PALMER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

OCTOBER 19, 2009

 

      A general business meeting of the Palmer Township Board of Supervisors was held on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Palmer Library with all Supervisors in attendance:  Dave Colver, Bob Lammi, Ann-Marie Panella, Mike Mitchell and Bob Smith.  Also in attendance were the Township Manager, Public Services Director, Police Chief and Township Solicitor.  Colin McEvoy 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 – OCTOBER 5, 2009 AND OCTOBER 19, 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 October 5, 2009.

 

On motion by Panella, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the disbursement of funds for October 19, 2009.

 

3.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES – SEPTEMBER 29, 2009

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Lammi changed the third line of page three from “down 25th Street” to “from the Highland Park area” and the second to last sentence of the same page he changed “Penndot” to “DEP”.  Lammi also noted on page eleven “Cabot” was spelled incorrectly.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board approved the minutes of September 29, 2009 with the above changes.

                 

4.   TOWER ONE DISCUSSION

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      Representatives from Tower One will be in attendance.

 

      DISCUSSION

     

      Larry Romanowski and Nick Pullen were in attendance from Tower One.  Romanowski explained the process their company uses regarding tower management.  Romanowski said they focus on working exclusively with municipalities and generate non-tax revenue for the municipalities.  Romanowski said they do the work with the municipalities and get everything worked out to where a tower would be appropriate and then we go to the wireless carrier to use the tower.  Romanowski said they focus on areas away from the private neighborhoods.  Colver asked for information on the sites.  Romanowski said the areas are usually 50’ x 50’ in size with the poles being about 120’ to 150’ tall and they focus on getting multiple carriers on one tower.  We believe less towers are better.  Romanowski said they look for an area that is close to an electrical supply and it would be a fenced in area with landscaping.  Romanowski said typically in this area a 120’ poll would be adequate which would allow four carriers.  We could extend the pole to 150’ if it was needed down the road.  Colver said you do it all and pay for everything.  Romanowski said that is correct.  Romanowski said poles are wind rated for 90 to 110 mile an hour winds and if there would be a problem with a pole, say in an ice storm, they are designed to collapse, not fall over.  Lammi asked if an individual carrier puts up a tower if they allow other carriers to put their equipment on the tower, or is it specifically for that carrier.  Romanowski said it depends.  Carriers will build a tower and allow another carrier but you have to remember carriers are always trying to market the best coverage area.  Lammi said if you put three or four carriers on one pole versus three or four separate towers, he sees it as an advantage to the township.  Colver said we also get to suggest where the towers get placed.  Romanowski said if we succeed the municipality succeeds.  Pullen said they are currently working with Lehigh County, the City of Bethlehem and the Bethlehem Authority.  Mitchell asked if they decided on locations.  Romanowski said they have looked at fire station #2 where there is an existing tower, the recycling center and public works area and community center.  Romanowski said they would also allow emergency services to use any tower they place in the township.  The municipality would just need to purchase the equipment and Tower One would hang the equipment for the township.    Pullen said the average rent to a carrier is $1,800 per month.  We provide the municipality with 40% of the revenue which would be $720 per month, per carrier.  Pullen said we feel we would have two carriers per pole in this township.  Pullen said fees escalate 3% per year and the carriers sign a five year contract.  Romanowski said we would like to know from the township where you feel the best locations are for the towers.  Colver recommended they meet with Bob Anckaitis and Tom Adams, they would know the best locations.  Anckaitis said he already has an agreement from Tower One.  The Board suggested the solicitor review the agreement now so when they are ready to go, everything has been taken care of.

 

5.   SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAM DISCUSSION

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      The Board needs to discuss whether to continue the summer playground program in 2010.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

Colver said this item we are going to table until the Recreation Board can discuss it.  It will come back to us after their meeting with their recommendation.  Anckaitis noted it needs to be resolved quickly for the 2010 budget.

 

6.      APPROVAL OF AMENDED MINIMUM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATION FOR THE NON-UNIFORM PENSION PLAN

 

                  INFORMATION       

 

      Due to a change in the Act 44 law in September, changing the amortization schedule, a new minimum municipal obligation amount was recalculated.  The Board needs to withdraw their approval of the amount approved last month ($397,880) with the recalculated amount of $384,207.

