MINUTES OF MEETING
DECEMBER 12, 2011
Chairman Robert Birch called the executive session to order at 7:00 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Michael Fox, Jeffrey McDonnell and Joseph Walsh.
Also in attendance were Lawrence Gregan, Scott Bendig and Frank R. Bartle, Esquire. Personnel matters, legal and litigation updates were discussed.
Chairman Robert Birch called the regular action meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Candyce Fluehr Chimera, Michael Fox, Jeffrey McDonnell and Joseph Walsh. Also in attendance were Frank R. Bartle, Esquire, Lawrence Gregan, Richard Brady, Scott Bendig, John Chambers, Bruce Shoupe, Kevin Costello, Rick Lesniak, Ann Shade, Shannon Drosnock, Rich Grier, Stacy Crandell, Vickie Zidek, Deb Rivas and Shirley Snyder.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Robert Birch announced that a meeting to discuss the Limekiln Pike Bridge will be hosted by Horsham Township on Thursday, December 15, 2011.
Chairman Robert Birch called for public comment from the audience. There was no public comment this evening.
Frank R. Bartle, Esquire reported that during the executive session, various personnel and ongoing labor relations matters, real estate matters and a potential litigation involving the condemnation of the Zehr Tract were discussed. Mr. Bartle announced that all of these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania's Sunshine law.
Chairman Robert Birch made a motion to approve the minutes of the November 28, 2011 Board meeting and Supervisor Candyce Chimera seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Kevin Costello introduced two new Public Works employees, Eric McKelvey and Mark Hockman. Eric McKelvey recently graduated from North Montco Vo-Tech School with certifications in welding, fabricating and industrial electric, and has been employed by Montgomery Township in the Road Division for the past three summers. Mark Hockman comes to Montgomery Township from the private sector with experience in farming, landscaping, hardscaping, equipment operation and snow removal. Resolution #1, adopted unanimously, welcomed Eric McKelvey and Mark Hockman as new employees at Montgomery Township, effective December 2, 2011.
Lawrence Gregan, Township Manager, reported that Heather Berkey and Patricia Myers have submitted their resignation from Montgomery Township Committees. Ms. Berkey served on the Park & Recreation Board from June 2002, and has been an active participant in the many Park & Recreation Board activities for the past nine and a half years. Ms. Myers served on the Sewer Authority since 2001 and has completed eleven years of service on the Authority. Christopher Kelm has expressed an interest in serving on the Sewer Authority Board. Mr. Kelm has extensive experience in finance and investments. Resolution #2, adopted unanimously, accepted the resignation of Heather Berkey from the Park & Recreation Board, the resignation of Patricia Myers from the Sewer Authority Board, and the appointment of Christopher Kelm to the Sewer Authority Board, to fill an unexpired term to end January 1, 2016.
Supervisor Joseph Walsh stated that John Crowe had presented the Montgomery Township Sewer Authority budget at the meeting of the Sewer Authority in November. The proposed 2012 Sewer Authority Budget includes a 10% increase in sewer rental charges for residential and non-residential users. This is only the second rate increase in seven years. Resolution #3, adopted unanimously, approved the Montgomery Township Sewer Authority Budget for the fiscal year 2012.
The Board authorized advertisement of proposed Ordinance #11-253 to increase the sewer rate fees for all residential and non-residential users in Montgomery Township by Resolution #4, which was adopted unanimously. The proposed ordinance will be considered for adoption at the next Board meeting on January 3, 2012.
Chairman Robert Birch announced the Sewer Authority Tapping Fees and Development Agreements for three developments were to be considered by the Board. Resolution #5, adopted unanimously, approved the Montgomery Township Municipal Sewer Authority Tapping Fees and Development Agreements.
Finance Director, Shannon Drosnock, presented the Montgomery Township 2012 Budget for consideration by the Board. The Board held four public workshop meetings on the budget and approved the Preliminary Budget on November 14, 2011. Ms. Drosnock provided statistics on the revenue and expense portions of the budget. The General Fund revenues project a 2.22% increase over 2011, while Township expenses project a 2.63% increase over 2011. Based on total revenues and total expenses, the General Fund projects a $36,385 surplus. Ms. Drosnock also noted that the real estate tax will remain the same, with no increase. Chairman Robert Birch reported that there are four separate Resolutions necessary to adopt the 2012 Budget. Resolution #6, adopted unanimously, adopted the 2012 Montgomery Township Budget. Resolution #7, adopted unanimously, established the street light assessments for 2012. Resolution #8, adopted unanimously, adopted the 2012 Tax Levy to include General Fund, Debt Service, Fire Protection and Park & Recreation, and also established the Homestead Exclusion amount for the year 2012 at $30,000. Resolution #9, adopted unanimously, approved the Township's maximum departmental salary/wage increases for 2012.
The Board considered bank loan proposals to fund the acquisition and future development of several township properties proposed to be used for recreation purposes. Supervisor Michael Fox announced that he would be abstaining from all discussion and voting on this item, as he is employed by Univest Bank. Four banks were contacted and invited to submit a proposal, including Univest Bank, TD Bank, Sovereign Bank and Citizens Bank. Each bank was provided with the same information and was requested to provide a proposal to the Township for a $5.5 million bank loan with repayment over a period of up to 20 years. Sovereign Bank and Citizens Bank did not wish to offer a proposal. Univest Bank and TD Bank submitted several optional proposals including loans amortized over 20 years with 5-7 year rate resets and loans amortized over 15-17 years with rates fixed for the full term of the loan. The Board discussed the costs/benefits of each proposal evaluating the impact of the length of amortization period on annual debt service payments, and the relative risk of a lower cost but short term interest guarantee versus the risk of higher cost but longer term interest guarantee. Chairman Birch explained that he would like the option with the least amount of interest rate risk, which would be one of the options offering a fixed rate for 15 years. Supervisors Walsh, Chimera and McDonnell expressed support for the lower rate loans for a 20 year term which offers lower annual debt service payment with moderate interest rate risk. After considerable discussion, Resolution #10 was adopted by a vote of 3-1-1, (Mr. Birch voting no and Mr. Fox abstaining), accepting the loan proposal from Univest Bank for a 20 year loan at an initial interest rate of 2.55% fixed for 7 years, with the interest rate resetting every 7 years at 67% of prime.
