Board of Supervisors Agenda

MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Special Meeting
Saturday, December 2, 2006 8:30 a.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
Sharyn Yeakel, Director of Community Development
Robert Coyle, Chief of Police
Donald Eck, Jr., Superintendent of Roads
Daniel Stahlnecker, Superintendent of Water/Sewer
Charles Castetter, Jr., Fire Chief
Karl Schreiter, Jr., Township Sewer Engineer
Dennis Harman, P.E., Township Engineer

CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Wagner called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.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 COMMENT
Public Comment is summarized as follows:

Chief Robert Coyle – Upper Saucon Township Police Department– Chief Coyle thanked the Board and the Township for the support shown towards the police department and the family of Officer David Petzold, who was killed in the line of duty on November 9, 2006.

Officer Thomas Nicoletti – Officer Nicoletti echoed the same sentiments offered by Chief Coyle. He said having been privileged enough to become a close friend of Officer Petzold, he knew that not only did the department lose a great officer, but the community lost an amazing person.

PROPOSED 2007 BUDGET
PowerPoint Presentation by Robert Kassel, Jr., Assistant Township Manager
Mr. Kassel gave a PowerPoint presentation to the Board on the proposed 2007 Township Budget. A copy of the presentation is attached hereto, made a part hereof, and identified as Attachment “A.”

A summary of the budget items discussed is listed below.

• Stormwater Study – $20,000 was budgeted to perform a Stormwater Study. Mr. Beil explained that funding was budgeted in 2006 for the same reason, but was never used. Those monies were merely carried over to the 2007 Budget. Mr. Beil said this would only be the first phase of the Stormwater Study since the total cost of the Study would be approximately $100,000.

• Park Signs – Mr. Gutzmirtl believed it had been decided at a workshop meeting held earlier in the week to eliminate the $4,000 that had been budgeted for the purchase of one (1) directional park sign. He said the money could either be used elsewhere in the budget or used to purchase a dozen or so hospital-style direction indicator signs for the park that could be placed on roads surrounding the park.

It was the consensus of the Board to remove the $4,000 for the park sign from the 2007 budget.

• Park Trash Cans – Mr. Gutzmirtl wanted some justification for budgeting $5,000 on trash cans for the park.

Mr. Kassel responded saying the major portion of the money was to be used for the south side of the park where a very limited number of trash containers exist, and the remaining amount would be used to replace those on the north side of the park that were in disrepair.

Mr. Beil said Township staff looked at many styles of trash cans with a broad range of prices. The style chosen took into consideration not only price, but durability and aesthetics.

• Route 309 and Lanark Road Redesign – Mr. Beil and Mr. Kassel explained the total engineering cost for the redesign of the Route 309 and Lanark Road intersection was set at $100,000. Of that total, $50,000 would be contributed by the Southern Lehigh School District, $12,000 would be taken from the Transportation Impact Fund, and the remainder would come out of the General Fund.

• Water Main at Chestnut Hill and W.Hopewell Roads – Mr. Beil said this $15,000 budget item would be used to complete a fifty (50) foot section of missing water pipe referred to in the Dewberry Study as the “Vera Cruz Road Loop.”

• Painting of Aeration Tanks – Mr. White was interested in what period of time the painting of the aeration tanks would take place.

Karl Schreiter, Jr., Township Sewer Engineer, said the painting would be done over the summer months and would take three (3) to four (4) months to complete.

Chairman Wagner asked Mr. Schreiter to provide some details of the process, since it was a $445,000 budget item.

Mr. Schreiter said the reason that the tanks were painted goes back to past litigation between the Township and Air Products where funds were awarded to the Township. The concrete that was used for the Treatment Plant was not only poor quality, but it was also the wrong type resulting in the Township having to coat the tanks with paint every seven (7) to ten (10) years. The last time these particular tanks were coated was in excess of ten (10) years ago and without being painted, the concrete facing could begin to deteriorate.

Chairman Wagner asked if the paint used was an epoxy-type paint, to which Mr. Schreiter replied, yes.

Mr. Stahlnecker said any cracks are pressure grouted before the tanks are painted.

Chairman Wagner inquired about the extent of the damage, and in response, Mr. Stahlnecker and Mr. Schreiter provided a brief outline of the issues that have arisen. Chairman Wagner also wanted to know what was the function of the tanks.

