West Vincent Township

Board of Supervisors Meeting

 

                                                                July 28, 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, and Township Secretary Tammy Swavely.

 

Chairman Miller called the meeting to order at 7:36 PM.

 

The Minutes of June 23, 2008 and June 30, 2008 and July 7, 2008 were tabled for further review.

 

Reports:

 

Township Building:  No Report.

 

Township Manager Report:  The Township Manager Report for the week ending 7/26/08 was acknowledged as received. 

 

Active Subdivision List:  There are currently no pending deadlines.

 

Bills List:  The Bills List was reviewed.  The line item for mowing the Open Space at Weatherstone from The Brickman Group Ltd., LLC was held out since it may be Hankin’s responsibility.  Perkins made the motion to authorize the payment of the Bills List dated 7/25/08 in the total amount $80,077.37 with the exception of The Brickman Group, LLC which should be discussed with The Hankin Group.  DiLibero seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

 

Correspondence:

 

A letter received from French and Pickering Conservation Trusts dated 7/17/08, thanking West Vincent Township for its contribution to the French Creek Iron Tour, was acknowledged as received. 

 

A letter from the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show was received requesting the use of the Township meeting room.  Perkins made the motion that the LCHS be permitted to use the meeting room on August 4, 2008 and August 20, 2008.  This was seconded by DiLibero and carried unanimously. 

 

Subdivision/Land Development:

 

Weatherstone:  A letter was received from Neal Fisher with the Hankin Group requesting the release of the Maintenance Bond for Lexington Boulevard.  The eighteen month maintenance bond period ended July 18, 2008.  Ken Yerger of Carroll Engineering conducted an inspection and verified that all the punch list items have been addressed.  Perkins made the motion to release the Maintenance Bond to the Hankin Group in the total amount of $50, 2332.97 as per Ken Yerger’s recommendation.  This motion was seconded by DiLibero and carried unanimously. 

 

Oxford Rise:  An Escrow Release Request # 10 was received from Oxford Properties for the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  Perkins made the motion to forward this request to the Township Engineer for a review and recommendation.  DiLibero seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 

 

Old Business:

 

The Matthews Meadows Home Owner’s Association settlement with the Township is scheduled for July 29, 2008.  DiLibero made the following motion:  I move this 28th day of July, 2008 that the West Vincent Township  Board of Supervisors hereby authorize issuance of a township check related to the Matthews Meadows settlement with the Matthews Meadows Homeowners Association presently scheduled for July 29, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. in the Township Building in an amount not to exceed $5,000 (the exact amount needed is not presently known), the said check to cover title insurance, realty taxes, document preparation charges of the title company, and closing costs and, further, that execution of a Mutual Release with Wilmington Trust Bank be and hereby is authorized provided it is approved by Jim Wendelgass, Glenn Diehl, and Allan Greenwood and, still further, that Jim Wendelgass be and hereby is authorized to execute all documents related to the said settlement on behalf of West Vincent Township.  Perkins seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 

 

Perkins had a question related to the decibel level testing for paintball guns.  Therese Cavanaugh, 15 Weidner Way, Tax Parcel 25-7-46.4 asked her if testing could be done.  Zoning Officer Cantrell-Edwards stated that the decibel levels of paintball guns cannot be determined since it is not a continuous sound, which is what the meters are able to detect.

Perkins will inform Cavanaugh of this problem.

 

DiLibero stated that he contacted PSATS since he wanted more information regarding projects for road work and the bonding requirements.  He spoke with the person that Mike Crotty spoke with in the legal department by the name of Melissa Wilbur.  She informed him that projects should not be broken down into smaller projects to avoid bidding and that if Crotty had informed the Board that PSATS stated that bid bonds were not required for projects, then she was misquoted.  DiLibero stated that he would like to rescind his vote from the awarding of the 2008 Road Repair, Maintenance and Labor Bid.  Greenwood stated that Crotty should be asked as to what he understood the legal department at PSATS to say.  DiLibero stated that he would like a conference call with the Board and PSATS.  Perkins stated that was a good idea, but would prefer a written opinion so that nothing could be confused.  Miller asked if he could do any road work until this is resolved.  Greenwood stated that the Board could hold up projects until a letter was received from PSATS.   DiLibero stated that he was still researching the word “project” and was referred to Penn DOT and has not heard back.  He is concerned that it is the whole job and not piecemeal, which means a portion of a road done and then another portion of the same road done the next day.  Wendelgass will contact PSATS for a written opinion and present it to the Board.  Wendelgass informed the Board that the Municipal Code does not permit a job to be broken into small jobs.  West Vincent has always operated by this standard.  For example, an area of roadway that needs repair gets milled and then paved, that would be considered a project.  West Vincent has small projects where the road is marked, milled and paved.  If the scope of the project is over $10,000.00 then the Township goes out for bid and requires a performance bond.  Another consideration for bonding from a contractor is if a job costing over $10,000.00 can be completed within 20 days, this does not need a bond.

 

Another question from DiLibero was why tack coat and a power broom were not included in the bid.  Miller stated that no wearing course was being applied; it was all asphalt on stone base, so no tack coat will be applied.  The areas are small in scope so the work would be done by hand and there would be no need for a power broom.

 

DiLibero stated that a resident has asked about trash dumping on St. Andrews Lane.  Wendelgass stated that he also received the information and went out to the site to see what it was.  He stated that there were a few plastic bottles along the road which he picked up, but the remaining trash which looks like furniture cushions is on private property. 

 

Maria Holderness, 958 Jaine Lane, Tax Parcel 25-3-143.6 asked the Board if any changes have been made to the fee schedule for Zoning Hearings.  At this time, there has been no progress.  The Board has been talking about the issue, but nothing has been determined. 

 

New Business:

 

A traffic signal with a flashing light will be installed for the new elementary school on Conestoga Road.  It will flash when children are coming to school in the morning and leaving in the afternoon.  The school district would like to be able to change the timing if there is a 2-hour delay, early dismissal or if school is closed.  Penn DOT is requesting a letter from the Township to permit the school to do this.  Wendelgass will contact the school to get it in writing first to make a paper trail.  At that time he will write a letter to Penn DOT regarding authorization for the school district to change the timing on the flashing light.

 

Perkins asked if anything was determined about the crosswalk in front of the school.  The plan does show a crosswalk and it will be installed, however it is directly across from the school and does not connect to the library.  DiLibero stated that he was given a copy of the plan to show to a person who had a question on it.  

 

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

Perkins made a motion to adjourn, DiLibero seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Meeting adjourned 8:10 PM

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Tammy Swavely

Township Secretary