MINUTES OF MEETING
JULY 26, 2010
At 7:00 p.m. Chairman Joseph Walsh called to order the executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, Chimera, Fox and McDonnell. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, John Nagel, Richard Brady, Thomas Ward, Jason English and Larry Gregan. Items of litigation, potential litigation and personnel were discussed.
At 8:00 p.m. Chairman Joseph Walsh called to order the action meeting and led the pledge of allegiance. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, Chimera, Fox and McDonnell. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, John Nagel, Lawrence Gregan, Kevin Costello, William Brightcliffe, Richard Brady, Marianne McConnell and Deb Rivas.
Chairman Walsh announced that William Maule, former Chairman of the Park Board and longtime resident of Montgomery Township passed away on Sunday evening. Mr. Maule was responsible for the formation of the many parks and playing fields in Montgomery Township and was a founding member of the Montgomery Soccer Association. Mr. Walsh requested a moment of silence to remember Mr. Maule.
There was no public comment.
Solicitor Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss three personnel matters and one matter of potential litigation. These matters are permissible in executive session under the guidelines of the Sunshine law.
Chairman Walsh announced that previously the Board had commended lead Montgomery County Detective Michael Santarelli and lead Montgomery Township Detective Ward Thomas for their professionalism and dedication in the apprehension of persons involved in the burglary and murder of Montgomery Township resident Robert Chae. The Board would now like to commend the following Montgomery County Prosecutors who worked diligently on the home invasion and murder. Resolution #1 commended District Attorney Risa Ferman, First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele, Assistant District Attorney Todd Stephens, Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Abidiwan-Lupo, and Assistant District Attorney Angela Schwartz. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to all.
Nick Fortune, Chairman of the Environmental Advisory Committee, made a presentation to the Board providing updates and future activities of the EAC. Mr. Fortune indicated that the committee would like to work with the Montgomery Mall to evaluate moving next year's Earth Day Celebration events to the mall. Mr. Fortune also said that the committee would be working on updating the energy audit information with 2010 data as the baseline was created in 2005 and it needs to be updated every five years. The committee would also like to work with the Township to do a no-cost/low cost energy efficiency project. The committee is also planning for the Autumn Festival activities which may include leaf bags, the enviroscape demonstration, etc. Lastly, the committee would like to host a Township energy seminar with topics of rate cap expirations, energy audits and efficiency info, etc. The Board was appreciative of the efforts of the EAC and indicated that they would like to see the energy seminar videotaped for broadcast on the cable channel. The Board also suggested that the information be announced by E-News when it is scheduled.
Marc Jonas, the attorney representing the General Hancock Partnership, presented the Consideration of Plan for the General Hancock Townhouses. Mr. Jonas indicated that the applicant proposes to create a land development in the ECPOD Zoning District with 95 townhouses on approximately 16 acres of land, adjacent to the Costco Retail Center. Mr. Jonas stated that all the requirements had been met and that there was one waiver being requested concerning screen buffers. Mr. Jonas indicated that the applicant had received a draft copy of the resolution and that they were in agreement with the resolution. Mr. Birch and Mr. McDonnell were concerned that they had not receive copies of the consultants review letters, specifically a letter which was generated by Township Landscape Architect Judith Stern Goldstein. Mr. Birch and Mr. McDonnell were also concerned about the buffer location and distance. Mr. Walsh indicated that he was not a big fan of this plan; however, it is the only working option for this area. After considerable discussion, Resolution #2 approved the Consideration of Plan for the General Hancock Townhouses with a vote of 3 to 2, Mr. Birch and Mr. McDonnell opposing.
