MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AUGUST 26, 2013
Chairman Joseph Walsh called the executive session to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Robert Birch, Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Michael Fox and Jeffrey McDonnell. Also in attendance were Lawrence Gregan and Frank Bartle, Esquire, Chairman Joseph Walsh called the action meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Robert Birch, Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Michael Fox and Jeffrey McDonnell. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Chief J. Scott Bendig, Kevin Costello, Bruce Shoupe, Shannon Drosnock, Ann Shade, Deb Rivas and Shirley Snyder.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Joseph Walsh called for public comment from the audience. Ed Buttner, a Montgomery Township resident made a request for financial support for the North Wales Area Library. Mr. Buttner stated that this library serves residents of Montgomery Township as well as the North Wales Community, while receiving financial support only from North Wales Borough and Upper Gwynedd Township. Chairman Joseph Walsh stated that Montgomery Township has committed its population and financial support to the Norristown Montgomery County Library, and the Township may be limited in its support to another local library. The Board will review Mr. Buttner's request when working on the 2014 budget.
Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire reported that the Board met in an executive session earlier in the evening at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Bartle reported that three litigation matters and three personnel matters were discussed. Mr. Bartle also reported that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania's Sunshine Law.
Chairman Joseph Walsh made a motion to approve the minutes of the August 12, 2013 Board meeting, and Supervisor Michael Fox seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Township Solicitor Frank Bartle stated that Board is required to render a written decision on the Conditional Use Application-Decision and Order for Capital Telecom Acquisitions, LLC after the hearing on the application. When approved, the Decision and Order will grant the approval of the requested conditional use for this project. Resolution #1, made by Supervisor Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the Memorandum, Findings of Fact, Opinion and Order regarding the Conditional Use application of Capital Telecom Acquisitions, LLC, at 608 Upper State Road for the construction of a 134 foot cell tower.
Bruce Shoupe, Director of Planning and Zoning stated that PennDOT has made an offer of "just compensation" for right-of-way for land owned by the Township along along County Line Road in order to perform road improvements for the County Line Road WD-2 Widening Project. Parcel #507 is Township owned right-of-way, located on County Line Road across the frontage of the Bharatiya Temple and the Kingston Knoll Development. The parcel compromises an area of .892 acres of land. The compensation being offered by PennDOT is $9,000.00. Resolution #2, made by Supervisor Robert Birch, seconded by Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously accepted the offer of "just compensation" in the amount of $9,000 from PennDOT for Parcel #507.
Resolution #3, made by Chairman Joseph Walsh, seconded by Supervisor Michael Fox and adopted unanimously, approved the request of Bharatiya Temple to waive all permit fees associated with their special event to be held from September 8, 2013 to September 18, 2013.
Resolution #4, made by Chairman Joseph Walsh, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously approved Construction Escrow Release #3 for Montgomery Preserve Phase I - LDS#653A in the amount of $72,272.45.
Bruce Shoupe reported that Select Properties has a pending land development plan -LDS#639, which proposes development of 36 townhomes at Crystal Road and Maple Drive. The Developer has submitted an application for Sewage Facility Planning Module approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. This Planning Module Application has been approved by the Township Municipal Sewer Authority and recommended for approval by the Montgomery Township Planning Commission. Resolution #5, made by Supervisor Robert Birch, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously approved the application for the Sewage Facility Planning Module for LDS#639, Crystal Road Townhouse Development.
Township Manager Lawrence Gregan reported that as a condition of the approval of the Wegmans Land Development Plan - LDS#660, the Township required Simon Properties to perform a traffic impact study to determine what traffic improvements would be needed as a result of the development. During the review of the study, PennDOT has required changes to the Traffic Signal Plan at the intersection of North Wales Road and Knapp Road to provide for timing optimization, installation of a GPS clock, revisions to timing programs and additional system notes. Resolution #6, made by Supervisor Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized the Townshp Manager to submit an application to PennDOT for these revisions to the Traffic Signal Permit and Plans for the Traffic Signal at Knapp Road and North Wales Road.
