FORKS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Northampton County, Pennsylvania WORK SESSION June 4, 2015

Transcription

1 FORKS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Northampton County, Pennsylvania WORK SESSION June, 0 MEETING GENERALITIES: The Forks Township Board of Supervisors met in a work session at the Municipal Building, 0 Sullivan Trail, Easton, Pennsylvania on this date. Chairman John O Neil called the meeting to order at :00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board Members present were: John O Neil, Chairman Ed Moore, Vice-Chairman Bob Egolf, Secretary/Treasurer Erik Chuss, Supervisor Dan Martyak, Supervisor Others present were: John V. Cornell, Township Manager Tim Weis, Building & Zoning Official James Farley, Finance Director Greg Dorney, Police Chief Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor Barb Bartek, Human Resource Manager Rachel Sulzbach, Parks & Recreation Director Scott Muller, Engineer Absent Were: Mark Roberts, Public Works Director Bryan Weis, Fire Chief Public Comments: None Supervisor Comments: Supervisor Erik Chuss said he was approached by a resident who said he came to the community park on Sunday and could not believe all the people; he had no idea what was going on; it was a LaCrosse Tournament that he said he was not aware of. Supervisor Chuss asked if we could possibly get more information out to the residents such as the electronic signs, a banner across Sullivan Trail welcoming the tournament players, and on the township website so residents are aware of the upcoming event. Rachel Sulzbach said this is on the township website under recreation and fields and pavilion rentals are on there as well as on the calendar.

2 The July nd workshop meeting was discussed as to whether to hold the meeting or cancel it due to the holiday falling on Saturday July th and the Municipal Building being closed on Friday, July rd. After some discussion Tim Weis, Rachel Sulzbach and Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi will not be in attendance due to vacations; however the Board of Supervisors, to date, will be in attendance therefore it was agreed to wait until the agenda comes out for that meeting and discuss this at that time. Discussion Items: No Action to be taken 0. Andrew Kliner Redevelopment Specialist - Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. presentation Mr. Andrew Kliner will make an informative presentation on the on-going economic development activities in Lehigh Valley by the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. Mr. John Cornell said we received a call today that Mr. Kliner was under the weather and would not be In attendance for tonight s meeting; we will reschedule for the next workshop on July nd, Conditional Use applications (for /) review and discussion Conditional Use applications will be heard by the Board of Supervisors on June, 0. The Zoning Officer and Solicitor will provide an overview of the applications. Tim Weis said he has three Conditional Use hearings coming up: Forks Logistics Center; previously owned by Hennison Cold Storage a large warehouse building; however they backed out and sold this back to Petrucci who is now proposing a 00,000 square foot multi-use building; just because of the size of the building is the reason it requires a conditional use hearing which will be before you on June th, 0; they have been before the Planning Commission and the township engineer on Braden Blvd. not sure who will be using it therefore may have to come before the board again at that time; nothing has really changed; also discussed the roadway, and railroad crossing, Kost Tire Across from Town Center Blvd. Conditional use to change the operation from just tires to repairs, brakes, minor repair work. Discussed private driveways, the old Austin house will come down, in planning process for the use, resident comments, noise, traffic, buffering, private road and widening of the roadway, holding monies in escrow, improvements, employee parking, sidewalks on Sullivan Trail, streetscape and the Town Center study; this has been before the Planning Commission as well and agreed to move forward. Dave Kolb Conditional Use the Planning Commission will be discussing this next Thursday for their recommendation; the application does not really say what they are looking for only have a small snapshot; only showing about an acre or so and we all know it s over 0 acres and that must be addressed; also asked to waive land development, however this is a commercial property. 0. Traffic Vehicle Code amendment street obstructions, snow removal etc. discussion Discussion will take place regarding possible amendment of the local traffic vehicle code to address concerns over activities in the public right of way. Mr. Cornell said we have identified that we have some work that needs to be done on our roadways, such as basketball hoops, dumping of mulch, piles of stones, etc. and address some of the topics and asked if the board has anything to add in trying to add new wording to the ordinance including snow removal; should we have guidelines in the ordinance to allow pavers or stone to be dumped in the roadways and

