EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MINUTES
Meeting of the Board – April 7, 2014
Vice-Chair Richard P.S. Hannum called the public meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Township Building by leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a moment of silence in honor of George Martin Cloud, who passed away recently, and who had earlier served as Supervisor for thirty-nine years. Board members John Sarro, Robert F. Weer, and Eddie G. Caudill were also present, as was Solicitor Fronefield Crawford, Jr. and Engineer James W. Hatfield.
Public Comment Period.
Steve Silver of the Onix Group told the Supervisors about his concerns regarding the Bank of America construction site on Route One.
Jack Greenwood of Unionville spoke about his concerns with the construction site next door to his property.
Joyce Phillips, Rob MacPherson, George Watson, Margaret Sincavage,, among others, spoke in favor of continuing the policy of providing Township chipping of storm-damaged branches. Messrs. Hicks and Greenwood spoke in opposition to the chipping. Supervisor Weer noted that the Township had never had to deal with a problem of this magnitude, that it will cost us money we didn’t budget. Supervisor Caudill said that the chipping is a nice service that residents have come to expect. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors agreed to provide the chipping service, and further authorized the Roadmaster and Township Manager to seek outside contractors to perform some of the chipping, agreeing not to exceed the amount of $19,000.
Joe Dauphin, who lives on the property surrounded by the Unionville Park, said that he needs to discuss how park users would be protected from his electric fence. He also said that he believes that the unfinished bridge should have some caution tape restricting access. Jim Hatfield took contact information from Mr. Dauphin and agreed to discuss the items.
Minutes of March 3, 2014 By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors accepted the minutes as prepared.
Billboard Ordinance. Solicitor Crawford said that he would incorporate the Township Planning Commission recommendations into the text of the proposed ordinance.
Meeting of the Board – April 7, 2014
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Longwood Gardens – Request to temporarily alter traffic flow on Greenwood Road, north of Route One. Greg Papiernik spoke about a problem with parking that the Gardens might encounter during busy weekends this spring. Because their over-flow parking area remains too wet for spring use, it may be necessary to park some attendees at the paved Excelon lot in Kennett Township and bus them to the Longwood Gardens site. Mr. Papiernik anticipates that the traffic modification would last for up to 90 minutes, and emphasized that this is a contingency plan. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors approved his request for limited alteration of traffic flow on the northern leg of Greenwood Road for brief periods this spring.
Weisbrod Plan. Wayne Grafton represented the owner, the Estate of Anita Weisbrod, requested the conjoining of two parcels on the property, a 66-acre parcel with a 16-acre parcel. Solicitor Crawford requested a clarification of some of the notes on the plan, and said that this plan would supersede the original Weisbrod plan, approved August 5, 2013. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors approved the plan, subject to addition and review of the notations on the plan.
Unionville Community Park – Jim Hatfield spoke about the potential for moving some of the proposed improvements from Phase II into Phase I, because the grant funds available for Phase I are greater than the original bid. Some amenities that could be rolled into Phase I are: a) continuation of the walking trail, b) the pavilion, c) some additional storm water management facilities, and d) the sidewalk from West Doe Run Road, alongside Firehouse Drive, and connecting to the sidewalk at the entrance to the park. Mr. Hatfield will get prices for the additional items listed above, and then seek approval from DCNR to roll those amenities into Phase I, noting that no more than $136,000 can be added to Phase I (25% of the cost of Phase I) without bidding the additional work. The Supervisors will vote on the additional facilities at the May 5, 2014 Board meeting.
Road Report. Roadmaster Mellinger proposes:
Paving the following roads: Pheasant Run, Partridge Way, Grouse Lane, Unionville Road from High School to Landhope), and East Locust Lane. The total estimated cost for the referenced roads is $148,740, nearly $36,000 more than budgeted.
Applying oil and chip to the following roads for a total estimated cost of $23,000: Beversrede Trail, Merrick Drive, Wickersham Drive, Scott Road, Brooks Road.
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Purchase of dump truck. The supervisors asked that Mr. Mellinger seek bids for the road work (paving and oiling and chipping), but refrain from getting bids for the truck until the Township has had a chance to evaluate the mid-year budget status.
Appointment of Fire Marshal. The Township had received a proposal from United Inspection Agency to provide Fire marshal services. By a vote of 3-1, with Mr. Caudill opposed, the Supervisors appointed United Inspection Agency.
Emergency Management Coordinator. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors appointed Lieutenant Robert Clarke to fill the position of Emergency Management Coordinator.
Bond Underwriting Services. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors decided to seek proposals from underwriting firms in anticipation of re-financing the township’s Sewer Funding Bonds.
Property Maintenance Ordinance – As requested, Solicitor Frone Crawford had copies of three different ordinances that have been enacted in near-by townships. The Supervisors will look at these presented examples, as well as other models, in consideration of the request for a property maintenance ordinance.
Bills. By unanimous vote (4-0), with each supervisors abstaining on a single vote with a perceived conflict of interest, the Supervisors approved the attached list of invoices for payment, with the following totals:
General Fund $232,783.21
Payroll $ 52,371.60
Sewer Fund $ 34,271.53
Unionville Park $ 6,126.77
State Fund $ 17,483.48
Treasurer’s Report. By unanimous vote (4-0), the Supervisors accepted the attached report as prepared.
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The public meeting was adjourned at 9:52 p.m., at which point the supervisors went into executive session with the solicitor to discuss pending legal matters, as well as a personnel matter.
EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
Jane R. Laslo, Secretary/Manager