The regular meeting of the West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors was held on the above date at the Township Building. Chairman Kenneth Miller called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.; others in attendance were Supervisors Zoë Perkins and Karl Brachwitz; Township Solicitor Allan Greenwood and Township Manager Allen Heist.

Correspondence:

• Fire Chief, Allen Cleaver reviewed the 1998 Ludwigs Corner Fire Company Report. In 1998, Ludwigs Corner Fire Company responded to 87 calls in West Vincent Township, with an estimated loss of $18,000; 21 training programs for firefighters were conducted, with some members completing a variety of continuing education training courses. A fire prevention program was held at French Creek Elementary School, several local Nursery Schools and Cub Scout groups attended tours at the fire station, and birthday parties were hosted to teach fire safety. The QRS (Quick Response Service) responded to 66 calls in West Vincent Township, including automobile accidents, fire standbys and other emergencies. A new engine is scheduled to be delivered in April at a cost of $310,000 - the next piece of equipment to be replaced is a 15-year old squad truck with 155,000 miles. Additional personnel are needed, especially for daytime calls during the workweek. Township residents, who have installed alarms systems, were reminded to give a house key to a neighbor or install a Knox Box System to eliminate forced entry by fire personnel. The Board thanked the Fire Company for their service to the community.
• The IRS is reducing mileage allowance to 31 cents per mile effective April 1, 1999; the Board of Auditors sent notice to amend compensation for use of car or truck to reflect this change.

Subdivisions/Land Development/Zoning:

• Eastern Environmental Contractors, Inc. has submitted a proposal for removal, repair, and re-installation of two pumps at two separate sewage pumping stations at St. Stevens Greene; the cost to remove, repair, and install the pump at Pump Station No. 1 is $1,011.00 and to remove, clean, and install the pump at Pump Station No. 2 is $381.00. Manager Heist was requested to contact the Township Engineer regarding the total costs being covered by the maintenance bond and the cause for overload failure and possible need for an upgraded pump at Station No. 1. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz to accept the proposal submitted by Eastern Environmental Contractors, Inc. for repairing the two pumps at St. Stephens Greene for a cost totaling $1,392.00. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously.
• The Board unanimously acknowledged receipt of a subdivision extension agreement for The Hankin Group preliminary (by-right) subdivision extending review time to March 31, 1999 upon a motion from Mrs. Perkins and second from Mr. Brachwitz.
• Jil Parris, representing Michael Matlock, was present to review the Matlock Sketch Plan and to request waivers to construct a 10' wide private street to access three lots with turnouts at each house driveway entrance instead of every two hundred feet. The Matlock property is located at Flint and Kimberton Roads in the R-2 Zoning District and consists of two adjoining parcels of 18.293 acres and 30.06 acres. The private street will access three large lots on the 18.293 acre property; the roadway will not be dedicated to the Township and the lots will be deed restricted against further subdivision. The private street design includes a cul-de-sac with oak trees planted 30' apart on both sides of the street. Supervisors Brachwitz and Perkins indicated a non-binding inclination to favorably consider the waiver requests and Mr. Miller refrained from comment until a formal plan is submitted. Ms. Parris stated that Mr. Matlock would submit a preliminary subdivision plan to the Board of Supervisors in March.

Old Business:

• Thomas Rice, adjacent property owner to Wetherill Estates, was present to discuss the following water issue concerns with the Board:
  1. As a result of his well going dry, an agreement was signed in December between Mr. Rice and Southdown Properties and the Community Association to connect to the Wetherill Water System; however, the connection line is not reasonably accessible to the Rice buildings.
  2. The Township sent a letter to DEP, dated March 30, 1998, regarding the approved public water supply permit and associated risk assessment for supply well #3. Since the well is located approximately 20 feet (versus 30 feet) from the property boundary, the 100 foot wellhead protection zone encroaches upon the Rice property more than previously indicated to DEP. DEP was questioned regarding the Rice's ability to build within the 100 foot isolation area and the viability of supply well #3. DEP has not responded to this correspondence; Mr. Rice requests the Township to follow-up on their letter of March 30^th, ask DEP to review the situation and address restrictions or impacts on his property, including future use.
  3. The Water Supply Agreement states that an application for a second home shall be filed with DEP prior to the issuance of the building permit for the fifty-first home in the subdivision. Mr. Rice requests a hold placed on building permits until an application is filed.
  The Board authorized Manager Heist to resubmit the March 30^th letter to DEP and include an additional statement advising DEP that the Township will not consider accepting dedication of the water system until this issue is resolved; a copy of the correspondence will be sent to Southdown Properties. Allan Greenwood will review the Water Supply Agreement and notify Southdown Properties of his findings and the Township's position.

Business from the Floor:

• Wheeler Aman questioned the West Vincent Land Trust's position regarding accepting dedication of the Kimberbrae Trail Easement. Mrs. Perkins will prepare a summary of Mr. Aman's concerns and the issue will be discussed at the next Land Trust meeting.

Bills List:

• Mr. Brachwitz made a motion to pay the bills on the Bills List dated February 22, 1999; it was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mr. Brachwitz moved the meeting be adjourned; the motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and the meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,