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 7:35 p.m.; others in attendance were Supervisors Karl Brachwitz and Zoë Perkins, Township Manager Allen Heist, Township Solicitor Allan Greenwood, and Bill Handy, court reporter.

Conditional Use Hearing:

The purpose of the hearing was to take formal action on the conditional use application of Michael and Anne Strawbridge based upon the record established during the conditional use hearings held May 22, 2000 and June 12, 2000.  Mrs. Perkins read the Decision granting permission to use the property (Tax Parcel 25-7-109, 1072 St. Matthews Road) as a commercial stable.

A motion was made by Mrs. Perkins to grant conditional use approval to Michael and Anne Strawbridge in accordance with the Decision dated June 26, 2000, subject to the Applicant's compliance with fifteen conditions per the attached document, and subject to the Board's signatures affixed after the attachment of referenced plans and documents to the Decision; the motion was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and carried with Perkins and Miller voting in favor and Brachwitz opposed.  When questioned regarding his vote, Mr. Brachwitz stated he was opposed to the placement of the manure storage pit (Condition #3).

Regular Meeting:

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m.

Bid Opening:

• As advertised for this date, sealed bids were received and opened for repair and paving of an approximately 2890 linear foot x 6 foot wide walking path at the Township Park from the following contractors:

  Melchiorre Construction Co.	$38,000.00
  Macanga Inc. Contractors	$44,353.20

  It was noted that both contractors attended the mandatory prebid meeting held on June 9^th; cost of the project includes prevailing rates, which are required for projects over $25,000.  The Township Manager and Township Engineer will review the bids prior to bid award, which is scheduled for July 10, 2000 at 7:30 p.m.  The Township reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

Correspondence:

• A press release regarding summertime electric demands was received from PECO Energy, describing their reliability related projects including preventative maintenance programs, tree maintenance, and vegetation management programs.
• A formal complaint was received from Melissa Bertolami, 45 Nantmeal Road and read by Chairman Miller as follows:

  "I attended a township meeting regarding the use of the fire siren on March 27, 2000, and during that meeting was publicly threatened by one of the firemen.  He threatened to allow my house to burn down if it caught fire.  I request that this person is identified and his name and words entered into the public record of that meeting.  Also, I consulted a lawyer who said that this should have been done at the time by the Board, and that my request is valid and well within reason.  Especially, during these unfortunate times of threats being fulfilled, none can be taken lightly."

  Mrs. Bertolami's complaint was forwarded to Solicitor Greenwood for review.

• Correspondence was received from the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission inviting Township Officials to participate in a public meeting designed to explain the recently revised reactor oversight process and how the process is being used at the Limerick Generator Station.  The meeting will be held Thursday, July 6, 2000 at 7 p.m. at the Limerick Township Municipal Building.

Subdivisions/Land Development/Zoning:

• Richard Guarini, The Hankin Group, was present to request the Board to approve and submit their Act 537 Sewage Facilities Planning Module to PADEP for planning review prior to designing the wastewater facility.  The West Vincent Township Planning Commission has recommended that the Board approve and submit the planning module with the following conditions attached:
  1. The Conditional Use Order is attached to the planning module;
  2. The Township has the right to review and approve or reject a crop management plan;
  3. If the operation of the sewage facility does not meet with the DEP regulations and the applicant does not correct deficiencies or malfunctions in a timely manner, the Township has the option to correct the problem at the cost of the applicant.

  In his memorandum to the Board dated June 15^th regarding the Hankin Planning Module, Code Enforcement Officer Robert Wideman noted three unresolved issues, which have subsequently been addressed and/or resolved by The Hankin Group.

