The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President Carolyn Crouthamel with the following members in attendance: Robert Baker, Scott Hillegass, J. Allen Landis, Stanley Nyce, James Schaeffer and Mayor Jay Stover. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Solicitor Mark Weand, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, resident David Snook, and a press reporter. Jeffrey Maxwell was absent.

 

The invocation was given by Scott Hillegass, followed by the pledge of allegiance.

 

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:

 

A Schaeffer/Nyce motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the minutes of the March 4, 2013 Borough Council meeting.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT: We received the written monthly report for March, 2013 for the file.

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that we’ve taken in 39.9% of our revenues and have spent about 24.36% of our expenditures.

 

A Hillegass/Baker motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report.

 

MAYOR’S REPORT:

 

Mayor Stover reported that he attended the March Council meeting, the Regional Planning Commission meeting and the Fire Company banquet.

 

POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

FIRE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

LIBRARY REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

Public Works Director Gary Yoder reported that the oil & chip contractor will be coming back to the Borough to “fog” (put down thin coat of oil, which seals any loose chips and fill any voids) the following streets: Springhouse Lane, Stony Brook Circle, Hilltop Circle, Village Green Lane (between Countryside and Springhouse), Whethersfield Circle, Chestnut Circle, Heatherwood Circle and North Hamilton Street between East Broad Street and Ridge Avenue.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

Manager Mark Fournier reported that we received conceptual approval from the Bucks County Open Space Board for the Telford Municipal Park project, and that the Borough hosted the Montgomery County Public Works Show at our public works garage on March 6, 2013.

 

Mayor Stover asked Manager Fournier if the Borough/Authority is going to be installing a new sewer line along Broad Street. Mr. Fournier informed Mayor Stover that there is no plan in the immediate future to do that, since it is a major undertaking and is very costly. The Borough would have to break that project into phases and contract it out.

 

BUILDING OFFICIAL’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

Solicitor Mark Weand informed Council that the tax exemption hearing for Rock Community Church, who owns 114 W. Broad Street, has been postponed.

 

Robert Baker asked Solicitor Weand that, if Rock Community Church is awarded a tax exemption, and the property would sell in the future, would the tax exemption carry over to the next property owner. Solicitor Weand informed Mr. Baker that no, the tax exemption would not carry over.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE:

 

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Hillegass

 

A-1       A Hillegass/Landis motion carried unanimously (6-0) accepting the payment of the bills for the month of March, 2013 in the amount of $ 337,777.99.

 

A-2       A Hillegass/Nyce motion carried unanimously (6-0) authorizing the signing of the Resolution for the DCNR Grant application for the Telford Municipal Park project.

 

A-3       A Hillegass/Landis motion carried unanimously (6-0) authorizing the signing of the Resolution and Addendum to the Borough’s Municipal Pension Plan through PMRS.

 

A-4       A Hillegass/Nyce motion carried unanimously (6-0) awarding the codification project to Keystate Publishers, Inc. in the amount of $8,070.00.

 

PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.

 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.

 

PUBLIC WORKS/BUILDINGS & PLANT COMMITTEE: Mr. Landis

 

PW-1    A Landis/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (6-0) awarding the 2013 Bituminous Materials contract to Independence Construction Materials in the amount of $ 86, 862.50.

 

PW-2    A Landis/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (6-0) awarding the 2013 Equipment Rental without Operator contract as follows:

 

            Plasterer Equipment Co., Inc.

 

            Crawler Dozers:

Model #550 – Power Angle & Tilt Blade, 60 to 70 hp @ $300/day, $700/week, $2,000/month

Hydraulic Excavators:

Model #CX75/9007B - Operating Weight – 15,000 lbs @ $300/day, $800/week, $2,400/month

Model #CX130/9010 - Operating Weight – 28,000 lbs. @ $3,000/month

Model #CX160/9020 - Operating Weight – 35,000 lbs. @ $3,800/month

 

 

            Ransome CAT

 

            Compact Excavators:

Model #CX 36 – Operating Weight – 7,958 lbs @ $185/day, $565/week, $1,590/month

Model #CX 47 – Operating Weight – 10,428 lbs @ $195/day, $575/week, $1,610/month

Hydraulic Excavators:

Model #CX130/9010 - Operating Weight – 28,000 lbs. @ $335/day, $950/week

Model #CX160/9020 - Operating Weight – 35,000 lbs. @ $420/day, $1,215/week

 

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.

 

DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE COMMITTEE: Mr. Nyce

 

Stanley Nyce informed Council that the Development & Culture Committee met to discuss the Library’s request to use a portion of the Borough fields for their Brews for Books event this summer. The Committee unanimously rejected the Library’s request because they do not want to permit alcohol on the Borough property with this event.

 

Mayor Stover disagreed with the Committee’s decision, and stated that he feels whenever the Library presents a request to the Council, it is rejected. Mr. Nyce explained to Mayor Stover that the Committee supports the Library, but they do not want to set a precedent and allow alcohol on Borough premises, because they are concerned that they would get similar requests in the future. A lengthy discussion ensued.

 

Mayor Stover will go back to Linda Beck and Bob Schoen for further clarification on their request.

 

OTHER BUSINESS:

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

Borough Council entered into Executive Session at 8:27 pm to discuss a matter of litigation and personnel matters.

 

Borough Council closed executive session at 8:40 pm.

 

A Landis/Nyce motion carried unanimously (6-0) approving the hiring of part-time officer Patrick Plover, starting at $17.00 per hour, pending the completion of his background investigation.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:42 pm by a Schaeffer/Hillegass motion.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mark D. Fournier

Secretary