Monday, February 09, 2009
Chairman Michael Fox called to order the executive session at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, McDonnell, Prousi and Sarosky. Also in attendance were John Nagel, Frank Bartle, Bruce Shoupe, Diana Venkata Ramanan, and Byron Yost. Items of personnel, real estate acquisitions and potential litigation matters were discussed.
Chairman Michael Fox called to order the action meeting at 8:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Birch, McDonnell, Prousi and Sarosky. Also in attendance were Frank Bartle, John Nagel, Bruce Shoupe, Kevin Costello, John Chambers, Richard Brady, Bill Brightcliffe, Larry Gregan, Pam Gural-Bear and Shirley Snyder.
Chairman Fox announced that the Work Session which had been scheduled for 7:45 p.m. had been cancelled.
Under public comment, Richard Roller, Montgomery Township representative to the Northern Montgomery County Recycling Commission, presented the Board of Supervisors with a check in the amount of $74,722.91, the Township's portion of the 2006 proceeds for recycling.
Solicitor Frank Bartle announced that the Board had met in an executive session at the conclusion of the Board of Supervisor's meeting on January 26, 2009 to discuss potential appointments, potential litigation, real estate acquisitions and a matter of a confidential nature. Mr. Bartle also announced that the Board had met in an executive session prior to this meeting to discuss matters of personnel, which included the interview of candidates for Volunteer Committees, real estate acquisition, and potential litigation matters.
Chief Richard Brady provided background on the burglary on Gwynmont Drive, and the murder of Robert Chae which occurred on January 9, 2009. Detectives from Montgomery Township and Montgomery County Detective Bureau were instrumental in the apprehension of the suspects. The dedication, professionalism and excellent cooperation of both departments led to the successful conclusion of the case. Resolution #1 unanimously commended the Montgomery Township Police Department for their diligence, professionalism and dedication in the apprehension of persons involved in the burglary and murder of Robert Chae, and specifically commended Detective Ward Thomas of the Montgomery Township Police Department and Detective Michael Santarelli of the Montgomery County Detective Bureau for their role as lead investigators in this case.
The Board of Supervisors honored Mildred Kimbel on her 100th birthday, which was February 2, 2009. Ms. Kimbel had served as the stenographer for the Montgomery Township Zoning Hearing Board from 1967 to 1983. A certificate in recognition of this special birthday was presented to Nancy Kimbel and Ann Harris, Ms. Kimbel's daughter and daughter-in-law who were in attendance. Resolution #2 unanimously recognized the 100th birthday of Mildred Kimbel and thanked her for her public service to the community.
Resolution #3 unanimously appointed Daniel Spinelli to the Park & Recreation Board with a term to expire January 1, 2011, James Kelly to the Finance Committee with a term to expire on January 1, 2010, and Richard Roller to the Shade Tree Commission with a term to expire January 1, 2011.
The following 2009 officers of the Fire Department of Montgomery Township and the Fire Relief Association of Montgomery Township were recognized: Dave Wolfe, President of FDMT and FRAMT, Glen Roetmen, Vice President, Melanie Vasconez, Treasurer, Will Fluck, Financial Secretary, Sherry DiCicco, Recording Secretary, Christopher Mann, Fire Chief, Mike Bean, Vice President - FRAMT, Rob Bailey, Captain - Fire Police, Bill Adams, Lt. - Fire Police, Carmen Conicelli, Captain, David Vasconez, Deputy Chief of Operations, Scott Redilla, Assistant Chief of Operations, Joe Simes, Battalion Chief, Joan Anton, Health and Safety Officer, Seth Robbins, Health and Fitness Officer, Frank DiCicco, Incident Safety Officer, Ed Skrzat, Incident Safety Officer, Dave Hedrick, Captain and Phil Rainone, Lieutenant. Bill Brightcliffe also noted that the firefighters have submitted a letter of certification verification acknowledging that all have completed the training required for firefighters and fire police. Mr. Brightcliffe thanked all the members of the Fire Department of Montgomery Township for their service to the community.
Phil Stump, a member of the Fire Department of Montgomery Township was recognized as the "Outstanding Young Alumnus" of Shippensburg University. Dr. William N. Ruud, Ph.D., President of Shippensburg University made the presentation. Mr. Stump is a 1997 graduate with a dual degree in Chemistry and Medical Technology. Resolution #4 unanimously recognized and commended Phil Stump on receiving the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award from Shippensburg University.
