MINUTES OF MEETING
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
JULY 22, 2019
At 6:00p.m. Chairman Michael J. Fox called to order the Executive Session. In attendance were Vice-Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera, and Supervisors Tanya C. Bamford, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Matthew W. Quigg. Also in attendance was Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan, and Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire.
Chairman Michael J. Fox called the action meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. In attendance were Vice-Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and Supervisors Tanya C. Bamford, Jeffrey W. McDonnell and Matthew W. Quigg. Also in attendance were Township Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire, Township Manager Lawrence Gregan, Police Chief Scott Bendig, Director of Fire Services Richard Lesniak, Director of Finance Ami Tarburton, Director of Administration & HR 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 and Public Information Coordinator Kelsey Whalen.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairman Michael J. Fox called for public comment from the audience. Gary Gelbart of 103 Preserve Lane, and a board member of the Homeowners Association for Montgomery Preserve, asked about the status of the streetlights along Enclave Boulevard. Chairman Fox and Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan stated that they are working with PECO to have the streetlights energized and were able to have four of the lights turned on. Unfortunately, PECO had a problem with the wiring so the other lights were not able to be energized. Mr. Gregan will continue to follow up on this situation to make sure the matter is completed.
Chairman Michael J. Fox provided a public service announcement to remind all Township residents to please maintain their street trees and make sure to trim low laying branches that can be a safety hazard to people using the sidewalks.
Solicitor Frank Bartle, Esquire announced that the Board had met in an executive session on Thursday, July 18th from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Township Building to discuss a personnel matter and the Board also met prior to this meeting at 6:00 p.m., and discussed several matters. Two matters of ligation that are both Zoning Hearing Board cases: Ocean State Job Lots- 955 Bethlehem Pike and the Lear Property- 1079 Horsham Road were discussed. The Board also discussed the Cutler Development, which is a matter of potential ligation as well as several personnel matters. Mr. Bartle stated that these matters are legitimate subjects of executive session pursuant to Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law.
Chairman Michael J. Fox made a motion to approve the minutes of the July 8, 2019 Board of Supervisors meeting, and Vice-Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera seconded the motion. The minutes of the meeting were unanimously approved as submitted.
Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan announced that there was a vacancy on the Business Development Partnership and John (J.P.) Northrop had expressed an interest in being appointed to this committee. Resolution #1 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and adopted unanimously, appointed John (J.P.) Northrop to the Business Development Partnership for a term to expire on January 1, 2020.
Township Manager Lawrence J. Gregan announced the resignation of Ellen Reynolds from the Montgomery Township Planning Commission. Ms. Reynolds had served on the commission since January of 2009. Resolution #2 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Vice-Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, accepted the resignation of Ellen Reynolds from the Montgomery Township Planning Commission and thanked her for her many years of dedicated service.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell announced an annual donation of $3,000 was being made to the PEAK Center. Ms. Crandell introduced Paul Nye who accepted the donation. Paul Nye, Executive Director for the PEAK Center, expressed his gratitude for the Board’s generous donation and gave examples of how this donation was going to be used to help provide many services to senior citizens in the Township and surrounding areas.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell stated that the Township Staff and Township Traffic Engineer, Traffic Planning and Design (TPD) has been working to finalize the design for the Powerline Trail Connector Phase 1 Project. The Township is receiving funding through the TAP Grant Program. One of the requirements of the design phase is to have a Third Party Structural Design Review for the Pedestrian Bridge that will cross the Little Neshaminy Creek for the trail connection. Gilmore & Associates has generated a proposal to provide this review as follows: Geotechnical (foundations) - $1,600/submission, not-to-exceed, Structural (bridge structure) - $2,400/submission, not-to exceed, and Hydrology and Hydraulics (stream and floodplain analysis) - $1,600/submission/not-to-exceed. Resolution #3 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Vice-Chairman Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, approved the proposal from Gilmore & Associates dated July 17, 2019 to provide the Third Party Structural Review for the Pedestrian Bridge for the Powerline Trail Connection-Phase 1 Project.
Assistant to the Township Manager Stacy Crandell announced that the Township’s Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Bid will be up at the end of October. Ms. Crandell requested approval to authorize the advertisement for the bids. Resolution #4 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Tanya C. Bamford and adopted unanimously, authorized the Township Manager to advertise for Bids for the Residential Leaf and Yard Waste Collection Disposal per the bid specifications.
Director of Finance Ami Tarburton presented the 2nd Quarter 2019 Budget report. Ms. Tarburton’s presentation summarized the operating results through June 30, 2019 and identified the significant activities in the fund balance, revenues and expenses. Ms. Tarburton noted that the General Fund Balance was down 4% from last year due to $300,000 of real estate millage being redirected from the General Fund to the Debt Service Fund, combined with an increase in expenses mostly stemming from higher Capital Replacement Component Purchases made during the second quarter. Ms. Tarburton reported overall the Township is still on track for the projected 2019 Budget and finances are in excellent condition.
Director of Planning and Zoning Bruce Shoupe presented the Preliminary Subdivision Plan for ProReal Ventures Carwash- 1274 Welsh Road LDS#699. The applicant, ProReal Ventures, LLC is seeking Preliminary approval to construct a 4,594 square foot automatic car wash on 1.816 acre lot at the northeast corner of DeKalb Pike and Welsh Road, the former Atomic Tire Property. The property is currently zoned C-Commercial and the use previously received Conditional Use approval. The applicant proposes to provide car stacking for approximately 66 vehicles and parking for employees and customers totaling 32 spaces. Access to the site is shown as a “right in only” driveway entrance on the existing curb cut located on the Welsh Road frontage of the site and a “right in/right out only movement” driveway entrance and exit through an existing curb cut located on the DeKalb Pike frontage of the site and a left-out movement on PECO’s property. The applicant’s attorney Kimberly Freimuth, Esq. from Fox Rothchild and engineer, Paul Boettinger, from T&M Associates, stated that applicant was in agreement with the 12 conditions and 5 waiver requests that were in the approval resolution. Resolution #5 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, granted the conditional preliminary approval of the application for Subdivision and Land Development LDS#699 for ProReal Ventures Carwash located at 1274 Welsh Road with 12 conditions and 5 waiver requests that were presented in the resolution.
Resolution #6 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized the construction escrow release #6 requested by Higher Rock Partners, LP for Phase 1 LDS#694 as recommended by the Township Engineer in the amount of $72,300.00.
Resolution #7 made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera and adopted unanimously, authorized a construction escrow release #5 requested by Higher Rock Partners, LP for Phase 2 LDS#694 as recommended by the Township Engineer in the amount of $897,652.55
A motion to approve the payment of bills was made by Chairman Michael J. Fox, seconded by Supervisor Candyce Fluehr Chimera, and adopted unanimously, approving the payment of bills as submitted.
There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 7:37 p.m.