dillman said he believes Phase 3 only has one open lot to be built on. Phase 4 has a lot more open lots. The Board agreed to push up the extension of time to September for Phase 3 and leave the Phase 4 extension until December 31, 2008. On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension agreement with an extension until September 30, 2008, with no further extensions.
· Bruno had an extension request from the Estates at Knobhill, Robert Ciccone, requesting an extension to complete public improvements until December 31, 2008. Bruno read a list of outstanding items that still need to be completed. Dillman said the last time he was at the property only 2/3 of the units were completed. Lammi asked if we could request that the gates be operational prior to completion of the other outstanding items. Bruno said we could do that. Lammi said he did not believe anyone was complaining that the gates were not operational. On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension request.
·
Bruno had an extension agreement for the Highlands
of Glenmoor requesting an extension until December 31, 2008. Bruno read the outstanding improvements that need
to be completed. Colver said we could
back this one up to September 30, 2008.
Lammi made a motion to authorize the Chairman to sign the extension
agreement until September 30, 2008.
Smith seconded the motion. Gil
Greene,
· Bruno had an extension agreement for Glenmore Realty LP, for Glenmore Estates asking for an extension until December 31, 2008. Bruno read items outstanding to the Board. Lammi said they should be given until December 31, 2008 but told this is the last extension. Colver said once again he thinks we should only give them until September 30, 2008. On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension agreement with an extension until September 30, 2008.
· Bruno had an extension agreement for the Estates of Penn’s Grant requesting an extension until April 30, 2009. Bruno read the outstanding work that remains to be completed. Colver said the houses have not sold and they do not want to do the work until the homes are done. Colver said again it is a private road. On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the extension agreement.
·
Bruno had an extension request from Bob Cahill, related
to the Kharecha subdivision. Bruno said they are asking for an extension of one
year for the development of the proposed office building on
· Bruno said regarding the upcoming Zoning Hearing Board/Tracy School issue he wanted to know if the Board wanted him to actively participate at the hearing. Lammi said he believes we should let the zoning process follow through. Colver said his reaction is the bus garage has been there since the 1960’s and now they are going up in bus count to 100 buses on site and it changes the character of what they are doing in the neighborhood. Smith said the fields they are going to use for bus parking are very heavily used fields especially during the soccer season. Smith asked if anyone has said where that field use would now go. Lammi said according to the zoning officer they do not have approval for the use they are using it for now. Colver said what about having the area they want to expand for buses used for the employee parking lot and where the employees now park in front of the building, you could park the additional buses. Colver said it is just an idea if the buses were in the front of the building they would not be close to the houses. Dillman said the school districts request is not an accessory use for the school. Lammi said if they get approval from the Zoning Hearing Board how does it come back to us. Dillman said it depends on what conditions the Zoning Hearing Board gives them. Bruno said this Board would see a site plan that you could comment on for the zoning officer to make a decision. Bruno said it is not a land development plan. Bruno said there is a process in place to review and comment on the site plan. Lammi said one thing he wants to look at is runoff into a detention basin. Bruno said if you are looking to oppose the plan then I should attend. Colver asked the Planning Director to get a copy of the plan for them to review.
· Lammi questioned the township engineer’s monthly report that stated the Villages at Mill Race, Phase 2, shows its current extension request expires May 31, 2008. Lammi asked if we need to give them an extension beyond this month. On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board granted a 30 day extension, if needed.
Public
Services Director
·
Police
Chief
· Fretz said the department received certification for Matt Allshouse. Fretz said he would like a motion to rehire Matt effective June 1, 2008. On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board authorized rehiring Matt Allshouse effective June 1, 2008 as a township police officer.
Supervisors
· Smith said the Athletic Association has made another $2,500 payment on their pledge to the Community Center.
·
Lammi said last week we talked about a policy
for the electronic sign and a draft has been put together. Lammi said page two has some questions that
need to be addressed and included in the policy. Lammi asked the Board to review the draft
policy and questions and they can discuss it again at next weeks meeting. Panella asked if anyone clarified Penndot's requirements
for the length of time a message needs to be displayed. Colver asked
·
Lammi said at the PSATS convention he attended
the legislative roundup workshop regarding current bills in the house. Lammi said there is legislation out there
that would allow us to advertise our public notices on the township website
instead of being put in the newspaper. Lammi
said at the conference they said in
· Colver had one personnel item for executive session.
· Panella read a statement from Dan Monek thanking the Board for allowing him to serve as a police officer in the township for the past 13 years.
Planning
Director
· Kinney said he provides Supervisor Lammi with the monthly township engineer progress report and asked if other members of the Board would like to receive the report. The Board members said they would like to see the report each month.
· Kinney said as a follow up to Supervisor Lammi’s discussion on the one Senate Bill, he can also provide senate bill updates to the Board if interested. Lammi said he tries to follow some of the bills but it is not easy to stay on top of them. Lammi said he thinks it would be a good idea.
·
Kinney retrieved a copy of the
On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. with one personnel item for executive session.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Anckaitis
Township Manager