MINUTES OF MEETING
November 22, 2010
At 7:00 p.m. Vice-Chairman Michael Fox called to order the executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Robert J. Birch and Candyce Fluehr Chimera. Supervisors Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Joseph P. Walsh were absent. Also in attendance were Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esq., Deputy Chief Scott Bendig and Interim Township Manager Lawrence Gregan.
At 8:00 p.m. Vice-Chairman Michael Fox called to order the public meeting. In attendance were Supervisors Robert J. Birch and Candyce Fluehr Chimera. Supervisors Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Joseph P. Walsh were absent. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle Esq., Lawrence Gregan, Kevin Costello, Richard Brady, William Brightcliffe, Shannon Drosnock, Vickie Zidek and Deb Rivas.
Vice Chairman, Michael Fox called for public comment from the audience and there was none.
Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss two matters of personnel and three matters of litigation or potential litigation. The litigation matters included the JC Penney Tax Assessment Appeal, the Costco Zoning Hearing Board Appeal and the Keystone Homebrew Zoning Hearing Board Appeal. These matters are permissible in executive session under the guidelines of the Sunshine law.
The minutes of the November 8, 2010 Board meeting were approved as submitted.
Lawrence Gregan announced that the staff has prepared an ordinance that would eliminate the current Occupation Privilege Tax (OPT) of $10 per person employed in the Township and implement the Local Services Tax of $52 per person employed in the Township. The current OPT tax, adopted in 1973, generates approximately $240,000 in tax revenue per year. If adopted, the LST tax is expected to generate an additional $365,000 in tax revenues for 2011, bring the total LST revenues for 2011 to approximately $605,000. Twenty-five percent of this tax must be used for emergency service purposes. The LST tax is currently in effect in 38 municipalities in Montgomery County. The low-income exemption will be increased (previously $1,000) to $12,000 and provide for collection on a monthly basis. Most Montgomery Township residents who are working in other townships are already paying this tax to other townships. Supervisor Birch indicated that he was in favor of this ordinance because it was important to bring back to Montgomery Township the funds that the residents are already paying to other townships. Resolution #1 unanimously approved Ordinance #10-247 - Enact Local Services Tax at the rate of $52. All three Board members who were present at this meeting voted in favor of the ordinance.
The next item was the consideration of an escrow release for the Keystone Community Fellowship Church LD/S#644. This release is in the amount of $60,000.00 and is the final construction escrow release. Resolution #2 unanimously approved the escrow release for the Keystone Community Fellowship Church.
Kevin Costello stated that as part of the approved 2010 budget, $30,000.00 was set aside for the purchase of miscellaneous capital items for park improvements. A small portion of that money was used for a watering system for the baseball fields at the William F. Maule Park at Windlestrae. The Park Board unanimously voted to utilize the remainder for the funds to purchase four dugout covers for the girls' softball fields at Rose Twig Park. The covers would be installed by the Public Works Department as their schedule permits. This purchase would be done under the PA State Cooperative Purchasing Co-Stars Program. Resolution #3 unanimously approved the purchase of four dugout covers for the girls' softball fields at Rose Twig Park from George Ely Associates Inc., under Co-Stars Contract #014-11, at a cost of $28,557.00.
Lawrence Gregan introduced the next item on the agenda, the consideration of the Police Department Computer Network Security Upgrades. Previously, an audit of the Police IT Infrastructure indicated that there was a significant need to upgrade systems to make the Police network more secure, efficient and manageable, including a full backup system. In addition to the installation of the upgrades, the technician would work with the Police Staff Services technician to train him on the new systems. After some discussion, Resolution #4 unanimously approved the work to purchase and install the necessary components to upgrade the Police IT system at a cost of $9,334.31.
Richard Grier presented the information regarding an extension of the Township's primary telephone system service provider. Staff is recommending a two year contract with Verizon PA Phone Services at a monthly cost of $344 per circuit. The Township currently has two PRI circuits which include 120 direct-in-dial (DID) numbers. Resolution #5 unanimously approved entering into a two year contract with Verizon PA Phone Services as noted above.
John Chambers reported that on October 7th, 2010, the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association held a meeting to kick off their "Wissahickon Act 167 Stormwater Management Plan". Mr. Chambers attended the meeting on behalf of the Township and was present to explain the effort by Temple University's Center for Sustainable Communities and NTM Engineering to develop an Act 167 Stormwater Plan for the watershed which includes portions of the Township. Mr. Chambers advised that municipalities within the watershed are being requested to complete an eight (8) page report to identify problem areas within their municipality such as flood plain encroachment, undersized storm drains or stream channels, erosion/sedimentation and water quality issues. Municipalities are being asked to document the location of stormwater features such as flood control projects, stormwater control facilities, and stormwater collection systems. Mr. Chambers has provided a cost proposal to compile the data collection and to complete the forms, estimated at $4,000. The DEP has a grant program to refund 75% of the costs incurred in assembling the information for the study, unfortunately, that grant is not funded at this time. Mr. Chambers indicated that it is important for the Township to be involved in the process early because once the ordinance is created, the Township will be asked to approve it. Resolution #6 unanimously authorized the Township Engineer to complete the information questionnaires required for the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Act 167 at an estimated cost of $4,000, excluding field work performed by the Public Works Department.
The payment of bills were approved as submitted.
Under other business, Vice-Chairman Fox recognized a Boy Scout in the audience who was from Troop 141. The Scout, introduced as Sean, reported that he was attending the meeting to earn his Citizenship in the Community badge.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.