  Board members endorse spray irrigation as the method of sewage treatment on this site and find it consistent with the Township Sewage Facilities Plan; however, concerns were expressed regarding the submission of the Matthews Meadows Sewer Facility Maintenance Agreement as a sample or template for an agreement between The Hankin Group and West Vincent Township without reviewing or revising the 1994 agreement (i.e. separate maintenance escrow account, discharge criteria).  Mr. Guarini will revise the agreement based on comments made during  discussion and submit to the Board by the end of the week.  The Board will meet with Township consultants to review the sample agreement and submit revisions to Mr. Guarini prior to forwarding the planning module to PADEP.  The next Board of Supervisors formal meeting is July 10^th.

• The Board unanimously acknowledged receipt of subdivision extension agreements to December 31, 2000 for the Michael Matlock Dawes Farm and Long Lane subdivision plans upon a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mrs. Perkins.

• The Board unanimously acknowledged receipt of a two-lot preliminary/final subdivision plan for 9.515 acres on Beaver Hill Road owned by Gayle Hammond upon a motion from Mr. Miller and second from Mrs. Perkins.  The plan will be sent out for review.

Old Business:

• Traffic Engineer Gannett Fleming, Inc., conducted field investigations on existing and proposed guide rail locations and submitted the following comments/recommendations:

  • Green Lane - The existing guide rail appears to be appropriately placed and sized for the condition that requires shielding.
  • Bertolet School Road - Approximately 300 feet of guide rail should be placed along the north/west side of French Creek.
  • Jaine Lane - Approximately fifty feet of guide rail should be placed on the south side of Jaine Lane and approximately 100 feet of guide rail should be placed on the north side.

  Manager Heist will obtain cost estimates from Collinson Inc. to furnish and install guide rail for the proposed projects.

New Business:

• George Cooney, 2631 Flowing Springs Road, was present to request a waiver from Zoning Ordinance Section 2220C., which requires buildings or structures used for the housing of animals to be located a minimum of one hundred feet from any property line and two hundred feet from any dwelling other than that of the owner.  Mr. Cooney reviewed a diagram of his 4.5 acre parcel noting lot dimensions of 253' front yard, 621' and 785' side yards, and 308' rear yard; the diagram and pictures showed large areas of heavy vegetation on the Cooney and neighboring properties.  The proposed location for the 24' x 34' pole barn shows a 50 foot side yard setback, 276 feet from the closest neighbor's dwelling (Smolinsky).  A proposed waste pile would have a 35-foot setback from the side property line and would be approximately 338' from the Smolinsky dwelling.  A signed statement was submitted from neighbors Steve Smolinsky and Pauline Monfon supporting the proposed plans and reduction of setback requirements.

  The Board advised Mr. Cooney that by relocating the structure for the storage of animal wastes to the center of his property, he would comply with the Zoning Ordinance setback requirements of one hundred feet.  A unanimous motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to waive Zoning Ordinance Section 2220C. requiring a one hundred feet minimum setback requirement and reduce the building setback requirement to fifty feet for the pole barn as proposed.

• As a result of Signal Service's completion of preventive maintenance for the Route 100 and 401 intersection, estimates will be obtained for repainting the stop bars on Route 401, a copy of the latest PennDOT Conditional Diagram will be forwarded to Signal Service, Inc. and a wedge clamp on the northeast corner pole overhead span wire will be replaced with strand wire.

• The Township Office will be closed Monday, July 3^rd (employees will take a vacation day, personal day, or day without pay) and Tuesday, July 4^th for the legal holiday.  A unanimous motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to hold the Board of Supervisors Administration Meeting on Wednesday, July 5^th at 8 a.m.  Mrs. Perkins announced that the West Vincent Land Trust would meet Tuesday, July 11^th at 5 p.m.

Business from the Floor:

• Comments were received regarding the increased traffic throughout the Township, especially Hollow Road and St. Matthews Road, due to the closing of Route 100 southbound lanes; construction completion date has not been announced.

Bills List:

• Mr. Brachwitz made a motion to pay the bills on the Bills List dated June 26, 2000; it was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously.

There being no further business, Mrs. Perkins moved that the meeting be adjourned; the motion was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and the meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,