MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OCTOBER 23, 2017
At 7:30 p.m. Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order an executive session. In attendance were Supervisors Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Vice Chairman Robert J. Birch and Supervisor Michael J. Fox were absent. Also in attendance were Township Manager Lawrence Gregan and Township Solicitor Frank R. Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the action meeting to order at 8:03 p.m. In attendance were Supervisors Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Richard E. Miniscalco. Vice Chairman Robert J. Birch and Supervisor Michael J. Fox were absent. Also in attendance were Township Solicitor Frank R. Bartle, Esquire, Township Manager Lawrence Gregan, Police Chief J. Scott Bendig, Director of Finance Ami Tarburton, Director of Administration and Human Resources Ann Shade, Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell, Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe, Director of Public Works Kevin Costello, Director of Recreation and Community Center Floyd Shaffer, Director of Information Technology Richard Grier, Public Information Coordinator Kelsey Whalen and Recording Secretary Deborah Rivas.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called for public comment from the audience and there was none.
Solicitor Frank R. Bartle, Esquire announced that the Board had met in an Executive Session at 7:30 p.m. prior to this meeting to discuss two Zoning Hearing Board applications, Shinn Family Practice, PC at 1200 Welsh Road and Christopher Lear / 1079 Horsham Road. The Board also discussed one matter of potential litigation, which is the Cutler Developments matters. Lastly, the Board discussed a matter of litigation, Marvin Cohen vs. Montgomery Township Zoning Hearing Board and Montgomery Township which is a case in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Court, No. PA 219CD 2017. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made a motion to approve the minutes of the October 10, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Chief of Police J. Scott Bendig reported that on October 2, 2017, Officer Andrew Dalton retired from the Montgomery Township Police Department after 26 years of service to our community. Officer Dalton began his career with the Montgomery Township Police Department as a patrol officer on August 7, 1992. Officer Dalton served in various roles during his tenure including Highway Safety Unit officer, Special Operations Unit officer, motor carrier inspector, and a member of Montgomery County’s SWAT team. Officer Dalton currently serves as a First Sergeant in the United States Army Reserves, and has been deployed on several occasions, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. During his 26 year career, Officer Dalton has received numerous departmental commendations for his actions as an officer as well as numerous letters of appreciation from township residents, civic groups, children, and neighboring law enforcement agencies. Officer Dalton has shown exemplary dedication and professionalism in his service to the residents, businesses and coworkers of our community. Officer Dalton’s dedication and leadership will be sorely missed. Kevin Andrews from Pennsylvania State Senator Greenleaf’s office and Laura Smith, Chief of Staff from Pennsylvania State Representative Todd Stephens’ office, presented Citations from the Pennsylvania Senate as well as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to Officer Dalton. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, recognized Officer Andrew Dalton and expressed deep gratitude to him for his dedication and faithful service to the Montgomery Township Police Department and Montgomery Township community.
