MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
November 26, 2018
At 6:30 p.m. Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called to order the executive session. In attendance were Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, Supervisors Tanya C. Bamford, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Matthew W. Quigg. Also in attendance were Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan and Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called the action meeting to order at 8:10 p.m. In attendance were Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, Supervisors Tanya C. Bamford, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Matthew W. Quigg. Also in attendance were Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan, Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire, Police Chief J. Scott Bendig, Finance Director Ami Tarburton, Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell, Director of Public Works Kevin Costello, Director of Community and Recreation Center Floyd Shaffer, Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe, and Director of Information Technology Richard Grier.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera called for public comment from the audience.
Gary Gelbart, 103 Preserve Lane, addressed the Board regarding the status of the Cutler Development improvements, specifically the streetlights and the crosswalks to Friendship Park. Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox along with Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan explained that the Township has pulled all of the letters of credit and is also calling the bonds for the project. They explained that the bonds are a more complicated process but the Solicitor is working on it. They assured Mr. Gelbart that they are working on getting these improvements completed. Unfortunately the Township will most likely have to bid out the projects which can slow down the process, but the Township is committed to addressing the outstanding safety issues.
Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire announced that the Board had met in an executive session at 6:30 p.m. this evening to discuss matters of personnel in regards to 2019 Budget Considerations, the Cutler Development, which is a matter of potential litigation and actual litigation due to the bonds, Zoning Hearing Board Matters including the Opinion and Order of 243 Twining Road, Bharatiya Temple Zoning Appeal Settlement which is in Court of Common Pleas, Miller Ale House Zoning Hearing Board Application, and the Zoning Hearing Board Case of Service Tire Truck Center, Inc., located at 440 Stump Road. 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 November 12, 2018 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved.
Director of Public Works Kevin Costello reported that on September 24, 2018, the Board of Supervisors authorized the sale of the Township’s 1987 International Dump Truck 35,000 lb. GVW with an eleven foot plow, salt spreader, and a pre-wet system and a Portable Truck Lift with a lifting capacity of 60,000 equipped with a 3 Phase Roto Converter through the online auction company Municibid. Auctioned items are subject to a 10% consignment fee which is paid by the purchaser and there is no charge to the Township as the seller. The bidding closed on November 15, 2018 at 3:30pm. The high bid for the 1987 Truck was Thomas Drnevich of Irwin, PA in the amount of the $6,000 and the high bid for the Portable Truck Lift was Lael Duey of Tyrone, PA, in the amount of $10,100. All sales are net of commissions.
Resolution #1 made by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, and adopted unanimously, authorized the sale of the 1987 International Dump Truck equipped with an eleven foot plow, salt spreader and pre-wet system to Thomas Drnevich of Irwin PA, 15642 in the amount of $6,000.00 and the sale of the Portable Truck lift with a 3 Phase Roto Converter to Lael Duey of Tyrone PA, 16686 in the amount of $10,100.00 in accordance with the terms and agreement through the online auction company Municibid.
Director of Community and Recreation Center, Floyd Shaffer presented the proposed programs for Winter 2019 at the Montgomery Township Community and Recreation Center. The schedule is valid from January 1, 2019 through March 31, 2019 and will be advertised through all of the Township various communication channels. Resolution #2 made by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, approved the 2019 Winter Programs and Fee Schedule amendment as submitted.
Director of Community and Recreation Center, Floyd Shaffer reported that Autumn Festival was held on Saturday, October 6, 2018 from noon until 5:00pm. It has been the practice of the Board of Supervisors to assist in the financial underwriting of this occasion by transferring budgeted monies from the General Fund to the Autumn Festival Fund. The budgeted amount of this transfer is $7,000 for 2018. Resolution #3 made by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, and adopted unanimously, approved the transfer of $7,000 from the General Fund to the Autumn Festival Fund.
Police Chief Scott Bendig stated in an effort to further strengthen community policing and trust among our law enforcement officers and the Montgomery Township Community, the police department is proposing the replacement of the department’s current in-car video camera system in twelve patrol vehicles and the purchase of body-worn cameras for each officer in the department.
Chief Bendig stated the department’s current in-car camera system is no longer supported by the manufacturer and has reached its end of life. The new in-car system will incorporate the same technology and features as the current system, and would be utilized for a multitude of incidents to include emergency responses, transporting of individuals, and other law enforcement activities. The total cost of both the in-car camera system and the body-worn cameras would be $153,120.01. The cost will be offset by a reimbursement grant so the net estimated cost for all of the equipment to be incurred by the Township should be $115,330.01. Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg applauded the police department for their transparency and moving forward with the body cameras.
