BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
BUSINESS MEETING
AUGUST 11, 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.
I. OPENING
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.
II. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A.
Conditional Use Hearing of Loren
McCutcheon-Benetz to operate an A6 Commercial Kennel
at
Ms.
Benetz operates the Last Chance Ranch on
Present
to give testimony were: Mr. Herb
Sudfeld, Solicitor; Greg Elko, Engineer; and Loren
Benetz, Principal.
Public comment was from: Janis Grim, Larry Grim, Linda Arnowitt, and
Michelle White.
For
further details, see the stenographer’s notes.
The BOS continued this
hearing to the November 10, 2008 Business Meeting.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to open the
Conditional Use Hearing of Loren McCutcheon-Benetz to operate an A6 Commercial
Kennel at
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Diane Kufta, Terry Smith, and Tom
Smicker all gave comments concerning the absence of the township supervisors at the PUC hearings involving PP&L.
IV. PRESENTATIONS
A.
Presentation
by David Jones of Boucher & James of the results of his review of the
Township’s Permitting Process
Mr. Jones gave a brief
report concerning the Permitting Process.
Mr. Jones stated that he
conducted a survey and reported that the township had favorable comments on the
following
issues: professionalism and knowledge of
staff, courtesy and respect from staff,
expenses and timeliness.
Mr. Jones recommended
providing an out-front outline of the permitting process in order to inform the residents seeking a permit as to what
may be required.
V. BOARD AND STAFF REPORTS
Stephen Sechriest, Township Manager,
reported that Mr. Michael Lehr is resigning from the Township’s Zoning Hearing Board and that a replacement will
be needed.
Craig Staats, Township Supervisor,
had no reports at this time.
Richard Orloff, Township Supervisor,
reported that an inter municipal networking spending summit took place recently and the participants indicated
they would be willing to have another meeting
to discuss the issues.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to authorize
Mr. Sechriest to send a follow-up letter to surrounding municipalities that the
township would be willing to follow through on the
ideas and to host an annual summit at the township. Mr. Staats seconded the motion. Vote: All in favor.
Motion carried unanimously.
Michael Zowniriw, Township
Supervisor, had no reports at this time.
Kevin Kochanski, Township Planner, had
no reports at this time.
Andrew Brown, Township Traffic
Engineer, had no reports at this time.
Dick Wieland, Township Engineer, had no
reports at this time.
B
Chief Cerami, Township Police Department,
reported that the Richland Township Safety Committee had three township
employees complete CPR instructions.
Chief Cerami discussed a letter received from Mr. Lee Rush, Just
Communities, requesting that the township give some financial support to the
program. Chief Cerami recommended that
the BOS donate $500 to Just Communities.
MOTION Mr. Staats made a motion to authorize
the donation of $500 to Just Communities as recommended by Chief Cerami. Mr. Orloff seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
IV. DEVELOPERS’ ISSUES
A.
Consideration of an Amended Final Plan for
Richland Marketplace, a Shopping Center located
on the northwest corner of Rt. 309 and W. Pumping Station Road
The Applicant is seeking
to amend the previously approved final plan for this project to change the use of a proposed building from a restaurant
to a retail use and to increase the
size of the proposed building by 9.988 sq. ft.
Mr. Herb Sudfeld,
Solicitor; and Mr. Greg Elko, Engineer, were present to discuss this issue with the BOS.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to approve the
following waiver for
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to approve the
Conditional Final Plan Approval for Richland Marketplace subject to the
following: Compliance with the Boucher
& James letter dated July 22, 2008; compliance with the Carroll Engineering
Corp. letter dated August 6, 2008 to include a sign not permitting trucks to
make right turns at the entrance as discussed and to be approved by staff;
compliance with the conditions imposed as a part of the Conditional Use
approval; subject to the applicant obtaining any required relief from the
Richland Township Zoning Hearing Board; compliance with any conditions that may
have been imposed on the project by the Zoning Hearing Board in granting the
required relief; compliance with any conditions imposed as part of Preliminary
Plan Approval; compliance with any conditions imposed as part of Final Plan and
previous Amended Final Plan Approvals; 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 SALDO; 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.
Consideration of a Stipulated Agreement to
settle the appeal of County Builders, Inc. of the
Township’s prior denial of Conditional Use approval for a housing project to be
located on the East side of
Old Bethlehem Pike at Tollgate Road.
Mr. Treadwell has
reached a final agreement with Attorney VanLuvanee on the
outstanding
issues and requests the BOS signatures.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to approve the
stipulated agreement for County Builders for a housing project to be located on
the East side of Old Bethlehem Pike at Tollgate Road. Mr. Staats seconded the motion. Vote:
All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
C.
Time Extension Request for Gambone
Development’s Buehrer Tract Subdivision, a proposed
residential subdivision to be located on
The Applicant has
requested a 138-day extension of the review period for this project.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to adopt Resolution
#08-30, granting a 138-day extension of the review period to Gambone
Development Co. for its Buehrer Tract Subdivision. The extension will expire on
December 31, 2008. Mr. Zowniriw seconded
the motion. Vote: All in favor. Motion carried unanimously.
VII. TOWNSHIP BUSINESS ITEMS (OLD AND NEW)
A.
Approval
of Minutes from the July 28, 2008 Meeting
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to approve the minutes
of the
B.
Financial
Business –Approve payment of bills summarized below. For details see the financial
reports:
General Fund Total -
$103,550.22
Police Fund Total -
$58,767.74
Developer Escrow Fund
Total - $69,075.39
Volunteer Board Fund
Total - $5,941.18
Recreation Fund Total -
$48,290.63
Highway Aid Fund Total -
$41,743.00
Traffic Improvement Fund
Total - $31,037.00
Fire Fund Total -
$141.58
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.
Bid Award for Reseeding at
The bids were opened on
July 31, 2008. Mr. Phil Ivins, Boucher & James, recommended in a letter dated
August 6, 2008 that the contract be awarded to the low bidder, Ken Chwal Hydroseeding
for $128,382.24.
MOTION Mr. Orloff made a motion to award the
bid for reseeding
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no public comment at this
time in the meeting.
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, September 8, 2008 at 7:00
p.m.