MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
NOVEMBER 23, 2015
Chairman Michael J. Fox called the executive session to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Supervisors Robert Birch and Jeffrey McDonnell. Supervisor Joseph Walsh was absent. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, Esquire and Lawrence Gregan.
Chairman Michael J. Fox called the action meeting to order at 8:05 p.m. In attendance were Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Supervisors Robert Birch and Jeffrey McDonnell. Supervisor Joseph Walsh was absent. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Scott Bendig, Rick Lesniak, Shannon Drosnock, Ann Shade, Stacy Crandell, Bruce Shoupe, Rich Grier and Deb Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Michael J. Fox called for public comment.
Dennis Miranda, Director of the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association invited the Board of Supervisors and staff to their December 11, 2015 stormwater financing presentation by the Environmental Finance Center.
Robert Pritchard of Pritchard, Bieler, Gruver and Willison, P.C. thanked the Board for allowing their firm to host a Halloween Bash at the new Community and Recreation Center for special needs children. A slideshow presentation of the event was given. The event was well attended and received by the residents and the firm plans to host the event again next year on October 27, 2016.
Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire reported that the Board had met in an executive session earlier in the evening at 7:00 p.m. to discuss two matters of personnel, one matter of potential litigation and two matters of litigation. The litigation matters included Mirabella v. Montgomery Township, and a Zoning Hearing Board application for Liberation House, LLC, located at 1146 Stump Road. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters were legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion and Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the November 9, 2015 Board meeting. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Township is prepared to submit the annual applications for consideration of the 2015 Tree City USA Recertification and the 2015 Growth Award to the Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the applications for Montgomery Township to receive the 2015 Tree City USA Recertification and 2015 Growth Award.
Director of Finance Shannon Drosnock reported that the Minimum Municipal Obligation calculation has determined that for 2016, a combination of State Aid, Township contributions and Police Officer contributions will be required to meet the funding obligations of the Plan and keep the pension fund actuarially sound. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, requires Police Officer contributions to the Police Pension Plan in the amount of 5% of Base Salary, Longevity and Holiday pay for the year 2016 and direct that notice of contribution be provided to the representatives of the Police Collective Bargaining Unit.
Township Manager Lawrence Gregan reported that in July, the Board authorized the Township’s participation in a County program allowing first responders throughout the County to purchase portable and mobile radios for emergency communications under the County’s new radio system. To help reduce the financial burden resulting from the purchase of the new radios, the Montgomery County Commissioners arranged with the Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority (DVRFA) to allow municipalities to borrow funds through the County to cover the costs of the new radios with repayment of the principal of those loans over a five-year period. Under the financing arrangement, the County will pay the interest and administrative costs for the loans. In order to move forward with the purchase, it is necessary for the Township to adopt an Ordinance authorizing the Township to borrow the funds through the issuance of a Promissory Note with Montgomery County. In conjunction with the adoption of this ordinance, the Township will enter into separate loan agreements with the FDMT and VMSC to secure their obligation for repayment of their share of the loan to the Township. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved Ordinance #15-290, authorizing the borrowing by the Township from Montgomery County in the principal amount of $536,651.72.
Township Manager Lawrence Gregan reported that the Park Board has discussed potential adjustments to the fees charged for reservation of Township facilities under the Township’s Facilities and Field Use Policy. The discussions came about due to the realization that the current fee structure does not treat the users of the Township’s outdoor recreation facilities on the same basis as the indoor recreation facilities at the new Community and Recreation Center. Changes to the policy would provide a low field permit fee for both Township residents and Community and Recreation Center members, a reasonable field permit fee for non-residents/non-CRC members, and a new $200/field day fee for tournaments which hereto for were free. Resolution # 4 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the revised Facility and Field Use Fee Schedule for all fields, tennis/basketball/volleyball/hockey courts, pavilions and gazebos effective January 1, 2016.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell reported that during the construction of the Accessible Playground and Spray Park located at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center, there was no electrical connection from the building for the park use. As such, it was necessary to extend the electrical service, which was not included in the original scope of the project, resulting in a Change Order request in the amount of $4,346.57. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the change order for the extension of electrical service for the Accessible Playground and Spray Park Project at the Community and Recreation Center as presented by Stoneridge, Inc. in the amount of $4,346.57.
Resolution #6 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Supervisor Robert Birch and adopted unanimously, approved the request of Bharatiya Temple to waive the $100.00 Special Events permit fees associated with the Diwali Festival which was held on November 11, 2015.
Resolution #7 made by Chairman Michael Fox, seconded by Vice Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the release of construction escrow for the end of maintenance period for the General Hancock Townhouse Project – LDS#648.
Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to approve the payment of bills for November 23, 2015. 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 8:32 p.m.