WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002, 7 P.M.
WORKSHOP MEETING
Chairman Jones called the February 11, 2002 workshop meeting to order at 7 p.m., followed by the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Robert Jones, Chairman
Robert Ziltz, Vice Chairman
Stephen Millard, Secretary/Treasurer
Earl Hoffman, Supervisor
Gloria Zimmerman, Supervisor
Delta
Development – Scott Tochterman – Exit 77 Funding and Work Program
Considerations –
TAPE RECORDER WAS TURNED ON AFTER
PRESENTATION FROM DELTA DEVELOPMENT
Scott Tochterman was present to explain the tasks that they would perform for the township. They will rework and redevelop funding strategy as needed to meet schedule constraints, pursue federal and state funds for construction funds, and create solutions to meet local match requirements.
Mr. Rimer stated that there are funds allocated to cover the expenses of their services. The retainer they require is $4,000 per month for a twelve-month period at thirty hours per month. Mr. Rimer explained that the retainer covers the design expenditure for the years 2003 and 2004. It would also cover 2002 assuming PennDot approves the scope of work that HRG prepares and submits to them. H.R.G is requiring $460,000 for design.
Mr. Rimer prepared a spreadsheet for the board to review. Mr. Rimer said that the township received $390,000 from Dermody Properties and an additional $128,000 from Pilot Oil of the $460,000 obligation for design.
Chapter 78 – Building Construction – Article I and Article II – Authorize Advertisement for Select Amendments to the Code for Adoption -
Mr. Harold Arndt, township Building Inspector was in attendance to explain the proposed additions, insertions and deletions to the current township building code.
Mr. Ziltz commented that without having the whole codebook to reference he could not see how it all fits together. Mr. Rimer agreed that without seeing the whole code it makes very little sense, but he is asking the Board to trust the staff in making the amendments to the code.
Mr. Millard asked if the amendments would supplement or replace the BOCA 99 Building Code that the township now uses. Mr. Rimer said that the proposed amendments would replace the 99 BOCA Code.
Mr. Jones said he read an article about Act 45, which is the Uniformed Construction Code and asked Mr. Rimer if the township has opted in on that. Mr. Rimer indicated that the township has done so. Mr. Arndt concurred.
Mr. Jones asked Mr. Arndt if he was certified. Mr. Arndt responded by saying yes he is certified in 1A, which is one and two family dwellings and 1B, which is commercial.
Mr. Rimer said that staff wanted to make the amendments to the code before the proposed high school begins construction. He believes that the school district is interested in working under the new codes.
Mr. Rimer said that when the state promulgates the rules of the U.C.C. then the township would let the state know that revisions were made. He said that in the meantime this puts the township with the current code. This benefits code enforcement and the builders.
Mr. Rimer stated that Mr. Arndt went through and reviewed some of the township’s standards and made suggestions on better ways of enforcing or applying the building code to his work.
Mr. Millard asked why under Section 101.4.4, the provisions of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code was deleted. Mr. Rimer responded by saying that the township uses Act 537 instead.
Mr. Ziltz asked if plumbing requirements are covered somewhere else. Mr. Rimer said that the township uses the International Plumbing Code. Mr. Rimer stated that the BOCA Building Code 2000 cross-references other building codes and they are all tied together.
Mr. Arndt discussed the many additions, insertions and changes to the International Building Code. He called the Board’s attention to Section 115.1.2 which he added to the code to state that “it shall be unlawful for the Owner of any dwelling unit or structure who has received a compliance order upon whom a notice of violation has been served to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of to another until the provisions of the compliance order or notice of violation have been complied with, or until such owner shall furnish the grantee, transferee, mortgage or lessee a true copy of any compliance order or notice of violation issued by the Code Enforcement Officer and shall furnish to the Code Enforcement Officer a signed and notarized statement to the grantee, transferee, mortgage or lessee, acknowledging the receipt of such compliance order or notice of violation and fully accepting the responsibility without condition for making the correction or repairs required by such compliance order or notice of violation.”
Mr. Arndt said that he added this section so that if someone builds a house and decides not to finish it within one-year requirement, he would have the opportunity to proceed with enforcement. If the owner decides to sell the house they must disclose to the new owner how much time they have left, what has been done on the property, what remains on the property and what the building permit was issued for. Mr. Rimer stated that means that if there is a violation notice the new owner must be notified and is obligated make the corrections or repairs.
Mr. Jones stated that they are customizing the code for their own use to which Mr. Arndt agreed. Mr. Rimer said that the new codes are listed as amendments.
Mr. Jones asked if the people are advised that there are certain provisions to the code when they come in for a building permit. Mr. Arndt said that they have an opportunity to ask questions about the International Building Code but they are not advised about the township’s amendments. Mr. Rimer said that it is up to the builder to know what the township’s ordinances are.
