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PENNSBURG BOROUGH
COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 – 7:00 P.M.
The meeting was called to order by President John
K. Lear at 7:00 P.M. President Lear led with the
Pledge of Allegiance. Answering roll call were
Council Members: Bruce Lord, Bill Clinton, Joan
Wieder, Vicki Lightcap, Douglas K. Landis, Vice
President Michael R. Mensch and President John K.
Lear.
Also present this evening was Mayor Ethel Ritchey,
Solicitor Charles D. Garner, Jr., Engineer John
Katsaros, Roads Assistant Rick Krupp, Administrative
Assistant Lisa Hiltz and Administrative
Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Jeanne W. Hopkins.
Public Comment Period
Mark Shanley, 777 Hunter Drive, commented on the
financial feasibility of replacing the civic
building because of heater problems. President Lear
assured Mr. Shanley that this is not case. The
heater is being repaired and at the same time the
building committee is looking for options for the
future of the civic building. Mr. Shanley offered to
serve on a task force committee.
Councilor Lightcap, Revitalization Committee
Chairperson, asked Mr. Shanley to consider serving
on the committee. Mr. Shanley said he would
consider it.
Visitors
Trevor and Cynthia Smith, equitable owners of
428 Main St. reported on their plan to occupy the
former residence with their small engineering
business. The Zoning Officer has already deemed it
an appropriate use. If additional parking is needed
in the future, necessary steps would be taken to
provide more parking. In the interim, the Smith’s
have a shared parking use agreement with their
neighbor, Brode & Brooks Realtors. The new owners
would maintain a rental apartment on the second
floor. Borough Council welcomed the new business.
Anthony Tosco and his Engineer Bob Irick, Irick,
Eberhardt & Mientus – 901 Main Street Land
Development.
The former owner of the property, Paul Verna,
received conditional/final land development approval
several years ago. The use of the property has
changed slightly. Two retail stores on the first
floor and two apartments on the second floor will
occupy the building. Tenant parking will be
designated for the rear of the property. Waivers
(previously approved by a past borough council) were
presented again to borough council for their
approval and granting. The borough engineer and
zoning officer has reviewed the plan and they
support plan approval. No open space is required due
to the size of the property.
A Motion was made by Lightcap, seconded by Mensch
and unanimous to give final approval for the 901
Main Street land development plan.
A Motion was made by Mensch, seconded by Lord and
unanimous to grant the six waivers set forth in the
Czop/Specter, Inc. review letter dated April 6,
2010.
Communications
Vince Hamm requested use of the lower parking
for his traveling group to park their vehicles for
one week. The group accepts all liability for their
vehicles while parked on borough property. A Motion
was made by Lord, seconded by Wieder and unanimous
to permit the group to park their vehicles in the
lower end of the borough parking lot.
Roads Committee
Councilor Mensch reported.
Pennsburg Borough will not be paving a section of E.
11th Street with Red Hill Borough.
Pothole repairs are on-going. Long Alley needs many
repairs. In making repairs on the alley, Mr. Mensch
feels engineering work will be needed due to water
drainage issues that need to be addressed.
Street sweeping – Rick Krupp is gathering quotes
from various companies.
Vehicles – The bucket truck will be assessed for
repair. The 1992 Chevy dump truck needs to be
replaced. The committee is suggesting replacing the
Chevy dump truck with a utility truck. The
committee is exploring the idea of selling the S10
pick up truck and a landscape trailer too in order
to free up cash to purchase the utility vehicle and
save on insurance costs for these underutilized
vehicles and equipment.
Speed lines were painted on Long Alley in the 500
block.
Safety/Fire Co./Emergency Management Committees
Councilor Lord reported.
Emergency Management Coordinator, Carmen Merolla, is
scheduled to speak with borough council members at
the April 20, 2010 Borough Council Meeting.
Facilities/Energy Committee
Councilor Lord reported.
Heater repair - The part has been ordered at a cost
of $970.00. A 30 amp breaker needs to be installed
according to heater specifications. A 20 amp
breaker exists currently.
Lavatory repair – A urinal was repaired and a new
self-flush unit was priced at a cost of $119-200.
Parks/Recreation Committee
Councilor Wieder reported.