Bruce Shoupe, Director of Planning and Zoning announced that the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association has requested consideration for a waiver of fees for a seasonal mercantile permit. The Association plans to sell tickets to the Shen Yun Performance Arts at the Merriam Theater in Philadelphia on behalf of the Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association at Montgomery Mall. Resolution #11, adopted unanimously, approved the request of Greater Philadelphia Falun Dafa Association to waive all fees associated with the Seasonal Mercantile Permit for their exhibit at Montgomery Mall.
Resolution #12, adopted unanimously, approved escrow release #7 LD/S#643 for Kidalas Court at 1215 Kenas Road.
Lawrence Gregan reported that PennDot has provided the Township with Agreements to be executed for the Rt 202 Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) Improvements. Mr. Gregan stated that they are standard PennDot agreements. Resolution #13, adopted unanimously, authorized the execution of the Traffic Signal Maintenance Agreement and Cooperative Memorandum of Agreement with PennDot for the installation maintenance and operation of the Intelligent Transportation System equipment along S.R. 202 Parkway and its primary intersecting and parallel routes per PennDot Project S.R. 202, Section 7IT.
Police Chief, Richard Brady announced that Lt. Mark A. Houghtaling is retiring from the Montgomery Township Police Department, effective January 1, 2012. Lt. Houghtaling was hired as a recruit police officer with the Montgomery Township Police Department on June 2, 1980, and during his career was a canine officer, promoted to the rank of corporal and supervised a patrol squad. On June 12, 2000, Sergeant Mark Houghtaling was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and assigned as Patrol Commander, and continued to serve in this capacity until his retirement. Resolution #14, adopted unanimously, recognized Lt. Mark Houghtaling and expressed gratitude to him for his dedication and service to the Montgomery Township Police Department and the residents of the Township. Lt. Houghtaling was presented with a plaque from the Board of Supervisors and citations from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate. Lt. Houghtaling expressed his thanks to Chief Brady for hiring him in 1980 and to his wife, Diane for her patience and understanding throughout his law enforcement career. Lt. Houghtaling closed by saying that it was a pleasure and fun to serve Montgomery Township for thirty one years.
The Board also recognized John O. Chambers, Jr., P.E. for his thirty nine years of service to Montgomery Township as Township Engineer. Mr. Chambers served as the Township Engineer from 1972 to 2011. Mr. Chambers has been involved in the plan and design of subdivisions and land developments within the Township, and has watched the Township grow and expand over the years. Mr. Chambers has also played an important role in the planning and design of public works facilities and park and recreation areas. Most recently, Mr. Chambers had taken an active part in the Pennsylvania Stormwater coalition, providing valuable insight on the issues of stormwater management facing Montgomery Township. Mr. Chambers was presented with a plaque from the Board of Supervisors and citations from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senate. Resolution #15, adopted unanimously, recognized the retirement of John O. Chambers, Jr., P.E. as Montgomery Township's Engineer and expressed gratitude for the thirty nine years Mr. Chambers has faithfully served the Montgomery Township Community. Supervisor Michael Fox thanked Mr. Chambers for all his hard work and expressed his personal thanks for all the information Mr. Chambers provided to him during the course of the stormwater management meetings and discussions. Bruce Shoupe noted that in 1972 when Mr. Chambers came to Montgomery Township, the Township was at Land Development #50. Today, that number is at #650. Mr. Chambers expressed his thanks to the Board, staff and friends for all their support during his tenure with Montgomery Township.
Chairman Robert Birch made a motion to approve the payment of bills. Supervisor Joseph Walsh seconded the motion. The payment of bills was unanimously approved as submitted.
Under other business, Lawrence Gregan announced that in conjunction with the purchase of the Univest property located at Stump Road and Horsham Road, the title insurance company has requested that the Township adopt a more detailed Resolution which includes the following information: The seller is Univest Bank; the buyer is Montgomery Township; the property is a vacant tract of land which contains approximately 12.89 acres located along Stump Road in Montgomery Township and which is further identified as Tax Parcel No. 46-00-03589-00-1; purchase price is One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) and payment of purchase price shall be made by buyer to seller at closing. Resolution #16 authorized the acquisition of the Univest Property located at Stump Road and Horsham Road, incorporating the additional information required by the Title Company was adopted unanimously.
Lawrence Gregan also reported that the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) Regional Trails Program is offering grants funded by the William Penn Foundation for pre-engineering planning and feasibility work for trail systems. Eligible projects can receive grant funding for up to $60,000 with a 20% local match. An application is proposed for submission to the DVRPC for a Trail Planning and Feasibility Grant for the connection of the trail from Hartman Road to the 202 Parkway Trail. Resolution #17 authorizing submission of the grant application was adopted unanimously.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m, and was followed by a reception recognizing the retirement of Lt. Mark A. Houghtaling and Township Engineer, John O. Chambers, Jr., P.E.