WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112

MONDAY, APRIL 8, 2002, 6 P.M.

JOINT WORKSHOP MEETING

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Jones called the April 8, 2002 informal workshop meeting to order at 6 p.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT

Board of Supervisors

Robert Jones, Chairman

Robert Ziltz, Vice Chairman

Stephen Millard, Secretary/Treasurer

Gloria Zimmerman, Supervisor

Earl Hoffman, Supervisor

Environmental Advisory Committee

Patti Estheimer, Chairman

Carol Buskirk, Vise Chairman

John Miele, Secretary/Treasurer

Robert Garland

Robert Feathers

Debra Kirkpatrick

Susan Brockman

OTHERS PRESENT

Michael Rimer

Jon Yost

WORKSHOP BUSINESS FOR DISCUSSION

Review of EAC Activities

Ms. Estheimer provided the Board with a 2001 Annual Report. She summarized the programs and projects that the EAC had to offer.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that the Christmas tree and motor oil recycling programs are greatly appreciated by the residents of the township.

Mrs. Estheimer said that the tire-recycling program was a success. Township residents paid a small fee to get rid of their tires. The residents recycled 16 tons of scrap tires at a cost to the township of $30.50. The tires were collected by Mahantango Enterprises of Liverpool, Pa. and were ground into crumb rubber for use in play areas, asphalt and other products. She said that the program would not be repeated this year because their focus will be on hazardous household waste. She said that they might offer the tire-recycling program again next year.

Mr. Jones stated that there is a warehouse on South Cameron Street in Harrisburg where the residents may take their old used tires to recycle them. He said he would find out more information about the warehouse. He said that a resident of the township, Clarence Bivens, owns Wimmer Tire Service. He stated that Mr. Bivens might be able to provide the names of places that would buy old tires.

Mrs. Zimmerman stated that she recently heard about a nearby township that held a tire-recycling program for its residents. She said that because mosquitoes breed in old tires and pose a threat of West Nile disease, the township received grant money to conduct the program. Mrs. Estheimer said she contacted DEP to find out if there was grant money available for municipalities to help fund the tire-recycling program and she was told there was no grant money available.

Mrs. Estheimer said that there are concerns about the curbside recycling program. She said people are co-mingling their recyclables with regular trash. She said there is a lot of trash on the roadways from milk jugs and soda bottles falling out of the backs of the trash trucks. She contacted Waste Management about the problem but has not seen an improvement.

Mrs. Zimmerman said a letter was sent to Waste Management regarding the situation.

Mr. Jones asked Mrs. Estheimer where residents could purchase the green recycling cans. Mrs. Estheimer said that the township had a grant for the green cans when the recycling program started. She said the cans could be purchased through Waste Management for five dollars.

Considerable discussion ensued about the recycling program.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that the EAC updated their Curbside Recycling and Stepping Lightly brochures.

She said that the EAC also produced brochures for the Scenic West Hanover Photo Contest.

Mrs. Buskirk did a review of the Agricultural Security area in the township and held an informational meeting to discuss farmland programs in the township.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that the EAC web page is up and running and loaded with valuable environmental information and links.

Mrs. Estheimer said that Ann Hutchinson, of Natural Lands Trust, gave a Growing Greener Codes Assessment presentation.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that the EAC participated in the Festival 2001 and Local Government Open House. She said the EAC is sponsoring a photo contest for residents. The Scenic West Hanover Photo Contest is a yearlong project that will end in October 2002. The program was established as a way to get the residents involved in their community and to create an inventory, in pictures, of West Hanover’s special places. Mrs. Zimmerman would like the photos to be displayed at the township office. Mrs. Estheimer said that the Pennsylvania Environmental Council saw the Patriot News coverage of the Scenic West Hanover Photo Contest and placed it on their web cast on the Internet.