Considerable discussion ensued concerning the need to require heat detectors, and smoke detectors. He also is recommending that fire caulking for single family dwellings meet ASTM-E-136.
Chapter 103 – International Fire Code – Authorize Advertisement for Select Amendments to the Code for Adoption –
Mr. Arndt stated that they are deleting the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code 1999 and proposing to adopt International Fire Code 2000.
Chapter 148 – Property Maintenance Code – Authorize Advertisement for Select Amendments to the Code for Adoption –
Mr. Arndt stated that he is updating the current 1998 Property Maintenance Code. He is proposing to adopt the International Property Maintenance Code, second edition, 2000.
Mr. Arndt proposes to delete the wording in Section 604.2 that states that “every dwelling shall be served by a main service that is less than 60 amperes, three wire”. He would like to insert “every dwelling shall be served by a main service that is not less than 100 amperes, three wire.”
He would like to add Section 604.2.1, “when upgrading, adding, or altering any main service, the entire structure shall meet the 2000 National Electrical Code Standards.”
Mr. Arndt went on to explain that the wires in the walls would not have to be changed. The exposed wires in the basement, if it is knob and tube wiring, must be changed to non-metallic cable. Mr. Arndt said that is dangerous. Mr. Jones disagreed.
Mr. Millard feels if somebody wants to upgrade their box and has to change the wiring in their whole house it will cause a hardship for them.
Mr. Arndt said that if you have 200-amp service coming in and the panel goes bad, then you don’t have to upgrade the service, just change the panel box.
Mr. Millard doesn’t understand why the house is more dangerous if you put in a 200-amp service than when the house had a 60-amp service. Mr. Arndt said that it was dangerous before. The upgrade is needed because the 60-amp service was overloaded. When the 60-amp service was upgraded, what overloaded it was still present. Mr. Millard said that what was overloading the service is all of the wires were coming into one fuse. Now it is spread out and there is one breaker for every wire.
Mr. Arndt then said that section could be deleted. Mr. Jones said that was fine.
Chapter 79 – Building Code of Appeals –
Mr. Rimer stated that the Code Enforcement Officer is requesting that the Board consider an ordinance establishing a Township Building Codes Appeals Board. The International Building Code recommends having a Board of Appeals. The Building Code Board of Appeals shall exist to hear all appeals concerning codes on matters concerning the safety of buildings, structures and the general health, safety and welfare of the community.
The Board shall consist of three members who are qualified by experience and or training in the building construction industry who may or may not be residents of West Hanover Township. The members shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors for a three year term in such an order that at least one member’s term shall expire annually. The members shall serve without pay and vacancies in such board, occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term, shall be filled by the Board of Supervisors for the unexpired term in the same manner as original appointment. The International Building Code allows for alternates and the removal or disqualification of members due to conflict of interest.
Mr. Rimer feels that a fee should be charged for an appeal to cover expenses. There is no requirement for a solicitor.
Mrs. Zimmerman asked how many surrounding townships have a Board of Appeals. Mr. Arndt said that none do. She asked in matters concerning the safety of buildings, structures, and the general health, safety and welfare of the community why would there be a need for an appeal if there is a question about it. She asked why Mr. Arndt couldn’t take care of it. Mr. Arndt is the specialist in this field. Mr. Rimer said that people need a right to appeal. She asked if this would be a shortcut for developers. Mr. Rimer said no. Mrs. Zimmerman stated that if they are going to adopt a code then there should be no question.
Mr. Millard feels that the township needs to be careful whom they appoint to the Board of Appeals and make sure that the members don’t have a conflict of interest.
Mrs. Zimmerman has no objections to having a Board of Appeals and she feels that it would not be needed often.
The Board would like to review the material and make a decision at a later date.
TA – Clean-up
Report – Steve Millard –
Mr. Millard presented the members of the Board with a report that he had compiled on the wells used by the truck stops in the township. He stated that DEP supplied him with fact sheets concerning leak detection. He said that DEP also supplied data on the histories of the well tables. The wells were monitored by DEP. The report depicted the depth of the wells and the contaminants in the water. He stated that some of the wells contained petroleum. Considerable discussion ensued.
Mrs. Zimmerman asked why there was nothing written in the Patriot News about the contaminated wells in that area. Mr. Millard said that DEP does not inform the public about the amount of contaminants that are found in the wells at the truck stops. Mr. Millard said that the Travel Center was the worst offender.
Mr. Millard suggested having another workshop meeting to go over the report in more detail.
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman to adjourn the meeting at 9:45 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Respectively submitted,
Steve Millard
Secretary/Treasurer
Transcribed by P. Marks