MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
JUNE 22, 2015
Chairman Michael Fox called the executive session to order at 7:30 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Robert Birch and Jeffrey McDonnell. Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and Supervisor Joseph Walsh were absent. Also in attendance were Robert Iannozzi, Esquire, and Lawrence Gregan.
Chairman Michael Fox called the action meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Robert Birch and Jeffrey McDonnell. Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and Supervisor Joseph Walsh were absent. Also in attendance were Robert Iannozzi, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Scott Bendig, Rick Lesniak, Ann Shade, Bruce Shoupe, Kevin Costello, Brian Forman, Lance Allen, 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 Robert Iannozzi, Esquire reported that the Board had met in an executive session earlier in the evening at 7:30 p.m. to discuss one personnel matter and two matters of potential litigation. The potential litigation matters were Zoning Hearing Board applications for 1079 Horsham Road and Water Tower Square Associates. Mr. Iannozzi stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Supervisor Robert Birch made a motion and Supervisor Jeffrey McDonnell seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the June 8, 2015 Board meeting. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Director of Fire Services Rick Lesniak requested that the Board recognize the donation of automatic external defibulators (AEDs) from Mr. and Mrs. Modestine, owners of the Village Tavern. Mr. Lesniak stated that in an effort to make AEDs readily available throughout the community, Mr. and Mrs. Modestine and the Village Tavern host a St. Patrick’s Day 5K run to raise money to purchase AEDs. The AEDs are then donated to local organizations. This year, they selected Montgomery Township’s Fire Department and Recreation Department to each receive an AED. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, recognized Mr. and Mrs. Modestine and the Village Tavern for their donation of automatic external defibulators to the Fire and Recreation Departments of Montgomery Township.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Shade Tree Commission’s Legacy Tree Program was developed to foster appreciation for, educate and inspire awareness of the contribution that trees make to the Township; including, but not limited to environmental, aesthetic, cultural, and historical contributions. On September 8, 2014, the Board of Supervisors recognized the following five trees situated on private property as Legacy Trees: the White Ash located at 307 Pioneer Spur, the Black Walnut located at 1109 Vilsmeier Road, the Northern Red Oak located at 1105 Vilsmeier Road and three American Sycamores located at 1325 Upper State Road. The White Oak located at 1008 Knapp Road was chosen to be the Champion Tree of Montgomery Township. The Shade Tree Commission asked the Board of Supervisors to present the individual plaques to the Legacy Tree Recipients so that they may mark the significance of their tree for future generations. In addition to the plaque presentations, Mr. Nathan Spears entertained the audience with an original song celebrating the tree on his property. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, officially authorized the presentation of the Legacy Tree plaques to Michael Stachowicz, Alan Stryeski, Nathan & Debra Spears, and the St. Francis Ecology Council of Mary Mother of the Redeemer Church, and the Champion Tree plaque to George and Joanne Hart.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that Family Dining, Inc., owner of the Burger King Restaurant located at 560 DeKalb Pike, is requesting a waiver of the requirement of a formal land development application. The applicant plans to renovate the restaurant and construct a 510 square foot indoor playground area onto the side of the existing building. The Township’s staff and consultants have reviewed the proposed indoor playground area addition and support the waiver request, conditioned upon the applicant complying with the review letters from the Township Consultants and PennDOT’s requirement for a designated left-turn lane for site access for southbound traffic on DeKalb Pike. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the waiver of formal land development for M-15-72 – Burger King Restaurant, located at 560 DeKalb Pike, for a 510 sq. ft. indoor playground building addition.
Director of Fire Services Rick Lesniak reported that the Fire Department of Montgomery Township’s Battalion Chief Joe Bifolco and Firefighter Warren Fuchs have been working with the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) to secure an opportunity for members of the Department of Fire Services (DFS) and Fire Department of Montgomery Township (FDMT) to train at FDNY’s fire academy. The opportunity is not often granted to agencies outside of New York City and is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the members. The Department has received notification that the training request has been approved for Friday, June 26, 2015. Department members will receive training from FDNY’s fire instructors on fire suppression in commercial and resident buildings, participate in flashover simulations, and reinforce their skills using thermal imaging cameras. Resolution #4 made by Chairman Michael Fox and seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch, authorized John Scheiter and Curtis Diehl of the DFS, and Joe Bennett, Joe Bifolco, Vinay Setty, Rachel Troutman, Phil Stump, Mike Shearer, Dave Bennett, Brian Sarver, A.J. D’Angelo, Carl Herr and Austin Nedwick of the FDMT to attend training at the Fire Department of New York City’s Fire Academy on Friday, June 26, 2015.
Resolution #5 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the construction escrow release #3 for LDS #639 for the Maple Dr / Crystal Road Townhouse Development in the amount of $7,729.62.
Resolution #6 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the construction escrow release #6 for LDS #630 for the Firefox Phase 1 Townhouse Development in the amount of $353,405.85.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to approve the payment of bills for June 22, 2015. Supervisor Robert Birch seconded the motion. The payment of bills was unanimously approved as submitted.
Under other business, Chairman Michael Fox reported that the Township has been requested to authorize a letter to the Department of Environmental Protection to request an extension of time for comments to be made on the new storm water regulations. Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to authorize the Township Manager to execute a letter requesting an extension of the time period from the Department of Environmental Protection. Supervisor Robert Birch seconded the motion which was approved unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:27 p.m.