West Vincent Township

Board of Supervisors Meeting

 

April 14, 2008 7:30 PM

 

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Attendance:  Chairman Kenneth Miller, Vice Chairperson Zoë Perkins , Barry DiLibero, Township Manager Jim Wendelgass, Allan Greenwood of Siana, Bellwoar & McAndrew, LLP Township Solicitor, Zoning Officer Sandra Cantrell-Edwards and Township Secretary Tammy Swavely.

 

Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:42 PM

 

The minutes of March 10, 2008, March 17, 2008 and March 24, 2008 were unanimously approved as amended on a motion by Perkins and a second by DiLibero.

 

Reports:

 

Township Building:  Wendelgass informed the Board that the walkway was completed between the Township Building and the park.

 

Township Manager Report:  The Township Manager Report for the week ending 4/12/08 was acknowledged as submitted. 

 

Active Subdivision List:  An Extension Request was received from Lisa D’Andrea for the Weyl Subdivision.  Perkins made the motion to accept the extension request until 6/30/08.  This motion was seconded by DiLibero which carried unanimously.  An Extension Request was received from Alyson Zarro on behalf of the Ewing Group, LLC/Orleans Subdivision Phase II.  Perkins made the motion to accept the extension request until 7/29/08.  This motion was seconded by DiLibero which carried unanimously. 

 

Bills List:  The Bills List was reviewed.  Perkins made the motion to approve the Bills List dated 4/11/08 in the total amount $26,658.69.  DiLibero seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

 

Correspondence:

 

An e-mail was received from Ann Hutchinson, Natural Lands Trust, requesting the use of the Meeting Room during a Conservation Subdivision Bus Tour.  Perkins made the motion that the NLT be permitted to use the Township Meeting Room on June 20th.  DiLibero seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

 

A letter was received from Coventry Soccer requesting the use of the soccer fields during this summer.  It was determined that the fields will in use until the middle of July and that after that they will need to rest to recover from the past use during the last few years.  In the fall they will be treated and will rest until Spring 2009.  The staff will inform the organization regrettably that they will not be able to use the soccer fields this summer.  A discussion ensued about the needs for athletic fields throughout the district.  Miller, DiLibero and Wendelgass met with officials regarding this problem a few weeks ago and evidently West Vincent Township is currently one of the few townships that supplies any fields at all.  The Ludwigs Corner Horse Show rents 7 fields out to GEYA for use for soccer. 

 

A request to use the meeting room was received from the Chester County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Taskforce.  Perkins made the motion that the CCGGRTF be permitted to use the Township Meeting room on April 16, 2008 from 2:00-4:00 PM. DiLibero seconded the motion which carried unanimously.

 

A letter was received from David Frame, President, Ludwigs Corner Fire Department dated April 7, 2008 regarding voting in the Fire Hall for the 2008 Primary.  Miller read the letter into the record:

Dear Ken,

This letter is to try to clear up the voting issue at Ludwigs Corner Fire Company.  The room that has been used for voting can no longer be used.  In effort to retain our younger members, we have turned it into a crew room.  Kimberton, Lionville and Glenmoore all have had crew rooms for over 30 years. 

We did offer to allow voting to take place in Griffith Hall on April 22, 2008.  Tammy and I spoke several times about accommodating voters.  However, Voter Services notified Tammy they wanted it at the Hankin Library.  The fire company is not turning its back on the community. 

Several auction companies, on a weekly basis throughout the year, rent Griffith Hall.  This does not allow us to guarantee the hall will be available for every election date.  It would create confusion with the voters each election where the polling place was to be.

As a member of this fire company for 28 years and president for the last 14 years, it bothers me to hear some of the comments that have been made about LCFC and this issue when all the facts were not made clear.  I hope this puts any animosity that some people have towards the fire company to rest. 

Any questions please contact me, and I will be glad to discuss them.

Thank you for your continued support of Ludwigs Corner Fire Company.

 

This letter was in response to an e-mail sent to the Township Manager in January 2008 from the Devin Guth, Fire Chief, Ludwigs Corner Fire Department: 

Jim,

The area of the building that has been previously used for voting is going to be redone into a crew rec room. We have desperately needed some facility for our members for many years and have finally taken the needed steps to make it happen. Even our own company meetings will be relocated once the room is set up.

The board of directors discussed the polling place issue and felt that the elections at the station represent one more commitment that exposes us to liability with little or no benefit. The decision was solely a business one. If you would like to discuss this further both myself and the president, David Frame, are available to meet with you.

 A letter was received dated April 11, 2008 from State Senator Andrew Dinniman.  This congratulates Police Chief Michael Swininger on his graduation from the FBI National Academy earlier this year. 

