Board of Supervisors Agenda

MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting
Monday, January 9, 2006 - 6:00 P.M.
Township Municipal Building

Members Present:
Stephen C. Wagner, Chairman
Miro A. Gutzmirtl, Vice Chairman
James H. White, Sr.
Joyce V. White
Joseph M. Horvath

Staff Attending:
Thomas F. Beil, Township Manager
Robert E. Kassel, Jr., Asst. Township Manager
Jeffrey Dimmich, Township Solicitor

CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Wagner called the meeting to order at 6:00 P. M. in the Public Meeting Room of the Upper Saucon Township Municipal Building, 5500 Camp Meeting Road, Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, PA.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Chairman Wagner asked all in attendance to stand and recite the “Pledge of Allegiance”.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Inter-municipal Liquor License Transfer
A public hearing was held to accept public comment on an application from Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, Inc., to transfer Liquor License No. R-199SS from an existing establishment in Lower Macungie Township to a proposed restaurant to be constructed at 2845 Center Valley Parkway (The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley).

Attorney Dimmich read into record exhibits T1 through T4. He then asked if anyone in the audience wished to be recognized as a party in the matter. There was no response.

Attorney Jeffrey D. Lobach was present on behalf of the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, Inc. Accompanying him was Stephen J. Hanzlik, president of the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, Inc.

Mr. Lobach explained the nature of the restaurant chain, Red Robin’s, providing the board with sample menus, which were entered into record as Applicant 1.

Mr. White asked for an estimated number of full-time employees.
Mr. Lobach responded approximately 15 to 20.

Attorney Dimmich asked if it was a full liquor license being transferred.

Mr. Lobach answered yes.

Mr. Beil asked if the applicant had ever been cited for liquor law violations at any of his other establishments.

Mr. Lobach answered no.

Chairman Wagner inquired about the hours of operation for the restaurant.

Mr. Lobach recited the hours of operation.

Attorney Dimmich asked if there were any other questions regarding the matter. With no response, the hearing was closed.

RESOLUTIONS
Proposed Resolution No. 2006 -13 – Inter-municipal Liquor License Transfer
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mr. Gutzmirtl to adopt Resolution 2006-13 approving the application of Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, Inc. for the transfer of Liquor License No. R-199SS from an existing establishment in Lower Macungie Township to a proposed restaurant to be constructed at 2845 Center Valley Parkway.

Chairman Wagner read the resolution, and then asked for discussion or questions from supervisors. Hearing none, roll was called.

The motion was approved by unanimous vote.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment is summarized as follows:

Lynnette Saeger - 5910 Chestnut Hill Road - Director of the Southern Lehigh Public Library – Mrs. Saeger described the improvements to the library, and explained the first 16 months of operation has allowed them to grasp the funding needed to run the facility. They requested $168,000 in operating support from the township for 2006, which was approved by supervisors at the December 27, 2005 meeting. Mrs. Saeger said the increase in funding is due to an increase in use of the new library. She requested the approved $168,000 remain, and the 2006 budget not be opened to decrease this amount.

Jerome Trexler - 5696 Bluegrass Trail – Mr. Trexler supports Mrs. Saeger’s comments adding a decrease in library funding from the township would cause a decrease in state funding. He assured the board library officials would work with supervisors to resolve any questions or concerns.

Don Clum - 4154 Chelten Lane – Mr. Clum commented that the township had “proposed” a reduction in library funding, and asked for an estimate of the township’s investment in the library to date.

Chairman Wagner told the public that no such proposal had been made. He explained the budget was opened to change the rate of employee pension contributions, both uniform and non-uniform. Chairman Wagner then asked for additional clarification from the administration and finance committee.

Mr. Horvath replied the library funding was under consideration based upon the contribution amounts of each municipality involved on a per capita basis. He provided a breakdown of “fair share” contributions for Upper Saucon and Lower Milford Townships, and Coopersburg borough.

Chairman Wagner then provided figures for the township’s contributions for 2003, 2004, and 2005 according to township records.

Mary Jane Risch - 3236 Lanark Road - President of the Library’s Board of Directors – Mrs. Risch said the library only raised enough money to build a small facility. It was the Board of Supervisors who offered to pay for a bigger facility. She said the library is aware of the “fair share” concept. However, in the first year of operation the subject was approached lightly for fear Coopersburg and Lower Milford would back out because the facility was located in Upper Saucon. Each year since, Coopersburg has increased their share, but she is unsure what is happening with contributions from Lower Milford. She provided a contribution percentage and amount by municipality based on the circulation rate for each. By these calculations, each is contributing close to their “fair share.”