Chairman Walsh stated that Montgomery County is moving towards coordinating all the dispatching for Police Departments in the County. Mr. Walsh indicated that he spoke to other municipal officials, visited the County 911 Dispatch Center and met with our Police Department. Mr. Fox stated that he too had visited the Eagleville site and also a Police Chief whose department is using the County system. Mr. Walsh said that it is in the best interest of Montgomery Township that we move our dispatching to the County system. Mr. Walsh said that the Township is one of the few remaining municipalities that do their own dispatching and we will be forced to move someday. Mr. Walsh said that the Township was planning to update the Communications Center and that expense will be reduced by moving to the County system. Mr. Walsh said that there will be no drastic moves regarding the dispatch personnel and that a reconfiguration will be done in the future. Mr. Walsh also noted that the fire and medical services are all dispatched by the County at this time. Mr. McDonnell indicated that it will serve the Township well to jump on the County system and it is the best long term solution. Mr. Walsh made a motion (#3) that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety to handle Montgomery Township Police Dispatching Services pursuant to the presentation made to the Board of Supervisors by the County entitled "9-1-1 Consolidation Overview," and the appropriate Township Officials are hereby authorized to execute any and all necessary documents and/or take other necessary steps for an orderly transition. Ms. Chimera seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously.
John Chambers provided an update on the TMDL Implementation Plan for the Wissahickon Creek. Mr. Chambers said that on July 15, 2010, there was a meeting held to discuss the possibility of joint projects for the Wissahickon Creek TMDL Plan. Mr. Chambers said that the meeting was attended by Lower Gwynedd, Abington, Whitpain, Springfield, Upper Gwynedd Townships and North Wales, Ambler, Lansdale Boroughs and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association. Mr. Chambers said that it was generally agreed that moving forward would be very difficult since the regulations have not been published. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association has a study done by Temple University with several recommended projects. The Watershed Association will determine from DEP if those projects are eligible and will contact each municipality and ask if they are interested in joining the project. Mr. Chambers said that Montgomery Township will evaluate whether this joint project is more favorable than selecting an individual one within the Township boundary. Mr. Fox indicated that the Township was still required to make an application for the MS-4 permit by September 10, 2010. Mr. Fox said that he did speak with a representative of the Pennsylvania DEP and he indicated that the request for an extension is still being considered. Mr. Fox said that we are hoping to receive a nine month extension.
Lawrence Gregan stated that Act 101, PA Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act requires that Montgomery Township maintain ordinances and regulations mandating that all residential and commercial properties recycle specific material and to report the volume collected to the DEP on an annual basis. The Township is eligible to participate in the DEP's grant program. A condition of eligibility for the grant program is that the Township provides a separate collection of Leaf Waste. For the last three years, the Township contracted with Allied Waste to provide a one day curbside leaf waste collection in April and another in November. In addition, Allied Waste provided a dumpster at Windlestrae Park on the third Saturday of each month for residents to drop off yard waste. The current contract will expire on October 31, 2010. The cost for this service was $30,900 per year. Mr. Gregan inquired of the Board if they wished to continue this arrangement through a new bid process or to change the arrangement to require private haulers collecting from residential properties to conduct two collections directly with their customers and provide a dumpster for residents in the park. After some discussion, the Board agreed that they would prefer to stay with the current option and suggested that the date for pickup in the fall be moved closer to the end of October or beginning of November. It was also suggested that the curbside pickup be advertised several weeks in advance and weekly on the E-News blast to residents.
Lawrence Gregan also presented the 2010 2nd Quarter Budget Report. Mr. Gregan summarized the Township's financial position as "we are holding our own". Mr. Gregan indicated that the revenues are stabilized and that the expenses have been held in check. Mr. Gregan provided some details regarding certain types of revenues and the comparison between this year and last year at the time. Mr. Gregan indicated that the budget process for 2011 was being implemented at the department level during the month of August in preparation for the budget workshops to be held with the Board of Supervisors.
Under the consent agenda, the minutes of meeting for July 12, 2010 and payment of bills were approved as submitted. Resolution #4 approved the FDMT Annual Fundraising Drive. Resolution #5 authorized the Auction Surplus Assets. Resolution #6 approved the Memorandum of Understanding and Amendment to Police Pension Plan - Tax Free Distributions for Post Retirement Medical Benefit Premiums. Resolution #7 approved the Annual Traffic Signal Maintenance & Inspection Agreement. Resolution #8 approved the Designation of Agent - Storm Reimbursement. All consent agenda resolutions were unanimously approved.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m.