WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP

PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD

7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA  17112

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2007

 

 

1.     CALL TO ORDER –6:30 PM

2.     ROLL CALL

X

WHT EMC – Bill McCahan, Chairman

E

Fire Marshal – Bruce Hetrick

X

WHT Citizen Rep. – Bob Garland, Vice-Chairman

X

WHT Fire Company Vice President Matt Senft

E

WHT Fire Police Capt. – Mel Gochenaur, Sec.

E

WHT Fire Company Chief – Brian Cassel

X

WHT Business Assoc. Rep. George Ditzel

X

WHT Township Manager – Mike Rimer

X

SCEMS Rep. - Barry Calhoun

A

PA State Police - Sgt. Mark Crosson

 

3.    PUBLIC COMMENT

 

4.    APPROVAL OF MEETING NOTES – MINUTES

Mr. Garland moved, seconded by Mr. Rimer to approve the minutes of November 1, 2007 as presented.  The motion passed unanimously.

5.    PRESENTATIONS, STAFF/BOARD REPORTS:  None.

6.    OLD BUSINESS

A.   Evergreen Ridge  - Mr. Grove, Grove Engineering,  explained that the Board of Supervisors directed him to have the PASB review the parking layout for the Evergreen Ridge development.  Proposed are 32’ wide streets with 8’ wide parking areas along the street.  There will be no parking signs on the opposite side of the street and no parking signs posted in the cul-de-sac.  Mr. Grove noted the streets will be private and not dedicated to the Township.  By consensus the PSAB agreed with the parking as proposed.

 

B.   HRG Truck Study – Mr. Stump and Mr. Brulo were in attendance to present the revised report.  Mr. Stump summarized the changes to the report from last month. (A copy of the full report is attached to these minutes).  Mr. Stump presented the following evaluated options:

·       Implementing Double Fine Zones:  Not recommended due to criteria that needs to be met to implement.

·       Promoting PLST Signing to Businesses:  Not recommended as it tends to attract more business to the area.

·       No Stopping or Standing on Rt. 39 Ramp:  Concern that trucks would travel further down Rt. 39 and signage would actually be counterproductive to the measures recommended in this study to remedy truck traffic issues.  Mr. Brulo suggested this situation be monitored after the improvements are complete and re-evaluated at that time.  Mr. Brulo also indicated he would check on shoulder widths proposed with the improvements.

·       Signing Jonestown Road “No Trucks”:  Recommend update to the study done in 2003 to recommend that a complete truck restriction be implemented on Jonestown Road (except local deliveries).

·       Prohibiting Trucks on Side Streets on Jonestown Road and Rt. 39:  Study updated to reflect the signs that are already in place and enforceable.

·       Signing Jonestown Road “No Truck U-Turns”:  Recommended signs be installed along Rt. 39 near known truck turning problem areas to reduce problems with errant truck traffic.

·       Signing a Truck Route Utilizing Harper Drive as a Turnaround:  A proposed route was outlined.  Recommended Harper Drive be further evaluated to determine the extent of necessary improvements to accommodate truck traffic.  Considerable discussion took place on this issue and members agreed it was the best location. 

·       Signing a Truck Route to Rt. 22 and utilizing Bretz Drive as a Turnaround:  Not recommend.  It was felt the travel time was too long.

·       Signing a Truck Route along Jonestown Road to North Fairville Avenue back to Rt. 39: Not recommended at this time, but as another alternative route in the future.

·       Utilizing Physical barriers on affected properties along Jonestown Road:  Not recommend as the installation cannot be justified by PENNDOT’s DM-2 warrants.  Barriers may interfere with residential properties and would create a new risk of collision with obstructions.

·       Alternatives for North Fairville Avenue north of Rt. 39:  Propose signage along North Fairville Avenue both north and south of Rt. 39 to direct lost trucks.

 

There was considerable discussion on various aspects of the report.  Chairman McCahan commended Mr. Stump and Mr. Brulo for an excellent report. 

 

The following changes were made to the Implementation Matrix on page 25 of 25 of the report:

1.    Encourage increased PSP presence.   Changed time frame for implementation to “ongoing.”

2.    Change Investigate the feasibility of utilizing Harper Drive as a turnaround to “Implement improvements to Harper Drive as a turnaround.  Also provide preliminary design and cost to improve Harper Drive.

3.    Evaluate a restriction on stopping and standing in the vicinity of the Pilot access:  Changed time frame to Long Term and priority to Low.

4.    Utilize the Sewer Authority property as a temporary turnaround.  Changed time frame to Long Term.

5.    Township should lobby (add) County & State politicians for support for U-turn signs and contributions for Harper Drive Improvements.  Change time frame to “on-going” and priority level to High.

 

MOTION:  Mr. Senft moved, seconded by Mr. Garland to recommend the revised report be provided to the Board of Supervisors for their December 17, 2007 meeting.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Chairman McCahan will prepare a memo asking the BOS to pursue the top priority items: no truck u-turns on Rt. 39, update the October 2003 study per new Publication 212 to evaluate complete truck restriction on Jonestown Road, and utilize Harper Drive as a truck turnaround.

 

C.   No Parking Project – Chairman McCahan presented a revised report on no parking restrictions in Township developments.  Included were maps indicating where signs should be installed. 

 

       MOTION:  Mr. Garland moved, seconded by Mr. Ditzel to recommend the parking restrictions to the Board of Supervisors and ask that they advertise and adopt a no parking ordinance.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

D.   PSP Report – Chairman McCahan passed out updated incident reports for the month of November.

 

E.   Dry Hydrant Project – Mr. Rimer indicated he will follow up on this project and have a report for the next meeting.

 

7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

A.   Set meeting for 2008 – It was agreed to have the December meeting for next year on 12/11/08 and to have the re-organization meeting on January 3, 2008.  Mr. Rimer noted the Township Secretary will advertise the January meeting.

 

B.   Fittings on Existing Hydrants – Mr. Senft reported that the fittings on existing hydrants need to be upgraded.  Mr. Senft recommended that our hydrant standard be revised to replace the threaded Steamer connections with Stortz connections   More information will be provided for the January meeting.

 

8.    ACTIONS REQUESTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

9.    OTHER BUSINESS/CORRESPONDANCE BEFORE THE PSAB

10.   PLANS FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION

 

       A.   Olde Towne Hanover Phase I – It appears the plan is in order and hydrants are placed as indicated on the preliminary plan.  Chairman McCahan will contact Mr. Hetrick to check the hydrant locations.

 

11.   PUBLIC COMMENT

 

12.   ADJOURNMENT:  8:45