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Unanimous approval was granted for minutes of December 4, 11, 18, and 26 upon a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mrs. Perkins. Reports: Treasurer’s Report – The following December 31, 2000 account balances were reported: General Fund, $59,567.56; State Fund, $35,669.47; Kimberton Sewer Fund, $6,171.88; Township Building Loan, $697,780.65; St. Stephens Greene Water Fund, $23,998.17; and St. Stephens Greene Sewer Fund, $30,980.85. Police Report – Police Chief Karl Jones reported that the Police Department responded to 41 calls in December including ten alarms, four animal complaints, three traffic accidents, and six mutual assists. The West Vincent Police Department had a relatively peaceful holiday season. Solicitor’s Report – Solicitor Greenwood reported working on the McBride Shopa & Co. letter agreement for accounting services, Cooks Glen Road, and Columbia Transmission Company. Correspondence: PennDOT copied the Township on correspondence sent to a Township resident concerning the status of the closed bridge on S. Chester Springs Road near Route 401. The resident was advised that the bridge replacement design would be completed by this summer, bids would go out for the necessary materials, and the County Bridge Crew would install the new structure with road opening scheduled before next winter. Mrs. Perkins conveyed information on the Northern Chester County Growth Management Forum scheduled to be held Thursday, January 25, 2001 at 5:00 p.m. at the Downingtown East High School. Subdivisions/Land
Development/Zoning: An agreement for subdivision review extension to February 15, 2001 for the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement Subdivision was acknowledged with a motion from Mr. Brachwitz and second from Mrs. Perkins; the motion carried unanimously. Manager Heist updated the Board on the status of the Horseshoe Farms Dedication. Mr. Heist has been in contact with the attorney for First Union National Bank, which holds title to the improvements and the homeowners association and reported that the funds are in hand to complete the improvements necessary prior to dedication of the road rights-of-way and stormwater easements. Since the funds are available, Horseshoe Farms resident Bob Kaiser requested the Board to consider including Houndstooth Lane and Houndstooth Circle on the Township snow removal list. Solicitor Greenwood will begin work on the Deed of Dedication and contact the Township insurance carrier regarding clarification of coverage and liability exposure before the Board responds to Mr. Kaiser’s request; Manager Heist will draft a Resolution accepting the offer of dedication of Houndstooth Lane, Houndstooth Circle, and the stormwater easements. Old Business: A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to authorize Chairman Miller to sign the McBride Shopa & Company, P.A. proposal for accounting services upon receipt of the contract signed by Robert A. Smith, Director and George G. Fournaris, Manager; the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Brachwitz moved to appoint Linda Cleaver as Treasurer; the motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to appoint McBride Shopa & Company, P.A. as Township Accountant; the motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Perkins moved to adopt policy requiring two signatures on all Township checks written in excess of $1000; however, the State Fund will continue to require two signatures on all checks regardless of the amount. The motion was seconded by Mr. Brachwitz and carried unanimously. The Board discussed entrance signs for the Township Park to be placed at Route 401 and Malehorn Road. Mr. Brachwitz suggested the installation of one small sign at each entrance including the Park name, rules and regulations, and Park funding assistance information, which is required by the County Grant Program. Manager Heist will review the Matthews Meadows subdivision agreement pertaining to Park sign requirements and submit revised sign language and design for cost estimates. A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz to approve the Data Processing Service Agreement submitted by the Pottstown School District for St. Stephens Greene Sewer and Water utility billing conditioned upon Solicitor Greenwood’s satisfactory review of the General Terms and Conditions attached to the agreement. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously. Mrs. Perkins received
a response from Senator Jim Gerlach regarding notification
to the Township by the attorney for Michael and Janet
Polay pertaining to their interest in extracting in
excess of 100,000 gallons of water per day from their property.
The Polays are relying on Section 10608.1(f) of the
MPC to justify their authority to undertake such water withdrawals.
“Consequently, this particular section was added
to simply restate what the existing law was in Pennsylvania
prior to Senate Bill 300 enactment. It was, otherwise, not intended to take away any power or authority
from municipalities to plan and zone as such power existed
prior to enactment.” Senator
Gerlach continued regarding the introduction of Senate Bills
435 and 436, water resource management legislation, which
gives DEP and local municipalities greater ability to regulate
the quantity of ground and surface water withdrawals, rather
than relying on the Delaware River Basin Commission. Manager Heist asked to further discuss the
Polay case in executive session as a matter of litigation
following the regular agenda.
New Business: A motion was made by Mr. Brachwitz, seconded by Mrs. Perkins, to approve the agreement for appraisal services to determine market value of the West Vincent Township property (Flowing Springs Road and School House Lane) submitted by Certified Realty Advisors, Inc. in the amount of $750; the motion carried unanimously. Mr. Brachwitz moved to approve the budgeted purchase of a 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe with police package from Day Chevrolet, Monroeville in the amount of $34,918.97 under the Central Westmoreland Council of Governments bid contract. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously. The Board directed Manager Heist to begin working on a draft policy pertaining to release of public records and records management. The Board authorized Chairman Miller, Manager Heist, and Linda Cleaver to attend the annual State Convention of the PA State Association of Township Supervisors to be held April 22-25 in Hershey. Bills List: Mr. Brachwitz made a motion to pay the bills on the Bills List dated January 8, 2001; it was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and carried unanimously. Chairman Miller announced an executive session would be held following the meeting to discuss potential litigation matters regarding Wetherill Estates, Thomas Rice, and Michael and Janet Polay and real estate matters regarding Columbia Transmission Company. There being no further business, Mr. Brachwitz moved the meeting be adjourned; the motion was seconded by Mrs. Perkins and the meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, |