BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FEBRUARY 11, 2008
A.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Craig Staats.
B.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
C.
Mr. Staats gave the Invocation.
D.
The Roll Call was taken. Present were: Craig Staats, Supervisor;
Richard Orloff Supervisor; Mike Zowniriw, Supervisor; Stephen Sechriest,
Township Manager; Dick Weiland, Carroll Engineer; B.
E.
Board Appointments
Mr. Ray Reichardt has
volunteered to serve on the Planning Commission. Ms. Leigh Ann Staudenmeier has
volunteered to serve as a member of the Trails Committee and as an auxiliary
member of the Park and Recreation Board.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to appoint
Mr. Ray Reichardt as a member of the
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to
appoint Ms. Leigh Ann Staudenmeier as a member of the Trails Committee and as
an auxiliary member of the Park and Recreation Board. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
Not applicable for this
agenda.
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. William Huber,
Huntington Road, had comments concerning the Rt. 313 truck restrictions through
Quakertown Borough, and stated that on December 12, 2007 he lost electric and
had water in his basement.
Ms. Francine Schmitt,
A. Presentation by Preservation Board
concerning the purchase of a conservation easement
The Preservation Board has
recommended the purchase of a conservation easement on the Burkey property
located at
Ms. Kathy Federosco and Mr.
Rich Sadler, members of the Preservation Board, were present to discuss this
issue with the BOS.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-04, which authorizes the
purchase of a conservation easement on the Burkey property located at
Stephan
Sechriest, Township Manager, had no reports at this time.
Richard Orloff, Township
Supervisor, had no reports at this time.
Craig Staats, Township
Supervisor, requested that Mr. Sechriest look into having an outside firm
perform a manpower/performance audit on the Township’s Police Department and
report the findings to see if additional officers added to the department are
needed at this time. Mr. Staats also
requested that Mr. Sechriest look into the availability of the township’s fire
departments performance review that he had heard would be reviewed this year.
Michael
Zowniriw, Township Supervisor, had no reports at this time.
Dick
Wieland, Township Engineer, had no reports at this time.
B.
Chief Lawrence Cerami,
Township Police Department, stated that he had provided the police department’s
statistics and that the new speed sentry was in operation at this time. Chief
Cerami also stated that the hiring process for two new officers was in the
first round of interviews at this time.
A.
Wayne Phinney Subdivision Plan Approval for a minor residential
subdivision located along
The applicant is seeking
preliminary/final plan approval to create one new building lot. The proposal is
to subdivide a lot of 4.8662 acres into two parcels for single-family detached
homes.
Mr. Scott McMackin and Mr.
Wayne Phinney were present to discuss this issue with the BOS.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to grant
the following waivers as recommended by the Carroll Engineering letter dated
December 13, 2007: Section 506.2.A
regarding cartway width, provided a note is provided on the plans requiring the
owner to widen the cartway at their own expense if required by the Township in
the future; Sections 515.2 and 610 regarding installation of curbing, provided
a note be provided on the plans requiring the owner to install curbing at their
own expense if required by the Township in the future; Sections 518 and 609
regarding installation of sidewalks, provided a note be provided on the plans
requiring the owner to install sidewalks at their own expense if required by
the Township in the future; Section 605.4 regarding installation of roadway
improvements, provided a note be provided on the plans requiring the owner to
install roadway improvements at their own expense if required by the Township
in the future; Section 607 regarding installation of street lights; Section
704.C.2 regarding the location of existing features within 400 feet of the
site; and a fee of $250 in-lieu-of the Stormwater Management requirements be
submitted to the township. Mr. Zowniriw
seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to grant
Conditional Preliminary/Final Plan Approval for the Wayne Phinney Subdivision
Plan project located along E. Cherry Road at Mine Road subject to the
following: Compliance with the Carroll
Engineering letter dated December 13, 2007; project receives approvals from all
municipalities and governmental agencies having jurisdiction over the project;
the Applicant complies with all applicable provisions of the Township Zoning
Ordinance and the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance; compliance with
any conditions imposed on the project by the Zoning Hearing Board in the
granting of the relief; payment of Final Plan Submission fees ($1,218.53); and
receipt of all permits and approvals from any agencies having jurisdiction over
such matters. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
B.
