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July 6, 2010
The regular meeting of the Westfall Township Board of Supervisors was held Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at 7:00 pm. The meeting was held at the Township Building on Delaware Drive and LaBarr Lane, Westfall Township.
Those present were Chairman, James Muir; Vice-Chairman, Lester Buchanan; Supervisor, Paul Fischer; Solicitor, Robert Bernathy and Secretary, Lisa Green. Also present were Treasurer, Scott Myer; Zoning Officer, Michael Rendleman; Bill Schneider, Bill Koferl, Marilyn Rosenthal, Eric Stewart, Janice and Allen Johns, Ken Zielazny, John Schneider, Donna Knight, and Mrs. Mullery. Supervisors, Robert Ewbank and Raymond Banach were not present.
AGENDA: The agenda was amended to add an executive session and to move the sewage pump station from old business to the executive session along with a matter involving Allen Johns. Amended agenda approved on a motion by Vice-Chairman Buchanan and seconded by Supervisor Fischer. Motion carried with all in favor.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Attorney Schneider thanked Vice-Chairman Buchanan for doing the inspection on Phase IV of Milford Landing so that the escrow money can be released.
Donna Knight said she wanted to find out what was going on with the bus garage. She has been speaking to Supervisor Ewbank about it and understands that there are a lot of violations on the property. Chairman Muir asked what her concerns were. Mrs. Knight said she is worried about the fumes from the busses. The trees have been taken down and she questioned the wetlands. She said she will not go over all of it tonight but has information that she would like to leave for the supervisors. Chairman Muir said the Conservation District has been down there and asked Mike Rendleman if he was aware of the outcome of their inspection. Mr. Rendleman said they were advised to stop work until an E & S plan was submitted. An application for a change of use needs to be submitted to the township as well. Lisa Green said a wetland delineation was done. Solicitor Bernathy asked for a status of the matter as this is the first time he is hearing of it. Mr. Rendleman said Roher Bus Service has just acquired the property and began work before obtaining permits. Vice-Chairman Buchanan explained the location of the Pike County Truck & Auto property that is in question. Nothing formally has been submitted. Chairman Muir said it is now being used as a garage and a parking area for busses. Further discussion followed. Mrs. Knight said the difference between what was used before and what is being done now is that the property behind the garage has been bulldozed down and graded and stone was placed. Further stating that she had to make numerous calls to Supervisor Ewbank and the zoning officer to get them to stop work. Solicitor Bernathy stated that there is not prohibition of clearing property, however if they park busses down there before they get permits they will be in violation. Mr. Rendleman said the area is zoned C-1 and a bus garage is a permitted use and they would need a 30 foot buffer.
Bill Koferl questioned if Mountain Avenue between Stark and Tenth Street is going to be paved. Solicitor Bernathy stated the township does not have jurisdiction over that road as that is a Penn DOT road.
Supervisor Fischer moved to send a letter to Penn DOT requesting the road be repaired. Motion is seconded by Chairman Muir and carries with all in favor.
MINUTES: The minutes of the May 26, 2010 workshop and June 1, 2010 regular meeting were reviewed and approved on a motion by Vice-Chairman Buchanan, seconded by Supervisor Fischer. Motion carried with all in favor.
TREASURER’s REPORT: Scott Myer went over the treasurer’s report for the month of June, stating that we are in line of where we should be at this time of year. The Katz payment has been paid for June. Motion to approve the treasurer’s report made by Vice-Chairman Buchanan. Motion seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
POLICE REPORT: Supervisor Fischer gave the Police Report submitted by Chief Stewart. There were 222 total calls for service and 7,934 miles patrolled for the month. Vice-Chairman Buchanan reported that Robert Stevens from Matamoras Borough has resigned from the Eastern Pike Regional Police Commission. For the public’s information Supervisors Fischer and Buchanan sit on the commission for Westfall, Mayor Gassmann sits on the commission for Matamoras, and Robert Brown is the member at large. Supervisor Fischer moved to accept the police report. Motion was seconded by Vice-Chairman Buchanan and carried with all in favor.
FIRE DEPARTMENT: Ken Zielazny gave the Mill Rift report for June reporting a monthly meeting on 6/8. They had a public service call on 6/16 a work night on 6/23 a standby at Matamoras Fire Department on 7/6 and a mutual aid for Westfall on 7/6. Also they will be taking a truck to the Port Jervis Parade on 7/10/10. Bill Koferl gave the Westfall Fire Department report for June reporting 5 MVA’s, 2 assist EMS, 2 alarm, 2 water rescues, 2 traffic details, 2 wires with trees down, 2 standbys, 2 training runs. There were a total of 30 calls for the month. There were 47 ambulance calls for the month and Westfall will be going to the parade also. Supervisor Fischer moved to approve the reports. Motion is seconded by Vice-Chairman Buchanan and carries with all in favor.
HIGHWAY REPORT: Bill Schneider gave the report for June stating that the department has done regular work on and around the township buildings. They have performed normal maintenance on equipment, shoulder work on Heater’s Hill Road and Fire Tower Road, they have done trimming on right-of-ways at intersections and around signs, started mowing grass along Reuben Bell Drive, Roberts Lane, Phillips Lane, Old Milford Road and Pine Hill Farm, performed pothole repair on Reuben Bell Drive and Doug Miller Road. Pond Eddy and Rosa Switch Road are almost complete. Mr. Schneider attended the Pike County Road Task Force meeting. The remaining salt for the salt contract has been delivered and they will be patching blacktop on Pond Drive and Glass House Hill. Vice-Chairman Buchanan moved to accept the highway report. Motion seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
BUILDING/ZONING REPORT: Mike Rendleman gave the report for June stating that there were four building permits and six zoning permits issued. Fees were $2,037.50 with $79 still outstanding. Vice-Chairman Buchanan moved to accept the Building / Zoning report. Motion is seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: Vice-Chairman Buchanan said at the last meeting they reviewed the parks and open space plan. The next meeting will be held Monday, July 19, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the upstairs meeting room. Supervisor Fischer moved to accept the report. Motion is seconded by Chairman Muir and carries with all in favor.
CORRESPONDENCE: On dais for review.
OLD BUSINESS:
Act 47 Monthly Report: Solicitor Bernathy stated that as he has reported at the past few meetings as of March 2, 2010 Judge Thomas from Federal Bankruptcy Court signed the order confirming the Township’s bankruptcy plan as well as the Act 47 Recovery Plan which amounts to final disposition of the bankruptcy plan. The Township is operating within the confines of its budget and continues to meet its financial obligations. The Township continues to provide essential services and is otherwise compliant with the Recovery Plan which has been approved by the Bankruptcy Court on March 2, 2010. The Township is otherwise in compliance with the settlement agreement reached with Katz and now an order of the Court which was approved by the United States District Court. Supervisor Fischer moved to accept the Act 47 report. Motion is seconded by Vice-Chairman Buchanan and carries with all in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
Kuharchik Construction Invoice: Bill Schneider said that he will follow up. Item is tabled.
Resolution 2010-2: Chairman Muir said this is for the Opposition for Forced Local Government Mergers and Consolidations. Solicitor Bernathy questioned who produced the resolution. Mrs. Green said PSATS produced it. Vice-Chairman Buchanan moved to approve the resolution. Motion is seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
SUBDIVISION REVIEW AND ACTION: None
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Called for litigation at 7:37 pm to discuss the Allen Johns project and Katz.
Back in session at 8:18 pm.
ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 8:18 p.m. on a motion by Supervisor Fischer. Motion seconded by Vice-Chairman Buchanan and carried with all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Green
Secretary
