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Charlestown Township
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A business meeting was held July 7, 2008 at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154. Kevin Kuhn, Chairman, Michael Rodgers, Paul Hogan, Hugh Willig, Mark Thompson, Esq., Surender Kohli, P.E., Linda Csete, Township Administrator were present along with those on the attached list.
Mr. Kuhn called the meeting to order at 7:38 P.M.
Announcements - none
Citizens’ Forum for Non-Agenda Items
No matters were brought forward.
Approvals
Minutes of August 4, 2008 Meeting
Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2008 meeting, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Treasurer’s Report Aug. 1- 31, 2008
Mr. Philips moved to approve the August 2008 Treasurer’s Report and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Accounts Payable – Operating Fund
Mr. Rodgers moved to approve the September 2, 2008 Operating Fund Accounts Payable Report and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Accounts Payable – Open Space Fund
Mr. Philips moved to approve the September 2, 2008 Open Space Fund Accounts Payable Report and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Accounts Payable – State Fund
Mr. Philips moved to approve the September 2, 2008 State Fund Accounts Payable Report and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Accounts Payable – Robert Berry Escrow Fund
Mr. Philips moved to approve the September 2, 2008 Fire Escrow Fund Accounts Payable Report and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Reports
Mr. Rodgers moved to accept the August monthly reports and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion. Mr. Hogan said he asked Mark Cabot to fabricate 3 trash receptacles for Charlestown Park and showed proposed ant-litter signage to the Board. The Board was in agreement with installing the receptacles but did not approve the wording for the signs.
There being no further discussion, Mr. Kuhn called the vote. All were in favor.
Hearing
Ordinance to Amend the Rules for Passive and Active Township Parks and Open Space
Mr. Thompson opened the hearing and entered the following exhibits into the record:
Mr. Thompson entered the following exhibits into the record:
| T-1 | Copy of letter dated 8/25/08 from Mark Thompson, Esq. to Daily Local News enclosing Public Notice of and the full text of the proposed Ordinance and requesting publication. |
| T-2 | Copy of letter dated 8/25/08 by Mark Thompson, Esq. to the Chester County Law Library enclosing copy of proposed ordinance |
| T-3 | Copy of Public Notice |
| T-4 | Proof of Publication from the Daily Local News |
| T-5 | Copy of the Proposed Ordinance |
Mr. Thompson said the amendment was drafted to clarify that dogs must be kept on a leash 8 feet or shorter in both active parks and passive open space areas. The hearing was closed. Mr. Kuhn asked if there were any comments from the audience and there were none.
Mr. Rodgers moved to adopt Ordinance #149-2008 as drafted, and Mr. Kuhn seconded. There being no other discussion, Mr. Kuhn called the vote. All were in favor.
Old Business – None
New Business
Crown Communications – Request for waiver from Conditional Use decision condition to permit co-location on tower
Mr. Alston stated that he met with representatives from Crown Communications and Chester County Emergency Services on Friday to discuss their request for a waiver of condition #8 of the 1998 conditional use application approval for Sprint Spectrum L.P., which requires that the highest ten feet of the tower be reserved for emergency communication services. Mr. Alston said he needs more information from Crown Communications before he can make a recommendation to the Board on the request, due to discrepancies between approved building permit applications for co-location of various antennas on the tower and the as-built condition. He said there is a site visit scheduled for September 4th.
Stormwater Management Ordinance Amendment
Mr. Thompson reported that he’s been working with Mr. Kohli on language for an amendment to the stormwater management ordinance to require underground detention basins.
Review of sewer flow projection (needs analysis) for Regional Act 537 Plan
Mr. Kohli explained that he prepared the Needs Analysis for the Valley Forge Sewer Authority and requested the Board’s review and acceptance of this information as the Township’s validated data. The VFSA requires this data for DEP approval to update its regional Act 537 plan. Mr. Philips moved to accept the current needs analysis showing the total projected sewer flows for years 2007, 2015, 2025 and 2035 with its supporting documentation, and Mr. Rodgers seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and their being nothing further, called the vote. All were in favor.
