PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

JULY 20, 2009

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, July 20, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with four Supervisors in attendance:  Dave Colver, Bob Lammi, Ann-Marie Panella and Mike Mitchell.  Supervisor Smith was absent.  Also in attendance were the Public Services Director, Police Chief and Township Solicitor.  The Township Manager was absent.  Chris Knight from the Express Times represented the news media.  Chairman Colver convened the meeting and led those present in the Pledge to the Flag. 

 

2.   APPROVAL OF DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS – JULY 20, 2009

 

      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 July 20, 2009.

 

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES – JULY 8, 2009

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Lammi added to the second bullet on page five the following sentence:  “Lammi said the results from this committee’s study should be made part of the recreation/open space plan.”

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by three, the Board approved the minutes of July 8, 2009 with the above addition.  Colver approved the bond issue items since he only participated in that portion of the meeting through a teleconference.

     

4.   ENVIRONMENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE PRESENTATION

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      Cindy Oatis and Tom Dittmar will make a presentation to the Board on Environmental Steering Committee activities.

 

      DISCUSSION

     

      Cindy Oatis and Tom Dittmar of the Township Environmental Steering Committee were present.  Oatis said they would be discussing the recycling portion since Rob Reese and Tom Ganssle gave their presentation at a prior meeting.  Oatis distributed an information sheet to the Board.  Oatis said the slumping global economy has resulted in a slowdown in production of goods that in turn has decreased the demand for recycled material.  Oatis talked about the timeline of the existing waste contract and noted the Board will need to discuss if they wish to consider the one year extension option which would take the contract out to May 2013.  Oatis also informed the Board of a program called RecycleBank that is running in communities in Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Nebraska, Maine, and New Jersey.  Oatis said residents receive a bin with a computer chip in it.  When the recycling is collected, an arm on the truck weighs the bin and uses the computer chip to record the weight.  The data is added to an online account and the customers can log in to redeem their points each month to acquire coupons and/or gift certificates for area stores or restaurants.  Oatis said she has been going door to door to the township commercial properties.  Lammi asked if she is seeing an increase from her door to door solicitation of commercial business.  Oatis said she doesn’t know if it’s from her visits or the fact that going green is big right now.  Lammi asked if the grant money we receive could go away.  Oatis said she thinks they will keep some type of program in place.  Oatis said she thinks the performance grants will always be there.  She sees tightening up of the 902 equipment grants but the performance grants are a core to the recycling economy, so she doesn’t see that drying up.  Colver asked Oatis to refresh him on the extra year of the contract.  Oatis said we have within a certain time frame to exercise the one year extension option.  Colver said the township is acquiring funds through a bond to purchase 20 acres around the recycling center.  Colver said he foresees the fence being moved and the center expanding.  Tom Dittmar said when we originally designed the recycling center it included a pull through type center not the pull in/drop off that is now in existence.   Colver said he wanted them to keep a possible expansion in mind if there is any grant money available.  Oatis said the grant process is almost a full year process so we should jump on that almost immediately.  Colver said if it could be funded by grant money, I believe you would get full support of this Board.  Lammi added he feels this Board needs to give the ESC the options that we want to look at for the next contract.  Lammi stated he feels during the last contract there wasn’t enough education and communication with the residents.

 

      Tom Dittmar said the state is looking at a 35% recycling rate.  Dittmar said grants are drying up left and right.  Dittmar said this could be the last year (September 12th) for our food waste composting seminar that we have held for many years.  Last year we received 75 bins free.  Dittmar said so far 1,050 people attended that seminar.  Unless we find another way to fund the program it could be the last year for it.  Dittmar said the ESC, the Two Rivers COG and the county partnered in an ecycling event where 27 tons were removed from the waste stream, a total of 59 tons during the two year program.  Dittmar said a household hazardous waste collection will be held October 10th at the Northampton Community College.  Dittmar said the event last year collected 23,000 pounds that were removed from the waste stream.  Dittmar said the county is trying to pull everyone together as a team instead of everyone doing things individually.

 

5.      JOSEPH I INTERMUNICIPAL AGREEMENT

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the Joseph I intermunicipal agreement.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

Bruno said this document is an amendment to the intermunicipal agreement dated April 9, 2007 for wastewater conveyance capacity for expansion of the Northwood Surgery Center and for expansion of Dr. Joseph’s and Applebee’s sanitary sewer line.  Bruno said after his review he saw only a positive impact for the township.  Bruno said Mr. Hosking is recommending approval.

