WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP

PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY BOARD

7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA  17112

THURSDAY, MAY 05, 2005

 

1.       CALL TO ORDER – 6:30 by the Chairman of the Board, Bill McCahan

2.       ROLL CALL

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Fire Marshal – Bruce Hetrick

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WHT Fire Police Capt. - Mel Gochenaur

 

WHT Fire Co. Pres. - John Wolfgang

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WHT EMC - Bill McCahan

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WHT Fire Co. Chief - Brian Cassel  arrived late

 

WHT Citizen Rep. - Bob Garland

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WHT Business Assoc. Rep.   Mr. Ditzel

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WHT Township Manager - Mike Rimer

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SCEMS Rep. - Barry Calhoun

 

 

 

3.       PUBLIC COMMENT - NONE

 

4.  APPROVAL OF MEETING NOTES - MINUTES

A.    April 7, 2005 – Mr. McCahan moved, seconded by Mr. Rimer to approve the minutes of April 7, 2005 as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.

5.   PRESENTATIONS, STAFF/BOARD REPORTS

Chris Bauer, HRG – Mr. Bauer was in attendance to discuss the emergency preemption of the existing traffic signals at Route 39 and Route 22, Route 22 and Jonestown Road and for the proposed traffic signals at Clover Lane and Route 22 and Manor Drive and Route 22.  The Opticom system will be installed on these traffic lights.  There will be a tracking system to track users and there will be a master list of codes provided so that there are no duplicate codes.  Mr. Cassel will determine what fire company equipment will need to be wired for the Opticom system for the open bid.  The use of hand held units was discussed.  The plans should be submitted to PennDot in the next few weeks.  Mr. Bauer said that the vehicles would be taken out of service one at a time for the installation. 

 

6.   ACTIONS REQUESTED BY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS – NONE

 

7.     OLD BUSINESS

A.      Douglas Road and Devonshire Heights Road Intersection – Chris Bauer and Al Brulo from HRG are actively working on that situation.

B.       Recommendation – Hydrant Height Standard –A report was sent to Pa American Water Company and the Township Engineer for review.  Mr. Rimer will call PA American Water Company and Al Brulo, Township Engineer  and request an answer by the next meeting.  If there is no answer from them by May 27, 2005, it will be deemed approved.

C.       Snow Removal Ordinance – Mr. Rimer assured the board that the ordinance should be in place by the next snow.

D.      Aa to Zz Daycare – Mr. McCahan discussed the need for the daycare center to file an Emergency Operations Plan.  The daycare center is currently in violation for not submitting a plan.  Mr. Rimer suggested that a provision for an EOP should be included in the township zoning ordinance that all daycare centers be certified and compliant by Public Welfare and include an Emergency Operations Plan. 

Mr. Rimer moved, seconded by Mel Gochenaur for the Public Safety Advisory Board to communicate to the Board of Supervisors the need for a type of regulation requiring daycare centers to provide an Emergency Operations Plan.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

8.   NEW BUSINESS –

A.      Invite Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Enforcement Agent to June Meeting. – Mr. McCahan will write a letter to the Pennsylvania State Police inviting an agent to address the board regarding alcohol related infractions resulting from the consumption of alcoholic beverages at the new and existing restaurants in the township. 

B.       Burn Ordinance – Automatic Burn Ban – Mr. McCahan questioned what authority should our township Fire Marshal operate under when the county institutes a burn ban.  They questioned who was responsible to issue the citations and what fine amount would be used, the county fine or the township fine.  Mr. Rimer said that it would be the township’s ordinance to enforce the burn.  The PSAB also discussed amending Chapter 85 –Open Burning.   Mr. Hetrick moved, seconded by Mr. Gochenauer to request that the Board of Supervisors amend Chapter 85 to add the definition of a Burn Ban and to add a second paragraph to section 85-6 clarifying the enforcement of a burning ban.  Motion passed unanimously.

C.    Fire Police - Township I.D. Cards – Mr. McCahan stated that the fire police do not have ID cards but should have them.  The board agreed that since the fire police are appointed by the Board of Supervisors they should have photo ID cards.  Mr. Hetrick feels that as fire marshal he should have a photo ID card as well.  Mr. McCahan will set up a time to get all of the fire police together to get their picture taken for their ID cards.

 

9.   OTHER BUSINESS/CORRESPONDANCE BEFORE THE PSAB

A.    School Speed Limit Sign - Mr. Cassel indicated that the sign is not functioning correctly.  Mr. Rimer will call PERCS to correct the problem.

B.    Mr. Rimer said that the state has consolidated its purchasing bidding contract and named the program COSTARS.  He will send the COSTARS program information to the fire company for them to join, which will enable the fire company to take advantage of statewide bidding for tires or other materials.  That should save the fire company some money. 

C.    Mr. Calhoun asked about the letter to the board of supervisors regarding the illegal stop sign at Maple Street and Devonshire Heights Road.  Mr. Rimer said he wrote a letter to the board.

 

10.   PUBLIC COMMENT – NONE

 

11.   PLANS FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION

Pinnacle Health - Bruce Hetrick met with Steve Quiggley to discuss mountable curbing.  The plans were reviewed by PSAB last month.

 

12.   ADJOURNMENT – Mr. McCahan moved, seconded by Mr. Hetrick to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 p.m. 

               Motion passed unanimously.