EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Meeting of the Board – June 5, 2017
Chairman Richard P.S. Hannum, Jr. called the public meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Township Building by leading the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members John Sarro, Eddie G. Caudill, and Robert F. Weerwere also present, as was Steve Legoy filling in for Solicitor Frone Crawford, Planning Commission Chairman Cuyler Walker and Engineer Jim Hatfield.
Public Comment Period. Ruth Kranz-Carl who lives on W. Locust Lane expressed her concern with the two lots in Cedarcroft, one at Fairthorne and Taylor and the other on W. Locust that removed trees. Mrs. Kranz-Carl wanted an explanation from the Supervisors on the approval process for clearing the lots from building. Mr. Hannum said the applicants had followed the procedure outlined in the Zoning Ordinance and asked Mrs. Kranz-Carl to email the Township Manager with specific concerns so they could be addressed.
Erin McHale a resident who lives on Manor Drive asked the Supervisors to add radar signs to the area in front of the Middle and High Schools. Ms. McHale said the sign by Unionville Elementary has significantly reduced speed in that location and she is hoping the same will happen by the High School.
Denise Connor spoke in support of the Fair Districts PA Resolution to end gerrymandering.
Minutes of May 5, 2017. The minutes were approved by a vote of 4-0.
Walnut Walk Escrow Release #3. Based on Mr. Hatfield’s recommendation, the Supervisors approved the release of $184,447 for the Walnut Walk Phase II subdivision. The supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the release.
MS4 Permit Application Review. Engineer Jim Hatfield briefed the Supervisors on the preliminary application to renew East Marlborough Township’s MS4 Permit with the DEP. The DEP guidelines call for removal of sediment/volume of runoff volume getting to streams through the Township’s storm sewer system. There are four watersheds in East Marlborough Township that fall under the MS4 guidelines: (2) for the Brandywine and (2) for the Red Clay Creek. Mr. Hatfield identified five areas for sediment reduction which would enable the Township to meet the DEP permit guidelines. The areas in the plan are:
Watershed 7 – Lower West Branch Brandywine Creek
Proposed modification to an infiltration structure on a lot off of Mitchell Farm Lane/Unionville Wawaset Road.
Watershed B31 – Upper Brandywine Creek
Inspections of existing storm water management facilities in the Miles Spring and Beversrede Developments. Proposed modification of an existing storm water facility south of Honeysuckle Lane.
Watershed R01 – East Branch Red Clay Creek
Inspections of existing storm water management facilities in the La Reserve, Willowdale Crossing and Foxview Estate Developments.
Watershed R03 – East Branch Red Clay Creek
Inspections of existing storm water management facilities in the Dalkeith Farms, Longview Lane, Anvil Hills, Federal Walk and Orchard Valley Developments.
Watershed R01 and R03 – East Branches of the Red Clay Creek
Proposed verification of the drainage patterns for electrical substation located on E. Street Road to show DEP that the source of PCBs found in the stream is coming from an area downstream from East Marlborough.
The timeline for the project is 5 years. The completed permit application will bepresented to the Board of Supervisors at the July meeting, upon approval there will be a 30 period for public review and the permit application will be submitted to DEP in early September. The projected cost to meet the goals outlined in the permit is $69,325.
The Supervisors voted 4-0 to proceed with the application process.
Orchard Valley Construction Project. Chuck Phillips appeared before the Board to ask for a reduction in the per deck building permit costs for the deck replacement at Orchard Valley. Mr. Phillips said the decks are owned by the HOA and should be covered under one permit. Mr. Caudill said regardless of who owns the decks they each need to be reviewed and inspected. Mr. Hannum said that unfortunately the inspection costs couldn’t be reduced and that each deck needed a permit.
Fair Districts Pennsylvania. Approximately 50 East Marlborough residents attended the meeting to urge action on the Resolution in support of a citizen’s commission for legislative and congressional redistricting.
Ed Blanchard of 403 Taylor Lane voiced his desire for the Supervisors to join the bi-partisan, grassroots effort to end gerrymandering.
Basil Maas of 509 Fox Hollow Drive pointed out that all of East Marlborough is located within the 16th Congressional District but so are parts of Reading. He questioned whether a U.S. Representative could effectively advocate for two areas that are so dissimilar.
Ron Whittaker or 2007 Unionville-Lenape Road said that Pennsylvania is one of the top 3 gerrymandered states in the nation and asked the Supervisors to support ending this practice.
