BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
MARCH 10, 2008
Chairman, Craig Staats, called the Richland Township
Board of Supervisors Business Meeting to order. Members present: Richard Orloff
and Michael Zowniriw. Also present: Stephen Sechriest, Township Manager; Kevin
Kochanski, Township Planner, Boucher & James; Dick Wieland, Township
Engineer, Carroll Engineering; Amy Kaminski, Township Traffic Engineer, Carroll
Engineering; B.
A.
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
B.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
C.
Mr. Staats gave the Invocation.
D.
The Roll Call was taken.
Note: This
meeting was held out of order of the published agenda.
Note: Mr. Orloff arrived at 7:05 p.m. and Mr.
Zowniriw arrived at 7:09 p.m.
Not applicable this agenda.
No public comment at this
time in the meeting.
A. Presentation
by Community Police Liaison Board about Police Department Staffing
Mr. Steve Cardell, Chairman,
Community Police Liaison Board, and Chief Cerami gave a brief power point
presentation concerning the recommendation that the Township hire additional
police officers and expand coverage of the Police Department to 24/7.
Mrs. Patricia Keller had
public comments in support of the Police Department’s need to become 24/7. Mr.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to authorize the hiring of a replacement police officer as
well as one additional officer at this time.
Mr. Staats seconded the motion.
Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
A. Presentation of Fourth
Quarter 2007 Treasurer’s Report
Mrs. Martin, Richland
Township Treasurer, gave a brief power point presentation of the Fourth Quarter
2007 Treasurer’s Report.
Public comment was from Mr.
Tom Smicker who had questions regarding the financial health of the township at
the present time and the five-year outlook.
Stephan Sechriest, Township
Manager, had no reports at this time.
Richard Orloff, Township
Supervisor, submitted a letter dated February 22, 2008 from Mr. Frank Chernak,
Solicitor, Ballard, Spahr, Andrews, and Ingersoll, confirming that the Township
is aware that their firm represents Wal-Mart and agrees that their
representation of the Township Supervisors as labor and employment counsel will
not preclude his firm from representing Wal-Mart in the Expansion Project. Mr.
Orloff requested that this letter be attached to the end of these minutes.
Craig Staats, Township
Supervisor, had no reports at this time.
Michael Zowniriw, Township Supervisor,
had no reports at this time.
Amy Kaminski, Township Traffic Engineer,
had no reports at this time.
Dick Wieland, Township Engineer, had no
reports at this time.
Kevin Kochanski, Township Planner, had
no reports at this time.
B.
Chief Lawrence Cerami, Township Police Department,
had no reports at this time.
A. Beuhrer Tract Preliminary
Plan for a residential subdivision to be located at the corner of
This item was removed from
the agenda at the applicants’ request.
B. Jay Saddington Land
Development Revised Final Plan for a project located on
The applicant is seeking to
add a second 11,800 sq. ft. building to his project that previously received
final plan approval.
Present to discuss this
issue with the BOS was: Mr. Herb Sudfeld, Solicitor, and Mr. Bob Showalter,
Engineer.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to grant Conditional Amended Final approval, subject to
the following: Compliance with the Boucher
& James letter dated January 31, 2008; compliance with the Carroll
Engineering Corp. review letter dated February 5, 2008; the project is subject
to the approvals of all municipal and governmental agencies having jurisdiction
over the project; the Applicant shall comply with all applicable provisions of
the Township Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance;
compliance with the conditions imposed upon the project as part of the
Preliminary Plan Approval and previous Final Plan Approvals; and receipt of all
permits and approvals from any agencies having jurisdiction over such matters.
Mr. Orloff seconded the motion.
Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Request by Drivemax of
Quakertown for a Temporary Occupancy Permit for new building at
Peruzzi is constructing a
new building for their Drivemax dealership.
Mr.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to grant a 90-day temporary occupancy permit to Peruzzi of
Quakertown (Drivemax) as recommended by Mr.
D. Richard Nast Request for a
stormwater exemption for a residential addition project at
Mr. Richard Nast is
proposing a residential addition and driveway improvements on his
property. Boucher & James in a
letter dated February 11, 2008 recommends that the property is eligible for a
stormwater exemption and to include $500 fee in-lieu of the Stormwater
Ordinance requirements.
Mr.
Richard Nast was present to discuss this issue with the BOS.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to grant a stormwater exemption to Mr. Nast for a
residential addition project at
E. Homejestures, Inc. Request
for a stormwater exemption to construct a single-family dwelling at
Homejestures, Inc. is
seeking a stormwater exemption for the single-family dwelling they wish to
construct. Boucher & James in a
letter dated February 15, 2008 recommends that the property is eligible for a
stormwater exemption and to include $500.00 fee in-lieu of the Stormwater
Ordinance requirements.
Mr.
Kip Miley was present to discuss this issue with the BOS.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to grant a stormwater exemption to Mr. Kip Miley for a
single-family dwelling at
F. Time Extension Request for
Allen Keller’s proposed five lot residential subdivision proposed along
The applicant has requested
a 90-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-10 granting a 90-day extension
of the review period to Allen Keller for the proposed five-lot residential
subdivision proposed along
G. Time Extension Request for
Greenway Development’s Front Gate Community, a proposed age-qualified
development to be located behind the Quakertown Farmers’ Market on
The applicant has requested
a 17-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-11 granting a 17-day extension
of the review period to Greenway Development for its proposed project. The extension will expire on April 30,
2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
H. Time Extension Request for
Marc Fehr’s proposed three lot residential subdivision proposed for the corner
of W. Pumping Station and Portzer Roads
The applicant has requested
a 90-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-12 granting a 90-day extension
of the review period to Mr. Marc Fehr for his proposed project. The extension will expire on July 11,
2008. Mr. Orloff seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
I.
