Williams Township Board of Supervisors November 12, 2015 The monthly meeting of the Williams Township Board of Supervisors, 655 Cider Press Road, Easton, PA 18042 was held on the above date and called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson, George Washburn. George led the audience in the pledge to the flag. Others present were Vice Chairman Vincent Foglia, Supervisor Raymond Abert, Township Solicitor Jonathan Reiss, Township Engineer Richard Young, Township Manager Jennifer Smethers and Township Secretary Melody Ernst. Absent were: Zoning Officer Richard Adams, Public Works Director Michael Strawn and Township Engineer Tim Edinger. George stated there was an Executive session held on Thursday, November 12, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. to discuss potential litigation and personnel matters. Presentation - Miracle League - Rick Lammi and Rich Agretto thanked the Board for the support to the Miracle League which enables kids and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities the opportunity to play ball. They presented a plaque to the Board for their continued support. George thanked the residents for their continued support to the Miracle League. George asked Vince and Ray if they had any corrections to the Minutes of October 14, 2015. There being none, Vince made a motion to approve said minutes, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Melody presented the Expense Report of November 12, 2015 and the October Treasurers Report to the Board. Vince made a motion to approve the Treasurer Report, Expense Report and to pay the bills with the exception of the T & M Associates invoice until further review, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Mangers Report 1. Field Use Policy George asked this matter be tabled. 2. PMHIC Agreement Amendments Jen stated an email was received from PMHIC regarding proposed amendments to our Agreement. She stated there were minor changes to the stop loss clause in the Agreement. Vince made a motion to accept the Agreement, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 3. Raubsville Concession Stand Audit Approval Jen stated the audit for the Local Share Grant for the Concession Stand has been completed with no findings found. She asked for the Boards approval to accept the audit and then she will forward it to the State to close out the grant. Vince made a motion to accept the audit, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 1
Jen stated she is looking for the Board s approval to accept the terms and to make a payment in the amount of $3,500.00 for the Intergovernmental Agreement between Hellertown Borough, Lower Saucon and Williams Township for our use of the Saucon Valley Compost Center. Vince made a motion to approve the renewal and accept the terms, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Jen stated that she along with George met with Sam Lobb from Easton Emergency Squad regarding emergency coverage for the back end of the Township. Jen further stated for an 8 hour day, five days a week the weekly cost would be $672.40 or approximately $35,000.00 a year. There would also be a cost for a vehicle that would be needed. Therefore, Jen was told by Mr. Lobb if the Township would want to staff the Raubsville EMS building it would cost the Township approximately $51,000.00 the first year and approximately $37,000 each year thereafter. After a short discussion regarding response time, Vince would like to look into it further and see if there would be a benefit before moving forward. George stated Jen has data that we will make available on the Township website. This matter is tabled until December or January for public input. Jen mentioned the Township is accepting applications for a CDL Laborer. Linda Heindel thanked everyone that came out for the Veterans program. She also thanked Rayanne Perry and her students. Vince thanked the Veterans for their service. George thanked Linda and the committee for a nice program. Public Works Jen read the report for October 14, 2015 to November, 2015 in Mike s absence. 1. Anti Skid Bid Award Jen stated one bid was received from A.B.E. Materials with an FOB price of $11.00/ton, Haul price of $4.52/ton for a total price of $15.52/ton. Melody Ernst stated that she received a quote from Eastern Industries, Inc. in the amount of $17.58/ton which was used as a comparison. The quote was received prior to the bid being advertised. Vince made a motion to accept the bid from A.B.E. Materials for the price mentioned, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Zoning Hearing Board Report Jen read the report for October 2015 in Rich s absence. Jen further stated there will be a Zoning Hearing Board meeting on November 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. for the following: 1. CROWN CASTLE TOWERS 06-2 LLC d/b/a CROWN CASTLE 1260 Island Park Road Variance Relief from Grading Ordinance and Stormwater Management Ordinance. 2
Planning Commission Haldan Ballek stated the Board has been reviewing the draft revised Township Zoning Ordinance. Land Preservation Bob gave the report for October 21, 2015. He stated the Land Preservation Board rejected the Ivenz project. Jonathan stated as an update with the Koch property, he does not have the final requirement back yet from the title insurance underwriter as to what is necessary to clear title on approximately three acres of the Koch property. Vince gave Bob a list of the subdivision projects in the Township and stated to use the handouts as he will with the Land Preservation Board. Kathy Lilley asked where she can get the details of the score sheets for properties and what that score means. Vince stated the Open Space Plan has a score sheet to help determine the rank of a property. Bob stated the score sheet is in Township files. Recreation Board Report Judy stated the Recreation Board would like to move forward with improving the electrical problem at refreshment stand. She further stated that Jeff Murray will install another electric panel with more receptacles and another transformer. Jonathan recommended that whatever the Board approve, they put a limit to comply with bidding requirements. Vince made a motion for the Township to purchase the materials and approve Jeff Murray doing the work at a rate of $50.00/an hour, for a total cost of the project not to exceed $10,000.00, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Engineer Report Rich Young read the November Engineers Report in Tim s absence. 1. Traffic Signs Deemer Road Curve Signs and Mill Street Speed and Curve Signs Richard Young prepared a memo regarding the curve and speed signs on Mill and Deemer Streets. It was stated that if the Township wanted to post a speed sign, a speed study would need to be done for the Deemer Road only. Jen stated Mike is purchasing equipment that will allow for speed studies. Vince made a motion to prepare an Ordinance and advertise for the December meeting for a speed limit sign of 25 mph for Mill Street, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Vince made a motion to place the Curve sign on Mill and Deemer Streets, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 2. Gaffney Hill Road Discussion It was stated that Mike met with PennDot and T & M Associates regarding Cider Press and Gaffney Hill Roads and a possible access to the property that was purchased by the Township. One option would be that the Township could do a turn back program on the State roads (Cider Press, Tumble Creek and Texas Road) and it would be added to the Township liquid fuels allocation. There would be 1.8 miles on the section of roads which would equate to approximately $7,000.00 a year. George asked that this be tabled until Mike can meet with PennDot 3
