The West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors held their regular meeting on the above date at the Township Building. Chairman Kenneth Miller called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.; also in attendance were Supervisor Karl Brachwitz and Township Manager Allen Heist.

Minutes:

• Unanimous approval was granted for minutes of June 7, 14, 21, and 28 with a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mr. Miller.

Reports:

• Treasurer's Report - Mike Burnley reported the following account balances: General Fund, $340,934.50; State Fund, $93,512.83; Kimberton Sewer Fund, $22,391.99; Road Repair Loan Account, $140,583.70; St. Stephens Greene Water Fund, $10,149.73; St. Stephens Greene Sewer Fund, $28,869.69; and Township Building Construction Fund, $701,152.27.
• Tax Collector's Report - Received from Berkheimer Associates: Current Real Estate Tax, $5,714.39; Delinquent Real Estate Tax, $3,051.86; Debt Service - Road Repair Loan, $4,752.79, and Earned Income Tax, $79,046.40. Received from Chester County: Real Estate Transfer Tax, $24,428.25.
• Building Inspector's Report - In June, 15 building permits and 18 U&O's were issued and 41 inspections conducted; fees totaled $3,100.00.
• Police Report - The Police Department responded to 73 calls in June. Two criminal arrests were made - one for theft by deception and the other for bad checks. Several burglaries along Horseshoe Trail and S. Chester Springs Road are being investigated; anyone with information should contact the Department. Traffic details throughout the Township will continue. The West Vincent Township Police Officers received re-certification training for firearms and ASP baton; arrangements are being completed for re-certification for CPR and First Aid.
• Fire Companies - Ludwigs Corner Fire Company responded to 8 calls during June.

Correspondence:

• A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz to accept the quote proposal from Penn Services Group, Inc. to provide Substance Abuse Program services (drug testing, alcohol testing, and random test administration) for the Township CDL regulated employees. The motion was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried unanimously.
• Correspondence was received from Laura Hardt regarding potholes on a slight incongruity in the pavement of Pine Drive and a disregard for the speed limit. Lorraine Hudome, a Pine Drive resident, stated a copy of this letter was sent to Pine Drive residents and has resulted in residents slowing down. Mrs. Hudome suggested placement of a speed bump on Pine Drive however, speed bumps are not permitted on township roads. The Road Crew has fixed the potholes and the Police will be asked to monitor traffic on Pine Drive.
• Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Inc. made a contribution of $2,500.00 in lieu of taxes for services received from the Township. An extra thanks was given to the Police Department for being especially helpful.
• A 1998 Berkheimer Associates Audit of earned income tax was received; the report indicated the statements of distribution of taxes and statements of account, by client district, were in order.

Subdivisions/Land Development/Zoning:

• Bill Carroll, equitable owner of Horseshoe Farms Lot 3, was present to request a waiver from Zoning Ordinance Section 2305B, which requires a wetlands margin of fifty feet from a delineated wetlands boundary. The Ordinance provides for no more than 20% reduction of the wetlands margin area to be altered, regraded, filled or built upon, unless determined by the Board of Supervisors that an additional reduction is justified due to existing topographic or physical conditions or specific conditions. Since a wetlands delineation of the two acre lot has been conducted and 20% reduction of the buffer still provides an inadequate building envelope for his client's residence and swimming pool, Mr. Carroll feels he can properly and adequately mark off the wetlands and protect the area without a buffer. The Board stated they are not inclined to grant this waiver.
• The Board acknowledged receipt of a Zoning Hearing Board Application from the Concerned Citizens of West Vincent Township and Morrison Huston, Joseph, Vasile, and James Bentley for a substantive and procedural challenge to Ordinance No. 94-1999 and 95-1999 and The Hankin Group Conditional Use Hearing and Decision. A tentative hearing date of Thursday, August 26^th at 7:00 p.m. at the Ludwigs Corner Fire Hall has been set.
• The Board unanimously acknowledged receipt of a two lot preliminary/final subdivision plan for 29.37 acres on Horseshoe Trail and Pottstown Pike submitted by Owen J. Roberts School District, equitable owners of the Pearl M. Griffith property, upon a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mr. Miller.

Old Business:

• The Board allotted $25,000 for DUSTKILL, a soybean-based dust suppressant for controlling dust and stabilizing dirt roads. Roadmaster Miller will select the road areas for treatment and schedule application.
• Two draft ordinances, authorized under The Open Space Land Acquisition and Preservation Act, were reviewed. The first proposed ordinance authorizes a referendum on the November 1999 ballot to approve additional taxation at the rate of .56 mills to purchase and preserve open space lands. This ordinance only authorizes the placement of the issue on the ballot as a referendum - it does not impose the millage.
• The second proposed ordinance authorizes the creation of an Open Space Review Board and provides for procedures for reviewing open space property interests to be considered for acquisition by West Vincent Township.
• The following comments were offered during discussion:
  • Ken Emery suggested adding general guidelines and criteria to be used in identifying open space property interests to be retained so as to establish prior to adopting the ordinances the Board's intent.
  • Wheeler Aman questioned the need for the Township's involvement in open space land acquisition, citing the availability of private preservation groups and the Township's ability to control land development through zoning.
  • The Township's acquisition money may be eligible for matching County and State grants.
  • Consider borrowing money to supplement the real estate taxation for the acquisition of property.
• A unanimous motion was made by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Brachwitz, to approve the advertisement of the two Ordinances for public hearing in August.

Business from the Floor:

• Wheeler Aman requested the Board to reconsider tabling the Kimberbrae Trail issue. Mr. Aman submitted a copy of a letter from East Pikeland Township stating that the park "property is being actively used by individuals in passive recreational activities, such as hiking, camping and fishing and is accessible to the public".

Bills List:

• Mr. Brachwitz made a motion to pay the bills on the Bills List dated July 12, 1999; it was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mr. Brachwitz moved the meeting be adjourned; the motion was seconded by Mr. Miller and the meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,