Mr. Stahlnecker and Mr. Schreiter gave a summary of the tanks purpose and functions.

Mr. Horvath asked what the amount of the settlement was for the related litigation.

Mr. Schreiter estimated it to be between $900,000 and One Million Dollars.

Mr. Horvath was curious as to where that money went, and Mr. Beil told him it went into the Sewer Treatment Capital Reserve Fund.

Mr. Horvath stated the amount was not nearly enough to cover the expenses the Township would incur over the life of the tanks, and Chairman Wagner agreed.

Mr. Schreiter also added that part of the expense comes with painting the tanks properly without damaging the aerators. However, it will only be the walls of the tanks that are painted this time, not the floors.

Mr. Gutzmirtl asked if the tanks would have to be replaced sometime in the next two  decades.

Mr. Schreiter said if the tanks are maintained properly, the system should remain in operating condition well into the future.

• Land Acquisition Fund – This is a new fund for 2007. Revenues for the fund are to come from interest ($36,000) and bond proceeds ($5 million) for a total revenue amount of $5,036,000 for 2007. No expenses were budgeted.  It was Mr. White’s opinion that the bond should be decided by referendum.

Chairman Wagner said that could be a matter for discussion at an upcoming regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors, and could be placed on the ballot as early as the fall.

Mr. Horvath said he feared if the Township were to wait for the results of a referendum, they may be forced to incur a higher interest rate for the bond. Furthermore, he said, the favorable response that was shown for open space preservation in the results of the Open Space Study should be taken into consideration.

In addition, Mr. Gutzmirtl said, the two new Supervisors elected last year, namely Mr. Horvath and himself, ran on a platform of open space preservation. The fact that the majority supported their campaign should be an indicator of the residents feelings towards the acquisition of open space. Mr. Gutzmirtl also mentioned the establishment of an Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) by the Board of Supervisors set to take place at the December 26, 2006 meeting and how it would be connected to the bond. He concluded by saying he was ready to move forward with open space preservation without a referendum.

Mrs. White was concerned about the lack of an open space plan, noting that the Township already owned a fair amount of land to which nothing had been done. She called the land useless, saying it was a burden to taxpayers and that she would not support acquiring any land unless a firm plan was in place for how it would be used.

Mr. Horvath agreed with Mrs. White that an open space plan was necessary and assured her that a top priority of the EAC would be to devise such a plan. On the contrary, he disagreed with Mrs. White’s statement that unused open space was a burden to taxpayers. Mr. Horvath said open space saves taxpayers money because the land isn’t being developed into homes that would yield more children for the School District and in turn, put a heavier tax burden on senior citizens and other taxpayers without children.   Mr. Horvath said the unused land could serve as a reserve for future unknown uses such as passive or active recreation or park land.

Chairman Wagner recalled Mrs. White saying that the Township didn’t need an open space and recreation plan because there wasn’t any money to spend. Now, he pointed out, she was saying that the Township shouldn’t apply for a bond because there is no plan in place, and following that logic, the Township would never be able to move forward. As for the unused Township-owned land, Chairman Wagner agreed with Mr. White saying he was not in favor of purchasing land and leaving it fallow. Instead, he would prefer to rent out the unused land for agricultural or other uses or to purchase only the development rights and allow it to remain a working farm or other agricultural operation. He continued by echoing the same sentiments expressed by Mr. Gutzmirtl and Mr. Horvath regarding the creation of an open space plan and its relation to the establishment of an EAC. In conclusion, he commented on the frequently approved open space referendums by residents throughout the country and whether or not a referendum was truly needed in UST.

Mr. Gutzmirtl said the Township would not move forward with open space preservation if all officials were willing to do was sit around and talk about it. So that was why the wheels have been put in motion to establish the EAC and devise an open space plan.

Mrs. White said she and Mr. White had been interested in open space and recreation for over ten (10) years and never once were involved in a discussion about drafting a concrete open space plan. If any such discussion had taken place and plans were underway, it all was done in secret, which she objected to.

Chairman Wagner disagreed with Mrs. White’s claim saying she had been Chair of the Open Space Committee in 2005, and with the exception of possibly one instance, she saw no reason for the Committee to hold meetings.

Mrs. White claimed that she was never told what the role, responsibilities, and goals of the Committee were supposed to be, and therefore did not know how to proceed.