to see what improvements PennDot would make to the roads before turning them over to the Township and comment at the December meeting. George also asked Jen to speak with the residents on Brotzman Lane to see if they would want the Township to take over that road and make it a Township road so the Township could use it for access to the parking lot. Solicitor Report 1. Sign Ordinance Memo Jonathan stated that Steve Kramer from his office prepared a memo regarding Reed v. Town of Gilbert Sign Ordinances. Jonathan recommended Steve Kramer reviewing the Township Sign Ordinance to see if any revisions would need to be made. Vince made a motion to have Jonathan s office review the sign section of the Zoning Ordinance and make recommendations of what may need to be changed, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Bob Schmidt asked George if Jonathan had the opportunity to review the Glovas application to make sure what the Township was doing was legal as he had asked at a previous meeting. George stated that was done and Jen will send a copy of that letter to Bob. Bob also asked if it is possible for the Township to be sued because Vince gave copies of the Snyder appraisal to an internet blogger. Old Business 1. Approval to advertise the 2016 proposed Budget George stated in the proposed 2016 budget, he is recommending that the Township decrease the taxes to 2.25 mills. Vince made a motion to advertise the 2016 proposed budget, second by Ray. George stated that the settlement monies will be used to help support the tax decrease. He also thanked Jen and Mel for their work on the budget. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 2. SMT Safety Manual Approval Jen stated that Susquehanna Municipal Trust is requiring the Township to format its safety manual per the SMT template. She stated that she incorporated the Township s safety policies into the SMT template for the Board s approval. Vince made a motion to approve the Safety Manual, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. New Business 1. Roth s Farm Estate Approve and execute Development Agreement and sign record plans Jonathan recommended for approval the Development Agreement, Declaration of Easement, Stormwater Best Management Practices Operation and Maintenance Agreement and the Memorandum of Development Agreement as well as signing of the Roth s Farm Estate record plan. Vince made a motion to approve the 4
Agreements mentioned as well as signing of the plans, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. Jonathan recommended a motion be made to terminate the Roth s Farm Estate Inspection Fee Escrow with the agreement of the developer wanting to transfer the remaining monies to the Professional Services Escrow with the Township. Vince made that motion, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 2. Morgan Hill Management LLC v. Northampton County Revenue Appeals Board Jonathan stated there are five parcels in the appeal that the law office of Hill Wallack has prepared Petitions for Appeal. Jonathan further stated the issue is whether the Township would want to participate in the appeals or whether the Township is happy with having the County handle the appeals. Vince made a motion to not have the Solicitor enter his appearance thereby no spending tax payer s money on this matter, second by Ray. There being no comments, motion carried 3-0. 3. Resolution Rescinding Resolution No. s 14-6A and 2014-8 Morrow Property For Grant Applications filed with DCNR and NCOSNAP and Heritage Conservancy Resolution 2015-33 Jonathan stated this Resolution was prepared to withdraw the Township s applications to DCNR and NCOSNAP for funding to preserve the Morrow property. There was discussion regarding the shape and frontage of the property. There were also discussions on the number of appraisals that were done on the property together with DCNR requirements. Vince read from the Second Class Township Code regarding appraisals. Vince handed out to the Board various copies of documents with reference to the Morrow appraisal and applications. Joe Kominsky, 230 Browns Drive stated he is a little confused as there seems to be multiple requirements with conservation. He feels the Supervisors need to work out the differences. He stated he resents the fact that they are suggesting the Land Preservation Board is trying to hide something. Bill Mineo commented on the appraisals and explained the standard procedure. He asked the Board to not base their decision on speculation but on fact. George commented that the County and State have approved the application. Bob Schmidt commented on an article in the Morning Call and wanted to correct the record that the Land Preservation Board did not approach the Morrow and Glovas property owners to recruit them to preserve their land. Kathy Lilley spoke about the appraisals and how Open Space was not to preserve property that could not be developed. Haldan Ballek commented about the tower lines on the properties. Francis Dreisbach suggested there is a lot of information on the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission website regarding the environment and land being lost by development and feels it is essential to work on good planning. Ray commented that he would like to send in an amended report and see what happens. There was a brief discussion about the appraisals and how the comparable were not even close to resembling the property. George commented that he drove by the property and it is not farmable land. This matter was tabled by George until the December meeting. 5
Supervisors Comments Ray thanked the Veterans Committee. Vince commented on the Snyder, Frederick and Agrarian appraisals on the Morrow property. Vince also congratulated the Supervisor elect, Mark Ernst. Audience Comments 1. Bob Schmidt Addressed the Agrarian appraisal regarding the septic. 2. Linda Heindel Spoke about the Penn East pipeline. 3. Kathy Lilley Thanked George for considering what was said on the Morrow property. She said she appreciated the work that Vince has done. She also commented that she investigated the ethics advice and it is not something that can be done over the phone. There being no further business, meeting was adjourned at 9:12 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, MELODY A. ERNST, SECRETARY Williams Township Board of Supervisors 6