MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
JANUARY 23, 2017
At 6:30 p.m. Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order an executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Robert J. Birch, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Supervisor Michael J. Fox was absent. Also in attendance were Lawrence Gregan, Ann M. Shade, Ami Tarburton, Ryan Cassidy, Esquire and Frank Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Robert J. Birch, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Supervisor Michael J. Fox was absent. Also in attendance were Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire, Township Manager Lawrence Gregan, Police Chief Scott Bendig, Director of Fire Services Richard Lesniak, Director of Finance Ami Tarburton, Director of Administration and Human Resources Ann Shade, Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell, Director of Planning Bruce Shoupe, Director of Public Works Kevin Costello, Director of Recreation and Community Center Floyd Shaffer, Director of Information Technology Richard Grier and Recording Secretary Deborah A. Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called for public comment from the audience. Chairman Chimera stated that she was aware that there were parents in the audience who had come to the meeting because they were concerned about fees that they heard the Township was proposing to charge the baseball and soccer organizations to use the Township fields in 2017. Chairman Chimera asked Township Manager Lawrence Gregan to address the issue. Mr. Gregan reported that the Township had approved its 2017 Fee Schedule in January and that this schedule includes fees that are charged to organizations to use the Township park fields by the hour. The adopted fee schedule includes a provision to allow a negotiated rate with area youth sports organizations including Montgomery United Soccer, Montgomery Baseball/Softball and the Montgomery Basketball Association. Montgomery Basketball currently pays a negotiated hourly rate to use the basketball courts at the community center. A field use fee was proposed in 2016 and the youth sports associations asked the Township to reconsider these fees for 2016. In February 2016, the Board of Supervisors waived the fees for 2016. Letters were sent to the Montgomery Baseball Association and Montgomery Soccer United Association notifying them of the 2016 waiver and intention to charge a fee to be negotiated with the associations. Discussions with MonU and MTBSA proposed a permit fee of $5 per participant for 2017. Lindsay Peterson of 108 Oxford Lane asked what the new fees would be used for. Supervisor Richard Miniscalco stated that the fees would be used for the ongoing maintenance of the fields. Vice Chairman Robert Birch made a motion to waive all fees for 2017 for the Montgomery Township Baseball/Softball Association and Montgomery United Soccer Association, Supervisor Jeffrey McDonnell seconded the motion. Resolution #1 approved the waiver of field use fees for the year 2017 for Montgomery Township Baseball/Softball Association and Montgomery United Soccer Association with a unanimous vote.
Solicitor Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting and discussed three personnel matters, one matter of potential litigation and the litigation matter of Marvin Cohen v. Montgomery Township Zoning Hearing Board at the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 3, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Supervisor Richard Miniscalco seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Chief of Police Scott Bendig reported the on December 14, 2016, Montgomery Township Police Officer Thomas Ward was selected as the 2016 Montgomery County SWAT – Central Region Officer of the Year. Each year, the team commanders recognize one of their members as officer of the year for their exemplary dedication and work with the team. Montgomery County SWAT is a task force composed of officers from numerous Montgomery County Police Departments. This team is deployed for incidents and situations that exceed the capability of traditional police resources, including barricaded subjects, hostage taking incidents, and other high risk operations. Chief Thomas Nolan, Chief of the Upper Merion Township Police Department and Commander of Montgomery County SWAT presented the award to Officer Ward. Chief Nolan indicated that this is the third Montgomery Township Police Officer to receive this award. Resolution #2 made by Supervisor Jeffery McDonnell, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, recognized and commended Officer Thomas Ward on his selection as the 2016 Montgomery County SWAT – Central Region Officer of the Year.
Chief of Police Scott Bendig reported that the Police Department is proposing the replacement of six individual computer servers currently utilized by the department with a consolidated virtualized computer configuration. Also included in the purchase would be a storage area network (SAN). The proposed virtualized server configuration and storage area network would allow for the addition of additional law enforcement applications, data expansion, redundancy, and immediate disaster recovery in the event of a server failure. The current configuration of six servers does not allow for such flexibility. Resolution #3 made by Supervisor Robert Birch, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, awarded the contracts for the purchase of computer equipment from Candoris Technologies, an authorized vendor under the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchase Program and CDW, an authorized vendor under the GSA Cooperative Purchase Program, at a total cost of $87,194.33 per their quotes dated January 16, 2017.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that staff is requesting the Board’s authorization to advertise and solicit for bids for the annual Curb and Sidewalk Project. Annually, the Township performs repairs / replacement of certain curbing and sidewalks throughout the Township in anticipation of the future resurfacing of the streets. The bid specifications have been prepared by Township Engineer, Gilmore & Associates, and reviewed by staff. Resolution #4, made by Supervisor Robert J. Birch, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, authorized the advertisement for bids for the 2017 Curb and Sidewalk Project. The bids are to be received on or before February 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that staff is requesting the Board’s authorization to advertise and solicit for bids for the 2017 Annual Road Paving In-Place Contract. As part of the 16-Year Road Plan, staff and consultants have identified Township roads that will require resurfacing as part of the road improvement program. The work includes a surface mill, leveling course, an inch and a half overlay and all the associated preparation work. The bid specifications have been prepared by Township Engineer, Gilmore & Associates, and reviewed by staff. Resolution #5, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, authorized the advertisement for bids for the 2017 Annual Road Paving In-Place Contract. The bids are to be received on or before February 14, 2017 at 10:30 a.m.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that staff is requesting the Board’s authorization to advertise and solicit bids for the Spring Valley Hockey Court Reconstruction Project. The project will include a one inch layer of stone dust over the entire court, followed up by a two inch base course of asphalt and an inch and a half of wearing course asphalt. Once the paving is finished, side boards will be installed and the court will be re-striped. The bid specifications have been prepared by Township Engineer, Gilmore & Associates, and reviewed by staff. Resolution #6 made by Supervisor Robert J. Birch, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, authorized the advertisement for bids for the Spring Valley Hockey Court Reconstruction Project. The bids are to be received on or before February 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Township has received an application for a subdivision plan for 115 Wentworth Drive. The applicant proposes to subdivide the existing lot into five lots. No developments or improvements are proposed at this time. Access to each proposed lot will be from either Wentworth Drive or Magdalena Lane which are both improved Township streets. The applicant, James Fagan and his engineer, Jeffrey Wert, P.E. were present. A waiver regarding the installation of sidewalks on Magdalena Lane was discussed and agreed to only for this subdivision but not for any future development. Mr. Wert stated that the applicant has reviewed the resolution and his is fine with all the conditions as stated in the resolution. Resolution #7 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the Preliminary/Final Land Development Subdivision plan for LDS#689 – 115 Wentworth Drive.
A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco, and adopted unanimously, approving the payment of bills as submitted.
Under other business, Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made a motion that the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery Township authorize the appropriate Township officials to appeal the decision of the Court of Common Pleas of January 17, 2017 in the matter of Marvin Cohen v. Zoning Hearing Board of Montgomery Township. Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.
Also under other business, Supervisor Richard Miniscalco made a motion that the Board of Supervisors of Montgomery Township appoint the following Township residents to the various volunteer boards and committees: Daniel J. Baker to the Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority Board with a term expiring January 1, 2022; Scott Fontaine to the Park and Recreation Board with a term expiring January 1, 2020; Rich Schrader as the Vacancy Board Chairman with a term to expiring January 1, 2018; James Kelly to the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center Advisory Committee with a term to expire January 1, 2018; and John Nolan to the Senior Committee with a term expiring January 1, 2018. Supervisor Robert J. Birch seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.