Resolution #4 made by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, awards the contract for the purchase of in-car and body worn camera systems from WatchGuard, an authorized vendor under the Co-Stars Cooperative Purchase Program (Contract # 012-073), at a total cost of $153,120.01 per their quotes dated November 15, 2018.
Finance Director Ami Tarburton asked for authorization for two adjustments to the Township’s retirement plan:
- In order to manage administrative costs for the 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, an amendment has been prepared to initiate an automatic distribution from the plan for inactive employees who have an account balance under $5,000. If the employee does not indicate the form of distribution (either rollover or direct), the Plan will automatically roll over the employee distribution to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
- In order to implement the automatic distribution amendment to the 457(b) plan, Benefits Consultants Group (BCG) has prepared an Automatic Rollover Services Agreement to establish a custodian, Millennium Trust Company, to open and maintain the IRA’s for the automatic distributions as detailed in #1 above.
These recommendations have been reviewed by Steve Sokolic, Esq., Executive Vice President/General Counsel, BCG. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg and adopted unanimously, authorized execution of the amended 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan and Adoption Agreement documents and authorize execution of the Automatic Rollover Services Agreement.
Finance Director Ami Tarburton reported on the Minimum Municipal Obligation calculated for the Police Pension Plan that establishes the minimum funding requirements for the Police Pension Plan for 2019 based upon January 1, 2018 Actuarial Valuation study of the plan. The MMO calculation has determined that for 2019, a combination of State Aid ($284,000), Township contributions ($567,857) and Police Officer Contributions (Base, Longevity and Holiday pay at 5%) estimated at $203,380, will be required to meet the funding obligations of the Plan and keep the pension fund actuarially sound. Resolution #6 made by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, requires Police Officer contributions to the Police Pension Plan in the amount of 5% of Base Salary, Longevity and Holiday pay for the year 2019 and direct that notice of the contribution be provided to the representatives of the Police Collective Bargaining Unit.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported the bids for the Phase 4- Ash Tree Forestry Management Program were opened on November 14, 2018. The areas included in this bid were Windlestrae Park- William F. Maule & Rose Twig Sections, and Memorial Grove Open Space Area. The bids ranged in price from $223,248 to $248,976. Resolution #7 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, and adopted unanimously, authorized the Township Manager to award the bid for the Ash Tree Forestry Management Program – Windlestrae Park William F. Maule & Rose Twig Sections and Memorial Grove Open Space Area to Knight Bros. Inc., as submitted, in the amount of $223,248.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe reported that the Township is ready to go out to bid for Phase 5 of the Ash Tree Forestry Management Program. Phase 5 includes ash trees in open space areas in the following developments, Montgomery Oaks, Montgomery Crossing, and the Orchards. Resolution #8 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford, and adopted unanimously, authorized the Township Manager to obtain bids for the Ash Tree Forestry Management Program at the Montgomery Oaks, Montgomery Crossing, and Orchards Open Spaces Areas.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe stated that the applications for the Tree City Recognition and the Growth Award sponsored by Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters were ready to be submitted. Mr. Shoupe stated that the Township has received the Tree City recognition for the last twenty-one years and has received the Growth Award for seventeen of those years. Mr. Shoupe commended Marianne McConnell from his staff for preparing the applications. Resolution #9 made by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, and adopted unanimously, approved the applications for Montgomery Township to receive the 2018 Tree City USA Recertification and 2018 Growth Award.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe presented the construction escrow release requested by Higher Rock Partners, LP for Phase 1 as recommended by the Township Engineer. Resolution #10 made by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg, and adopted unanimously, authorized a construction escrow release in the amount of $379,657.30, as recommended by the Township Engineer for the Higher Rock Partners, LP.
A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Vice-Chairman Michael J. Fox and adopted unanimously, approving the payment of bills as submitted.
Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera made the request to consider a motion to authorize the Township Solicitor to enter his appearance on behalf of the Township before the Zoning Hearing Board and present the case of the Township in opposition to the application of Service Tire Truck Center, Inc. for property located at 440 Stump Road. Noting that there was no public comment, Resolution #11 made by Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, seconded by Supervisor Matthew W. Quigg, and adopted unanimously, approved the motion as stated.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m.