Walter Sanders - 1540 Rosewood Drive – Mr. Sanders thanked the township and supervisors for their investment in the library and urged the current board to maintain the funding for 2006. He believes that people are attracted to the area by outstanding facilities, such as the library.

Joel Keen - 4603 Keene Street – Mr. Keen is an accountant for the library. He said he deals with the reality of the numbers and sees where and how the money is spent. He is convinced that money is not being wasted and the expenses that are incurred are far below those of other area libraries. Mr. Keen believes if the funding is cut, the library will not be able to function.

JoAnne Herring - 4584 Glasgow Street – Mrs. Herring has worked with the library for 15 years and is currently the assistant director. She thanked the township and supervisors for their support in building and maintaining the library. Mrs. Herring wanted everyone to know that the library is making every effort to be fiscally responsible. They are actively pursuing grants and will continue to do so, but there are very few grants to cover operational expenses. Many grants, instead, are for programs and materials.

Derick Schubert - 5996 Beverly Hills Road – Mr. Schubert is a student at Southern Lehigh High School and believes the library is a valuable resource for the district. He says it provides internet access to those students who do not have it at home.

Allen Cassaday - 5447 Vera Cruz Road – Mr. Cassaday served on the Board of Supervisors for 20 years and would like to see the funding remain. He believes the library serves now and will continue to serve in the future as a community center.

Anne Schubert - 5996 Beverly Hills Road – Mrs. Schubert also asked that library funding not be decreased, so that the expanded programs now offered may continue.

Toni Brownhill - 6450 Glen Road – Mrs. Brownhill spoke about the community support that is obtained through the library’s annual book sale and how it has evolved over the years. She provided the board with the total sales for several consecutive years illustrating the increase in community contribution. The new library has a room dedicated to the book sale, and it will suffer if the libraries hours are reduced because of a decrease in funding.

Bryant Brown - 1402 Spring Valley Road – As a fairly new resident, Mr. Brown offered his support for maintaining the library funding.

Alice Eckardt - 6011 Beverly Hills Road – Mrs. Eckardt has been involved with the library since it began in the basement of a local home. She hopes that since Upper Saucon was such an integral part of making the new library happen and because residents of the township use the library so extensively, funding will remain at its current level.

E. Jill Hirt - 7727 Carlton Road – Mrs. Hirt is on the Board of Directors for the library and is the Director of Planning and Institutional Research for Northampton Community College. She said the budget was examined multiple times and unanimously approved by the previous board, so it should remain unchanged. She added that the library would be more than happy to submit a long range plan, but it is difficult to do without financial commitments from the state and local entities.

Bob Tettemer - Glen Road – Mr. Tettemer reminded the board that the library benefits everyone in the township allowing residents to learn, research, and study. He believes denying funds to the library would be a detriment to the entire community.

Karen Klutinoty - 4889 Aberdene Street – Mrs. Klutinoty is an employee of the library, and said that she and many others volunteer their time to the library outside of work hours to help keep things running. She is in support of maintaining the funding for the library.

Margaret Tyson - 3150 Bittersweet Road – Mrs. Tyson has been a volunteer at the library for close to 30 years. She also spoke about community support for the library and asked supervisors not to cut the library funding.

Heather Simoneau - 4981 Vera Cruz Road – Mrs. Simoneau is a volunteer at the library and a graduate student, and she has found the university library does not have books that the Southern Lehigh Library does. She’s afraid a cut in funding will result in a cut in programs and resources. She also said everyone at the library goes above and beyond to make sure that there are not a lot of wasted funds.

Edward Zinn - 5745 Applebutter Hill Road – Mr. Zinn and his wife are teachers at the Southern Lehigh High School. He also spoke in support of the library.

Audrie Chase - 4480 Darby Street – Mrs. Chase uses the library quite often, and hopes that the township will continue to help expand the library’s resources by contributing accordingly.

Victor Risch - 3236 Lanark Road – Mr. Risch said his three children have benefited greatly from the library. He applauded the township for having the foresight to build the library and thanked supervisors for attempting to be fiscally responsible. He said accurate projections and calculations can not be achieved, however, since past data from the old library does not apply and more than one data point is needed. He said it cannot be assumed that the 18 percent increase experienced this first year will be the likely increase year after year. He advised supervisors must keep the operating and capital budgets separate to get a better picture. And while grants are usually available for one time capital items, they are almost never available for operating expenses. In addition, Mr. Risch cautioned using the contribution per capita and circulation per capita calculations introduced by Mr. Horvath because they may offer an unfair picture. He too asked the board not to cut the funding allocated for the library.

Marsha Hudson - 3810 Clover Drive – Mrs. Hudson said the library provides a community setting for young children like her son where they can learn to socialize with others and be inspired to enjoy reading.

