December 8, 2014
The Telford Borough Council meeting held this date was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by President J. Allen Landis with the following members in attendance: Carolyn Crouthamel, Scott Hillegass, Stanley Nyce, James Schaeffer and Mayor David Snook. Also present were Manager Mark Fournier, Police Chief Randall Floyd, Solicitor Mark Weand, Engineer Patrick DiGangi, Public Works Director Gary Yoder, Recording Secretary Megan McShane, Jerry Guretse from the Telford Fire Company, resident Lori Rappold, Chris Canavan from WB Homes and a press reporter. Robert Baker and Jeffrey Maxwell were absent.
The invocation was given by Stanley Nyce, followed by the pledge of allegiance.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the minutes of the November 3, 2014 Borough Council meeting.
A Crouthamel/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the minutes of the November 17, 2014 Borough Council meeting.
TREASURER'S REPORT:
Manager Mark Fournier reported that we’ve taken in 91% of our revenues and have spent about 95.38% of our expenditures.
A Crouthamel/Hillegass motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the Treasurer’s Report for November, 2014.
MAYOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Mayor David Snook reported that he performed 3 weddings during the month of November, and he attended the Indian Valley Regional Planning Commission meeting with Carolyn Crouthamel. An update to the Comprehensive Plan will be coming shortly to review.
POLICE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Police Chief Randall Floyd reported that the officers have been working diligently on the graffiti incidents that occurred at our parks, and not only identified a few suspects, but received a full confession from one of them.
FIRE REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Telford Fire Company President Jerry Guretse wished the Council members a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and said that he hopes to see them at the Fire Company Christmas party on December 16th.
LIBRARY REPORT: We received a written report for the file.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Public Works Director Gary Yoder reported that the Public Works crew started plowing on Wednesday, November 26th, and added that leaf collection is done for the year. Councilman James Schaeffer stated that the guys did a great job collecting leaves.
MANAGER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
BUILDING OFFICIAL’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Manager Mark Fournier reported that there are ongoing commercial inspections at the construction projects at Secant Medical and Indian Ridge Provisions.
Mr. Fournier also reported that violation letters were sent to a Borough property owner regarding Borough code violations at his properties on Main Street and Penn Avenue, and copies of these letters were included in the Council packets. Mr. Fournier added that he, along with Chief Floyd and Building Inspector Jesse Hill, met with this property owner and his attorney in July, and were assured that these issues would be addressed. The items have not been addressed, so the Inspector sent code violation letters as a follow-up to this meeting. If the property owner does not take appropriate corrective action within (20) days, the Borough could proceed with civil action.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Solicitor Weand gave an overview of the pending zoning matters in the Borough.
A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) authorizing the Solicitor to execute the Stipulation to Settle on behalf of Telford Borough for the Assessment Reduction for Washington Glen Associates.
Solicitor Weand complimented the Public Works crew on the outstanding job that they are doing on the Municipal Park project.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: We received a written monthly report for the file.
Engineer Patrick DiGangi reported that site work has begun at Indian Ridge Provisions; a sanitary sewer lateral is being put in this week. Secant Medical is getting ready to start site work.
The parking lot expansion project at Met Pro is complete.
COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: There were no comments from the audience.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE: Mr. Hillegass
A-1 A Hillegass/Nyce motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the bills for the month of November in the amount of $ 319,767.25.
A-2 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) adopting Ordinance # 404, which eliminates the Per Capita Tax in Telford Borough, effective January 1, 2015. Any delinquent per capita taxes will continue to be collected.
A-3 A Hillegass/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (5-0) passing Resolution 14-03, which appoints Berkheimer as the Collector of a Local Services Tax in Telford Borough, effective January 1, 2015.
A-4 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) passing Resolution 14-04, which appoints Berkheimer as the Tax Hearing Officer for Telford Borough.
A-5 A Hillegass/Nyce motion carried unanimously (5-0) passing Resolution 14-05, which authorizes Berkheimer to collect delinquent taxes.
A-6 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) passing a Resolution appointing Mark D. Fournier as the Liaison between Berkheimer and Telford Borough.
A-7 A Hillegass/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (5-0) authorizing the signature of the Agreement between Berkheimer and Telford Borough for collecting a Local Services Tax.
A-8 A Hillegass/Crouthamel motion carried unanimously (5-0) approving the holiday schedule for 2015.
PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEE: Mr. Maxwell
Chris Canavan from WB Homes gave a brief presentation on the current lot lines that are located on the 3 Bergey parcels on 3rd Street that are under consideration for development. He also presented an adjusted plan showing how the reconfigured lots would look after the lot line adjustment, and explained that WB Homes needs this lot line adjustment to help secure financing for the project.
The Planning Commission granted approval to this lot line adjustment at their meeting on November 19, 2014.
A Crouthamel/Schaeffer motion carried unanimously (5-0) granting approval of the Lot Line Adjustment Plan for Arlington Square (Bergey Tract), submitted by Prospect Acquisitions, L.P. and dated September 15, 2014.
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC WORKS/BUILDINGS & PLANT COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE: There was nothing to report at this time.
DEVELOPMENT & CULTURE COMMITTEE: Mr. Nyce
The Telford Tree Lighting will be held on Friday, December 12th at 7:00 pm.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Manager Mark Fournier presented a memorandum from the Montgomery County Health Department asking municipalities to participate in the Black Fly Suppression program for the 2015 season. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of Council that Telford Borough will not participate.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Borough Council entered into Executive Session at 8:06 pm to discuss a matter of litigation.
Borough Council closed Executive Session at 9:14 pm. No action was taken.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm by a Hillegass/Crouthamel motion.
Respectfully submitted,
Mark D. Fournier
Secretary
