MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OCTOBER 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 Robert Iannozzi, Esquire, Bruce Shoupe and Lawrence Gregan.
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 Robert Iannozzi, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Scott Bendig, Rick Lesniak, Shannon Drosnock, Ann Shade, Stacy Crandell, Bruce Shoupe, Rich Grier, Brian Forman, Kelsey McMeans and Deb Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Michael J. 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 three matters of potential litigation and one personnel matter. Mr. Iannozzi stated that this matter was a legitimate subject of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion and Supervisor Robert Birch seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the October 13, 2015 Board meeting. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Resolution #1 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, appointed Michael Lyon to serve as a member of the Montgomery Township Planning Commission with an existing four year term to expire on January 1, 2019.
Police Chief Scott Bendig reported that in early 2015 the Montgomery Township Police Department’s Canine Unit was reduced to two active teams due to the retirement of Canine Jammer and the untimely passing of Canine Bauer. Two new canines were added to the unit this year and were introduced to the Board and residents. Canine Cooper is a 22 month old Belgian Malinois assigned to Officer Brian Schreiber. Cooper was imported from Slovakia and trained at the Tarheel Canine Academy in patrol work and narcotics detection. Canine Major is a 21 month old German Shepard assigned to Officer Tim Woch. Major was imported from Slovakia and trained at Tarheel Canine Academy in patrol work and narcotics detection. Chief Bendig also reported that the purchase of these two canines could not have occurred without the generous assistance of members of our community, and in particular, the assistance of District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman. District Attorney Ferman has been an ardent supporter of the Department’s Canine Unit, providing funding for the purchase and training of several of our canines since taking office as our District Attorney in 2007. In appreciation for this support, the Board of Supervisors recognized District Attorney Ferman with a framed photograph of the Canine Unit with the District Attorney along with patches from the Police Department and the Canine Unit. Resolution #2 made Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, welcomed the new police canines, Cooper and Major, and expressed the Board’s sincere appreciation to District Attorney Ferman for her unwavering support of the Montgomery Township Police Department’s Canine Unit.
Director of Fire Services Richard Lesniak reported that the Township had received the annual allocation by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania of a share of the Foreign Fire Insurance Tax in the amount of $181,959.48, a decrease of 28% from the 2015 allocation. The funds are a result of taxes paid by foreign fire insurance companies to the State of Pennsylvania in accordance with Act 205 of 1984. The funds are allocated by the State to support the Volunteer Fire Relief Association of the volunteer fire company that serves the Township. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, presented a check in the amount of $181,959.48 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the FDMT Fire Relief Association.
Director of Fire Services Rick Lesniak reported that the Montgomery Township Department of Fire Services recently received the 2014 Life Safety Achievement award which recognizes the Career and Volunteer members of the Department for its outstanding Fire Prevention program and accomplishments. Montgomery Township is one of only 96 fire departments across the United States to receive the award this year for recording zero fire deaths in 2014. In addition to zero deaths, the award recognizes active and effective fire prevention programs as well as a clear commitment to reducing the number of house fires in the community. Resolution #4 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, acknowledged the Fire Department’s Life Safety Achievement Award for 2014, and expressed their appreciation and congratulations to the men and women of the Fire Department for this accomplishment.
Director of Recreation and Community Center Brian Forman reported that the Recreation Department is ready to advertise the Winter Recreation Programs and Fees to be offered to the public during the months of January through March, 2016. Programs offered include birthday parties, various sports activities, pickle ball, basketball, volleyball, holistic health, painting, cake decorating and many other programs. The Recreation Department continues to offer a wide selection of healthy fitness classes, including Zumba, yoga and spinning classes at the new Community and Recreation Center. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, approved the 2016 Winter Programs and Fee Schedule amendment as submitted.
Chief of Police Scott Bendig reported that members of the Police Highway Safety Unit recently identified several intersections where traffic control devices (signs) had not been installed or where more appropriate signs should be installed. The Police Department has been working to prioritize the signs to be modified for several developments in the Township. An ordinance has been prepared to amend stop and yield regulatory signs at ten locations in Montgomery Village and is ready for the Board’s consideration this evening. Resolution #6 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, adopted Ordinance #15-289 - Amending Stop Intersections and Yield Intersections for the Montgomery Village Development.
Director of Finance Shannon Drosnock reported that the annual General Municipal Pension System State Aid allocation for 2015 has been received in the amount of $427,370.97, which is a decrease of 1% from the 2014 allocation. The funds are allocated by the Township to the Police and Non-Uniformed Pension plans to offset the cost of these plans. Resolution #7 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, accepted the recommendation to allocate the 2015 Act 205 General Municipal Pension System State Aid to the Police Pension Plan in the amount of $243,601.45 and to the Non Uniformed Employee Pension Plan in the amount of $183,769.52.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Township has received a request from Bharatiya Temple to waive the special event permit fees associated with their Festival which was held on October 22, 2015. In the past, it has been the policy of the Board of Supervisors to waive permit fees for non-profit and religious organizations. Resolution #8 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the request of Bharatiya Temple to waive all special event permit fees associated with their Festival which was held on October 22, 2015.
Township Manager Lawrence Gregan reported that Montgomery Township owns and maintains a municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) requiring a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to allow discharge of stormwater runoff to waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At this time the Township is required to file an amended MS4 TMDL strategy with the state by the end of this year. The draft strategy document has been prepared by the Township Engineer, Gilmore & Associates. The Township is required to solicit public comment, and advertise a public meeting, including a statement whereby the draft strategy document is now available for public inspection. Any comments that are received in response to the public meeting and to the draft strategy are required to be incorporated into the response, including answers to those questions and comments. The Township is proposing that the Township Engineer present the strategy at the November 9th meeting. In addition, the 30 day public comment period would commence with the advertisement of the notice of the TMDL strategy’s availability, which would be October 26, 2015 and run for 30 days from that time period.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to approve the payment of bills for October 26, 2015. Supervisor Robert Birch seconded the motion. The payment of bills was unanimously approved as submitted.
Under other business, Director of Recreation and Community Center Brian Forman reported that the Community and Recreation Center is proposing to engage AGT Fitness Management, Inc. to provide certified fitness staff to the Community and Recreation Center for a one year contract period. Under the contract, AGT would provide professional staffing for the fitness center including a full time on-site fitness specialists and group fitness instructors. These positions would provide staffing for all of the hours that the Community and Recreation Center is open per week. The cost for the services under this contract would be $6,995.00 per month. A financial cost-benefit analysis was presented which shows that the Township would spend less money annually by contracting with AGT Fitness Management, Inc. than it would by providing a similar level of coverage with Township hired staff. Resolution #10 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Joseph Walsh and adopted unanimously, approved the agreement with AGT Fitness Management Inc. to provide Certified Fitness Staff to the Community and Recreation Center at the cost of $6,995.00 per month.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.