A request has been received to use the Meeting Room from the Tri-Community 4-H.  Perkins made the motion to permit the Tri-Community 4-H to use the Meeting Room on 4/25/08.  DiLibero seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 

Subdivision/Land Development

Weyl Subdivision:  The Board went into Executive Session to review one technical aspect of this Conditional Use Decision prior to the public session.  After its return, the Board announced that the Conditional Use Decision for this Subdivision would be rendered at the next Board Meeting, Monday, April 21st. 

 

Oxford Rise:  An Escrow Release Request for the Waste Water Treatment Plant has been received.  Perkins made the motion that this request be forwarded to the Township Engineer for review.  DiLibero seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 

 

Weatherstone:  The Waste Water Treatment Plant is ready for dedication to the Township.  Neal Fisher, The Hankin Group stated that they have received a clean letter from Carroll Engineering and the flow reallocating has been received from DEP on April 4, 2008.  This sets in motion a clock for dedication.  The Hankin Group will fund the capital reserve and supply a maintenance bond on the terms set by the Township.  Jim McMaster is currently reviewing the language in the deeds for both Open Space B and Open Space C which also is included in the dedication.  This review is close to completion.  A date of April 28, 2008 was chosen for final dedication. 

 

Old Business:

 

Chester County owns land in West Vincent Township.  This is difficult for them to maintain for them since it is not near any other of their parks.  Pam Brown is meeting with the Chester County Park and Recreation Board to discuss the conveying of these parcels to the Township. This is along French Creek and is approximately 56 acres.  There are trails along it which are heavily wooded and most of it is in wetlands and a flood plain.  West Vincent Township would keep it the way it is now, and put a conservation easement on it.  The Open Space funds would be used for the conservation easement. 

 

Maria Holderness, 958 Jaine Lane, Tax Parcel 25-3-143.6 was present to obtain answers to her zoning issue.  Perkins stated that the zoning response was in process and she should expect it this week.  The Board agreed that her 30 day appeal period would begin from the date of this new letter.

 

New Business:       

 

A new Zoning Hearing Application has been received from John Smirga, 2160 Buttonwood Road, Tax Parcel 25-4-63.8.  The Applicant desires to seek relief to construct a pool and patio within the 100’ wetland buffer.  Harriet Stone spoke for Green Valleys and stated that this Application will affect the small area for stormwater infiltration.  She also has concerns regarding the pool chemicals getting into the creek, which is designated as an EV stream.  Perkins stated that the Board should take an opposing position on this matter.  A hearing date has not been set.

 

Business from the floor:

 

DiLibero stated that he was contacted by a resident of Red Bone Road with a complaint regarding the apartment construction noise.  Evidently there was construction 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning.  The contractor will be contacted.

 

DiLibero informed the other Board members that someone was at the park and locked their keys in their car.  Upon going to the Police Department, they discovered that it was closed and the person did not feel that this warranted a 911 call.  Eventually the police did come back to the station to help this person, but it was suggested that the posting of a non-emergency telephone number at the door would be helpful in such instances.  The staff will make the suggestion to Chief Swininger. 

 

The Ludwigs Corner Fire Department contacted DiLibero inquiring about the donation to their department from the Township.  Miller stated that he would like to have a meeting with them to discuss this.  The representatives from the Fire Department will be contacted to come to the next morning meeting.

 

The Home Owner’s Association from Weatherstone has a meeting with the Board of Supervisors on April 21, 2008 at 7:30 PM.  Miller requested to change the date due to a conflict.  Jim Hall, President of the HOA stated that he would like Miller to be there, a tentative date of May 5, 2008 was chosen instead.  Hall will contact the Township Tuesday to let the staff know if this is date is possible. 

 

Maria Holderness, 958 Jaine Lane, Tax Parcel 25-3-143.6 stated that she was reading the MPC, Municipalities Planning Code and she feels that the Zoning Application for West Vincent does not follow the code since it charges for attorney fees.  Wendelgass explained to her that the Township charges an application fee based upon the costs to the Township of a solicitor and the Zoning Hearing Board expenses.  This fee covers the costs associated with a hearing, but does not cover any legal fees the Township incurs.  Perkins suggested that Holderness send a written request for an explanation of these costs.  

 

Harriet Stone requested to set up for the election on Monday, April 21 during the afternoon.  Since the HOA meeting is on hold for that evening it may be possible.  Once Swavely is contacted by the Weatherstone HOA, she can in turn contact Stone to let her know when she can set up for elections. 

 

Sara Shick wanted to express her gratitude for the quick response of the staff to alert those living in Voting District 2 of the polling place change with a post card. 

 

Miller announced that there would be an Executive Session immediately following the regular meeting to discuss a possible litigation issue. 

 

Meeting adjourned 8:50 PM.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

Tammy Swavely

Township Secretary

 		  
 

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