Mr. Hannum expressed gratitude to the group for providing a voice to the grassroots movement and called for a vote on the Resolution. The Supervisors passed the Resolution (with edits) with a 4-0 vote.
Variance request for Gale Lane Development. represented by Mike Gavin for Doug White the principle in the project. Mr. White is seeking a variance from the Zoning Hearing Board to allow for construction of a road, sidewalk and utility poles within a steep slope. Mr. Gavin said no buildings will be located within the steep slope and the grade for the road will be 10% or less. Mr. Gavin also asked for the Supervisors to accept the following proposed easements on the Everfast property as they were part of the Conditional Use Order:
- The walking trail
- The turn-around area for the snow plows
- The location to deposit snow during a storm
- Overflow parking spaces
- Open Space/Recreation areas
The easements were presented on the May 22nd plan which was presented to the Supervisors.
Mr. Gavin said the walking trail easement will be 10’ wide with a 4’ trail surface which will be determined during the SALDO process. Mr. Caudill asked if the easement could connect the trail to the sidewalk so residents could make a loop rather than backtracking. Mr. Gavin said they do not have much leverage for additional easement areas but they would investigate the possibility. The Supervisors recommended that the Zoning Hearing Board grant the variance request and accepted the easements as shown with a 4-0 vote.
PADOT dotGrant Resolution.Township Manager Prysock briefed the Supervisors on PADot’s desire for municipalities to move to online reporting for the Liquid Fuels Funds. The administration requires that each municipality approve a Resolution to allow for online reporting. The Supervisors voted 3-0 with Eddie Caudill abstaining to approve the Resolution.
Kennett Library Visioning Report. Mr. Hannum said the Supervisors had all received a copy of the Kennett Library Visioning Report which explored the needs of the community with the needs of the Library and Kennett Square Borough. In order for the Library to receive reimbursement from the Chester County Planning Commission each of the participating municipalities needed to accept the report but not necessarily agree or support its recommendations. Mr. Hannum introduced Megan Walters the Executive Director of the Library who was at the meeting to answer any questions. Mr. Weer asked if she could assure the taxpayers of East Marlborough that 100% of their library tax dollars would go to support the library and not any other functions. Ms. Walters said the Visioning Study had broken out all of the ways that the finances would be kept separate and assured the resident’s that their tax dollars would be used for the library. The Supervisors voted 3-1 to accept the report with Mr. Weer opposing.
Kennett Fire and EMS Region Inter-municipal Cooperation Agreement.Cuyler Walker gave an update on the inter-municipal project between Kennett Square Borough, Kennett, Newlin, Pennsbury, Pocopson and East Marlborough Townships. Each municipality will need to pass an Ordinance to authorize entering into an agreement. A hearing on the Ordinance has been scheduled for July 10th. SolicitorFrone Crawford will draft the model Ordinance.
Ordinance 2017-02 for FEMA flood plain changes, presented by Cuyler Walker. Mr. Walker gave an update on the process to have the changes to the Zoning Ordinance that apply to Flood Plains within the Township. The Ordinance was presented to the Supervisors who voted 4-0 to send it to Chester County Planning for their review
Bills. By unanimous vote (4-0) the Supervisors approved payment of invoice with the following totals:
General Fund: $182,490.93
State Fund: $ 3,025.45
Payroll: $ 51,911.21
Sewer Fund: $ 38,964.60
Unionville Park: $ 1,563.05
Treasurer’s Report. By unanimous vote (4-0) the Treasurer’s Report was accepted as submitted.
The public meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m., at which point the Supervisors went into Executive Session to review personnel policies.
EAST MARLBOROUGH TOWNSHIP
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AGENDA – June 5, 2017 – 7:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance
2. Public comment period
3. Approval of Minutes of May 1, 2017
4. Escrow Release #3 Walnut Walk Phase II requested by Doug Knox
5. MS4 Permit Overview by Jim Hatfield
6. Orchard Valley Home Owners Association
7. Fair Districts PA represented by Ron Whitaker
8. Doug White variance recommendation
9. Resolution to join PennDot’sdotGrant program
10. Kennett Library Annual Report presented by Margaret Egli
11. Acceptance of the Kennett Library Visioning Study Report
12. FEMA Ordinance recommendation
13. Bills
14. Treasurer’s Report
Note: There will be an executive session immediately following the public meeting to review personnel policies.