3 how long of a period of time for these items to be obstructing our roadways, if we should require a temporary permit, place a time limit on it. Discussion ensued on seven day limit, obstructions causing accidents such as mulch; cannot be seen in the dark, damage to the roadways and curbing, cars left in streets during snow removal, defining the word storage, appropriate time frame, neighborhood disputes, proper posting of signs No Parking, surrounding neighborhoods near the fields during certain events, input as to any issues that should be added to the ordinance since it needs to be updated. After a short discussion it was agreed to keep the board updated and said this is work in progress at this time. 0. Frutchey Road repair discussion The Township Engineer and Public Works Director will discuss issues with Frutchey Road which is in need of considerable repair. Scott Muller showed photos of the damage to the roadside swale, spoke of the main swale, the retaining wall, the side of the road is failing, the wall is failing, footers are eroded, the whole traffic lane is starting to swift into the travel lanes, old patching cracking, wall tilting into the swale, not a cheap fix, utility poles and other items in the way, 00 feet of roadway surveyed, deteriorating swale on the one side, wall buckling out, safer in two to three setups, located the train bridge; separate project, what is the best solution; whichever is chosen will be very expensive, piping the swale, try to rebuild, trying to figure out what to do, restricting travel to one lane, make it a one way only, speed sign, traffic activity in that section, the effect and on how many residents, and just cutting it off totally until repaired, how long for repairs, offset the cost of fixing it, closing the road, traffic analysis, emergency access, safety concerns, possible funds from liquid fuels, close east bound lane making one lane traffic, close bridge down, filling in with piping and sub-base, planks and netting, d images, taking of the lose rocks, traffic count, and the reasoning for collecting all the data. 0. Recycling Discussion Update Staff will provide and update on the contract renewal, proposed survey, and recycling containers. Jim Farley said he recently had a meeting with Cindy Otis, Mark, and John to talk over several things; major item was the trash containers. Discussed how to go out for bid, one bidder would bid to pick up the trash, dispose of trash and recyclables, recycling centers, one package contracts, the best way to proceed is to do it in pieces the best bidder, hauling fees, fuel usage, provide income with recyclables, negotiate rates, hire someone to pick up and haul away, disposal sites, lock in contract for three years, agreed to go out for three separate components, cans are a separate issue; spell this out in contract which will drive the price, insurance and safety rates, bond and insure, automated much lower insurance rate, accommodate residents, provide options on cans, senior citizens not wanting the large container, option of bags verses cans, concerns of not having room for the containers, any change causes resident reaction, disabilities and programs they can sign up for, automated can and different sizes, complaints very manageable, customize contract, process needed for grant, advertise the change; have a town hall meeting and give residents the time to come in and express their concerns, the opportunity to buy the container, the current hauler is good with the automatic containers, do a public survey, education and utilize community days, survey monkey and controlling the responses, insert survey with next utility billing, counter on website, newsletter read heavily online, restrict or lock out after one survey per person; limiting responses, hits to the website, IP address, energy recycling ego awareness for community days; have volunteers sit at tables with survey and handout small gifts like last year with the light bulbs upon completion of survey or set up a station with a lap top to take a survey, residents need to know they have a choice as to the size of the can, accommodate residents with special needs, and a special form to be filled out, set a defined date to start, and also spoke of an exhibit at community days for recycling containers.

4 Drones Policies / Rules & Regulations With the increased use of recreational drones it has been suggested the Township discuss and consider guidelines and or regulations. Supervisor Dan Martyak asked if there is a policy if not said there should be one. Discussed the cameras on them, issues with one dropping on someone house, authorization of its use, federal or state regulations, goggle searching found some places that have adopted ordinance, evading peoples privacy, use in public places, regulating rockets and airplanes with a motor or electric remote, open space to fly, risking peoples lives on larger planes, FAA enforcement, restrictions, classification between helicopters and drones and their maneuvering in a residential neighborhood, definition of a drone; camera or weapon, trespassing and evading airspace, hovering and controlling with cellphone, if one crashes down on a person and liabilities. Additional Discussions: Supervisor Ed Moore said he attended the lacrosse tournament over the weekend and it was a downpour; the fields were flooded and they didn t close the fields. Rachel Sulzbach said during the weekends the commissioners make the call to continue the games not the staff. Mr. Moore also said there were two Bobcats boys were riding on in the parks and asked if this is allowed; Rachel Sulzbach said this was brought in from someone which is not allowed; no motorized vehicles in the parks and it is posted; the staff must be and older is allowed to operate in park. Chairman John O Neil said we have yet to receive the requested information from the Athletic Association to the Recreation Board and held a discussion in reference to the Board of Supervisors not continuing to fund them and or stop the use of our fields / moratorium unless this information is received. Discussion ensued on the impact on the children, stopping it now would not allow fall sports to begin; sending letter if documentation is not received; deadline was set for May nd, 0; and a revised Rec Board Ordinance was scheduled to be approved at the next meeting of June th, 0; FTAA does not take it seriously; we must start imposing consequences; volunteer hours; parents are not doing them and they are supposed to adhere to this; facilities should be suspended; create an infrastructure; doing it in house, snack bar, registration and forming teams, participation of volunteers, place it under the management of the township; professional capacity, could send the existing bylaws with the suggestions/funding; until agreement is in place no additional funding. Chairman John O Neil - fire crew; use of vehicles Jim Farley gave an update on the new utility billing system would like to get the July billing on the new system; meeting two Mondays and full day of training coming up. Express bill pay, so customers can look at their bills and history and the ability to pay their bill as well. Progressing very well. Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi gave a reminder since there will be conditional use hearings the meeting will start at :00 PM

5 Township Manager, John Cornell reminded the board of the Executive Session in reference to Litigation Adjournment: There being nothing further to discuss the meeting was adjourned into executive session for personnel at :00 PM. Following the Session the evening concluded without any formal action. Executive Session: Personnel matters Minutes transcribed by recording Debi Knesz, Admin. Asst.