Bruce Shoupe provided a summary of the proposed amendments to the sign ordinance. A subcommittee comprised of members of the Business Development Partnership, along with staff has been working diligently on the language to amend the sign ordinance that would meet the needs of the businesses and provide a clearer standard for type and placement of signs within the township. Tony Mauriello, owner of Fast Signs and a member of the Business Development Partnership, requested that the multi tenant business sign portion of the proposed amendment be reconsidered. Mr. Mauriello noted that it is impractical to have just one sign for a multi purpose tenant. Mr. Mauriello recommended that pre-determined frontage and/or a multi use business with two separate driveways be permitted to have two signs. Allan Nappen, a member of the Business Development Partnership thanked the Board of Supervisors and the staff for all the work that went into the proposed revisions to the ordinance. Mr. Nappen noted that Mr. Mauriello's recommendation is sound and he would like to see it considered by the Board and staff. After considerable discussion by the Board, it was recommended that the proposed amended ordinance be re-directed back to the Montgomery Township Planning Commission for consideration of the possible modifications to the multi tenant sign issue. Once the Planning Commission has had an opportunity to review and make recommendations, the Montgomery County Planning Commission will be asked to review and provide a recommendation to the Township. Upon completion of review by the two Planning Commissions, the matter will come before the Board for approval to authorize for a public hearing for the amendments to the sign ordinance.
On April 9, 2007, the David Cutler Group was granted approval for an Age Restricted development on a 114 acre site located between Hartman Road and Bethlehem Pike across from Glasgow Quarry. Richad McBride, Esq., attorney for the Cutler Group, recently contacted the Township to discuss the possibility of revising the development approach for this site, by removing the age-restriction requirements on the Phase II and Phase III segments. The new approach would eliminate the mid-rise condominium apartment units, and provide for detached single-family dwellings and provide for commercial use along the Bethlehem Pike frontage. The Developer would like to create four separate "villages" with an overall density of 3.2 units per acre for a total of 343 total units, a decrease from 5 units per acre for a total of 568 units approved in the original plan. Mr. McBride explained that financing of existing residential projects in the current economic market is difficult and the commercial component would create value to this project, allowing better opportunity of financing. Also included in the approved plan was a 20 acre tract of land for recreational/open space use, with recreation facilities to be constructed by the developer, with the Township approving the design. Roy Rodriguez of 127 County Club Drive noted that this plan may be beneficial to the township, and would like to see it tied into the proposed trail system within the township. The Board liked the reduction in the number of units, and that a commercial component is being considered as an addition to the project. There was discussion on how the township could have input as to the type of commercial component that would be acceptable for this venue, being concerned about the volume of traffic that would be generated by this business. After some additional discussion, Chairman Michael Fox made a motion to refer the David Cutler Group (Montgomery Walk) revised development plans to the staff, Solicitor, Township Engineer, Traffic Engineer and Ken Amey, Planning Consultant for additional review and comments. Motion #1 unanimously referred this plan back to the staff and consultants for further review.
Members of Boy Scout Troop #399 attended this evening's meeting as a part of their Citizenship in the Community Badge. The following members were introduced: Robert Gaibler, Richard Gaibler, Riley Gailber, Jackson Simpson and Max Ives. The Board thanked the scouts for coming out to the meeting.
Under the consent agenda, the minutes of meeting for January 26, 2009 and the payment of bills were approved as submitted. Resolution #5 approved the contracts for purchase of equipment for the Police Department as per the approved 2009 Final Budget. Resolution #6 approved the award of contract to Bergey's Electric for emergency upgrade of the electrical service at the Public Works Building in accordance with proposal dated December 26, 2008. Resolution #7 accepted the offer of just compensation from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for right-of-way and/or land owned by the Township in conjunction with the Route 202 Parkway project (Parcel # 333 - $14,600 and Parcel #127 - $16,900) for a total compensation to date (from December 2007 to January 2009) of $257,000. The authorization to advertise for Public Hearing for Proposed Ordinance #09-236Z - the sign ordinance, was removed from the agenda. Resolution #8 approved the request by Detective Michael Solis to attend an out-of-state Law Enforcement Network Conference from April 6th through April 9th. Resolution #9 approved escrow release for Montgomery Office Park, and escrow release for Montgomery Walk Phase I was approved by Resolution #10. Resolution #11 accepted the Fire Department of Montgomery Township's letter to certify that the volunteer firefighters and fire police members responding to calls for emergency assistance have received appropriate training and certifications for the duties which they will be undertaking in 2009. Resolution #12 approved Robert Hedden as an employee authorized to drive Township owned vehicles for commuting purposes.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:12 p.m.