MINUTES OF MEETING

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

JANUARY 2, 2018 

At 6:30 p.m. Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order an executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Michael J. Fox and Jeffrey W. McDonnell as well as Supervisors-Elect Tanya C. Bamford and Matthew W. Quigg. Also in attendance were Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan and Township Solicitor Frank R. Bartle, Esquire.

Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the re-organization meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Michael J. Fox and Jeffrey W. McDonnell as well as Supervisors-Elect Tanya C. Bamford and Matthew W. Quigg. 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 and Zoning 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 Rivas.

The Honorable Andrea Duffy, District Court Judge, administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Real Estate Tax Collector Patricia Gallagher. The Honorable Todd Eisenberg, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge, administered the Oath of Office to the newly elected Township officials: Jennifer Dan LoStracco as Township Auditor, Tanya C. Bamford as Township Supervisor, and Matthew W. Quigg as Township Supervisor.

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 including a personnel opening and Police contract negotiations and grievance update. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.

Supervisor Michael J. Fox made a motion and Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford seconded the motion to nominate Candyce Fluehr Chimera to serve as the Temporary Chair until a new Chairman was elected. Approval of the nomination was unanimous.

Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford nominated Candyce Fluehr Chimera to be the Chairman for 2018, Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg seconded the motion. By Resolution #1, made by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg, Candyce Fluehr Chimera was elected unanimously to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2018.

Supervisor Michael J. Fox presented an engraved gavel plaque to Candyce Fluehr Chimera and thanked her for her service as Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for the year 2017.

Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera nominated Michael J. Fox to be the Vice Chairman for 2018, Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford seconded the motion. By Resolution #2 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, Michael J. Fox was unanimously elected to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors for 2018.

Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera commended all of the Township’s Volunteer Boards and Committees for their service during the year 2017 and expressed the Township’s appreciation to the Board and Committee members for their dedication and time in serving on Township committees.

Resolution #3, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox and adopted unanimously re-appointed committee volunteers with expiring terms of January 1, 2019 to new terms in accordance with the bylaws of their respective committees and boards.

Resolution #4 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox and adopted unanimously, appointed David L. Barrett to the

Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority to serve a five year term, expiring on January 1, 2023; appointed Marcy Lynch to the Community and Recreation Advisory Committee to serve a one year term, expiring on January 1, 2019; appointed John (J.P.) Northrop to the Autumn Festival Committee to serve a one year term, expiring on January 1, 2019; appointed Barbara M. Vinciquerra to the Finance Committee to serve a one year term, expiring on January 1, 2019; and appointing David Wood to the Autumn Festival Committee to serve a one year term, expiring on January 1, 2019.

Resolution #5, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox and adopted unanimously, established the official holidays that Montgomery Township offices will be closed in the year 2018.

Resolution #6, made by made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, established the meeting dates for the Board of Supervisors for the year 2018.

Resolution #7, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and adopted unanimously, set the Treasurer’s Bond at $2,500,000.

Resolution #8, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, named the depositories for the Township to be Univest Bank and Trust Company, Morgan Stanley as custodian for the investments of the Police Pension Fund, and ICMA-RC as the custodian for Montgomery Township Police Pension Funds in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP). Resolution #8 was adopted with a 4-0-1 vote with Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox abstaining from voting as he is employed by Univest Bank.

Resolution #9, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, appointed the Township Officials and Consultants for the year 2018.

Resolution #10, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and adopted unanimously, authorized the execution of the Township Managers Memorandum of Agreement effective for the period of 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2019.

Resolution #11, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, certified Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford as the voting delegate to the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors conference for 2018.

Resolution #12, made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox and adopted unanimously, established the Board liaisons to the various Township Volunteer Committees and Boards.

Resolution #13, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, approved the list of authorized drivers of Township-owned vehicles for commuting purposes for 2018.

Resolution #14, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, re-appointed the following Fire Police to serve Montgomery Township in 2018: William Adams, Stacy Bailey, Mitchell Barrer, Gregory Fitzgerald, Michael Goldberg, Robert Gruber, Maryanne Mogensen, Bud Rhoads, Joel Silver and William Tuttle.

Resolution #15, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and adopted unanimously, adopted the 2018 Fee Schedule including building and related permits, zoning permits, subdivision applications, highway occupancy permits, per diem rates, fees and hourly charges for the Township Engineer, Traffic and Street Light Engineer, Landscape Architect, Township Solicitor, Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor, Planning Consultant, Special Legal Counsel, Labor Counsel, Building Inspector, Business Tax Auditor and Court Reporter, as detailed in the Fee Schedule.

Resolution #16, made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the maximum departmental salary/wage increases for 2018, in accordance with the adoption of the 2018 budget.

Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order the Action meeting and made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 18, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.

Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive forest insect from Asia responsible for the deaths of millions of ash trees throughout the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada. Surveys were conducted in the Township parks which identified nearly 750 ash trees in the parks alone that could potentially be affected by this infestation. The Township, with the assistance of Curt Eshleman, has begun to identify high risk trees on Township properties along property lines, trails, roads and sidewalks for removal. Currently 176 trees have been identified in Autumn Woods and approximately 125 in the Winners Circle Open Space Area for a total count of 300 trees. The tree removal project requires a formal bid process. The work under this contract includes the furnishing of all labor, materials and equipment necessary and incidental for the felling of trees to within 12 inches or less of ground level. Additional requirements and procedures are outlined within the bid documents. Resolution #17 made by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, authorized the Township Manager to advertise for bids for the Ash Tree Removal Project in Autumn Woods and the Winners Circle Open Space Area.

A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice Chairman Michael J. Fox, and adopted unanimously, approved the payment of bills as submitted.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.