The regular meeting of the West Vincent Board of Supervisors was held on the above date at the Township Building. Chairman Kenneth Miller called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m.; others in attendance were Supervisors Karl Brachwitz and Zoë Perkins, Township Manager Allen Heist, and Township Solicitor Allan Greenwood.

Bid Award:

• Road Material Bids were received at the March 20, 2000 administrative meeting. Board members reviewed the attached chart [contact the Township if you want a copy] listing all bids for delivered and F.O.B. road materials, with notations made for primary and secondary awards. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to award bids as presented; the motion carried unanimously.

Correspondence:

• Correspondence was received from Chester County Health Department offering Lyme Disease educational panels to promote education and prevention throughout the county; the display panel can be ordered through the Health Department for $407.00.
• Based on earlier conversations, West Pikeland Township has requested the Board to consider disbanding the joint EOC since circumstances have changed for both townships. Mr. Brachwitz mentioned that he recalled a resolution establishing the joint Emergency Operation Center. Manager Heist will review the original resolution, notify the proper parties, and begin preparation of a resolution to disband the joint EOC for the Board's review at the next meeting.
• Anna May Houck, Chairperson of the West Vincent Township Board of Auditors was present to report that the auditors have examined the 1999 books of the Township Treasurer and the accounts were found to be in balance. The Annual Audit and Financial Report has been filed with the Department of Community and Economic Development and the County Clerk of Courts.

Subdivisions/Land Development/Zoning:

• The Board acknowledged receipt of a preliminary subdivision plan for three lots on the 36.4 acre Vincent and Kristina Kling property on the southeast side of Birchrun Road and Shady Lane upon a unanimous motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mrs. Perkins. The plan will be distributed for review.
• The Board unanimously acknowledged receipt of a conditional use application from Michael and Anne Strawbridge upon a motion from Mrs. Perkins and second from Mr. Brachwitz; the hearing will be held Monday, May 22, 2000 at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Building. The applicants desire to use their property for a boarding stable.
• As a follow-up to a request from Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Inc. asking permission to hang a banner across Pughtown Road to advertise their Earth Awareness Day, a draft resolution was prepared regarding permits for the placement of banners over public roadways in West Vincent Township. Review comments have been received from Solicitor Greenwood; revisions will be made and the resolution presented to the Board for consideration at the April 3^rd administration meeting.
• A letter was received from Alfred Emma, Emma Builders and Developers, Inc., requesting a waiver from the 10' side and rear yard setback requirement for driveways (Section 2103G.) allowing the driveway on Springlea Lot #1 to be not closer than five feet from the property line. This will enable the driveway to stay further from the seepage bed that encumbers a high percentage of the lot. Mr. Miller indicated that granting the waiver would be beneficial in the event that the Township was required to perform maintenance or repairs on the stormwater seepage bed; however, it was imperative the prospective lot owner be aware of the easement, which was noted on the approved subdivision plan. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz to grant a waiver from Section 2103G. allowing the driveway on Springlea Lot #1 to be not closer than five feet from the property line conditioned upon the waiver being made part of the building permit and the Township receive written proof that the potential buyer has been notified of the stormwater facility easement prior to the issuance of the Use and Occupancy Permit. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously. Mrs. Perkins questioned the piles of fill placed on the seepage bed; Mr. Heist advised the fill is not affecting the integrity of the bed and will be removed prior to the sale of Lot #1.
• Manager Heist and Solicitor Greenwood advised the Board of the formal process designated in Section 510 of the Municipalities Planning Code when subdivision improvements are offered to the Township by a developer. The Township recently received a certified letter from Zachrey Colburn, Southdown Properties, dated March 10, 2000 regarding an offer of dedication of the Estates portion of Wetherill Estates. A certified letter from the Township Engineer was sent March 23^rd requesting a complete set of plans and stormwater as-builts to finalize the punchlist; this was done according to the formal procedure, which requires that within 30 days of receipt of an offer of dedication, the township engineer files a report, sending a copy to the developer by certified or registered mail. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz to authorize Manager Heist to send a certified letter to the developer, as required by the MPC, providing notification that the Board reviewed and approved the engineer's report requesting additional information to finalize the punchlist for dedication. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously.

