Westfall Township, Matamoras, PA

March 4, 2019

 

The Regular meeting of the Westfall Township Board of Supervisors was held Monday, March 4, 2019 at 7:00 pm. The meeting was held at the Township Building on Delaware Drive and LaBarr Lane, Westfall Township.

 

Those present were Vice Chairman, Jerry Dotey; Supervisors; Robert Bostinto, Paul Fischer, Paul Schaldonat; Solicitor; Robert Bernathy; and Secretary, Jodi Manheim; Zoning Officer, Jeff Cammerino. Also present were Road Master, Bill Schneider; Emergency Management Coordinator, Mike Fischetta; Westfall Township Fire Department Chief; Fred Jacobs; Westfall Fire Department President, Bill Koferl; Mill Rift Fire Department Representative, Bill Schneider; Treasurer, Scott Myer; Joe Sain, Matamoras Borough Council; Patrick Tigue, US Census Bureau and John Stelmachowicz, US Census Bureau and approximately five members of the general public.

 

Chairman Melvin was absent.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: The last executive session was held on February4, 2019 at 6:40 pm for personnel matters.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the agenda with no changes. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with all in favor.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT: Mr. Sain addressed the Board with a concept of regionalizing Airport Park.  He noted the following:

1. He has an active role in the park operations for the past five years
2. Information in the 2010 Joint Comprehensive Plan
3. Park was created in the 1960’s
4. Mr. Gassman started park with no budget and all volunteers
5. Now 30,000 to 40,000 visitors per year
6. More financial demands
7. Matamoras in is need of financial support
8. DCNB and Conservation District grants obtained
9. Regionalization would open more grant opportunities
10. Matter is open for discussion
11. He has a six step plan in mind which is actually spelled out in the Comprehensive Plan
12. Regionalization would be better for the park and the citizens of Westfall Township

 

Vice Chairman Dotey stated the Board will discuss this matter at a workshop meeting. Mr. Sain expressed his appreciation of the Board’s time.  He also noted that he would be attending a Milford Township meeting to discuss the matter.

 

MINUTES:

 

February 4, 2019 Regular Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to approve the February 4, 2019 minutes.  The motion was seconded by Supervisor Bostinto and carries with all in favor.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT: Mr. Myer gave the report through the month of February, 2019.

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the Treasurer’s Report through the month of February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.

 

POLICE REPORT:  Chief Stewart gave the report for the month of February, 2019.  The report reflects the following:

 

4 Juvenile Arrests

7 Adult Arrests

5 Investigations

22 Motor Vehicle Crashes

2 Assaults

2 Thefts

2 Fraud

1 Vandalism

Weapons Defense 2

Drug Abuse 2

Disorderly Conduct 6

All other 3

 

Significant Happenings:

*Applied for JAG Grant

*Applied for and received Walmart Grant

*Applied for Body Camera Grant

*Met with DVSD about hosting summer Law Academy

*All officers re-certified in CPR/AED/First Aid

*All officers re-certified in Taser

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to approve the February, 2019 Police Report. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Dotey and carries with all in favor.

FIRE DEPARTMENTS:

Westfall Fire Department: Chief Jacobs gave the report for the month of February, 2019 which reflects the following:  Assist EMS-1; Automatic Fire Alarms-7; Investigation-1; Wires Down-1; Motor Vehicle accident-1   The Total calls for February, 2019 were 11.  The total fire calls year to date are 41.

 

 

Man Hours:12

Man Hours YTD: 114

 

The EMS Report for the month of February, 2019 was as follows: Delaware Township-3; Dingman Township-7; Matamoras Borough-16; Milford Borough-14; Milford Township-2; Orange County-1; Shohola Township-1; Westfall Township-29.  Total calls for February, 2019 were 73.  Total EMS calls year to date are 168.

 

Man Hours-80

Man Hours YTD-175

Training for the month: 3 In house drills for a total of 42 hours; 7 members attended a Haz Mat Ops Refresher at the PCTC for a total of 42 hours; 2 Members attended EVOC at the PCTC for a total of 48 hours; 2 members attended live fire training at the PCTC for 6 hours

Total Training Hours-138

YTD Training Hours-243

A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to approve the Westfall Fire Department report for the month of February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor. 

Mill Rift Fire Department: Mr. Schneider gave the report for the month of February, 2019 which reflects as follows:

02/06/19: Work Night-ran and checked all vehicles

02/11/19: Monthly Meeting

02/13/19: Work Night Equipment Maintenance

02/17/19: Work Day-work on the 5 ton brush truck

02/27/19: Work Night-went over pump truck

Total Man Hours: 60

Total Equipment Hours: 29

Total Man Hours for the Year: 119

A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the Mill Rift Fire Department Report for the month of February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with all in favor.

 

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Mr. Schneider gave the report for February, 2019 which reflects the following:

*Storms-2/12, 2/13, 2/17, 2/20, 2/21, 2/24, 2/26, 3/1, 3/2, 3/3 and ¾

*Contacted K. Heistler from National Park Service re: grant availability

*Attended Road Task Force Meeting

*worked on equipment maintenance

A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to approve the Highway Department Report for February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Bostinto and carries with all in favor.

BUILDING/ZONING REPORT:  Jeff Cammerino gave the report for February, 2019 which reflects the following:

4 Building Permits, 1 Mechanical Permit and 1 Sign Permit for the month of February, 2019 totaling $3,066.00.

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to approve the Building/Zoning Report for February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with all in favor.

 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Mr. Fischetta gave the report for February, 2019 which reflects the following:

*No calls for the month of February, 2019

*Mr. Fischetta participated in two webinars with NWS Binghamton for the different Winter weather events that occurred over the last month.

A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the Emergency Management Report for the month of February, 2019. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.

CORRESPONDENCE:  On desk for review. 

OLD BUSINESS:  

1. Cable Company Contract/Franchise Agreement: A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to schedule a workshop meeting for March 18, 2019 at 6:30 pm. The agenda will include this matter. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
2. Engineering Proposal for Material Storage Building: A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the Kiley Associates, LLC proposal dated February 15, 2019 in the amount of $13,980.00 for the Material Storage Building engineering. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.
3. Specification Package for base of proposed salt storage shed building: This matter was tabled.
4. Fire Protection Contract-Compliance by Fire Departments: This matter was tabled.
5. Modification of Township Building/Police Department Relocation-Engineering Proposal: A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to approve the Kiley Associates, LLC proposal dated February 25, 2019 in the amount of $11,030.00 engineering fees for the renovation of the Township Building for proposed police department relocation. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Bostinto and carries with all in favor.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

• Delaware Valley School District-Fire Alarm: Discussion followed regarding the fire alarm system at the Delaware Valley High School which has been disabled. Solicitor Bernathy directed Chief Jacobs to confirm in writing with the Delaware Valley School District that measures would be put in place to correct this matter.

• Mr. John Stelmachowicz-US Census Bureau-2020 Census Briefing Presentation: Mr. Stelmachowicz noted the following:

• he has been meeting with state, county, township and boroughs

• Allentown Census Office represents this area

• Recruiting is being done

• Grant writing information is pulled from census data

• Census information can be done on line-short and easy process

 

 

 

The Board thanked Mr. Stelmachowicz for the presentation.

 

• Website Security/Update Service: Niki Jones Agency, Inc.: Supervisor Bostinto confirmed with Secretary Manheim that the township computer service has never been hacked, no viruses and no security breaches have taken place. This matter was deferred to the March 18, 2019 Workshop Meeting.

• MRM Trust-Proxy: A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to authorize the Chairman of the MRM Trust to cast vote on behalf of the Township. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with all in favor.

• MRM Property & Liability Trust-Proxy: A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to authorize the Chairman of the MRM Property & Liability Trust to cast vote on behalf of the Township. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Bostinto and carries with all in favor.

• Building Appeals Board-Vacancies and number of members: A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to revise the number of Board Members from five to three. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Dotey and carries with all in favor.

 

 

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Fischer to appoint Ralph Burger as Building Appeals Board Member to fill the vacancy on the Board. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with all in favor.

 

• Arrump, LLC-Revised Minor Land Development Plan-Request for extension of plan recording time: A motion was made by Supervisor Schaldonat to deny the request for extension of plan recording time pursuant to Solicitor correspondence dated February 28, 2019. The motion was seconded by Vice Chairman Dotey and carries with all in favor.           

 

SUBDIVISION REVIEW and ACTION:

 

1. Letter from Planning Commission: Brooks Partners, L.P. and Deborah Pierson Fischer/Paul Fischer-Minor Subdivision/Lot Consolidation Application:  A motion was made by Vice Chairman Dotey to approve the Minor Subdivision and Lot Consolidation for Brooks Partners, L.P. and Deborah Pierson Fischer/Paul Fischer. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with three in favor and one abstention. Supervisor Fischer abstained due to his interest in the subject property.

 

A motion was made by Supervisor Bostinto to approve the waiver request for waiver of Section 403.2

(2) of the Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance referring to Plan Scale.  The motion was

seconded by Supervisor Schaldonat and carries with three in favor and one abstention.  Supervisor Fischer

abstained due to his interest in the subject property.

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION: No executive session held.

 

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting was adjourned at 7:41 p.m. on a motion by Vice Chairman Dotey. Motion seconded by Supervisor Fischer and carries with all in favor.

 

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

Jodi Manheim

Secretary