MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MAY 26, 2015
Chairman Michael J. Fox called the executive session to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Supervisors Robert Birch, Jeffrey McDonnell and Joseph Walsh. Also in attendance were Eric Frey, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, and Bruce Shoupe.
Chairman Michael J. Fox called the action meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. In attendance were Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Supervisors Robert Birch, Jeffrey McDonnell and Joseph Walsh. Also in attendance were Eric Frey, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Scott Bendig, Rick Lesniak, Shannon Drosnock, Ann Shade, Stacy Crandell, Bruce Shoupe, Kevin Costello, Brian Forman, Rich Grier, Kelsey McMeans and Deb Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Michael Fox called for public comment from the audience and there was none.
Township Solicitor Eric Frey, Esquire reported that the Board had met in an executive session earlier in the evening at 7:30 p.m. to discuss two matters of litigation. The first matter is a zoning dispute with Urgent Care located at 721 Bethlehem Pike in the Montgomery County Court system. The second matter is a zoning dispute with ARMCO Scrap Metals, LLC located at 1079 Horsham Road with the Zoning Hearing Board. Mr. Frey stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Supervisor Joseph Walsh made a motion and Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2015 Board meeting. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello introduced new employee, David Fulton, who joins the Township as a Laborer in the Public Works Department. David began his employment on May 11, 2015 and comes with a solid background in construction including masonry, plumbing, carpentry and electrical. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, welcomed new employee, David Fulton, Public Works Laborer, to Montgomery Township effective May 11, 2015.
Chief of Police J. Scott Bendig introduced new employee, Eric Bittell, who joins the Township as a Police Dispatcher in the Police Department. Eric began his employment on May 18, 2015 and comes to the Township with a background in dispatching and emergency services. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, welcomed new employee Eric Bittell to Montgomery Township, effective May 18, 2015.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that Arthur Herling, the developer of LDS #616A, Montgomery Chase Subdivision, has completed their installation of public improvements required on this development and requested that the eighteen month maintenance period for the public improvements begin. In addition, Mr. Herling has requested a final escrow release in the amount of $15,749.05, which when released will close out the escrow account for this project. The applicant will be posting a maintenance bond in the amount of $10,562.33, which is 15% of the original total escrow, and will be held for the 18 month maintenance bond period. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, authorized the final escrow release for LDS #616A, Montgomery Chase Subdivision and approved the start of the 18 month maintenance period on May 26, 2015.
Resolution #4 made by made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted by a vote of 4 to 0, with Supervisor Joseph Walsh abstaining, approved the construction escrow release #3 for LDS #653-2A for the Montgomery Preserve – Phase II in the amount of $85,066.00.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that in 2009, Montgomery Township initiated a program of naturalizing stormwater basins owned and maintained by the Township. The Shade Tree Commission has researched the benefits of naturalizing these basins and has identified additional basins to be entered into the Basin Naturalization Program. The following basins have been assessed and determined to be acceptable as being entered into the Naturalized Basin Program. Those basins are #16 – Stone Ridge (Fair Acres and Upper State Road), #24 – Summer Ridge (Green Spring Circle), #43 – Springville Farm (Baker Place), #49A – Estates of Montgomery (Green Tree Tavern Road), #49B – Estates of Montgomery (Wrights Circle / Green Tree Tavern Road) and #62 – Magdalena Lane. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized that the referenced basins be accepted into the Naturalized Basin Program.
Director of Recreation and Community Center Brian Forman reported that the staff and design team from Kimmel Bogrette have worked together to select furniture styles and colors for the new Community and Recreation Center. The recommended furniture purchases include office furniture (desks, chairs, and workstations), senior and youth lounge furniture, lobby furniture, furniture for the community room, including tables and stacking chairs, as well as furniture for the child watch area. The Community and Recreation Steering Committee reviewed the proposed furniture selection and colors at its May 18, 2015 meeting. The Steering Committee recommends moving forward with the purchase of furniture from Lizell Furniture (COSTARS Contract #s 4400009622 and #44009406) per their quote dated May 5, 2015 in the amount of $52,649. Resolution #6 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, approved the purchase of furniture for the Community and Recreation Center under the COSTARS contract from Lizell Furniture of Montgomeryville, PA per their quote dated May 5, 2015 in the amount of $52,649.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to approve the payment of bills for May 26, 2015. Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera seconded the motion. The payment of bills was unanimously approved as submitted.
Under other business, Township Manager Lawrence Gregan reported that a sanitary sewer easement agreement is required to be recorded against the Township open space parcel fronting on Limekiln Pike and Buckingham Lane. This parcel was conveyed to the Township by The Cutler Group in 2007 as part of the Montgomery Lea Subdivision. The easement will be used by the Montgomery Township Sewer Authority (MTMSA) to provide for realignment and extension of a gravity sanitary sewer line along and adjacent to Limekiln Pike. The Board of Supervisors had previously granted an easement agreement in August of 2009, but the agreement was inadvertently recorded against the Montgomery Square United Methodist Church property located across Limekiln Pike. The Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority needs to obtain a corrected easement in order to proceed with a sewer line realignment and extension project. With the granting of this easement, the Authority Solicitor will take the necessary steps to extinguish the 2009 Easement Agreement against the Church property. Resolution #7 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized the execution of a Sanitary Sewer Easement Agreement with the Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority on open space parcel Block 17D, Unit 37.
Also under other business, Chairman Michael Fox recognized Cub Scouts who had attended this evening’s meeting. Greta Scott and Jason Page, leaders of Cub Scout Pack 229, stated that they were excited to attend the Board meeting and to seek the approval of the Board for their annual Rocket Launch on Father’s Day at Spring Valley Park. Township staff had not received the application prior to this meeting, so the item will be scheduled for the next Board meeting on Monday, June 8, 2015. Members of the pack are not required to be present at the next meeting to seek authorization for the launch. Cub Scout 229 pack members who were present this evening included Brian Scott, Ethan Page and Brendan Page.
Also under other business, Supervisor Joseph Walsh reported that he and other members of the Board had the privilege of attending the Memorial Day activities hosted by the Village of Neshaminy Falls Veterans Group. The Veterans Group provided a special tribute to the Montgomery Township Police Department, and in addition, recognized the 14 Township Police Officers who have served in the military. Supervisor Joseph Walsh stated that he would like to Give A Shout Out to all the men and women in uniform and thank them for everything they do.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.