MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MARCH 27, 2017
At 7:00 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 Township Manager Lawrence Gregan, and Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the meeting to order at 8:00 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, 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 to discuss two personnel matters and three matters of ligation. The litigation matters including Civil Action No. 2015 - 29477 Mirabella v. Montgomery Township and two zoning hearing board cases at 969 Bethlehem Pike and 738 Bethlehem Pike. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters are legitimate subject’s of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 13, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Chief of Police Scott Bendig reported as the result of two recent retirements of supervisory vacancies will exist in the department. In September of 2016 a multiple phase promotional process was initiated. This included both a written examination and an oral review board. After a highly competitive process, Officers Lee A. Wagner and Thomas J. Ward are recommended for promotion to the rank of Corporal.
Officer Wagner serves in several capacities in addition to his patrol responsibilities. These include: Squad Officer-In Charge, Field Training Officer, Montgomery County Drug Task Force Officer, and Bicycle Unit Officer. Officer Wagner has received numerous letters of commendation for his duties and has attended many hours of police related schooling to further his police career.
Officer Ward serves in several capacities in addition to his patrol responsibilities. These include: Squad Officer-In Charge, Field Training Officer, DARE Instructor, Montgomery County Drug Task Force Officer, and member of Montgomery County SWAT-Central Region. Recently, Officer Ward was selected as the Montgomery County SWAT Officer of the Year for his dedication and work with the team. Officer Ward has received numerous letters of commendation for his duties and has attended many hours of police related schooling to further his police career. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, the Board approved the promotion of Officer Lee A. Wagner and Officer Thomas J. Ward to the rank of Corporal for the Montgomery Township Police Department effective March 27, 2017.
Public Works Director Kevin Costello recognized and acknowledged the resignation of Eric McKelvey, from the Crew Tech II position in the Department of Public Works. Eric started working in the Public Works Department as a Temporary Summer employee between school years in 2009 returning again in the summers of 2010 and 2011. Upon graduation he was hired full time in the Public Works Department in November 2011. Eric’s separation will be effective Thursday, March 30, 2017. Resolution #2 made by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, recognized the resignation of Eric McKelvey from his position as Crew Tech II with Montgomery Township Public Works Department effective March 30, 2017.
Director of Information Technology Richard Grier reported that The Canon Business lease on the Township’s photocopier equipment in the Police, Administration, Finance, Battalion 1, Zoning and Public Works is scheduled to expire on November 17, 2017. Canon has approached staff with an offer to renew early for another 48-month term. The new proposal also includes the Rec Center copier allowing for additional savings by lowering the maintenance fees.
The proposal from Canon Business Solutions, authorized vendor under the Township’s National IPA Cooperative Purchase Program account #1023220, to provide a 48-month lease for seven new copiers that meet or exceed the current equipment standards at an annual cost of $26,846.76. This new lease offers several enhancements over current equipment improving the operational and cost effectiveness of the equipment. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco, and adopted unanimously, approved entering into a 48-month lease with Canon Business Solutions to provide seven photocopiers to Police, Administration, Finance, DFS, Planning, Public Works and Recreation Departments under the provision of the National IPA Contract # S0663307.01, at an annual cost of $26,846.76 in accordance with their proposal dated March 1, 2017.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell reported Gilmore and Associates, Inc. has provided a proposal to prepare the Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Township’s new NPDES MS4 permit to be effective January 1, 2018. The new permit is required to be an individual permit due to the Township being located within a TMDL watershed. James Dougherty, P.E., Gilmore and Associates, provided a brief presentation on their proposal, the steps needed to complete the preparation of the NOI and the timeline to complete the application by the September 16, 2017 deadline. Resolution #4 made by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the proposal from Gilmore and Associates for professional services for the preparation of the Notice of Intent for the 2018 NPDES MS4 Permit at a cost not exceed $45,000.
Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan reported that PennDOT has released the final Traffic Signal Construction Plans for the intersection of Bethlehem Pike (SR309 and Horsham Road (SR 463) that will be installed as part of the PennDOT SR0202, Section 71A – Five Points Intersection Improvement Project. He noted that the plans and specification for the Final Traffic Signal improvements and the Temporary Traffic Signal Plan have been reviewed by the Township’s Traffic Engineer, Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. (TPD) for conformance with State and Federal design standards as well as the Township’s Traffic Signal specifications and found them to be acceptable. PennDOT has agreed to utilize traffic signal equipment for the project that is compatible with the other 52 traffic signals owned by the Township. To implement the improvements, the Township is required to adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of the TE 160 Application for Traffic Signal Approval to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Following construction and approval of the installation of the signal improvements, the Township will be responsible for their operation and preventive maintenance.
