FORKS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Northampton County, Pennsylvania. April 16th, 2015

Transcription

1 FORKS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Northampton County, Pennsylvania April th, 0 MEETING GENERALITIES: The Forks Township Board of Supervisors met at the Municipal Building, 0 Sullivan Trail, Easton, Pennsylvania on this date. Chairman, John O Neil called the regular meeting of the Board to order at :00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board Members present John O Neil, Chairman Ed Moore, Vice Chairman Bob Egolf, Secretary/Treasurer Dan Martyak, Supervisor Erik Chuss, Supervisor Others present John V. Cornell, Township Manager Barb Bartek, Human Resource Manager James Farley, Finance Director Mark Roberts, Public Works Director Rachel Sulzbach, Parks and Recreation Director Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor Absent Tim Weis, Building & Zoning Official Bryan Weis, Fire Chief Greg Dorney, Chief of Police Scott Muller, Engineer MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS: Minutes of the Board of Supervisors regular meeting of: February th, 0 There being no corrections Supervisor Dan Martyak made a motion to approve the minutes as submitted; seconded by Supervisor Ed Moore. Vote Called: [ - 0 ] with () abstentions - Chairman John O Neil and Supervisor Bob Egolf due to being absent from this meeting.

2 Minutes of the Board of Supervisors Re-Organizational Meeting of: March th, 0 Supervisor Ed Moore: Page # ; Line # 0 add very seriously after the word concerns Page # ; Item # Add somewhere in the text that we could give the money back in reference to the DEP grant money Supervisor Bob Egolf: Page # ; line # - change given to giving Page # ; line # - Pallet point presentation should be power point presentation There being no further corrections Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 0 ] Minutes of the Board of Supervisors Re-Organizational Meeting of: April nd, 0 Supervisor Erik Chuss: Page # ; line # add the word Monroe before the word County Page # ; line # after the word COG add and asked if Forks Township would be interested in joining Page # ; line # add or possibly the Nazareth COG also add he believes There being no further corrections Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; seconded by Supervisor Ed Moore. Vote Called: [ 0 ] Public Comment: None Supervisors Comments: Chairman John O Neil - said he attended the Grand Opening of McDonalds and said it was a great event, outstanding, very good time and welcomed the new establishment. Supervisor Erik Chuss - also attended the McDonalds event and said it was a nice turnout. Also mentioned the Art in the Park Event which will be held on Saturday, May th from :00 AM until :00 PM; there will be Inch and the Echoes band, a chainsaw carving demo and painting of a bus, Country Meadows will be hosting a kids corner as well; he thanked Mark Roberts for the signs and Rachel Sulzbach for all her help putting this all together.

3 Supervisor Bob Egolf welcomed the students from Easton Area High School. INVITED GUEST: Planning Commission Report - Nothing to report Recreation Board Report - Nothing to Report BCAF Report John Cornell, Township Manager April th 0 the Economic Development sub-committee met with Andrew Kliner from the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation who explained what their function is trying to bring businesses to the Lehigh Valley and how the Lehigh Valley is faring. Mr. Cornell said he had suggested to Mr. Kliner to attend one of the Supervisors work sessions to explain this to the supervisors as well; and added this is very enlightening. April th, 0 the BCAF held the monthly meeting and they made a motion to spend the dollars for three additional signs to be placed by the township at the locations agreed upon awhile back. Outreach Committee gave an update and presentation on their activities; they will be placing an article in the township s newsletter explaining their activities; and also talked about BCAF holding an Open House to be held at Park Plaza at the Stacks sandwich shop on May th, 0 any funds raised will go towards Community Days the event will be held from :0 to :0 PM. Fund Raising Committee gave an update on Casino Night which was extremely successful, also discussed the Beer Tent for Community Days, Chamber update, Alison provided a calendar of events On April th an Inside look at Majestic; on May th at the Stacks Subs at Parks Place; on June th Easton Chamber dinner; On June th cyber security forum, Jim Farley will be attending due to the township going with online credit card payments; On June 0 th a tour will be held for an inside look at Follett Corporation; On June th there will be a golf outing; Arts in the park on May th, and an update on Forks Community Days, also as per Supervisor Bob Egolf s suggestion there is a new member on BCAF; his name is Steve Uhaus from the Neighborhood Pharmacy. TRCOG Report John Cornell, Township Manager Have not rescheduled their next meeting as of this date Treasurer s Report: Bob Egolf Ph. D, Secretary/Treasurer Total Outstanding Debt...$,,.00

