Board of Supervisors Agenda

MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 19, 2009 – 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 (arrived at approx. 6:30 pm)
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 stand and recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

PUBLIC COMMENT
Mindy Moore - 4325 Boulder Drive – Ms. Moore presented the Board with an article from American City and County magazine chronicling the story of traffic technicians who developed software programs capable of detailing traffic counts down to the street level within a residential or commercial development. Mr. Beil made a copy of the article for later distribution to the Board, returning the original to Ms. Moore.

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
Chairman Gutzmirtl commented on the October 18th meeting between DeSales University students and local neighbors from New Street and Station Avenue to address complaints from the neighbors about noise and decorum of the students residing in the neighborhood. The meeting was set up by Jerry Joyce and Linda Zurbe of DeSales University, with a goal of increasing communications and resolving the complaints. The students were open to a dialogue with their neighbors, addressing problems, coming up with solutions and inviting their neighbors to a dress rehearsal of an upcoming performance at the University. Chairman Gutzmirtl’s only complaint was that some of the most vociferous neighbors did not attend the October 18th meeting. He also expressed his admiration for the manner in which the students conducted themselves, a credit to their University and to the community. Chairman Gutzmirtl noted that the Township will schedule a follow-up meeting with the residents who expressed concerns about the students living in their neighborhood.

RECOGNITION OF VOLUNTEERS SERVING ON COMMUNITY JUSTICE PANEL FOR UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP
Police Chief Coyle described the role of the Community Justice Panel in effectively handling first time juvenile offenders who are charged with summary and misdemeanor offenses. Diana Montore, Lehigh Valley Coordinator for the Impact Project, also addressed the Board explaining the goals of the Community Justice Panel program and the results achieved. She explained that the 13 panels in the Lehigh Valley target first time juvenile offenders found guilty of summary or misdemeanor offenses, the offenders meet with Community Justice Panel members who work with the offenders requiring them to prepare a plan on how the offenders will repay the community for their offense. The plans consist of a contract with the Panel, letters of apology, restitution, and community service. Ms. Montore claims the program has an 81.6% success rate, in keeping first time offenders from committing a second offense.

Police Chief Coyle presented certificates of appreciation to the volunteers serving on the Community Justice Panel for Upper Saucon Township. The volunteers present to receive the certificates were: Susan Carothers, Barbara Hujsa, Stephen Hujsa, Sandra Kassel, and Joan Slota. Panel members Carol Lee, Athanasios Milios, and Julian Phillips were unable to attend the ceremony and will be mailed their certificates.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE KAREN BEYER – LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
State Representative Karen Beyer presented a summary of the recently passed, but seriously delayed State budget, summarizing the highlights of the $27.8 billion dollar spending plan representing a decrease of 1.8% from the prior budget and a budget requiring no increases in sales or personal income taxes. The Governor wanted a broad-based tax increase, but the legislature opposed any tax increase which caused the delay. As Ms. Beyer explained, projections for the next State budget look bleak, with trends showing a potential $5 billion shortfall. In the recently passed budget, the State exhausted its reserve fund, used most of the federal government’s stimulus money, reduced reserves in medical welfare assistance account, decreased its reserve for the malpractice insurance fund and increased the tax on cigarettes. Payments to schools were increased by $300 million in an effort to reduce future, local tax increases.

Ms. Beyer supported the call for increasing gaming revenues by allowing table games, but the measure is still in dispute as casino owners balk at the 50% tax required by the State. The initial proposal for gaming revenues contained a pledge for no table games and that the revenues would be used to reduce property taxes. Ms. Beyer said that under the most recent proposal, none of the tax revenues collected from table games would be used for property tax relief. Ms. Beyer announced that Allentown would get a new minor league ice hockey arena as part of the waterfront development project, claiming that the $85 million dollar arena and the $236 million in development costs would be paid for with the arena’s ticket sales and not taxpayer funds.