Lawrence Gregan reported that the 2013 Capital Budget included funding to perform the design, bidding and construction administration work needed to install approximately 250 feet of sidewalk improvements along the north side of North Wales Road between Bethlehem Pike and Horsham Road. Resolution #7, made by Supervisor Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the proposal from Gilmore & Associates, Inc, dated May 23, 2013 to perform the design, bidding and construction administration work needed to install approximately 250 feet of sidewalk improvements along the north side of North Wales Road between Horsham Road and Bethlehem Pike at a cost of $15,000.
Resolution #8 made by Chairman Joseph Walsh, seconded by Supervisor Michael Fox and adopted unanimously, awarded the contract for the purchase of replacement office furniture to Lizell Office Furniture at a cost of $13,307.00 per the quote and specifications dated August 16, 2013.
Resolution #9 made by Chairman Joseph Walsh, seconded by Supervisor Michael Fox, awarded the purchase and installation of the replacement carpeting in the Police Department to About All Floors, a vendor under the COSTARS Cooperative Purchasing program Contract #008-099 at a cost of $17,370.93 per the quote and specifications dated August 16, 2013.
Ann Shade, Director of Administration and Human Resources stated that in 2012 the Department of Labor implemented new fee disclosure regulations for certain pension benefit plans. To be in compliance with the new rules, the Administrator for the Townships 401a Pension Plan Benefit Consultants Group (BCG), has provided an updated Service Provider and Disclosure Agreement for approval and execution by the Township. This agreement confirms existing fees and services, and does not include any new fees or rate increases. Resolution #10 made by Supervisor Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously adopted the updated Service Provider and Disclosure Agreement with BCG Consultants Group.
Jonathan Trump, P.E. of Kimmel-Bogrette Architecture+Site provided an update on the design of the Community and Recreation Center. Mr. Trump stated that several meetings have taken place with the structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineers, civil engineer, other consultants, Montgomery Township staff and the Township Steering Committee to keep the project moving forward. He presented the Draft Site Plan showing the proposed location of the building and parking areas. As part of the project, the plan also proposes construction of a half mile long walking trail, and a combination water spray park and accessible playground.
Mr. Trump stated that there are four proposed exterior building materials/finishes being used in the building: glass; phenolic wood tone panels; blue metal panels; and synthetic stucco (Dryvit system). Mr. Trump provided information and samples of the various materials for the Board's consideration and approval. The Board was in agreement with the exterior building materials being proposed. John Lopuszanski, a North Wales resident, inquired about the specifics of the Dryvit system. Mr. Trump provided the answers to his questions concerning this system.
The discussion then moved on to the type of heating and cooling system to be used in the facility - natural gas vs. geothermal. Mr. Trump provided detailed information on both systems, stating that natural gas is readily available at the site and currently inexpensive. The Board discussed the fact that while the cost may presently be low for natural gas, the cost could rise over the next ten years. With the natural gas system (conventional system) the unit(s) would use gas heating and electric cooling units which would be roof mounted.
The geothermal system, which would add an additional $400,000 to the project, would require about 40 bore holes, about 450 feet deep, to be drilled on the site for this application. Piping, heat pumps and manifolds would also be required. A test bore hole will have to be completed and evaluated prior to proceeding with this system. A geothermal system would provide a "green" system for heating and cooling for this facility.
The Steering Committee has recommended the natural gas application for the facility based on cost. After considerable discussion, the Board decided to proceed with a geothermal system with the provision that if the test bore hole indicates that additional holes would need to be drilled or if they exceeded 450' in depth, which would increase the cost significantly, the Board would have to revisit this matter. Resolution #11 made by Chairman Joseph Walsh, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved submission of the site plan for Preliminary Land Development approval; approved the proposed exterior finishes for the proposed Community and Recreation Center and approved a geothermal HVAC system for the building.
Chairman Joseph Walsh made a motion to approve the payment of bills. Supervisor Robert Birch seconded the motion. The payment of bills was unanimously approved as submitted.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.