 

                  DISCUSSION

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board rescinded their prior approval of the non-uniform MMO amount for 2010 as $397,880 and approved the revised non-uniform pension MMO for 2010 in the amount of $384,207.

 

7.      REMALEY INDUSTRIAL PARK AGREEMENT OF SALE

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the agreement of sale and authorized the Chairman to sign the agreement.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

Bruno asked to hold this item to discuss in executive session with the record remaining open should a decision need to be made tonight. 

 

8.      TAX CERTIFICATION FEE RESOLUTION

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove the tax certification resolution.

 

                  DISCUSSION

 

      Anckaitis said previously the Board approved changing the tax certification fees from $10 to $20 and it never got changed in the resolution.  This resolution makes that correction.

                 

      On motion by Smith, seconded by Mitchell, and agreed by all, the Board approved the tax certification resolution. 

 

9.   AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE LOCAL SERVICES TAX ORDINANCE

 

      INFORMATION       

 

      The Board needs to approve/disapprove advertising of the ordinance.

 

      DISCUSSION

 

      Anckaitis said during one of the last revisions to this ordinance a section regarding claim refunds was inadvertently left out.  This revision adds that section back into the ordinance and we are also changing the due date from March 1st to April 15th to remain consistent with all other tax deadlines.

 

On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Solicitor to advertise the Local Services Tax ordinance.

 

10. PUBLIC COMMENT

 

      None

 

14. REPORTS

       

Solicitor

·        Bruno had a Hold Harmless Agreement related to the Knobhill development.  Bruno said Nick Zawarski and Sons built a large retaining wall without a permit and the Township Engineer was not involved in an inspection process.  Bruno said there doesn’t appear to be any problem but he felt it best to have an agreement from the builder and the homeowners association related to the retaining wall.  Bruno said they have both signed the agreement and they have to maintain insurance coverage in effect.  On motion by Lammi, seconded by Panella, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the Chairman to sign the Hold Harmless agreement. 

·        Bruno had one real estate item and two litigation items for executive session.  Bruno noted to keep the record open since one litigation item may require further action during the public meeting tonight.

 

Public Services Director

·        Adams said leaf collection started last Thursday in Old Orchard.

·        Adams said the dry sprinkler system was repaired at 50% less than what we budgeted.

·        Adams said the Northampton County contractor will be working on the Stocker Mill Bridge for about a week with a detour using Tatamy and Newlins Mill Roads.

·        Adams said they are planning a meeting to go over the Greenwood Avenue project with the public next Monday night at the community center.  Mitchell asked about the pole relocation.  Anckaitis said he got a call from Met Ed today saying a contractor will be doing the pole relocation work, but they do not have a date yet.

·        Adams said the public works department will most likely get started on the bike path work at the high school later this week and it should take about a week to complete.

     

Supervisors

·        Smith said the Athletic Association made a $1,000 donation to the family that lost their home to a fire on Saturday.  They also raised over $1,000 at a 50/50 drawing at the football game.  Smith said football playoffs are underway and basketball starts in four weeks.

·        Lammi had one personnel matter for executive session.

·        Colver said the firefighter that was injured on Saturday is okay.  Colver said we received a lot of help from area communities and a big thank you needs to go out to our neighbors for helping out.

 

      On motion by Panella, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board convened into executive session at 8:00 p.m. to discuss one real estate, two litigation, and one personnel matter.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board reconvened the public meeting at 9:00 p.m.

 

      On motion by Lammi, seconded by Smith, and agreed by all, the Board authorized the appropriate representatives of Palmer Township to enter into a tri-party agreement with Atlantic VanBuren LP and Allan Myers based upon concepts set forth in the proposed draft agreement sent to the solicitor today; conditioned upon (1) the final form of the agreement being acceptable to the township solicitor and (2) all deeds of dedication and easements for this development being executed by the developer as they are called for in the subdivision plan.  The meeting was adjourned at 9:02 p.m.

     

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Robert G. Anckaitis

Township Manager