 

On motion by Lammi, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the intermunicipal agreement.

 

6.      VILLAGES AT MILL RACE, PHASE IV, SECURITY INCREASE

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the escrow release for Phase IV.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Lammi, and agreed by all, the Board approved the security release for Villages at Mill Race, Phase IV, in the amount of $60,096.90.

 

7.   FOX RUN AGREEMENT

 

      INFORMATION       

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the Fox Run agreement.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Bruno said we have agreement from the developer for the concept.  Bruno said the intent is to make sure the funds being held by the township are sufficient to complete the project in all respects and to cover outstanding moneys owed to the township, to include developer escrow and legal fees.  Bruno said the developer is waiting for final confirmation on the scope of the work remaining and he expects something will be generated by the Pidcock Company by Wednesday of this week.  Bruno said instead of a letter of credit the money will be transferred to a township bank account to be held as collateral.  As a result of the agreement the township gets its items resolved and indirectly the resident’s issues are also resolved.  Bruno said the contractor indicated they will follow through and complete the project because they know sufficient funds will now be available.  Bruno said there won’t be maintenance security with the developer so the township can purchase a maintenance bond to cover the township.  Bruno said it will allow them to complete their project with an extended time period to September 30, 2009.  Lammi said we wanted them to get moving on it now and they indicated they will as soon as the agreement is signed.  Payments will be paid directly to the contractor, not the developer, which gives them the incentive to get the job done. 

 

      Bruno said the agreement can be approved and acted on at next Tuesday’s meeting.  Lammi said some work still needs to be done by Ryan Homes and he asked if anyone has been in touch with them to have that work done before the rest of the work starts.  Bruno said he wasn’t in touch with Ryan Homes because that is the developer’s responsibility to have that work done.  Bruno said he will follow up on it. 

 

      Colver said we are not taking formal action tonight but some residents from Fox Run are in attendance tonight.  Colver asked for any questions or comments from the public.

 

      David Behar, 18 Lower Way Road, said now that $146,000 is coming out of the escrow won’t it be $146,000 short at the back end.  Colver said that won’t happen because the township engineer inspects the work being done on a daily basis.  They can’t cheat on doing something that is required because a representative from the Pidcock Company is there to inspect the work as it is being done.  Lammi said they don’t get a nickel until the work is done.  Behar said so the $146,000 wasn’t already released.  Bruno said correct.  Colver said it appears all avenues have been covered.  Behar asked who he should contact if he wants more details.  Bruno said it will be made part of this document and kept in the township office and it is a public document.  You can contact the municipal building to request a copy or to view the document.

 

      Liyakat Shaikh, 150 Lower Way Road, asked if the residents need to answer anything related to the mechanics lien letters they received.  Bruno said it was a letter stating their intent to file a lien, but they did not actually file a lien, so there is no action to take at this time.

 

8.      TRAFFIC SAFETY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

                  INFORMATION       

     

      The Traffic Safety Committee is providing recommendations for two stop signs and one yield sign at the following intersections:

 

1.      Stop sign (conversion from yield sign) on Brentwood Avenue at the intersection with Northwood Avenue.

2.      Stop sign (conversion from yield sign) on Emrick Terrace at the intersection with Sheridan Drive.

3.      Yield sign on Cibby Street at the intersection with Emrick Terrace.

     

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the recommendations from the traffic committee.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board approved the conversion of a yield sign to a stop sign at Brentwood Avenue at the intersection with Northwood Avenue, conversion of a yield sign to a stop sign on Emrick Terrace at the intersection with Sheridan Drive and a yield sign on Cibby Street at the intersection with Emrick Terrace.

 

9.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      David Behar, 18 Lower Way Road, said he felt there is a need to have a stop sign at the intersection of VanBuren and the Northwood Extension.  Behar said it is hard to see someone coming up the hill.   Fretz said they looked at this intersection before and the majority of the traffic is coming up and making a left toward Route 248.  Fretz said the traffic volume coming in the other directions didn’t warrant a four way stop.  Fretz said previous accidents really didn’t involve people stopping at the intersection – they were going through the stop signs.  Fretz said as the north end continues to develop it may change the traffic flow and warrant the signs. 

 

      Liyakat Shaikh, 150 Lower Way Road, agreed with Dave Behar about the risks at the intersection on VanBuren Road.  He said he goes the back way to Camelot Drive just to avoid the intersection.