Mr. Gutzmirtl told Mrs. White that she should have acted as a leader and established those provisions, instead of waiting for direction. And that, he said, was how he and Mr. Horvath chose to proceed with their open space initiative; they would act proactively.

Public Comment

Lynnette Saeger – Southern Lehigh Public Library – Mrs. Saeger suggested that the Township and the Library work collaboratively on the directional signs so that both the park and the Library could be listed on one sign since they are adjacent to each other. She thought that a grant may be possible to cover some or all of the cost for not only the signs, but the park lighting, which was removed from the budget.

Chairman Wagner asked that someone from the Township staff contact Mrs. Saeger regarding her suggestion.

Mr. Gutzmirtl felt that lighting in a park that was closed after dark was somewhat of a contradiction, but never thought about lighting on the side closest to the Library since they are open past dark. He also mentioned the fact that lighting is needed on the roadway at the entrance to the Library.

Board Discussion

Mr. White said, in his opinion, the $25,000 budgeted for monitors, a screen, and an overhead projector was a waste of money.

Mr. Horvath addressed his comment saying those items were part of the efforts to improve public communication and that he couldn’t understand why Mr. White would feel that way.

Chairman Wagner requested that Mr. Beil review the details of this budget item.

Mr. Beil provided the Board with a brief overview of how this type of equipment would benefit the public, as well as the Township staff and officials. It would also allow developers to submit their plans and documents in electronic form.

Chairman Wagner asked if this equipment was widely used by other municipalities, and Mr. Beil responded, yes.

Mrs. White said she was in favor of the purchase as it would reduce paperwork and free up space during meetings of Boards and Commissions.

Mr. Gutzmirtl spoke to its usefulness to the public, who otherwise is left out of the loop.

Mr. White commented he would like to see the Township hire two new police officers in 2007. He also expressed disappointment over the 3.5 % increase in salaries in the budget for non-uniformed employees. He then asked Mr. Beil to review the duties and responsibilities of the budgeted position of Assistant Director of Community Development.

Mr. Beil reviewed how many of the duties and responsibilities would be devised, as well as the few that had already been determined. He said he had not yet prepared an official job description for fear that the position would be cut from the budget.

Mrs. White believed a full-time employee would be necessary for the Township to have successful programs in park and recreation and open space.

Chairman Wagner wondered why a traffic study for the intersection of Route 309 and Huckleberry Road was budgeted at $40,000.

Mr. Harman said the reason for the higher cost was because the study being performed was a point of access study. This type of study would determine whether or not PennDOT would permit a full access at that location. He then outlined the procedure for completing a point of access study.

Another question Chairman Wagner had was regarding the $420 for four (4) flashlights.

Mr. Eck brought one (1) of the flashlights to the meeting in anticipation of that very question. He summarized the more important features of the flashlights and why they are the preferred brand and style for the Road Department.

Chairman Wagner’s last question was about $50,000 budgeted for a suitability study for recreation uses.

Mr. Beil said the expense was related to a plan that was being devised to develop the Benckini Property for recreational use. Some of the ideas included a pavilion, walking trails, and moving the basketball courts out of the parking area. If it turns out that the Benckini Property cannot be used for recreation, the money would be diverted to the use of a different Township-owned property, such as the Haring Property.

A brief discussion ensued regarding additional park land and passive recreation in the Township.

Adoption of the Tentative 2007 Township Budget and Authorization for Advertisement
A motion was made by Mr. Gutzmirtl and seconded by Mr. Horvath to adopt the tentative 2007 Township Budget and to authorize the Township Manager to advertise the Budget, so that final consideration of the Budget may take place at the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 26, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.  

It was noted that $4,000 in Account No. 12-451-700 was cut from the budget.  This amount had been budgeted for a new park sign.  The total budgeted amount for this account will now be $96,000.

The vote was taken by roll call, and the results were as follows:

Chairman Wagner: Yes
Mr. Gutzmirtl: Yes
Mr. Horvath: Yes
Mr. White: Yes
Mrs. White: Yes

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
Mr. Beil thanked all the department heads, as well as Mr. Kassel, for their hard work in drafting and finalizing the 2007 Budget.

Mr. Gutzmirtl thanked Mr. Beil for the long hours he put into preparing the budget.

ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. White to adjourn the meeting.

The motion carried unanimously.

                                                                       
Secretary