Request for a waiver of land development by Lamar Advertising for the
construction of a billboard at
Lamar Advertising is seeking
a waiver of land development in order to construct a digital billboard along
Rt. 309 at the
Mr. Julius Racz, Lamar
Advertising, and Ms.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to grant a waiver of land development to Lamar Advertising for the construction of a digital billboard at 720 N. West End Blvd. from the requirements of the Township’s Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance subject to Mr. Treadwell and Ms. Pereira working out any outstanding details with this issue. Mr. Orloff seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
C.
Request for a waiver of land development by Cress Gas concerning the
replacement of a building located at
Cress Gas proposes to
demolish a dilapidated building and replace it with a larger pole barn. The Township normally requires a contribution
of $4,500 for a waiver of land development but due the minor nature of this
project that is for an existing small business Mr. Sechriest recommends that
the granting of the waiver be conditioned on the applicant paying only the land
development application fee of $1,865 or less and complying with the conditions
recommended by Carroll Engineering in their letter dated February 5, 2008.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to grant
a waiver of the land development ordinance subject to the applicant working out
the details with Mr. Sechriest and Mr. Treadwell as to the amount of the contribution
that will be required. Mr. Staats
seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
D.
Time Extension Request for Gambone Development Company’s Buehrer Tract
Subdivision, a residential subdivision proposed to be located on
The applicant has requested
a 90-day extension of the review period.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-06, which grants Gambone Development Co. a 90-day extension of the review period for its Buehrer Tract Subdivision project. The extension will expire on May 17, 2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
E.
Time Extension Request for Children’s Development Program Land
Development, a project to convert the existing personal care home located on
The applicant has requested
a 90-day extension of the review period.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-07, which grants Children’s Development Program a 90-day extension of the review period for its proposed project. The extension will expire on May 16, 2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
F.
Time Extension Request for Greenway Development’s Woldow Tract Minor
Subdivision, a subdivision of the land located behind the Quakertown Farmers’
Market on
The applicant has requested
a 60-day extension of the review period.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-08, which grants Greenway Development’s Woldow Tract Minor Subdivision a 60-day extension of the review period for its proposed project. The extension will expire on April 28, 2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
G.
Escrow Releases
1.
Baldridge/Gunna (Rite-Aid), Release Request No. 4
The developer has requested
a release of escrow funds for this project. Mr.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to grant
an escrow release, Request No. 4, to Baldridge/Gunna (Rite-Aid) in the amount
of $103,820.40 subject to deductions of any outstanding fees due to the
Township, as recommended by Mr.
VII. TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ITEMS (OLD AND NEW)
A.
Approval of Minutes from January 7, 2008 Reorganization Meeting and
January 7, 2008 Business Meeting
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to approve the Minutes from January 7, 2008 Reorganization Meeting and January 7, 2008 Business Meeting as edited. Mr. Orloff seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
B.
Financial Business –Approve payment of bills
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to approve the payment of bills as presented. Mr. Staats seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
C.
Revised Resolution designating banks and financial institutions for
deposit of Township funds
A request has been made to
have a resolution designating a representative from the Township with the
authority to open accounts.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to adopt Resolution #08-09, which authorizes the Township Manager to open accounts at the following institutions on behalf of Richland Township: Quakertown National Bank, PLGIT, First Savings Bank of Perkasie, Harleysville National Bank, and Citizens Bank. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
D.
Upper Bucks Forum on Aging Request
Another Upper Bucks Forum on
Aging has been scheduled to take place on Friday, May 2, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to
3:30 p.m. The BOS has received a request that the Township again provide
financial assistance for this event.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to authorize a donation of $150.00 to the Upper Bucks Forum on Aging to assist with the expenses and to allow the use of the Township facilities as needed. Mr. Orloff seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
There was no public comment at this time in the meeting.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to
adjourn the
Respectfully submitted,
Catherine Woods
Recording Secretary
Note: The
next business meeting of the Richland Township Board of Supervisors will be
held on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.