Review Proposals for Codification of Ordinances
Mr. Kuhn said that two proposals for codification of the township ordinances have been received from General Code Publishers and Keystate Publishers. Both the proposals and samples of code books and on-line codes have been reviewed by various members of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission and Township Administrator. Planning Commission member Mike Allen recommended developing a set of questions for each company and meeting with each representative one more time before the Board makes a selection. He recommended that one or two supervisors be present for the meeting. The Administrator said she’ll work with Mr. Allen on a set of questions and make arrangements for the meetings.
Brightside Farm Lease
Mr. Kuhn said that Mr. Thompson has prepared the lease, pet addendum and addendum #1 for the Brightside Farmhouse in accordance with the Board’s instructions at the July 7th meeting. There were two minor changes to the draft, one to allow an outdoor play structure and the other to include two additional pets in the pet addendum. Mr. Rodgers moved to execute the Brightside Farm lease as revised and Mr. Hogan seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Charlestown Woods Request for Bond Release
Mr. Hogan moved to approve the release of the Charlestown Woods bond in the amount of $86,432.39, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Open Road Labor & Equipment Bids
The following bid for road labor & equipment rental was opened and read aloud:
Melchiorre Construction Company $ 668,470
The bid document was turned over to Mr. Kohli for review and recommendation.
Authorize MMO (Minimum Municipal Obligation) for Pension Fund for 2009
Mr. Kuhn moved to authorize funding the employee pension plan for 2009 in the amount of the minimum municipal obligation provided by Trustees Insurance of $15,416, and to include this amount in the budget for 2009. Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Authorize Advertising for Road Salt – Bid Opening October 6, 2008
Mr. Rodgers moved to authorize advertising of the 2008-2009 Road Salt Bid for opening at the October 6, 2008 meeting, 7:30 P.M. at the Great Valley Middle School, Room 154, and Mr. Philips seconded. Mr. Kuhn called for discussion, and there being none, called the vote. All were in favor.
Other Business
On-Lot Sewage Management Ordinance
Mr. Rodgers said the Township must adopt the on-lot sewage management ordinance before the Valley Forge Sewer Authority can get DEP approval for its revised regional Act 537 Plan, which includes the plant expansion.
Mr. Thompson said he circulated a draft ordinance earlier today to the Board that meets the DEP requirements yet is least onerous for the Township. He communicated with the County Health Department, which will be responsible for licensing haulers and maintaining a database of properties where the mandatory tri-annual pumping has been performed. They will be charging a $1,200.00 annual fee for this service, but 85% of the cost will be eligible for a grant from the DEP. Under the proposed ordinance, the Township will have enforcement capabilities.
The Board authorized advertisement of a hearing to consider adoption of the draft ordinance for October 6, 2008, 7:30 P.M. at the Great Valley Middle School.
Woolen Mill Stair Quotation
Mr. Kuhn circulated copies of a quote from Florig Industrial Company Inc., a metal fabrication company that can install metal stairs at the Charlestown Woolen Mill for $9,850. The Township would add the concrete treads for the stairs.
Dead Tree at Charlestown Revolutionary War Cemetery
Mr. Kuhn said the Township received a quote for removal of a dead tree at the Revolutionary War Cemetery that is in danger of falling and damaging headstones. Mr. Alston said C.M. Jones told him they would have no problem doing the work. Mr. Kuhn asked for the status of the ownership of the property. Mr. Thompson said he’s waiting to hear back from the Great Valley Presbyterian Church president. All that remains is for the Church to sign the deed over to the Township, and for the document to be recorded. The Board approved the tree removal pending the Township’s obtaining ownership of the property; otherwise, Mr. Thompson will advise the Church they need to take care of it.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:17 P.M. and went into executive session to discuss legal matters. The next business meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2008, 7:30 P.M. in Room 154 of the Great Valley Middle School.
Linda M. Csete
Township Administrator