Old Business:

• Linda Rava, Red Fox Lane, was present to request that the Ludwigs Corner Fire Company's house siren be turned off because the fire fighters are notified by a county-wide pager system. A lengthy discussion ensued among concerned neighbors, Ludwigs Corner Fire Company representatives, and the Board. Concerned neighbors - Melissa Bertolami, Tom Hazard, Jim Beadles, and Joe Rava - were present to offer the following comments and suggestions:
  • Quality of life of the neighborhood is affected by twenty-four hour siren usage.
  • Objection to use of siren in the middle of the night.
  • House sirens are not used by neighboring Fire Companies, are unnecessary and the use of the siren is viewed as a hostile act towards neighbors/development.
  • The Fire Company operated for two years without a siren due to malfunction and subsequent replacement.
  • Future resident complaints regarding the siren are inevitable considering the proposed development for the area.
  • Request that the Fire Company voluntarily limit the hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; however, a further limitation may be necessary due to the impact on the Horseshow Grounds.
  • Use of a "phone tree" to notify volunteers of emergency calls.
  • Addition of a relay on the Nextel tower on the Fire Company's property.
  • Installation of blinking safety lights along Route 100 in the vicinity of the Fire House and opticon systems at traffic lights to promote traffic safety.
  • Paid firefighter/drivers; proposed developments pay for improvements needed.

  Chairman Miller received the following memorandum from David Monteith, Emergency Management Director, to be read at the meeting and recorded in the minutes:

  It has come to my attention through the news media that a certain person or persons object to the Ludwigs Corner Fire Company house siren. It is also my understanding that the previous siren had been out of service due to lack of funding for extensive repairs or replacement. I have been involved with volunteer emergency groups for over thirty years. Now more than ever, volunteer responders need all the help and community support they can get. In the current hi-tech real world, Chester County Emergency Organizations are currently trying to cope with a $14 million plus radio system that still has many flaws and "dead" spots. While some might find a house siren objectionable, there is a real need still at hand, and a genuine public safety issue. I know that if my house caught fire at 2:00 a.m., and I called 911, if I was standing outside with my family, I would be more than a little upset if I did not hear a siren blowing!

  Ludwigs Corner Fire Company representatives - Dave March, David Frame, James Gooding, Allen Cleaver, Martin Blumenthal, Dick Guth, Jody Spangler, Jeff Kimes, and Rich Hahn - were present to offer the following comments:

  • A letter from Gary and Sally MacDonald, 25 Nantmeal Road (across from the firehouse), was submitted stating "We feel the siren plays an important part of the fire and rescue teams. In no way does it bother or anger us....."
  • The siren notifies volunteers of emergency calls in the event of pager malfunction and notifies family members in the event of multiple calls.
  • There are many "dead" spots within the fire district where pagers and radios are inoperable due to the topography of West Vincent Township especially in the Ludwigs Corner/Route 100 (Kirkwood Hill) area. Until pagers function 100% of the time, the siren is needed to assure adequate fire personnel response. Increased traffic and population result in an increase of emergency calls and an increased necessity for every volunteer to be notified to make the fire/medical emergency scene safer for everyone.
  • Concessions have been made previously by decreasing the time the siren sounds from three minutes to one minute.
  • Ludwigs Corner Fire Company is a 100% volunteer organization.
  • Eliminating the siren puts the community at risk in the event of a medical or fire emergency.
  • Ludwigs Corner Fire Company Board of Directors will consider a moratorium of 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. at their April meeting.

  Other suggestions included angling the siren in a different direction (the siren is circular, however), enforcing the false alarm ordinance to decrease the number of calls (approximately 20 calls last year), and posting a sign at the Fire House stating "Siren Zone - we run our siren twenty-four hours, seven days a week" to notify prospective home buyers.

  In conclusion, as a follow-up to Mrs. Rava's request, Solicitor Greenwood will research enactment of a zoning ordinance to regulate emergency sirens, the Fire Company Board of Directors will reconsider a self-imposed moratorium on evening siren usage, and the Board will contact Ed Atkins, Chester County Emergency Services, to attend a meeting to address the issue of "dead" spots within Ludwigs Corner’s fire territory and resulting pager malfunction.

• The meeting was reconvened at 9:40 p.m. following a ten-minute recess. Manager Heist reviewed the rates for a tax anticipation loan received from Downingtown National Bank and First Financial Bank; a revolving line of credit is not available. Board members requested an estimated settlement cost figure and approximate timetable for loan completion.

Business from the Floor:

• Clare Quinn mentioned that cars have killed many migrating Spring Peepers (frogs) in the vicinity of the former "Zuber" pond on Hollow Road and asked for possible remedies to protect these endangered species; the issue will be placed on the April EAC meeting agenda.

Bills List:

• Mrs. Perkins made a motion to pay the bills on the Bills List dated March 27, 2000; it was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz 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 9:55 p.m. An executive session was held regarding personnel matters.

Respectfully Submitted,