MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FEBRUARY 13, 2017
At 7:00 p.m. Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order an executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Michael J. Fox, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Supervisor Robert J. Birch was absent. Also in attendance were Lawrence Gregan, and Frank Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Michael J. Fox, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Supervisor Robert J. Birch 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, Public Information Coordinator Kelsey McMeans and Recording Secretary Deborah A. Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called for public comment from the audience and there was none.
Solicitor Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting and discussed two personnel matters, one regarding the Police Department and the other regarding Board of Supervisor Committee appointments. The Board also discussed four legal matters including the Zoning Hearing Board Case of Church of Christ, the Zoning Hearing Board v. Green Turtle Restaurant Project, the Airport Square v. Montgomery Township Zoning Hearing Board (Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas – 2014-03708) and Lamb v. Montgomery Township (Federal Third Circuit 15-CV-06759). The Board also discussed two potential matters of litigation, the Cutler matter and an employee issue.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 23, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Supervisor Richard Miniscalco seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera administer the oath of office for Vacancy Board Chairman to Richard Schrader for a one year term which expires on January 1, 2018 and the oath of office for Senior Committee member to John Nolan for a one year term which expires on January 1, 2018. Both gentlemen were officially appointed to these positions at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on January 23, 2017.
Chief of Police Scott Bendig reported that the Police Department is proposing to replace three Police vehicles and purchase three 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility models as approved in the 2017 Final Budget. Resolution #1 made by Supervisor Jeffrey McDonnell, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, awarded the contract for the purchase of three 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicles from Fred Beans Ford Lincoln, an authorized vendor under the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchase Program (Contract #013-142), at a total cost of $84,858.00 per their quote dated January 11, 2017.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that the Public Works Department is proposing to purchase the following new equipment for 2017: (1) 2017 Ford Super Duty F-550 Crew Cab Truck, to be provided by Whitmoyer Auto Group under the Co-Stars Contract #025-162 at a total cost of $53,700.00; (1) 2017 Custom Flatbed Dumping Stake Body, to be installed on the 2017 Ford F-550, to be provided by Triad Truck Equipment under the Co-Stars Contract #025-060 at a total cost of $30,290.00; and (1) 2017 Kubota ZTR Mower, to be provided by C.H. Waltz Sons, Inc. under Co-Stars Contract #4400011361 at a cost of $16,247.33. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, approved the above purchases as described.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that staff is requesting the Board’s authorization to advertise and solicit for bids for the annual Materials and Services contract for the Public Works Department. Resolution #3, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, authorized the advertisement for bids for Materials and Services, including Asphalt, Crack Sealer, Stone Aggregate, and Lawn Care Treatments. The bids are to be received on or before March 1, 2017 at 10:00 a.m.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell introduced Jim Dougherty of Gilmore & Associates who was present to discuss his firm’s proposal for engineering services for the MS4 Outfall Field Screening Update on MS4 Permit Program and the Filing of Notice of Intent for the 2018 Individual MS4 Permit. Mr. Dougherty reported that the Township’s current National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit was effective March 16, 2013 and will expire on March 15, 2018. PA DEP has extended the reporting period under this permit to June 30, 2018 with the final report due by September 30, 2018. As part of the MS4 Permit Reporting requirements, the Township is required to screen all of its168 storm sewer outfalls. The last screening program took place in 2008 for 31 outfalls. Gilmore and Associates has provided a proposal to screen all of the outfalls, at a cost not to exceed $11,300. Included in the proposal is laboratory analysis of up to 25 outfall samples. If more outfalls require analysis, the Township will be notified before proceeding further. The cost does not include the identification of any illicit discharge sources and if any are discovered, a separate scope of work and fee will be provided for that work. In addition, Mr. Dougherty previewed the Township’s obligations to prepare and submit to DEP a Notice of Intent to file for a new Individual MS4 Permit for 2018. A proposal for funding this work will be presented when final direction is provided by DEP. Resolution #4 made by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the proposal for professional services for MS4 Outfall Field Screening Program at a cost not to exceed $11,300.
Director of Finance Ami Tarburton reviewed the Finance Department’s unaudited 4th Quarter 2016 Budget Report which identified that the General Fund ended 2016 with an estimated $4.3M fund balance. In preparation for Maillie, LLP’s 2016 audit, the department is seeking authorization to transfer $1.3M of the General Fund balance to designated Capital Reserve Funds, as has been authorized by the Board in prior years. Staff is recommending that the $1.3M surplus fund balance be transferred as follows: Capital Reserve Fund - $740,000 to the Fire Department Equipment Replacement Plan, $181,000 to the Park Capital Improvement Plan, $148,000 to the Community and Recreation Center Capital Projects Plan, $100,000 to the NPDES Permit Project Plan, $50,000 to the Technology Improvements Fund, $50,000 to the Township Building Renovation Project Plan, and $31,000 to the Police County Radio Financing Project Plan. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, authorized the transfer of surplus General Fund Balance in the amount of $1,300,000 to the Capital Reserve Fund as detailed above.
Resolution #6 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, approved the waiver of a temporary tenant permit fee for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania – Cookie Sales at Montgomery Mall.
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.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.