4 General Fund.. $ 0,0.0 [0--] $,0.00 [0--] Real Estate Tax.$,0, Utility Capital $, Utility Fund... $,. $,. Capital Improvement $ State Liquid Fuels $,.0 $,. Escrow Fund $ 0.00 $,.0 Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve payments of March, 0; seconded by Supervisor Ed Moore. Vote Called: [ - 0 ] Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve payments of April th, 0; seconded by Supervisor Erik Chuss. Vote Called: [ 0 ] OLD BUSINESS 0. Digital Assurance Corporation DAC Policy Acknowledgement [Jim Farley] As a follow-up entering into a contract with DAC regarding the Bonding SEC compliance a Implementation policy will be consider for acceptance. Mr. Farley reminded the Board this is a disclosure policy moving forward with the SEC reporting; Solicitor Nicolosi has looked it over; the matter was discussed at the last work session as well; he is seeking a motion to approve this as a policy moving forward. He said once approved he will send a copy of the minutes to them along with the policy. Supervisor Erik Chuss made a motion to approve this policy; seconded by Supervisor Bob Egolf. Vote Called: [ 0 ] 0. IPad Selection [Jim Farley] In an effort to move toward paperless the Board of Supervisors will be giving members the choice of using an IPad. Mr. Farley reminded the Board he provided a copy via and also had some discussion about providing I-pads or digital tool for the supervisors and spoke with zoning officer too. The Township has a bulk plan and pays a base fee, the fire company has five now and we can add more for approximately $0 to $ dollars a month per device. Tablets pricing run from $ to $ the I-Pad mini s are approximately $ up to $ depends on what is needed. The Building and Zoning office will be ordering two now for use in the field, taking pictures bring it back to office and download to the system; and they can be used with the GIS system as well. He said he will update the board when he hears back from the Planning Commission; once the board decides what they want, the total number of tablets

5 needed and total of mini s needed he can place the order. Discussion ensued on the type of device, total pricing, wireless access, keyboards, memory needed, GIS program and the requirements to operate it, bigger screens, advantages, lap tops tablets, mini s, the difference between the I-pad and air pad, presentations, secure dial in and user ID, a shortcut button, I-pad air pad,, and gig, the memory, going paperless or not, the cost of the tablets verses paper, shared folders, not paying the fee for the Internet, purchasing one for the solicitor, purchasing extra, departments don t need them they work out of their offices, preparation for meetings, and possibly testing them first. After discussion it was agreed by the Board to purchase five () of the I-pad Air II gig to get the paperless process started. 0. Recycling Grant month approval addendum [Jim Farley] The Township received a $0, grant for the recycling center; approval of a month extension will permit the Township time to make appropriate decisions on the implementation of the grant. Mr. Farley reported Cindy Oatis was working on an extension for the new recycling center at the Frost Hollow public works facility; she did get the approval, all that is needed is a signature from the Chairman and secretary. Next Jim spoke about what will be recycled at the center brush, aluminum cans, glass and hopefully electronics at a later date. Mark discussed having dumpsters for each, checking on different vendors, the biggest challenges, and giving the residents a place to go so they are not just dumping these items along the roadways because they cannot get rid of them. DEPARTMENT MANAGER REPORTS TOWNSHIP MANAGER S REPORT: (John V. Cornell) John Cornell said his report is in the packets; and he would like to highlight one item: The Planning Commission will be having a beginning discussion on the Towns center landscape; they sent out letters for any interested persons to attend; response has been very light. Will eventually place something about this on the electronic sign on Sullivan Trail, website, etc. for more advertising and hopefully more parties will attend. The Board also discussed what to call this; either Street scape (sidewalks, lights) or town center concept (which would be part of Towne Center; as well as the new traffic lights that were installed at Towne Center. Mr. Cornell spoke of the possible intern coming in and speaking with other municipalities to possibility start using the intern as well. FINANCE DIRECTOR: Mr. Farley said his report is also in the packets. Also had a small discussion on charges for services, revenues are up, asset disposal, and the accrued interest from the Real Estate Tax Account. HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT: (Barb Bartek, Human Resources Manager) Report is in packets; also announced the new candidate that has been chosen for the Parks

6 Manager position; out of 0 applications the candidate has accepted and will be starting on April th, 0 his name is Brett Konjoian. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: (Mark Roberts, Public Works Director) Mark Roberts said the Public Works Facility construction resumed and going very well; there was a meeting with the water proofing people on Monday and they inspected the repair work they had done last year, and discussed when they will be starting work again. Mark also spoke about the cinders in the streets and the street sweeper being used to collect them. ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Tim Weis, Building & Zoning Official) Report is in packets PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT: (Rachel Sulzbach, Parks & Recreation Director) Report in notebooks; noted the fields are open getting them ready; playground is closed until the seed takes for grass; Movies in the Park & Sounds of Summer; also July th linking music and a car show together, old cars and old movies; gave an update for Community Days received $,000 of our $0,000 goal on sponsorship to date, bands and vendors have been booked moving right along; reducing costs for non-profits, also spoke on the new lights on the fields; and spoke of one complaint of Dogs in the Parks droppings; these droppings are from the geese not the dogs and bag dispensers. POLICE DEPARTMENT: (Police Chief, Greg Dorney) Report is in packets FIRE DEPARTMENT: (Fire Chief, Bryan Weis) None ENGINEER S REPORT: (Scott Muller, Engineer) None SOLICITOR S REPORT: (Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor) Received Conditional Use application for zoning amendment; must have a hearing within 0 days; suggested placing this item on the agenda for the second meeting in May. Vehicle and traffic ordinance has some deficiencies; the staff has been discussing it, she believes the intention was to later go back and determine parking on both sides of

7 0-- 0 street and or one side of the street in other areas. Also the ordinance now states you must remove your vehicle from the roadway within hours. Also, residents are trying to place basketball hoops in township roadway. She also asked that if anyone notices any other issues to please bring it to her attention. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further to discuss the meeting was adjourned at :0 PM. Executive Session: (Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi) Discussion on Litigation Issues Minutes transcribed by Debi Knesz, Admn. Asst.