Mrs. Estheimer said that the EAC and the township joined the Businesses for the Bay program. The Businesses for the Bay program is a voluntary program for businesses, government facilities and other organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The objective is to prevent pollution through a variety of measures that are set out by the Businesses for the Bay that reduce or eliminate the waste at its source. In addition to the environmental benefits for the bay, it also provides organizations with some money saving measures. She said the EAC would like to hold a seminar in the future with the Businesses for the Bay and local businesses.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that Susquehanna River Basin Commission Grant Program was applied for and received by the EAC to fund installation of PennDOT approved signs for stream names. The signs would be installed on the state roads only.

Mrs. Estheimer said that at Dixie Fesig’s request, the EAC designed five landscape plans for the entrance signs at the township’s parks. The landscape plans were designed using native plants that don’t need a lot of maintenance.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that a Chapter 102 (E & S) Workshop was held in August with Dauphin County Conservation District, the Planning Commission, the Board of Supervisors, local developers, the township engineer and local environmental professionals. The purpose of the workshop was to review the Chapter 102 regulations and learn how the county reviews land development plans under Chapter 102 regulations. She stated that the workshop was very informative.

Mrs. Estheimer stated that an EAC promotional video was filmed last November by Greenworks TV. The Pennsylvania Environmental Council requested the EAC to participate because the West Hanover Township EAC is one of the most active and successful EACs in the state. The video, which was filmed in West Hanover Township, will be scheduled for the Greenworks web cast this year.

For the year 2001, Mrs. Estheimer stated that the EAC reviewed 35 subdivisions and land development plans. They provided important perspectives on natural resource protection or enhancement in relationship to the township’s land use decisions.

Mr. Rimer said that the EAC is involved with the subdivision and land development plans from the very beginning of the process.

Mrs. Estheimer said that the EAC provides articles to the township newsletter on an ongoing basis.

Discussion ensued about the process of the review of subdivision and land development plans. Mrs. Estheimer stated that the EAC prefers that the developers present a sketch or a concept plan for the EAC to review before they begin any engineering or design work. She would like to have the ordinance revised so that the developers are required to do so. Mr. Jones said the developer should meet with the EAC after they do a preliminary survey of the property and after they locate the wetlands and streams. He stated that it is better to meet with the EAC upfront because it would save them from having to redo the plans later.

Mr. Yost suggested that when a developer asks what is the first step for developing a property in West Hanover Township, the zoning officer should inform them to consult with the Environmental Advisory Committee. The developer should do an environmental assessment of the property.

Mr. Jones stated that he did not want to make it difficult for a property owner to develop. He would like to encourage the developer to design a nice plan. The EAC should review the sketch plan before the developer invests a lot of money in the project.

Considerable discussion ensued regarding the benefits of the developer meeting with the EAC as the first step to developing a property in West Hanover Township before it goes to the Planning Commission.

PUBLIC COMMENTS - None

SUPERVISORS’ COMMENTS

Mr. Ziltz. – Mr. Ziltz left the meeting due to a previous commitment.

Mrs. Zimmerman. – Mrs. Zimmerman stated that the meeting was a great opportunity for both of the boards to get together. She stated that she wants the other committees to feel that they can go to the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Supervisors could go to the other committees and meet in the middle with ideas.

Mr. Hoffman. – Mr. Hoffman had no comments.

Mr. Millard. – Mr. Millard asked Ms. Brockman about the issue of the well pollution at the truck stops. Ms. Brockman stated that she is on the advisory committee for the Dauphin County Conservation District and their main concern is groundwater. Ms. Brockman said that the Dauphin County Conservation District was in the process of reorganizing and did not have the opportunity to address the truck stop issue.

Mr. Jones. – Mr. Jones stated that a letter was sent from the EAC to DEP on township letterhead. He stated that before a letter is sent on township letterhead, the EAC should consult with the Board of Supervisors or the township manager. He said that there was a lack of communication between the two boards. He would like to have more meetings in the future to help improve communication between the boards.

ADJOURNMENT

The joint meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Respectively submitted,

Steve Millard

Secretary/Treasurer

Transcribed by Peggy Marks