What has become a tradition of Earth Day plantings
and maintenance at the Nature Preserve will continue
on April 24th from 9 a.m. – noon.
Volunteers are needed. A Motion was made by Mensch,
seconded by Landis and unanimous to provide $500.00
to pay for the cost of plantings and materials for
that day. The day’s plantings will be led by John
Munro, Munro Ecological Engineering.
Mayor Ritchey excused herself from the meeting.
Revitalization Committee
Councilor Lightcap reported.
Councilor Lightcap made the Revitalization Plan
presentation on March 23rd to the
Montgomery County Revitalization Board. The plan
was well received and approved with a few additions
and changes. Ms. Lightcap thanked Councilor Clinton
for the time and work devoted to getting the final
draft to completion.
Councilor Lightcap announced she will be seeking
persons from various areas of the community to serve
on the Revitalization Committee.
Resolution #7-2010
– A Motion was made by Lightcap, seconded by Lord
and unanimous to adopt the final Community
Revitalization Plan.
Resolution #8-2010
– A Motion was made by Mensch, seconded by Lightcap
and unanimous to apply for funding from the
Montgomery county Revitalization Program to complete
streetscape improvements in Phase VI.
Resolution #9-2010
– A Motion was made by Lord, seconded by Lightcap
and unanimous to apply for funding from the
Montgomery County Housing and Community Development
Block Grant program to assist with borough matching
funds for Revitalization VI in the amount of
$50,000.00.
Resolution #10-2010
– A Motion was made by Lightcap, seconded by Lord
and unanimous to apply for funding as a SPECIAL
REQUEST to Montgomery County Housing and Community
Development Block Grant Program to assist with
borough matching funds for Revitalization Phase IV
in the amount of $40,000.00.
Recycling Committee
Councilor Landis reported.
Because of recent problems, a notice will be placed
at resident’s homes, when necessary, informing them
of the guidelines for chipping branches.
A check in the amount of $4,840.63 was received as
proceeds from the 2007 recycling grant application.
A Motion was made by Clinton, seconded by Wieder and
unanimous to deposit these funds in the joint
recycling account.
Regional Planning
President Lear reported.
The April meeting will be held on April 26th
at the Upper Frederick Township building – 7
p.m. It is a joint meeting with other regional
planning commissions.
Eric Jarrell, Montgomery County Planning Commission,
will be presenting the Regional Comprehensive Plan
to Pennsburg Borough officials and the public at the
April 20th Borough Council Meeting at 7
p.m.
PerkUp Business Committee - President Lear reported
he and Councilor Lightcap attended a meeting with
the Chamber of Commerce Director Luanne Stauffer and
co-chairs Carmen Italia and Trevor Smith. The
meeting was held to discuss how buildings could be
recognized for repairing and revitalizing. An
inventory of sites that may be underutilized will be
gathered. Council Members should forward any ideas
they might have to him or Ms. Lightcap.
The oil spill at the Perkiomen School was
discussed. Information will need to be gathered to
make a report for the NPDES. The response of the
Fire Company in this situation was lauded.
UPV Community Service Collaborative – President Lear
appointed Councilor Clinton to serve as the
representative from borough council to attend these
meetings. The next meeting will be held in Oct.
/Nov. of 2010.
Consent Agenda
A Motion was made by Clinton, seconded by
Mensch and unanimous to approve the March 2, 2010
Meeting Minutes, March Treasurer’s Report, Fire
Police services for Little League Opening Day on
April 10 and the Memorial Day Parade on May 31, Road
Closing of Route 29 from Route 663 to Front St. 8
a.m. – 5 p.m. on September 11 for Community Day,
Road Closing of Route 29 from Front St. to Route 663
and Route 663 to Quakertown Road on May 31 for a
Memorial Day parade by the Tri Boro Detachment 568
marine Corps League, Road Closing of Seminary St.
from 2nd St. to the E. Greenville borough
line on May 29 from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. for the
Perkiomen School Commencement services.
OLD BUSINESS
BYOB Ordinance – The
ordinance affects businesses that advertise,
encourage and promote their business as a BYOB
establishment. A Motion was made by Mensch,
seconded by Lightcap and unanimous to adopt the
ordinance as advertised.
