Board of Supervisors Agenda

MINUTES
Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors
Regular Meeting
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - 6:00 p.m.
Township Municipal Building

Members Present:
Miro A. Gutzmirtl, Chairman
Stephen C. Wagner, 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
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.”

CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS
Chairman Gutzmirtl noted that this would be Mr. White’s last meeting as a member of the Board of Supervisors.  Chairman Gutzmirtl thanked Mr. White for his service to the community and wished him well on his future endeavors.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Public Comment is summarized as follows:

Anita Russo – Flint Hill Farms – Ms. Russo said she was in favor of the Board approving proposed Ordinance No. 79-WW, however, she had concerns that proposed Ordinance No. 79-WW might be too complex for most farmers to take advantage of.
 
Bob Tettemer – Glen Road – Mr. Tettemer praised the work of Mr. White during his years on the Board. Mr. Tettemer also offered his utmost respect to all those that serve as Supervisors, because he said the average citizen does not know how much work they truly put into the job. He thanked Supervisors for doing what they felt was best for the community as a whole, personally commended Mr. White for his time on the Board, and welcomed in John Gilda, Jr., who would take his seat on the Board in January.

PUBLIC HEARINGS
Proposed Ordinance No. 79-WW
A public hearing was held to accept public comment and input on proposed Ordinance No. 79-WW, an ordinance amending the Upper Saucon Township Zoning Ordinance by amending Article 15, General Regulations to add as a Special Exception an Agriculture-Related Educational and Entertainment Use.

Attorney Dimmich handled the proceedings on behalf of the Township reading Exhibits T-1 through T-6 into the record. He also provided those present with a summary of the ordinance.

Anita Russo requested that her comments on proposed Ordinance No. 79-WW made during the public comment portion of the meeting be incorporated into the record for the public hearing.
The Board concurred with Ms. Russo’s request.

Bob Tettemer of Glen Road had questions on the ordinance, which were promptly answered by Attorney Dimmich. Mr. Tettemer also voiced his support of Ordinance 79-WW.

Jerry Trexler of 5696 Bluegrass Road also had several questions which were addressed by Attorney Dimmich and Ms. Yeakel.

Deborah Stewart of Old Bethlehem Pike commented on the operations that had been taking place at the Flint Hill Farms property.  She noted that proceeds from many of the events held at Flint Hill Farms are donated to local charities.  She felt the ordinance may unfairly infringe and restrict operations like those at Flint Hill Farms, and asked for further clarification of the purpose behind the ordinance.

Attorney Dimmich, Chairman Gutzmirtl, and Mr. Wagner provided Ms. Stewart with additional clarification of the provisions of the ordinance and how it would relate to the Flint Hill Farms.

Mrs. White felt the ordinance was unclear as to what was required of a farm interested in a special exception and that the initial cost of obtaining the exception was too expensive.

Mr. White did not agree with the setback requirements of the ordinance.

Bob Stewart of Old Bethlehem Pike asked numerous questions about zoning in the Township, the number of farms in the Township, and violations of the Zoning Ordinance.

Chairman Gutzmirtl, Attorney Dimmich and Mr. Beil addressed Mr. Stewart’s questions.

A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Ordinance No. 79-WW amending the Upper Saucon Township Zoning Ordinance by amending Article 15, General Regulations to add as a Special Exception an Agriculture-Related Educational and Entertainment Use.

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

Chairman Gutzmirtl: Yes
Mr. Wagner: Yes
Mr. Horvath: Yes
Mr. White: No
Mrs. White: Yes

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1.

SUBDIVISIONS AND LAND DEVELOPMENTS
None

MINUTES
Special Meeting of July 2, 2007
A motion was made by Mrs. White and seconded by Mr. Horvath to approve the minutes of the July 2, 2007 special meeting of the Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors.

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

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

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 0 with 1 abstention.

Regular Meeting of July 9, 2007
A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. White to approve the minutes of the July 9, 2007 regular meeting of the Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors.

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

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

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 0 with 1 abstention.

Regular Meeting of July 24, 2007
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mr. Horvath to approve the minutes of the July 24, 2007 regular meeting of the Upper Saucon Township Board of Supervisors.

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

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

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 0 with 1 abstention.

COMMITTEE REPORTS
None

ORDINANCES
None

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 2007-55 – Participation in Lehigh County Drug Task Force
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mrs. White to adopt Resolution No. 2007-55 authorizing the Township’s participation in the Lehigh County Drug Task Force and authorizing the Township Manager to execute the Lehigh County Drug Task Force Inter-Governmental Agreement.

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

Resolution No. 2007-51 – 2008 Tax Levy
A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 2007-51 fixing various tax rates for the year 2008, which will remain unchanged from the year 2007.

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

Resolution No. 2007-52 – 2008 Pay Plan
A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 2007-52 establishing the 2008 Pay Plan for all Township employees.

Mr. White objected to the 4% salary increase and the 3% pension contribution. He thought the salary increase should be 3 ½ percent and the pension contribution should be 2% percent.

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

Chairman Gutzmirtl: Yes
Mr. Wagner: Yes
Mr. Horvath: Yes
Mr. White: No
Mrs. White: Yes

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1.

Resolution No. 2007-50 – Adoption of 2008 Township Budget
A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 2007-50 approving the 2008 Township Budget.

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

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

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

Resolution No. 2007-56 – Close Out of Community Conservation Partnerships Grant Project
A motion was made by Mr. Horvath and seconded by Mr. Wagner to adopt Resolution No. 2007-56 closing out the Community Conservation Partnerships Grant for the Joint Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Plan for Upper and Lower Saucon Townships.

Mr. Beil briefly explained why the grant was being closed out.

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

MOTIONS
Lease of Township-Owned Property at 4865 West Hopewell Road
A motion was made by Mr. White and seconded by Mr. Horvath to authorize the Township Manager to execute a lease agreement with Dennis Trexler, which would allow for the growing, cultivation, and harvesting of crops on the Township-owned property at 4865 West Hopewell Road.

The motion carried by a vote of 5 to 0.

CORRESPONDENCE AND INFORMATIONAL ITEMS
None

DIRECTION / DISCUSSION ITEMS
None

BILLS, PAYROLLS, AND COMMISSIONS
Prepaid Invoice List #12262007 dated 12/21/2007   $  32,000.00
Warrant List #12262007 dated 12/21/2007               $246,481.17

A motion was made by Mrs. White and seconded by Mr. Horvath to authorize payment of the Prepaid Invoice List and Warrant List #12262007 dated 12/21/2007.

The motion carried by a vote of 4 to 1 with Mr. White voting “no.”

ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR
None

EXECUTIVE SESSION
None

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

The motion carried unanimously.

                                                                       
Secretary