Mark Sullivan - Red Fox Court – Mr. Sullivan is a former supervisor who was involved in the last two budgets. He said that he does not believe the increase in the library budget over last year will have a negative effect on the township’s financial outlook. Denying the increase, on the other hand, would have a serious immediate impact on the library. Mr. Sullivan pointed out a library is an essential part of any great community and should be supported

Tom Laudenslager - 1449 Flint Hill Road – Mr. Laudenslager is a teacher and his wife is the new service director at the library. He said looking at the library some may think it is functioning at the budgetary level it is at currently, but it is not. It is understaffed and under funded. He added that while everyone wishes the other municipalities contributed more, a decrease in Upper Saucon contribution will only appear as a lack of commitment to the community.

Ellen Beidelman - 5771 Glen Road – Mrs. Beidelman is a teacher. She expressed the importance of books and resources for children. She said supporting the library is supporting the future.

David Beidelman - 5771 Glen Road – Mr. Beidelman views the library as a center of learning and excellence, and said it should be funded appropriately.

Stan Saeger - 5910 Chestnut Hill Road – Mr. Saeger commented the large turn out in support of the library should be a consideration in the board’s decision. He also thanked the supervisors for the difficult jobs that they do.

Janet Anderson - 3161 Lanark Road – Mrs. Anderson is a teacher and a capital campaign contributor. She voiced her support for the library funding.

Nancy Adams - 4487 Glasgow Street – Mrs. Adams mentioned the annual campaign for support for operational expenses held by residents of the community. She asked the township not to undermine the leadership role it has taken over many years with regards to the library by decreasing the amount of funds budgeted.

Joseph Derham - 6447 Eichler Circle – Mr. Derham said the library is an investment in education for the entire community and is in favor of the budget remaining unchanged.

Casey Anthony - 3662 Saucon Avenue – Ms. Anthony is a student who has used the library for school projects, internet access, as well as checking out books and hopes that the township won’t hurt the library by taking away their funding.

Kathleen Kelahan - 3509 Flint Hill Road – Mrs. Kelahan believes the library has the potential to improve the lives of every individual in the township and that the character of a community is defined by its library.

Judith Sabino - 6154 Domarry Street – Mrs. Sabino called the library a plank of the foundation of the community. She urged the board not to change the funds allocated to the library for 2006.

Flora Pestcoe - 4525 Devonshire Drive – Mrs. Pestcoe agreed with those who spoke before her as to how the library has impacted their lives. She said it is also an invaluable tool for learning, and the budgeted funds should not be decreased.

Mr. Dimmich explained public comment, under the Sunshine Act, is for all in attendance whether a resident of the township or not. He also explained the process for opening, revising, advertising, and re-approving the budget from a legal standpoint.

Edgar Roosa - 6689 Vera Cruz Road – Mr. Roosa expressed his views in a letter to the board, which he thanked the supervisors for reading. He thanked Chairman Wagner for his written response and the board for hearing the publics’ comments.

Judith Bloeser - 6500 Limeport Pike – Mrs. Bloeser talked about the library setting as a place for young children to share, communicate, and interact. She said the township should be proud of their role in that and should continue to make things like that possible through the funding that they assign.

Phil Spaeth - 5525 Chestnut Hill Road – Mr. Spaeth thanked supervisors for paying such close attention to the budget. He also supports the $168,000 budgeted for the library.

Pat Noga - 3057 Oak Hill Road – Mrs. Noga, a former president of the library board asked the board not to cut funding for the library.

Mary Rockel - 4376 Fieldstone Court – Mrs. Rockel asked for an answer from the administration and finance committee as to whether or not they would be opening the budget to reduce the library funding.

Mr. Gutzmirtl explained that as new members to the committee and the board, he and Mr. Horvath were conducting some initial fact finding by asking questions. Since all the questions have not yet been answered, no decision has been made to reopen the budget.

Mrs. Rockel reminded the board two years prior, when a commitment was made by the township to fund the library, residents said they would not object to a raise in taxes for that purpose. She also told the board that the library is working on a long range plan.

George Bloeser - 6500 Limeport Pike – Mr. Bloeser has served on various boards and committees throughout the township for 28 years with the hopes of being part of the progression of the township. To back out from providing the necessary funding to the library, he thinks, is to regress.

Mr. Beil stated that Mr. Bloeser was the last name on the sign-in sheet that wished to speak, and then asked if anyone else in the audience wished to participate in the public comment.

Discussion by the Board:

Chairman Wagner said he is a strong supporter of the library system and believes it to be a strong asset in the community. He requested all the supporters present collect their friends and neighbors and make an appeal to the other municipalities and the school board to increase their contributions. He said there is no doubt that money spent for the library is money that could be spent elsewhere to benefit the township. He pointed out that year after year the school board raises taxes, but their contributions to the library have not increased. He urged those present to show the same amount of enthusiasm in front of the school board as was shown to supervisors.

