BoS Meeting 3/1/07

On March 1st the Board of Supervisors hired a new Township Manager. His name is Richard Schnaedter and he has had 20 years experience in Township leadership positions. He begins his new position on Monday, March 5th. Both Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call) and Courtney Lomax (Express Times) were there. Please read their articles. We will try to fill in the blanks.

Supervisor Comments:

Supervisor Nicholas noted receipt of Forks resident Gretchen Gerstel’s written request to the Board to use the Municipal Meeting Room for two meet-the-candidates nights before the May 15th Primary and an additional one before the November general election. Supervisor Ackerman thought it (the meetings) should be held in the Community Center. Supervisor Miller said that the League of Women Voters should run them. Nicholas said that she didn’t know if the League will do it. Sandy Hanks (audience and recent appointee to the Board of Elected Auditors) noted that it will not be run by Residents Who Care and that RWC is going to ask the League of Women Voters or the press to do it. Discussion of Gerstel’s request will be added to the March 15 meeting agenda.

Treasurer’s Report - Secretary/Treasurer Howell detailed the debits (cash paid out) since the last Supervisors meeting. Acceptance of the debits and transfers was approved 5:0.

Standing Committee Reports

• Public Safety - Supervisor Nicholas - reported that the next meeting is scheduled for March 6th at 5:00 PM.
• Public Works - Supervisor Ackerman - said that the next meeting will be March 6th at 7:30 AM. He also reported that because heavy rains were due, the road crew already had barriers set up at flood prone roads. Ackerman noted too, that during the snow removal, the crews spent a lot of time (clearing snow) in cul-de-sacs.
• Parks & Recreation - Supervisor Miller - (Note: Miller continues to report on events in the parks as his committee report. The following comments rightly belong in the Supervisors’ Comments section. It would appear that the Parks & Recreation committee seldom, if ever, meets since if it did, he would give a committee report.) Miller reported that the youth dances have resumed at the Community Center with the first taking place on February 23rd. There were 257 kids, 26 chaperones, and 3 police in attendance. He said that everyone was pleased and that there was "not one kid alone in a room" (because he/she did not have an ID.)
• Community Relations - Supervisor Howell - said that the staff has met to review the website menu (for ease of navigation) and that the first proof of the Forks Quarterly spring edition may be ready next week. He reminded all that the committee meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month (at 9:00 AM and 4:30 PM respectively) and that the public is invited.
• Finance & Administration - Supervisor Hoff - reported that the committee met yesterday afternoon and that they discussed and will bring to up at the next BoS meeting:
  - Additional meeting room tables (have bids)
  - Fee schedules (of all Township charged fees)
  - A change in the cleaning of the buildings (have a proposal)
The committee is still waiting for the cell tower proposal. They are also looking at potential software and policy updates for the puchase order system. In addition, the committee is looking at fire extinguisher and AED (?) training. Exit routes have been prepared for all the rooms in the municipal complex buildings. The next meeting is set for March 14th at 3:00 PM.

Engineer’s Report - Fred Hay - Agenda items only.

Solicitor’s Report - Karl Kline - Agenda items only.

Comments from the Public - none

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

TOWNSHIP MANAGER - Please read the newspaper accounts by both Courtney Lomax (Express Times) and Madeleine Mathias (Morning Call) for details on the new Township Manager (Richard Schnaedter) appointment.

PROPOSAL FOR STOCKERTOWN FIRE PROTECTION - Please read Courtney Lomax (Express Times) for a report on the very lengthy discussion of the proposal for Forks fire department to continue coverage of Stockertown Borough. - (Added 3/6/07: Also see Madeleine Mathias' Morning Call column from 3/6/07).

NEW BUSINESS

JOSEPH MAZZARESE MINOR SUBDIVISION PLAN - The property owner’s representative, Lou Ferrone, explained that this is simply to add 11 feet of property from one lot to the one that has the swimming pool so that the pool will be only on one piece of property. The land is on Broadway Road. It was accepted in a 5:0 vote.

KAREN PRESBY MINOR SUBDIVISION PLAN - Hay explained that this minor 2 lot subdivision (of an existing lot) on Church Road is possible because Church Road now has public sewers. Hay said that the Planning Commission recommended a plan note that the driveway on the second lot must be at least 75' from the center line of Briarwood. The future owners of this lot, as well as the existing lot owners will have to hook up to the sewer at their own expense. The Board added another plan note - that if Church is ever widened, sidewalks must be installed by the property owner. The Township will also require an up-front donation from the lot 1 owner to cover this future expense. Hay noted that Steeplechase donated a substantial amount of money for curbing in front of the Werkheiser tract. It passed 5:0.

PURCHASE OF A NEW BACKHOE - Ackerman reported the Township budgeted $75,000 for a new backhoe and that it will cost $30,000 to repair Forks’ old backhoe. He said that a new John Deere will cost $73,650. The dealer, Plasterer Equipment, offered $20,000 for a trade-in. Kline noted that this is being done through the City of Harrisburg’s PAC (?) program (where municipalities can purchase equipment without going out for bids) and added that under 2nd Class Township Code (Section 1504) Township property worth more than $1,000 cannot just be traded but must be advertised (for bids or a public auction) and sold to the highest bidder (unless the Township doesn’t think they are being offered enough and rejects the bids). Ackerman said that two years ago the Township traded in the old payloader for a new payloader. This passed in a 5:0 vote. The old backhoe will be advertised to the public and the new backhoe will be ordered.

AGREEMENT WITH ESWA/EASTON SUBURBAN WATER AUTHORITY - Finance Manager Farley said that this involves water shut-offs for non-payment of sewer bills. There is an annual contract that is renewed in January but because water shut-offs cannot be done until April, the contract was not sent sooner. Kline explained that shutting off water, usually gets a person’s attention and the sewer bill gets paid. The water authority requires this contract to avoid suit. The fee for each shut-off is $50. The Board voted 5:0 to renew the contract.

Hoff advised the Board that the PSATS convention is April 22-25 and if they plan to attend, they should let Barb (Bartek) know.

There was an EXECUTIVE SESSION to discuss the non-uniformed employee contract. No action was taken by the Supervisors during the Executive Session. A unanimous vote was taken after the session to consult a labor attorney. The meeting was adjourned.

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