WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

7171 ALLENTOWN BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA  17112

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2002

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Chairman Jones called the November 18, 2002, regular meeting of the West Hanover Township Board of Supervisors to order at 7:00 PM.  Mrs. Zimmerman delivered an invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

ROLL CALL

 

Robert Jones, Chairman                                          Gloria Zimmerman, Supervisor

Robert Ziltz, Vice Chairman                                    Earl Hoffman, Supervisor

Stephen Millard, Secretary/Treasurer         

 

PUBLIC COMMENT – (Agenda Items Only).  None.

 

PUBLIC HEARING/MEETINGS.  None

 

PRESENTATIONS, STAFF/COMMITTE REPORTS

 

Review of Copy Center Project Plans – Bob Stanley – CET Architectural.  Architectural drawings of the new workroom were presented.  These will be used to initiate the building permit and the bid process.  Funds were included in the 2003 budget for the project.  Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to move forward and seek bids for the project.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Capt. Marcantino, Commander, State Police Troop H.  The Captain has instituted a policy of a supervisor or commander attending every Supervisor meeting to be available to assist the Township in any way needed.  He also stated the next Citizen’s Police Academy will begin in February.  Several Supervisors and members of the audience addressed concerns of speeding on Township roads and vandalism.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

Regular meeting – November 4, 2002.  There was a question that Resolution 2002-8A passed at the last meeting was not in compliance with state law.  Mr. Yost stated that the state law preempts any local ordinances.  Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Workshop meeting – November 11, 2002.  Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve the minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

TREASURER’S REPORT   (· Need Approval)

 

Mr. Millard read the Treasurer’s report:

 

General Fund Balance as of November 15, 2002                                  $625,744.28

Total Liquid Fuels Balance as of November 15, 2002                           $553,652.05

 

Mr. Millard identified the following prepaid expenditures:

 

Payroll, November 15, 2002       Net:  $14,915.66          Gross payroll:  $21,618.63

Vouchers prepaid to meet due dates                                                                $0.00

                                          Total prepaid expenditures                 $21,618.63

 

Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Hoffman, to approve the prepaid expenditures of $21,618.63.  Motion passed unanimously

 

Vouchers to be approved                                                                       $48,714.25

 

There were two vouchers added to the list:  Harold Arndt for mileage reimbursement of $182.10, and the UGI bill for the Public Works shop of $261.56.  Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Hoffman, to approve the appended vouchers of $49,157.91.  Motion passed unanimously

 

Financial Statement, October, 2002.  No discussion.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS AND PLANS

 

#01.010, F/LD Vartan Bank, Clover Lane & Allentown Boulevard (Received Time Extension until December 3, 2002, Action by November 18, 2002).  The Board received an extension of an additional 60 days for consideration of the Land Development Plan.  The new deadline will be Feb. 1, requiring action by Jan. 21, 2002.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Project/Program Status Report.  Several ordinances changes and amendments will be ready for consideration before the end of the year.

 

Reconsideration of Text Amendment, Zoning Ordinance for Schools.  The text amendment proposed is a result of previous revisions and is accompanied by a current letter from the Dauphin County Planning Commission.  There was much discussion on the proposed distance for trees.  The amendment proposes clustering the trees and planting them within one hundred feet of the street and/or parking lot instead of the current five feet.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Jones, to approve the new text amendment as presented.  Motion defeated with Mrs. Zimmerman, Mr. Millard, and Mr. Hoffman voting against the motion.

 

Re-Authorize Leasing Company for Vehicle Purchase.  It was reported to the Board that Town and Country leasing was informed by Ford Motor Credit that the title must be put in the Township name rather than the name of the leasing company.  This precludes Town and Country Leasing to provide leasing services to us.  Mr. Jones moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to authorize leasing of the two administrative vehicles through Ford Credit Corporation.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Township Building Reservation Fees.  This item was tabled to 12-2-02.

 

Authorize Expenditure Sewer System/Flow Meter Monitoring.  Mr. Rimer has met with Mark Salisbury, Water and Sewer Authority Director, to review plans for the flow meter.  In addition to the purchase of the flow meter, there must be an allowance for monthly monitoring.  Due to the low flow in the area the American Sigma Flow Meter 920 is the appropriate model.  CET Engineering has quoted a price of $7,744 for the meter and appropriate monitoring.  Mr. Rimer is waiting for a cost estimate from HRG.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Hoffman, to table this item until the December 2, 2002 meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

