Board of Supervisors Agenda

MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting
Monday, April 5, 2010 – 6:00 P.M.
Township Municipal Building

Members Present:
Stephen Wagner, Vice Chairman
Joseph M. Horvath
John E. Gilda, Jr.
Joaquim “Jack” DeMatos

Members Absent:
Miro A. Gutzmirtl

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

CALL TO ORDER
Vice 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
Vice Chairman Wagner asked all in attendance to stand and recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

PUBLIC COMMENT
None

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
None

MINUTES
Regular Meeting Minutes of March 1, 2010
Motion made by Mr. Gilda and seconded by Mr. DeMatos to approve the minutes of the March 1, 2010 regular meeting.

The motion was adopted by a vote of 4 to 0.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
None

ORDINANCES
None

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 2010-20 – Adoption of Smoothing Method to Determine Actuarial Value of Assets For Police Pension Plan
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to adopt Resolution No. 2010-20 authorizing the use of the five year smoothing method to determine the actuarial value of assets as part of the actuarial valuation for the Township’s Police Pension Plan.

Mr. Kassel explained that the purpose of the asset smoothing method is to not fully recognize investment losses that have occurred in the Township pension plans during the last four years. The result of using the asset smoothing method is to smooth out the increases in contribution requirements due to investment losses based on an assumption that in the short term, investment gains will occur to offset investment losses that have recently occurred.

The motion was approved by a vote of 4 to 0.

Resolution No. 2010-22 – Adoption of Smoothing Method to Determine Actuarial Value of Assets For Non-Uniformed Pension Plan
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to adopt Resolution No. 2010-22 authorizing the use of the five year smoothing method to determine the actuarial value of assets as part of the actuarial valuation for the Township’s Non-Uniformed Pension Plan.

The motion was approved by a vote of 4 to 0.

SUBDIVISIONS & LAND DEVELOPMENTS
None

MOTIONS
Request For Payment – Muschlitz Excavating, Inc. – Certification No. 1
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. DeMatos to authorize payment in the amount of $30, 831.88 to Muschlitz Excavating, Inc., for lateral repair work at various locations throughout the Township.

The motion was approved by a vote of 4 to 0.

Request For Payment – Suburban Water Testing Labs, Inc. – Certification No. 5 (Final)
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to authorize payment in the amount of $816.00 to Suburban Water Testing Labs, Inc., for annual laboratory testing services for the wastewater treatment and water distribution systems.

The motion was approved by a vote of 4 to 0.

Award Bid For Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center, Jared Drive and Main Street
The Township Solicitor suggested the Board meet in executive session prior to taking action on this matter.

The Board met in executive session to discuss the possible legal ramifications of awarding the bid without first obtaining the necessary easements from the affected property owners.

The Board returned from executive session.

Mr. Horvath asked Mr. Beil to explain the various options available to the Board. Mr. Beil identified the following options:

Option #1 – Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center
Award the bid for water system improvements at Stabler Corporate Center to Imperial Excavating in the amount of $160,401.00.

Option #2 – Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center and Jared Drive
Award the bid for water system improvements at Stabler Corporate Center and along Jared Drive to Imperial Excavating in the amount of $217,676.00.

Option #3 – Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center and Main Street
Award the bid for water system improvements at Stabler Corporate Center and along Main Street to Marks Contracting LTD in the amount of $301,760.00.

Option #4 – Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center, Jared Drive and Main Street
Award the bid for water system improvements at Stabler Corporate Center, Jared Drive and Main Street to Imperial Excavating in the amount of $359,971.00.

Option #5 – Table action on this matter
Table action on this matter until the necessary easements have been obtained.

Mr. Harman described the proposed water system improvements contemplated under each option.

Mr. Beil said the 2010 budget included funds for the following projects:

• $ 250,000.00 For Water System Improvements at Stabler Corporate Center
• $115,000.00 For Water System Improvements along Jared Drive

It was the consensus of the Board to table this matter to their next meeting.

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION ITEMS
None

BILLS, PAYROLL, AND COMMISSIONS
Prepaid invoice List #04052010, dated 04/01/2010, in the amount of $102,156.55
Warrant List #04052010, dated 04/01/2010 in the amount of $426,151.77

Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to authorize the payment of the Prepaid Invoice List and the Warrant List.

The motion was adopted by a vote of 4 to 0.

DIRECTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
Zoning Hearing Board Agenda – April 12, 2010
Mr. Beil noted that John and Kathleen Deschu, 4804 Bowood Street, are appealing to the Zoning Hearing Board for a variance for a deck built without following the proper permitting process. The deck intrudes fifteen feet into the front yard setback. The property is a corner lot, and therefore has two defined front yards. Mr. Beil said he anticipates that proposed changes in the zoning ordinance will bring the deck into conformance. The Board agreed with Mr. Beil that it was not necessary to send the Township solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board meeting to oppose the Deschu zoning appeal.

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Mr. Harman reported that a test well has been drilled on the Gun Club property on Blue Church Road. The initial test well results are positive and it appears the proposed well will be able to provide approximately 250 gallons of water per minute when fully developed as a municipal supply well.

Mr. Gilda asked for a clarification on the proposed zoning ordinance amendment. Mr. Beil reported that the amendment is being reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Committee. After the committee completes its review, the proposed ordinance will be forwarded to the Township Planning Commission for review and comment. Mr. Beil expects the final version of the ordinance to be before the Board for possible adoption sometime in August or September.

Mr. Wagner asked if the Township would be updating its comprehensive plan in the near future. Mr. Beil said the 2010 budget includes $10,000.00 for a mini-comprehensive plan update focusing on the Stabler properties.

Mr. Gilda asked if the Township is exploring energy saving strategies now that the utility rate caps have been lifted. Mr. Beil responded that staff is still looking into options to purchase electricity at a reduced cost.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
None

EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board met in executive session to discuss a litigation matter involving the Locust Valley Golf Course.

The Board returned from executive session.

ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made and seconded to adjourn the meeting.

______________________
Secretary