Resolution #6-10
– A Motion was made by Lord, seconded by Mensch and
unanimous to amend the fee schedule to include an
annual $100.00 fee/registration for BYOB
establishments.
The fee is intended to cover administrative costs.
NEW BUSINESS
ACT 44 – Pension Funds
Solicitor Garner explained the new provisions of Act
44 which will require municipal pensions to be
selected through an RFP (request for proposal)
process. The solicitor will monitor this Act and
provide assurances that we are in compliance.
11th and Main Streets Traffic Signal
A Motion was made by Clinton, seconded by
Lightcap to approve payment of the final bill to
Lenni Electric. Mr. Clinton and Ms. Lightcap agreed
to amend their Motion to add that payment would be
made conditioned upon the contractor posting a 24
month Maintenance Bond and providing documentation
to the borough that the project has been completed
properly, according to the plan. The Motion carried
unanimously.
Traffic Signal Maintenance Contract
A
Motion was made by Clinton, seconded by Mensch and
unanimous to accept the two-year contract with
Signal Service, Inc. in the amount of $1,050.00 for
2010.
Decorative Street Lights
President Lear suggested that all photo cells be
placed on one photo cell. All lights would come on
and off at the same time at a cost of $1,420.00.
President Lear reported that some of the photo cells
have been problematic in the past and the cost to
change one photo cell is $250.00. A Motion was made
by Landis, seconded by Clinton and unanimous to
accept the quote of Gillespie Electric at a cost of
$1,420.00 to complete the photo cell work.
Animal Control Ordinance
President Lear asked borough council members to
review the current ordinance. The animal control
officer has retired as of the end of March. There
is vagueness to the duties of an animal control
officer. More information will be gathered on the
subject with further discussion at the May meeting.
Bills for payment in April were approved with a
Motion by Lightcap, seconded by Landis and
unanimous.
Public Comment
Rene Albert, Hunter Drive, asked Councilor’s to
speak louder so the audience can hear.
There being no further business to come before
Borough Council Members at this time, a Motion was
made by Clinton, seconded by Mensch and unanimous to
adjourn the meeting at 9:10 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jeanne W. Hopkins
Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
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PENNSBURG BOROUGH
COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 – 7:00 P.M.
The meeting was
called to order by President John K. Lear at 7:00
P.M. President Lear led with the Pledge of
Allegiance. Answering roll call were Council
Members: Bruce Lord, Bill Clinton, Joan Wieder,
Vicki Lightcap, Douglas K. Landis, Vice President
Michael R. Mensch and President John K. Lear.
Also present this
evening was Mayor Ethel G. Ritchey and Planning
Commission Members: Lori Blackburn and Felicia Iski
and Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
Jeanne W. Hopkins.
Eric Jarrell,
Assistant Section Chief, Community Planning,
Montgomery County Planning Commission was present
this evening to present the draft Regional
Comprehensive Plan
President Lear
introduced all those present.
Eric Jarrell provided
a very thorough and interesting power point
presentation of the draft Regional Comprehensive
Plan. He covered the following chapters:
1.
History and Demographics
2.
Goal and Objectives
3.
Existing Land use
4.
Natural Resources
5.
Community Facilities
6.
Transportation
7.
Economic Revitalization
8.
Open Space
9.
Housing
10.
Future
Land Use
Council Members and
Planning Commission Members thanked Mr. Jarrell for
his excellent presentation of the Plan.
Other Business
2010 Budget
A Motion was made by Mensch, seconded by Lord
and unanimous to move $10,000.00 from the
Zoning-Contracted Services to Street Maintenance.
E. 11th
Street paving
A Motion was made by Mensch, seconded by Lord
and unanimous to approve spending $1,111.32 to pave
an area on E. 11th Street.
Earth Day
Plantings
Councilor Wieder reminded everyone of the Earth
Day plantings on Saturday, April 24th, 9
a.m. – noon.
There being no
further business to come before Borough Council at
this time, a Motion was made by Councilor Lord to
adjourn the meeting at 8:00 P.M.
Respectfully
submitted,
Jeanne W. Hopkins
Administrative Manager/Secretary-Treasurer
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