Director of Recreation and Community Center Floyd Shaffer welcomed two members of the Township’s Autumn Festival Committee, Mary Griffith-Alfarano and Steve Terebecki and thanked them for their hard work and dedication on the Township’s Autumn Festival held on October 7, 2017 at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center. Chairman of the Autumn Festival Committee Mary Griffith-Alfarano recognized the services provided by the Sponsors, Organizations, Volunteers and Workers that capably assisted in the coordination and implementation of events surrounding Montgomery Township’s Autumn Festival 2017. The following entities provided invaluable contributions to the Autumn Festival: Autumn Festival Committee, Employees of Montgomery Township and their families, Environmental Advisory Committee, Park and Recreation Board, Senior Volunteer Committee, Volunteer Medical Service Corps of Lansdale (VMSC), Fire Department of Montgomery Township Volunteers, Montgomery Township Police Department, North Penn High School Junior ROTC, North Penn High School Key Club and the Montgomery County Public Library – Bookmobile. Community Sponsors included: Pumpkin Sponsors, Dischell Bartle & Dooley, PC, Calvary Church, Delaware Valley Dance Academy, Marks Jewelers, Fulton Bank, Wegmans, Mid-Atlantic Packaging, Inc. Scarecrow Sponsors, Bharatiya Cultural Center, Gilmore & Associates, Inc., Boucher & James, Inc., Patient First, Doylestown Health and Traffic Planning and Design, Inc. Fall Foliage Sponsors, Clemens Food Group, The Peterman Group, Costco, Sal’s Nursery & Landscaping, F. Ambrose Moving, Inc., Spinieo, Inc., J.L. Freed & Sons, Syrena Collision Center and Univest Bank and Trust Company. Mrs. Griffith-Alfarano reported that we could not have had a more successful day as the attendance was so large that they had to call for larger buses to move the crowds to and from the parking lots. The Autumn Festival Committee has commissioned a survey that is being sent out in all forms of the Township’s social media to see where the committee could do better and where things might need improvement as we move forward towards planning next year’s event. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard E. Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, acknowledged the volunteers and workers for their diligent contributions toward the success of Autumn Festival held on October 7, 2017.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell announced that the 2017 fall curbside leaf waste collection will take place on Saturday, November 18, 2017. Residents must place the collected leaf and yard waste materials in biodegradable paper bags at the curb prior to 7:00 a.m. that day for collection.
Public Works Director Kevin Costello reported on the Montgomery County Consortium 2017-2018 Cooperative Rock Salt Contract. The Township has participated in this program in the past. The contract was awarded to Morton Salt, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois at the price of $49.42 per ton delivered. This is a savings from the previous contract that was $59.73 per ton. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, approved the Township’s participation in the Montgomery County Consortium Salt Purchase Contract for 2017-2018 for the purchase of rock salt from Morton Salt Inc. of Chicago Illinois, at a price of $49.42 per ton delivered.
Finance Director Ami Tarburton presented the 3rd Quarter 2017 Budget report. Ms. Tarburton’s presentation summarized the operating results through September 30, 2017 and identified the significant activities in the fund balance, revenues and expenses. Ms. Tarburton reported that overall the Township finances are in excellent condition, with the 3rd Quarter revenues and expenses tracking as expected in the 2017 Budget.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that in 2009, Montgomery Township initiated a program of naturalizing stormwater basins owned and maintained by the Township. The Shade Tree Commission has researched the benefits of naturalizing these basins and has identified additional basins to be entered into the Basin Naturalization Program. Over the past several years, basins have been assessed and entered into the naturalization program by allowing them to go natural through a “no mow” policy. The group of basins listed below is the last of the basins to be recommended to be entered into the program. Two years ago, the Township began the re-assessment of those basins entered into the program to track their development and ensure they are progressing as they should. The following basins are being recommended to be assessed by Boucher & James in order to be qualified for entry into the Basin Naturalization Program: #26 – Summer Ridge, #31 – Lea Drive, #58 – Tall Gables, #61 – Autumn Grove, #64 – Community Center A, #65 – Community Center B and #66 – Community Center C. The following basins are being recommended to be re-assessed by Boucher & James to determine their progress since their entrance into the program in 2012: #7 – Pioneer Drive, #14 – Gwynmere, #21 – Montgomery Hill, #29 – Gwynwood Pond, #30 – Tall Gables and #33 – Autumn Woods Park. Resolution #4 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, approved the completion of the basin assessments by Boucher & James and re-assessments of basins noted above.
Resolution #5 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, approved the waiver of permit fee for special event for the Bharatiya Temple Diwali Celebration.
A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco, and adopted unanimously, approving the payment of bills as submitted.
Under other business, Resolution #6 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Richard Miniscalco and adopted unanimously, authorized the Township Solicitor to represent the Township and appear before the Zoning Hearing Board in opposition to the Christopher Lear / 1079 Horsham Road Zoning Application, Application No. 17100001, as amended.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.