BOS Conference Authorization Twp. Code Section 607. (4).  There was some discussion on the appropriateness of the Township paying for workshops/training for the Tax Collector.  Money has been appropriated for this purpose.  Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard to authorize attendance for the following individuals:  Sharon Cassel (Park and Recreation Board) – American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Course; Dixie Fesig – Playground Safety and Design Workshop; Mary Ann Kelemen – Basic Training and Examination for Municipal Tax Collector Qualification; Mary Ann Kelemen – Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics; and Michael Rimer – GIS Program.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Authorize Advertisement of Tentative Budget for 2003.  The budget is balanced, without the need to raise taxes.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to advertise the proposed budget for 2003 with final passage at the Dec. 16, 2002 meeting.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Resolution 2002-57, Appointment to Planning Commission Seat #5.  At a previous meeting the resignation of Douglas Moore was accepted.  Three candidates have expressed an interest in the position:  Tom Mellott, Marlin Moyer, and Linda Turns.  Ms. Turns is ineligible for the position because a member of the Zoning Hearing Board cannot serve on any other boards in the Township.  Mr. Ziltz moved to appoint Mr. Mellott to seat 5 of the Planning Commission.  Mr. Millard moved to appoint Mr. Moyer to seat 5 of the Planning Commission.  Two Supervisors voted for Mr. Mellott: Mr. Jones and Mr. Ziltz.  Three Supervisors voted for Mr. Moyer: Mrs. Zimmerman, Mr. Millard, and Mr. Hoffman.  Mr. Moyer was appointed to fill seat 5.

 

Resolution 2002-58, Purchase and Ownership of Tax Collection Equipment.  At the budget workshop there was discussion of the Township purchase and ownership of the computer equipment and software used by the Tax Collector.  This would ensure continuity through any transition of the position.  It was also specified that the equipment should be used for Tax Collection purposes only.  Funds for new computer equipment and a software upgrade were included in the budget for 2003.  Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve Resolution 2002-58 with the addition of a paragraph stating, “Be it further resolved, that the West Hanover Township Board of Supervisors authorize the Solicitor and the Township Manager to prepare any necessary agreements and complete any related applications and amendment documents to implement this resolution.”  Motion passed three to two with Mr. Jones and Mr. Ziltz voting against.

 

Resolution 2002-59, Services Agreement for West Hanover Township Tax Collector.  At the workshop meeting Mrs. Kelemen, Tax Collector, requested participation in the township health insurance plan.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve Resolution 2002-59.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Authorize 2002/03 Window Cleaning Contract – Northeastern Building Maintenance.  Mr. Rimer presented the contract proposal for window cleaning for 2003.  Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to authorize the window-cleaning contract.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Review Sample Open Records Policy – Act 100 – Authorize Preparation of Township Policy for 12-4-02.  Act 100 has been authorized by the Commonwealth which necessitates the Township reviewing its policies.  Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorized the preparation of a resolution for the Open Records policy.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Authorize Sonitrol Contract Amendment for Radio Back-up of Security System.  Mr. Rimer presented information from the Township security company, Sonitrol, on radio back up to the current telephone system.  The general consensus of the Board was to pass on the opportunity.

 

Authorize Sale of Township Equipment.  Mr. Harmon would like approval to sell the following surplus equipment:  94 Ford pick up box bed, 96 Monroe box spreader, and an old military trailer.  Mr. Hoffman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorize the sale of Township equipment as soon as possible.  Motion passed unanimously.

 

Improvement Guarantee Reduction-Lower Paxton Soccer Association Road Cut.  Mr. Brulo did not recommend complete release of the improvement guarantee, as requested, due to the top wearing course is not installed correctly.  Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Hoffman, to release $21,661.25 to the Lower Paxton Soccer Association.  Motion passed three to one with Mr. Jones voting against and Mr. Ziltz abstaining.

 

Street light requests for service.  Mr. Rimer looked to the Board for recommendations on handling installation requests from PPL for streetlights in new developments.  He inquired whether the Supervisors wanted to vote on these requests as they did with requests for new fire hydrants, or allow the manager to handle them administratively.  There was a great deal of discussion on the issue of billing prior to assessment on the tax billing.  This will be brought before the Board at the next meeting.

 

CORRESPONDENCE. 

 

There was discussion about the report from Delta Development and the Exit 77 project moving forward.

 

There was discussion on the letter from the Victim/Witness Assistance program and the desire to have input into the community service assigned to an offender.

 

OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE BOARD

 

Mrs. Zimmerman requested permission to use funds from the Supervisors budget to purchase centerpieces for the Christmas Party.  She was advised to turn in the receipt.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Don Steinmeier, 11 N. Fairville Ave.  Mr. Steinmeier commended the Board for holding taxes down and recommended that this be included in the next newsletter.

 

SUPERVISORS COMMENTS

 

Mr. Millard.  Mr. Millard questioned that status of a sign in front of the Dermody property.  Mr. Rimer advised that a marquee sign has been ordered and also they are redesigning the access to the front booth.  He also asked about the TA contribution to Exit 77.  Nothing has been received to this date.  He requested the three lot subdivision and open space time requirement be added to the project list.

 

Mrs. Zimmerman.  Mrs. Zimmerman related an incident on Piketown Rd. in school construction area.  She advised that subcontractors be notified of proper marking of the road.

 

Mr. Jones.  Mr. Jones asked Mr. Yost to look into the transfer tax issue on the Pilot property transfer.  He also asked about the Windish property and the follow-up by Harold.  Mr. Jones requested a road inspection and to look over the Public Works shop for spacing for the new storage facility.  The workshop was tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9:00 AM.

 

ADJOURNMENT:  9:30 PM