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Board of Supervisors Agenda
MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 18, 2010 – 6:00 P.M.
Township Municipal Building Members Present:
Miro A. Gutzmirtl, Chairman
Stephen Wagner, Vice Chairman
Joseph M. Horvath
John E. Gilda, Jr.
Joaquim “Jack” DeMatos
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
Chairman Gutzmirtl 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 Gutzmirtl asked all in attendance to rise and recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.”
PUBLIC COMMENT
Justin Simmons, Candidate for 131st House Legislative District - Mr. Simmons gave a brief summary of his positions on State-wide issues and answered questions from the Board dealing with specific items of importance to the Township. Chairman Gutzmirtl asked Mr. Simmons to consider advancing the following legislative agenda if he is elected State Representative:
- Assist the Township in securing grants and/or obtaining funds for infrastructure projects.
- Increase state funding for preservation of open space/farmland.
- Pass legislation that would allow municipalities to declare a moratorium on new development in order to update land use ordinances.
- Pass legislation that would allow school districts to levy impact fees on new development.
- Amend the MPC to make it easier for municipalities to charge developers for costly transportation infrastructure improvements.
- Pass legislation that would authorize impact fees to support local police, recreation, fire and emergency services, as well as other areas affected by new development.
- Make it easier for volunteer fire departments to recruit new volunteers and retain existing volunteers.
- Amend bidding requirements of second class township code – raise the threshold at which townships must advertise for bids on purchases and contracts from the current $10,000 to $25,000.
- Pass legislation that would allow municipalities to advertise bids and public notices on the web or in weekly publications like Penny Power instead of being forced to run ads in daily newspapers like The Morning Call. Advertising in the daily newspapers is very expensive, plus it does not appear to be an effective means of notifying Township residents.
Mr. Simmons agreed to look into these issues. If elected, he committed to providing periodic updates to the Board on issues of importance to the Township.
Mr. Simmons responded to a number of questions from Board members on a variety of topics.
CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
Chairman Gutzmirtl commented positively on the Penn State Open House that he attended.
SUBDIVISIONS & LAND DEVELOPMENTS
None
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of October 4, 2010
Motion made by Mr. Gilda and seconded Wagner to approve the Regular Meeting minutes of October 4, 2010.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
None
ORDINANCES
None
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 2010-39 – Approval Of Herbert Sewage Facilities Planning Module
Motion made by Mr. DeMatos and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 2010-39 approving the sewage facilities planning module for the Herbert property at 3033 Teakwood Drive in order to allow the installation of a small flow treatment system for the purpose of treating and disinfecting sanitary sewage on the subject property, conditioned upon the property owners entering into a System Maintenance Agreement with the Township in a form acceptable to the Township Solicitor.
In the ensuing discussion, Carl D’Amico, a consultant with Site Development Services, explained the technical details associated with the new system proposed for Glen Herbert’s property at 3033 Teakwood. Mr. Herbert’s original on-site septic system failed approximately one year after he purchased his house. An advanced AB system designed to deal with the shallow soils on Mr. Herbert’s property was installed and it also failed. The specialized treatment system proposed by Mr. D’Amico was billed as the last attempt to get an acceptable treatment for on-site sewage. The Township’s Sewage Enforcement Officer (SEO), Ed Powell, confirmed Mr. D’Amico’s analysis and provided further background over what has been an on-going problem for 20 years.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
MOTIONS
Request For Payment – Quinn Construction Company, Inc. – Certification Nos. 6 & 7
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to authorize payment in the amount of $59,467.00 to Quinn Construction Company, Inc., for concrete repair work completed on the Aeration Tank at the Sewage Treatment Plant.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
Request For Payment – Imperial Excavating and Paving, LLC – Certification No. 2
Motion made by Mr. Gilda and seconded by Mr. Wagner to authorize payment in the amount of $122,475.60 to Imperial Excavating and Paving, LLC for water system improvements at Stabler Corporate Center, Jared Drive and Main Street.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
Animal Control Agreement With The Sanctuary at Haafsville
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to approve an agreement with The Sanctuary at Haafsville for animal control services during the 2011 calendar year and to authorize the Township Manager to execute said agreement on behalf of the Township.
This new group was defined as a splinter group from Peaceable Kingdom. Peaceable Kingdom has the contract for 2010 at a price significantly lower than a similar service provided by the Humane Society. The Sanctuary at Haafsville is also a no-kill facility.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
Resignation Of Current Southern Lehigh Public Library Board of Directors Member And Appointment Of New Member
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. DeMatos to accept the resignation of Stephen Wagner from the Southern Lehigh Public Library Board of Directors effective immediately.
The motion was approved by a vote of 4 to 0 with Mr. Wagner abstaining.
Motion made by Mr. Wagner and seconded by Mr. Horvath to appoint Kathryn Anthony to the Southern Lehigh Public Library Board of Directors for a partial term expiring on June 30, 2013.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION ITEMS
None
DIRECTION/DISCUSSION ITEMS
None
BILLS, PAYROLL, AND COMMISSIONS
Prepaid Invoice List #10182010, dated 10/15/2010, for $114,568.93
Warrant List #10182010, dated 10/15/2010, for $345,253.17
Motion made by Mr. Wagner and seconded by Mr. Gilda to authorize the payment of the Prepaid Invoice List and the Warrant List.
The motion was approved by a vote of 5 to 0.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
Judd Wilson - Southern Lehigh Tribune Newspaper - Mr. Wilson explained his vision for the local weekly newspaper that he is publishing. Presently the newspaper is only on line, but Mr. Wilson has a goal to supply a print version of the newspaper.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
None
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Because there are no pressing matters for the Board to consider, Mr. Beil suggested cancelling the November 1 Board of Supervisors meeting. The Board agreed to cancel the meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Gilda to adjourn the meeting.
The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 pm.
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