 

      Suzanne Baer, 201 Berks Street, asked if anyone actually proofreads the minutes.  Baer felt the June 23 minutes omitted things she had commented on.  Baer provided a copy of her hand written notes she read at that meeting and she re-read the statement.  Baer asked Attorney Bruno if it was legal to have Mr. Anckaitis sign the minutes when he isn’t in attendance at a meeting.    Bruno said he doesn’t have to be at the meeting.  He submits them as the Township Secretary/Treasurer. 

 

      Starr Faden, 2620 Anthony Court, thanked the Board for the help with getting their streets paved and the street lights up.  Faden asked when the lights would be turned on.  Adams said the resolution was made to have them turned on, but last he heard Met-Ed has a six to eight month backlog.  Faden said the resident’s main sticking point at this time is with the abandoned lot that still has the trash trailer on it.  Faden said we thought this would be removed by June 30th.  Faden said then we were told it would be by July 6th.  Faden said she had been in touch with Jim Raudenbush and he gave me feedback - but didn’t answer what the holdup is with the trailer.  Faden said the trailer was moved and hidden on the lot and a fence was erected to stop people from going on the lot and dumping.  Colver said the township didn’t move the trailer the contractor for the developer moved it.  Colver said the trailer is on private property on the contractor’s lot.  Faden said it is not out of site.  Colver asked if you are calling it a trash trailer because they are storing trash in the trailer.  Faden said no, it is just falling apart, there are holes in the trailer, there are weeds growing inside and the tires are flat.  Lammi said from the upper portion of the development you can see it.  Lammi said the trailer is not part of the improvements agreement.  The improvements agreement includes public improvements.  The cleaning up of the lot and the trailer has nothing to do with the improvements agreement. Faden said if a developer is in violation of a construction code shouldn’t they be fined.  Bruno said if it is a code issue our code department will present the information to the Board and they will decide what action should be taken.  Colver said he will have to follow up with Jim Raudenbush about the trailer and he would go out to the site tomorrow.  Faden said we always spoke about the trash trailer in our prior minutes.  Lammi said we are just saying it is a separate issue from the improvements agreement.  Lammi said when he was on site yesterday it was cleaned up considerably.  Faden said there is no functional purpose for the trailer.

 

      George Hawk, 2614 Anthony Court, asked if the residents will be notified when their development is turned over to the township.  Colver said when the work is completed it gets inspected by the township engineer’s office and then it comes to us at one of our public meetings for approval to enter into their 18-month maintenance period.  Colver said you will not be notified individually – the action is taken at a public meeting.

 

      Faden asked when the roads get paved who pays for it.  Bruno said the developer pays and then he asks for a release on his security.

 

      Geoff Faden, 2620 Anthony Court, asked who is responsible for maintaining trees and weeds along the bike path and the scrubs from the parking area to the bike path.  Adams said open space is part of right-of-way and when it gets turned over to the township it will be the parks departments responsibility to maintain the area.  Until it gets turned over to the township it is the developer’s responsibility.  Starr said a couple of residents said their driveway was torn up.  Lammi asked if it is on their property.  Starr said near the edge of the street.  Colver said as long as it is in the township right-of-way it will be inspected and it would have to be repaired by the developer before we accept it.

 

      Liyakat Shaikh, 150 Lower Way Road, said trees planted by their developer have died.  Colver said it will be included in the inspection by the township engineer before the township approves entering into the maintenance period.

 

8.   REPORTS

       

Solicitor

·        Bruno had two litigation items for executive session.

 

Public Services Director

·        Adams reported the township received the $5,000 grant for the Smithco.

 

Police Chief

·        Chief Fretz said you may notice that several township police vehicles now have four antennas on them.  They are low jack detectors.  Fretz said the equipment assists in identifying stolen vehicles.

·        Chief Fretz said he has received calls on the no truck traffic on Corriere Drive.  Fretz said he is checking with Penndot about the requirements since the improvements were made to Corriere Road.  Fretz said even though it says local deliveries, some trucks are picking up not delivering.

 

Supervisors

·        Lammi said he saw an article in the Morning Call about communities bracing for tax appeals because the market value of homes are dropping.  Lammi asked what happens if this does happen and then the market changes and goes back up.  Lammi said he feels we need to be concerned about this from a townships perspective. 

 

      On motion by Mitchell, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. with two litigation items for executive session.

     

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager