Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

FORKS TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Northampton County, Pennsylvania ______________________________________________________________________________ June 18, 2015

MEETING GENERALITIES: The Forks Township Board of Supervisors met at the Municipal Building, 1606 Sullivan Trail, Easton, Pennsylvania on this date. Vice Chairman, Ed Moore called the regular meeting of the Board to order at 7:00 P.M. with the Pledge of Allegiance. Board Members present Ed Moore, Vice Chairman Bob Egolf, Secretary/Treasurer Dan Martyak, Supervisor Erik Chuss, Supervisor

Others present Barb Bartek, Human Resource Manager James Farley, Finance Director Mark Roberts, Public Works Director Tim Weis, Building & Zoning Official Scott Muller, Engineer Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor Absent John O’Neil, Chairman John V. Cornell, Township Manager Greg Dorney, Chief of Police Rachel Sulzbach, Parks and Recreation Director Bryan Weis, Fire Chief MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS: Minutes of the Board of Supervisors regular meeting of: May 21, 2015
Supervisor Bob Egolf: Page # 6; line # 15: after listening to tape again reword sentence, missing a word Page # 7; line 18 and # 22: Change spelling of name from “ Cathy Altman” to “Kathy Altmann” There being no further corrections Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak.

1

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ] Minutes of the Board of Supervisors Re-Organizational Meeting of: June 4th, 2015
Supervisor Erik Chuss: Page # 1 line 44 & 45: add such as “placing information on the electronic sign on Sullivan Trail” and remove “a banner across Sullivan Trail” There being no further corrections Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve the minutes as corrected; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ] Public Comment: None Supervisors Comments: Supervisor Erik Chuss:
A very nice article in the Express Times newspaper regarding the plaques on the Veterans in WWII.
The Arts Society is sponsoring a bus trip to Brandywine River museum on Saturday and said there are seats still available if anyone is interested.
Attended the Easton Chamber of Commerce awards dinner Thursday and said there were two Forks Township businesses that were recognized; Rich Bartolacci owner of the Forks Plaza received the Pride of Forks Award and said Mr. Bartolacci did a very nice presentation; also an Outstanding Large Business Award went to Victaulic Company and congratulated them both. Supervisor Ed Moore:
Acknowledged Forks Township Police Officer Brandon Shippers from the Forks Township Police Department; reading from the Police Chief’s monthly report he said Officer Schippers completed extensive training and is now considered an expert on the recognition of persons under the influence of a controlled substance. He is one of only 81 officers certified as such in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
A resident reached out to the township supervisors with concerns over the closing of Frutchey Hill Road; Mark Roberts went over and beyond addressing her concerns.

2

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

INVITED GUEST:
Planning Commission Report: pc cancelled the June workshop due to some conflicts
Recreation Board Report: None
BCAF Report: Supervisor Bob Egolf said the report is included in your notebook; and added at the June 10th meeting members went over various expense accounts which are also included in your notebooks. The Forks Arts Society bus trip to the Brandywine River Museum on the 28th of June Brian Lokitis was excited about the white house chef being in attendance at our Community Days celebration this year.
TRCOG Report: None Treasurer’s Report:

Bob Egolf Ph. D, Secretary/Treasurer

Total Outstanding Debt........$ 9,272,467.00 General Fund ………….. $ 56,901.94 [06-02-15] Real Estate Tax ………….$ 88,750.00 Sewer Tap-In …………… $ 0.00 Utility Capital ………….. $ 0.00 Utility Fund…………….... $ 121,078.31 Recreation Capital……. $ 530.35 State Liquid Fuels ………$ 0.00 Escrow Fund …………… $ 0.00

$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

205,309.07 [06-16-15] 0.00 3,050.05 49,504.64 53,283.66 879.05 8,751.57 35,031.66

Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve payments of June 2nd, 2015; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ] Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve payments of June 16th, 2015; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak._ Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]

3

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

OLD BUSINESS 01. Conditional Use Hearing Jere Partners LP Solicitor Nicolosi A Conditional Use Hearing will be held for the construction and operation of a single or multiuser industrial building for warehousing & manufacturing uses of approximately 475,800 square feet to be located at 4200 Braden Boulevard East. The G-17 Use over 100,000 square feet is permitted by way of a Conditional Use, the property is also known as tax map parcel J9-15-6-1

6:00 PM – not recorded

02. Jere Partners LP Preliminary/Final Land Development Consideration Jere Partners proposes the construction and operation of a single or multiuser industrial building for warehousing & manufacturing uses of approximately 475,800 square feet to be located at 4200 Braden Boulevard East. The project has received a conditional recommendation of preliminary/final approval from the Forks Township Planning commission. Tim Weis said a copy of the township Engineer’s letter is in the notebooks and has been before the Planning Commission; he then turned it over to Kate Durso from Lentz and Bubba who said they are asking for preliminary final as well as a waiver that has been requested. Scott Muller, township engineer said in the packet is his letter of May 15th 2015 showing the waiver from the Storm water ordinance request; he said the previous owners Henningson Storage already did the work therefore this would just be a retro fit to the site; already in place; it is a waiver of the Storm water Ordinance; Item “C” in his letter; he also said just for clarification the name is JERC not JERE and should be changed. Supervisor Erik Chuss made a motion to approve the waiver; seconded by Supervisor Bob Egolf. Vote Called: [ 4- 0 ] Supervisor Erik Chuss made a motion to approve and grant the preliminary final land development to the JERC (Roman numeral 27); XXVII, LP land development; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ] 03. Conditional Use Hearing Erwin Kost Jr. Solicitor Nicolosi A Conditional Use Hearing will be held for the construction and operation of an Automotive Repair Shop on Sullivan Trail at the intersection with Town Center Boulevard. The E-4 Use is permitted by way of a Conditional Use approval. The property is also known as tax parcel #K9SE1/5/15.

6:00 PM – not recorded

4

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

04. Road Dedication and Acceptance Resolutions: Solicitor Nicolosi Upon completion and acceptance of roads by way of resolution the roads will be eligible for maintenance funding by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Liquid Fuels Program. Resolution #15-0618-1 Old Mill Road via Forks Land Associates Inc. Resolution #15-0618-2 Ramblewood Drive via Segal & Morel, At Forks Township X LLC Resolution #15-0618-3 Wagon Wheel Road via Forks Land Associates Inc. Resolution #15-0618-4 Fox Ridge Road, Hedgerow Drive, Hennaberry Lane, Old Mill Road via The Preserve at Forks Township Inc. Solicitor Nicolosi said there are four resolutions this evening to make sure any roads that have been accepted for dedication make it onto the liquid fuels list so we do get credit for those; these particular ones have already been accepted however the resolutions were never submitted to get them onto the liquid fuels. She thanked the township engineer for his help and spoke of stub roads that still need to be worked on. She asked that these be signed; and asked that each resolution be approve one at a time.
Resolution # 15-0618-1 is actually a portion of Old Mill Road dedicated in 2009 and asked for a motion to formally accept that road. Supervisor Dan Martyak made a motion to accept Resolution # 15-0618-1; seconded by Supervisor Bob Egolf. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]
Resolution # 15-0618-2 is for a portion of Ramblewood Drive; deed of dedication filed 2010; Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to accept this resolution; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]
Resolution # 5-0618-3 this is for a portion of Wagon Wheel and deed of dedication filed 2007; Supervisor Bob Egolf made a motion to approve this resolution; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Discussion: Supervisor Dan Martyak asked what portion of Wagon Wheel this was for; Solicitor Nicolosi said it was for the south portion. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]
Resolution # 15-0618-4 this is for various roads within the Preserve including Fox Ridge, Hedgerow Drive, Hennaberry Lane and Old Mill Road; the deed of dedication was filed in 2008. Supervisor Dan Martyak made a motion to accept this resolution; seconded by Supervisor Bob Egolf. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]

5

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Discussion: Supervisor Dan Martyak asked approximately how many miles will be added and how this will affect liquid fuels; Mark Roberts said this will make a big difference in monies we receive at the end of the year from liquid fuels. 05. Proposed Park Board Ordinance amendment #33 Solicitor Nicolosi On May 21, 2015 the Board of Supervisors Authorized advertisement and amendment to the existing Park Board Ordinance amending the powers for the Park Board. The amendment has been duly advertised for action by the Board. Solicitor Nicolosi said last month we went over this ordinance and added one provision from the prior draft which required one of the powers given to the recreation board is to develop township required participation policies to be followed by any Athletic Association; this is to update our ordinance relating to the powers that are delegated to the recreation board to allow them to act on behalf of the township; the existing ordinance did not give specific powers and this is a way to properly authorize. Supervisor Dan Martyak made a motion to approve; seconded by Supervisor Erik Chuss. Discussion: Supervisor Martyak said at one of the prior meetings the Athletic Association members agreed to the wording; Solicitor Nicolosi then read the new ordinance aloud. Public Comment: Kathryn Fina – 1565 Thornwood View Drive approached the podium and agreed this was agreed upon with the recreation board. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ] 06. Proposed Abandoned and Foreclosed Property Ordinance #335 Solicitor Nicolosi Abandoned and foreclosed property have been a blight on the Township, the consideration and adoption of the ordinance will establish guidelines for managing abandoned and foreclosed properties. Solicitor Wendy Nicolosi said Tim Weis the Zoning Officer is in the process of having a company that will identify foreclosed and abandoned properties and help identify who we need to contact to cut the grass and clean up the yards; she said he has been having success with using third party companies however they since have notified him that the township needs to have a valid and updated ordinance given them the authority to contact these property owners; this is very similar to other municipalities to help keep tract, identify, and registering of these properties. She asked for a motion to advertise this ordinance to be approved at the July 16th meeting, Supervisor Erik Chuss made a motion to advertise this ordinance; seconded by Supervisor Dan Martyak. Vote Called: [ 4 – 0 ]