Mr. Horvath questioned Ms. Beyer on a rumored $40 million dollar shortfall in the State’s pension obligations, Ms. Beyer confirmed there was a problem because of the way the State invested its pension
funds, further claiming that the extent of shortfall is still unknown. Ms. Beyer contended that the legislature was addressing the problem with Senator Pat Browne spearheading the effort, causing Mr.
Gutzmirtl to comment that Senator Browne was mostly responsible for the present mess. The Board also questioned the multiplier used to calculate the pensions for State legislators.

SUBDIVISIONS & LAND DEVELOPMENTS
None

MINUTES
None

COMMITTEE REPORTS
Mr. Gutzmirtl commented that a good portion of the scheduled meetings for the Township Park and Recreation Commission have been cancelled, asking Mr. Beil to look into the situation. Mr. DeMatos noted that the Chairman of the Park and Recreation Commission acknowledges the problem and is working to improve the situation.

ORDINANCES
None

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 2009-46 – Creation of Open Space Study Committee
A motion was made and seconded to adopt Resolution No. 2009-46 creating an Open Space Study Committee for the purpose of investigating various financing options for the conservation, protection and improvement of natural and open space resources in the Township.

The Board discussed the Resolution and directed the Township Manager and Solicitor to revise the Resolution to address the Board’s concerns regarding removal of Committee members and termination of the Committee by the Board of Supervisors. The Board tabled action on this matter until the next meeting.

MOTIONS
Request For Payment – Quinn Construction Company, Inc. – Certification No. 1
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. DeMatos to authorize payment in the amount of $153,685.00 to Quinn Construction Company, Inc., for concrete repair work completed on the Aeration Tank at the Sewage Treatment Plant. The motion was adopted by a vote of 5 to 0.

Request For Payment – Suburban Water Testing Labs, Inc. – Certification No. 3 (3rd Quarter)
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to authorize payment in the amount of $8,423.25 to Suburban Water Testing Labs, Inc., for annual laboratory testing services for the wastewater treatment and water distribution systems. The motion was adopted by a vote of 5 to 0.

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATION ITEMS
None

DIRECTION / DISCUSSION ITEMS
Paper Recycling Program At Township Building & Southern Lehigh Public Library
Mr. Beil explained the concept of the paper recycling program that he proposed, a program reviewed by the EAC and awaiting consideration from the Board. This program is a simple and free service for communities to use for paper recycling. The Abitibi Company will place paper recycling bins outside the Municipal Building and the Library for the Township and its residents to use for recycling paper. The Abitibi Company will make a charitable contribution to a community organization of the Township’s choice. The amount of the contribution will be based on the amount of paper collected. The program requires a volunteer to support the program, monitor the bins, call for pickups, and ensure the bins only contain recyclable paper. The program has been successful in Lower Saucon and they have a qualified volunteer who they will make available for the Upper Saucon program. In return, they ask that the proceeds from the paper collection be designated to the Lower Saucon Historical Society to benefit the restoration of a one-room school house. Mr. Beil reported that Library personnel had concerns about losing a parking place due to the placement of the bin. The Board gave Mr. Beil the approval for the paper recycling program with the understanding that a different non-profit organization can be designated to receive the contribution from Abitibi Company should the Board deem this appropriate.

BILLS, PAYROLLS, AND COMMISSIONS
Motion made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. DeMatos to approve the Prepaid Invoice List #10202009 dated 10/16/09, for $112,003.89 and the Warrant List #10202009 dated 10/16/09 for $304,254.09. The motion was adopted by a vote of 5 to 0.

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
Electrical Rates
Mr. Horvath asked if the Township is looking at alternate electricity suppliers to offset some of the costs associated with the upcoming utility rate hike. Mr. Beil responded that he has several options under review, but at this point PP&L has not released its default rate for commercial or residential customers. Most of the Township’s electrical costs are associated with the sewer plant, but the costs are not large enough to qualify for a direct wholesale rate. Mr. Beil indicated the State is discussing the possibility of putting the purchase of electricity on a State contract enabling participating municipalities to purchase at a reduced rate.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
None

EXECUTIVE SESSION
None

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

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

______________________
Secretary