Time Extension Request for Reserve at Hidden Ponds, a proposed
residential subdivision proposed for
The applicant has requested
a 48-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to approve Resolution #08-13 granting a 48-day extension
of the review period to Hidden Ponds Associates for their proposed
project. The extension will expire on
May 31, 2008. Mr. Staats seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
J.
Time Extension Request for Schenk Enterprises’ Quaker Industrial
Commons, a proposed flex space industrial use on
The applicant has requested
a 90-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to approve Resolution #08-14 granting a 90-day extension
of the review period to Schenk Enterprises for their proposed project. The extension will expire on July 12,
2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
K. Escrow Releases
1.
Baldridge/Gunna (Rite-Aid), Release Request No. 5
The Developer has requested
a release of escrow funds. Mr.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to grant an escrow release to Baldridge/Gunna (Rite-Aid),
Release Request No. 5 in the amount of $360.00 as recommended by Mr.
2.
BMCA Quakertown, Inc. (GAF), Release Request No. 2
The Developer has requested
a release of escrow funds. Mr.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to grant an escrow release to BMCA Quakertown, Inc. (GAF),
Release Request No. 2 in the amount of $59,805.00 as recommended by Mr.
L. Zoning Hearings Scheduled
for March 20. 2008
1. Vincent Cavataio,
The applicant is seeking a
special exception and several variances in order to expand the nonconforming
business into another portion of the same building that is currently being used
as a dwelling.
The BOS decided to not to
take a position on this issue.
2. Clayton Signs, Chick-fil-A,
Richland Marketplace
The applicant is seeking a
variance to allow more signs than the zoning ordinance allows.
The
BOS decided to not to take a position on this issue.
VII.
TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ITEMS (OLD AND NEW)
A. Minutes from February 11,
2008 Meeting
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to
approve the meeting minutes from the February 11, 2008 Richland Township Board
of Supervisors Business Meeting as edited.
Mr. Staats 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 submitted.
Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion.
Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
C. Ordinance Amending Traffic
Regulations to add Stop Sign and No Parking Areas
At the request of the Park
and Recreation Board the Police Department recommends that the intersection of
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 236, which amends the Richland
Township Code of Ordinance by amending Chapter 15, dealing with motor vehicles
and traffic to add to the locations, where stop intersections are established
and where parking is prohibited to include the locations outlined above. Mr. Orloff seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried
unanimously.
D. Bid Award for Improvements
to Roundabout at Intersection of Old Bethlehem Pike and
Submitted bids were opened
on February 15, 2008 to make improvements to the roundabout.
Mr. Joseph Carlin, Carroll
Engineering Corporation has outlined his recommendations in a letter dated
February 26, 2008.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to reject the proposal by Couzin’s, Inc., as they are not
a PennDOT qualified contractor as recommended by Mr. Joseph Carlin, Carroll
Engineering Corporation and outlined in his letter dated February 26,
2008. Mr. Staats seconded the
motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to award the project as proposed by Blooming Glen in the
amount of $40,335.00, as recommended by Mr. Joseph Carlin, Carroll Engineering
Corporation and outlined in his letter dated February 26, 2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried
unanimously.
E. Bid Award for Veterans
Memorial Construction at
Submitted bids were opened
on February 28, 2008 for the construction of the Veterans Memorial at
MOTION Mr.
Zowniriw made a motion to grant the contract to J. Margerison Landscaping in
the amount of $127,260.73 (this is a reduction of the amount of the contract
from the bid amount due to an error made by the bidder that was discovered by
Boucher & James), for the construction of the Veterans Memorial at Veterans
Park, as recommended by Mr.
F. Discussion Concerning the
Formation of an Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee
The Preservation Board has
lined up enough farmland to form a Richland Township Agricultural Security
Area. Mr. Joseph Geib, Special Projects Manager, has recommended in a memo
dated March 5, 2008, creating an Agricultural Security Area Advisory Committee.
The Committee shall consist of a member of the Governing Body, who shall be the
Board’s Chairman, a citizen, and three farmers.
Mr.
Zowniriw volunteered to be a member of this committee.
G. Police Department Management
Review
The BOS need to pass a
motion to authorize a letter of intent be submitted to the Governor’s Center
for Local Government Services in order to conduct the review.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to authorize the submission of a letter of intent to the
Governor’s Center for Local Government Services to request technical assistance
to perform a Police Department Management Review. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried
unanimously.
H. PPL’s Proposed New Power
Line between Coopersburg and Quakertown
PPL has submitted their
proposal to run the new line between Coopersburg and Quakertown to the PUC for
approval. The route does not use existing rights of way as were recommended,
but has rerouted around the Township Open Space, the Kelly Tract where
MOTION Mr.
Orloff made a motion to authorize Mr. Sechriest to have the Township join
I.
Community Police Liaison Board Membership
The Community Police Liaison
Board has recommended that Kelly Collins be removed as a member of the Board as
she has not been attending meetings for some time, as that she has moved away
from the area at this time.
MOTION Mr.
Staats made a motion to remove Ms. Kelly Collins as a member of the Community
Police Liaison Board as recommended by the Community Police Liaison Board. Mr. Zowniriw seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried
unanimously.
Mr. Orloff requested
progress reports from Boucher & James concerning the audits of the
Township’s Professional Staff.
Mr. Zowniriw had questions
concerning the Agricultural Security Area of Mr. Treadwell.
Mr. Tim Ritter had questions
concerning revenue generated by truck safety inspections.
IX.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION Mr. Staats 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, April 14, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.