6

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

07. Forks Township Athletic Association (FTAA) Funding Suspension consideration The Board of Supervisors will consider withdrawing financial funding support for the FTAA due to the inability to provide the necessary by-laws to the Forks Township Recreation Board. Vice Chairman Ed Moore said this has been in discussion to get the bylaws from the Athletic Association and since we have not received this information from them asked if others have any comment on this issue. Discussion ensued on the document that has been requested, the enforcement of the bylaws and or policies, addressing improper behavior, participation in sports, funding and or subsidizing, becoming self -sufficient, disciplinary action procedures, the effect on the children, suspending funds, recreation board recommendation, execution of the program, management of the funds; budget and oversight of funding, and having a process in place. Public Comment: John Metz – spoke of the time line by the end of May and the information not being received to date and asked if anyone asked the FTAA to be in attendance tonight; Vice Chairman Ed Moore said they are aware that this was to be discussed tonight and said there is no one in attendance from the FTAA The Morning Call reporter – asked what brought this issue up in the first place; Vice Chairman Ed Moore said there were a lot of new recreation board members appointed and the new members wanted clarification about their duties; Supervisor Martyak said it started with process procedural things and out of town residents playing on the teams, spoke of league rules, waivers, and things being well documented so there are no exceptions.

DEPARTMENT MANAGER REPORTS TOWNSHIP MANAGER’S REPORT:

(John V. Cornell)

None - vacation FINANCE DIRECTOR:

(Jim Farley)

Mr. Farley said his report is in the notebook and added we are quickly approaching Community Days and will be putting information out on the recycling programs and will be in conjunction with opening the new recycling facility, also spoke of the grant of $250,000.00 to be used for the recycling containers, also the utility billings next billing cycle is almost completely turn over to the new system; bills will look different, residents can now pay on line and with credit cards. Supervisor Erik Chuss thanked Mr. Farley for the I-Pads and asked about going paperless; Mr. Farley said this should be discussed at the next workshop on the procedures for the township manager and the administrative assistant’s use for the access of getting into the shared folders. Scott Muller asked that Mr. Farley check on the scanning capabilities, megs, and settings. HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT:

(Barb Bartek, Human Resources Manager)

Mrs. Bartek said her report is in the packets; and said on behalf of the staff she wanted to thank the board for the employee picnic and said Debi Knesz said there were 64 in attendance out of 82 employees which was a very nice turn out. 7

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Supervisor Erik Chuss said he would like to add that Mrs. Bartek and Loretta Fuehrer attended the Women’s Summit put on by the Chamber; 600 attended he said he found out from the Easton Chamber and about a dozen people came up to him and said how nice it was that Forks Township had representation there and thanked them for their participation and said he was told they did a wonderful job at the breakout sessions as well. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT: (Mark Roberts, Public Works Director) Mark Roberts said it has been another good week with the weather and the waterproofing of the public works facility will be completed very soon; and a possibility that next week the green roof can be started; continuing to work on the recycling yard; we almost tripled the size of the yard, street sweeping is now complete and are now doing road back mowing. Supervisor Egolf asked of the guard rail on Mitman Road and if that has been replaced; he answered yes the damage was from a DUI and it really took out the guardrail he is trying to get the insurance company to pay for this. Cottage: The electric company has completed the wiring all the work is complete we just have to take out the old material also the Eagle Scouts will be coming in this weekend to do the handicap walkway. ZONING DEPARTMENT: (Tim Weis, Building & Zoning Official) Report was missed and not in packets; will have Debi email the report to the board members PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT:

(Rachel Sulzbach, Parks & Recreation Director)

Report in packets - absent POLICE DEPARTMENT:

(Police Chief, Greg Dorney)

Report in packets - absent FIRE DEPARTMENT: (Fire Chief, Bryan Weis) None ENGINEER’S REPORT:

(Scott Muller, Engineer)

None SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

(Wendy Nicolosi, Solicitor)

The Seitz Minor Subdivision, I have received the declaration of covenant and must be sign by the township this evening. She also said she will be on vacation during the workshop on July 2nd and can have a representative available if needed. Discussion: If the meeting will be held on July 2nd; wait on the township Manager to see if there is anything pressing on the agenda to discuss at the workshop; if not the meeting can be cancelled. 8

Board of Supervisors 06-18-15

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further to discuss the meeting was adjourned.

Executive Session:

None

Minutes transcribed by Debi Knesz, Admn. Asst.

9