Mr. Gutzmirtl thanked everyone who attended the meeting. He too greatly supports the library and loves the township, but he and Mr. Horvath are trying to be fiscally responsible with taxpayer money. He said although they are still in the fact-finding phase, they are gaining knowledge that shows them where the township stands. This will help them establish a long range plan for the township.

Mr. Horvath addressed comments made by Victor Risch, saying he understood and appreciated his insight. Mr. Horvath is concerned that one increase of 18 percent could continue in the years to come.

Mary Jane Risch - 3236 Lanark Road - President of the Library’s Board of Directors – Mrs. Risch responded that this was the first year in the new facility, and no one could have imagined the funds needed to operate. This was the reason for the large increase from the 2005 to the 2006 budget year. From 2006 on, the funds requested should only show a slight increase, if any, year to year.

Mr. Horvath was pleased with her explanation, but inquired about another significant increase discussed prior.

Mrs. Risch responded that a second significant increase may be coming after a new census is completed. She added that the library is actively fundraising and requesting contributions.

Mr. Horvath suggested contacting the other municipalities and the school district. Mr. Horvath also explained his reason for combining capital and operating in his calculations was to show what each taxpayer is paying for in total.

Mr. White said he appreciated everyone taking the time to share their opinions with the board. He initially was not completely in favor of the township getting involved in the building of the library, but he is behind the library now and in the future 100 percent. He vowed to do his best to keep the $168,000 in the budget.

Chairman Wagner asked for any final comments from the public. Hearing none, Public Comment was concluded.

Following Public Comment the board took a five minute recess.

SUBDIVISIONS AND LAND DEVELOPMENTS
None

PRESENTATIONS
None

MINUTES
None

COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Board reviewed the following Committee Report:

• Emergency Services Committee Meeting of December 21, 2005

Copies of the Committee Report were made available to the public.

ORDINANCES
None

MOTIONS
None

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
None

BILLS, PAYROLLS, AND COMMISSIONS
Prepaid Invoices List #01102006 dated 01/06/2006……….$248,914.79
Warrant List #01102006 dated 01/06/2006………………...$137,904.46

A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. White to approve the Prepaid Invoices and Warrant List #01102006 date 01/06/2006.

The motion passed unanimously.

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Mr. Beil asked the board for direction regarding preparation of the revised 2006 budget offering them several options. The first was for the administration and finance committee to make their recommendations for revisions, if any, that will be brought, discussed, and possibly approved for advertising at the January 24 regular Board of Supervisors meeting. Or the administration could draft a sample budget containing the recommendations made by the committee and the board could vote to advertise it, or some version of it, on January 24. Another option was to schedule a special Saturday meeting, before January 24, to discuss the budget in detail with all board members present, make any necessary changes, and approve it for advertising at that time.

Mr. Gutzmirtl said he would rather deal with the issues at the committee level and submit recommendations to the board. He feels time to perform a complete overhaul of the budget is not available, so he would like to address any red flag areas instead. He identified the pension plans, the Taylor Drive road project, and the library as three areas to look into.

A short discussion ensued regarding the possible changes to the Taylor Drive road project, and how it would effect the acquisition of open space in the township.

It was decided that the administration and finance committee would meet and formulate recommendations for the entire board. At the January 24 meeting, the board will discuss the items recommended for inclusion in or removal from the budget and approve an amended budget for advertising. Final Approval of the budget will take place on March 13.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
George Bloeser - 6500 Limeport Pike – Mr. Bloeser is unhappy with the change in meeting dates and times. He said the Monday meetings conflict with the school board meetings. He also thinks that 6 p.m. is too early.

In addition, Mr. Bloeser reminded the board of the urgent need for a comprehensive updated storm water study.

Mr. White responded saying $100,000 has been set aside in the 2006 budget to address the matter.

Mr. Bloeser concluded expressing disappointment that the board appointed a newly elected member with no experience as a supervisor to the vice chairman position.

Lynnette Saeger - 5910 Chestnut Hill Road-Director of the Southern Lehigh Public Library – Mrs. Saeger asked if the board were to reduce the funding to the library, where would that $28,000 be redirected?

Attorney Dimmich explained unless allocated to another specific line item in the budget, the difference would go back into the township’s general fund.

Mr. Beil said the committee has not even made a recommendation to decrease the library budget, so no decision can be made as to the reallocation.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
None

ADJOURNMENT
Motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.

The motion passed unanimously.

______________________________
Secretary