Bob Stone, Manager of Traffic Signal Operations for TPD, provided a brief review of the signal improvements as well as review of the overall scope of the improvements of the Five Points Intersection Improvement Project. He noted that PennDOT anticipates awarding the contract for the project in the Fall 2017 and that the construction is projected to take two years. Resolution #5 made by Supervisor Jeffrey W. McDonnell, seconded by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, approved adopting resolutions authorizing the Township Manager to submit applications to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for the traffic signal permit plans for the Five Points Intersection Improvement Project.
Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan reported that the original Traffic Signal Permit for the signal installed at the Gateway Center entrance drive at Upper State Road identified the street name installed on the overhead mast arms as both “Gateway Ctr Dr” and “Gwynmont Dr” even though the intersection connection to Gwynmont Drive had not yet been constructed. This has caused confusion for drivers trying to find properties in the Gwynmont Farms neighborhood. In order to correct this problem staff is recommending submission of a request to PennDOT to revise the signage on the signal permit to eliminate the reference to “Gwynmont Dr.”
To implement the improvements, the Township is required to adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the submission of a TE160 Application for Traffic Signal Approval to PennDOT along with a revised permit plan showing this revision. Resolution #6 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, adopting a resolution authorizing the Township Manager to submit application to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for revisions to the Traffic Signal Permit Plan for Gateway Center Drive to remove Gwynmont Drive from the overhead mast arm street sign.
Planning Director Bruce Shoupe presented Preliminary/Final Land Development Plan LD/S #691 Montgomery Nissan – Nappen & Associates involving a 6.84 Acre parcel of ground located at the intersection of Stump Road and Bethlehem Pike. The site is located within the C-Commercial Zoning District and a Special Exception was granted on June 2, 1987 to operate a new car dealership, sell used cars and service motor vehicles. The applicant, Nappen & Associates, proposes to demolish the two existing showroom buildings and construct a new 15,000 square foot automobile showroom and construct a 2,000 square foot addition to the existing service facility. In addition to the buildings, the plan proposes site improvements including additional customer parking, display spaces and storm water management facilities. The Township staff and professional consultants have reviewed this plan for compliance with Township Codes and base on their recommendation, a draft approval Resolution has been prepared for the approval of the project subject to twelve conditions. Marc Jonas, Esq., counsel for the applicant, was present and stated that the conditions were acceptable to his client. Resolution #7, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, authorized to grant conditional, Preliminary/Final Land Development approval of the subdivision application and plan for Nappen & Associates for Montgomeryville Nissan, Bethlehem Pike.
Planning Director Bruce Shoupe reported that all of the Land Development Improvements required for the approved plan LD/S #617 Narayan Guest House Project on County Line Road have been completed. The developer, Nand and Sashi Todi, have requested that the eighteen-month maintenance period for the Narayan Guest House begin. They have also requested approval of the final escrow release in the amount of $40,727.93, which was held as a Cash Escrow. The developer has provided a new Cash Escrow as the Maintenance Period Guarantee in the amount of $40,592.52, which is 15% of the original construction escrow to be held for a period of 18 months until September 27, 2018. The Township Engineer and Landscape Engineer have inspected the project and recommend approval of the release and start of the eighteen-month maintenance period. Resolution #8, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch and adopted unanimously, authorizing Escrow Release #5 in the amount of $40,727.93 and the start of the eighteen-month maintenance period as recommended by the Township Engineer for LD/S # 617 Narayan Guest House.
Planning Director Bruce Shoupe reported that a construction escrow release was requested by Nappen & Associates for LD/S # 6811390 Welsh Road. The original amount of the escrow was $290,163.94, held as a Letter of Credit. This is the first escrow release for this project. The current release is in the amount of $82,082.75, which would leave a balance of $208,081.19. Resolution #9, made by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized Escrow Release #1 for LD/S #681 Nappen & Associates 1390 Welsh Road in the amount of $82,082.75, as recommended by the Township Engineer.
Planning Director Bruce Shoupe reported in the 2017 Fee Schedule adopted on January 3, 2017, the non-residential roofing permits fee was inadvertently increased from the 2016 permit fee amount of $200 base fee plus $.05/sf to a fee amount of $200 base fee plus $.25/sf. The fee structure in effect in 2016 more accurately reflects the inspection requirements for this type of work. Resolution #10, made by Vice-Chairman Robert J. Birch, seconded by Supervisor Jeffrey W. McDonnell and adopted unanimously, authorized amending the 2017 Fee Schedule reducing the non-residential roofing permit fee from $200 base fee plus $.25/sf to a permit fee of $200 base fee plus $.05/sf, effective immediately.
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 8:42 p.m.