WEST HANOVER TOWNSHIP BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
7171 ALLENTOWN
BOULEVARD, HARRISBURG, PA 17112
MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2003
CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 p.m.
Chairman
Jones called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
The Pledge of Allegiance was followed by an invocation offered by Mrs.
Zimmerman.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC COMMENT
Beth Carricato, 699 Knight Rd. Ms. Carricato
questioned whether Cumulus Media appealed the decision of the Zoning Hearing
Board. The time limit for filing an
appeal is not up yet. She asked whether
there would be a public hearing on the amendments to the animal ordinance. Currently both the animal ordinance
amendments and the tower related amendments are still in the discussion and
drafting stage. A public hearing on
both will be advertised and held at a later date.
PRESENTATIONS/STAFF REPORTS
Parks and Recreation. Ms. Fesig reported to the Board the inclusion of a report on the
soda issue in the parks later on the agenda.
She is recommending the full-service package where the company supplies
the machine, performs maintenance, refills the machines, and turns over 25% of
the profit to the Township. Ms. Fesig
reported the marquee was delivered today and should be fully installed by the
end of the month. The summer playground
starts June 16. Enrollment in the 3 to
5 year old is 20 children; in K through 6 program there are 79 children
enrolled. Mr. Millard asked about the
letter in correspondence addressing various park considerations. The Park and Rec Board has not seen the
letter yet. It will be presented at the
meeting on Wednesday evening. The first
item dealt with the parking on Alva Dr., which was a direct result of a
complaint received by the Board of Supervisors. The second item concerned use of the concession stands at the
parks. A request was received to use
the concession stand in addition to the field, which was properly reserved in advance. The complaint was that the group had to ask
the Baseball Association to use the concession stand. If the stand is Township property, why is the Baseball
Association in control and receiving all profits from use of Township
property? There was also some confusion
over the reservation fee and donation to the Township being diverted to the
Baseball Association. Ms. Fesig also
reported on ongoing contract negotiations with the Funeral Director
Association. The proposed contract will
be ready for Solicitor Yost to review prior to the next meeting on July 7,
2003.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Hanoverdale Church of the Brethren Zoning Text
Amendment. Please see transcript. Mr. Millard moved, seconded by
Mr. Ziltz and Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve the text amendment for the Hanoverdale
Hamlet District, Sections 195-46.B., adding the sentence “All nonresidential
uses except churches are subject to the following building area
regulations.” Motion passed
unanimously.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Workshop meeting – June 2, 2003. Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve
the workshop minutes of June 2, 2003, as presented. Motion passed with Mr. Ziltz abstaining.
Regular meeting – June 2, 2003. Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to approve
the minutes of June 2, 2003, as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
Workshop meeting – June 9, 2003. Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve
the workshop minutes of June 9, 2003, as presented. Motion passed with Mr. Jones abstaining. There was a request to send these
minutes to the Fire Company.
TREASURER’S REPORT (· Need Approval)
Mr. Millard
read the Treasurer’s report:
Mr.
Millard identified the following prepaid expenditures:
Vouchers prepaid to meet due
dates $2,710.57
Total prepaid expenditures $29,716.77
Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to
approve the prepaid expenditures as presented.
Motion passed unanimously.
Vouchers to be approved $64,453.04
The
Diana Reed accounting invoice is for actual services only. There was a request for a summary of
activity of Delta Development. There
was a clarification of the HRG bills that are being paid from the Exit 77
fund. The tax withholding update
invoice from Capital Computer was a result of the tax cut recently passed by
Congress. Mr. Jones
moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Financial
Statement, May, 2003. No discussion.
PLANNING COMMISSION REPORTS AND PLANS
#01.010, F/LD Vartan Bank, Clover Lane &
Allentown Boulevard. Received Time
Extension from May 2, 2003, for 90 days to July 31, 2003. Action of BOS by July 21, 2003.
Preliminary SD/LD plan for
Mapleton Grove,
Tax Parcel 68-028-035. Received time
extension to Aug. 18, 2003. Action of
BOS by August 18, 2003
OLD BUSINESS
Project/Program Status Report. Mr. Rimer reported on the installation of jersey barriers and a large sign at the side entrance at the Gables Truck Stop. He also reminded the Board of the Comp Plan Public Meeting on Monday, June 23, 2003, at 7 PM. There also was a transposition of the last entries under the Swatara Township Sewage Capacity project and the LPTA Use of Interceptor effort.
Sexually Oriented Businesses Zoning Amendments – Sections 195-10 & 195-177. This item was previously tabled for review by Solicitor Yost. He had no additions to make to the proposed ordinance. There was a discussion about a seeming conflict regarding the size and number of the manager’s stations. Mrs. Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to adopt Ordinance 2003-09 as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Authorize Easement on Township Property – McNaughton Homes. Mr. McNaughton, Tim Mellott of Mellott Engineering, and Mr. Charles Swalley of Mette, Evans and Woodside presented the request for an easement for a gravity sewer line across Township property in order to eliminate the need for another pump station. In order to minimize potential future conflicts with the use of the Township property, both the line and the manhole will be installed deeper than normal. Comments have been received from Township Engineer Al Brulo however there was concern about the openness of the statement that the owners of the tract would be responsible for the costs of any relocation of the line. Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorize the Township Engineer and the Township Solicitor to work with the applicant, McNaughton Homes, to develop an easement agreement across Township property to serve the Weller tract. Motion passed unanimously. There was limited discussion of the concept plans for the Township property. The consensus of the Board was to share these concept plans with the public.
Resolution 2003-37 - Appoint New Member to EAC for Seat #3. This item was tabled due to lack of candidates.
Illicit Discharge and Connection Storm Water Ordinance. Comments have been received from both the Township Engineer and Bob Cristoff of DCED. No comments have been received from DEP. There was concern that the proposed ordinance was not ready for a public hearing as voted on at the last meeting. The consensus of the Board was to move forward with the public hearing.
Amendments to Chapter 67 – “Animals” in Township General Code of Ordinances. There was a continuation of the discussion started during the workshop session. Mr. Arndt restated that to effectively enforce disturbing the peace there must be a time limit on barking. The consensus of the Board was to eliminate any time specifications. The Board also determined to include a new section, 67-8.A., limiting the number of pets to 5 per household except for farms, kennels, animal services or animal hospitals with an approved zoning permit. Mr. Ziltz moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to set Aug. 4, 2003, at 7:15 PM as the date for a public hearing on Ordinance 2003-04, amendments to Chapter 67, Animals. Motion passed unanimously.
DRAFT – Tower Related Zoning Amendment Text. Mr. Bob Leonard, Zoning Administrator, presented amendments to ordinances relating to towers. The amendments include new definitions, areas of the township, appropriate setbacks, conditional uses, etc. Representatives from Cumulus Media, Ron Giovella, Dave Suplee, and Buddy Sanders, were in the audience. They explained some of the current standards and stated that there has never been a collapse of a self-supporting tower in the US. They recommended the ordinance be flexible so the setback equals the percentage of the fall zone of a specific height tower. There was a great deal of discussion on all the articles of the draft. Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mrs. Zimmerman, to authorize the Township to send the draft amendment to the Planning Commission and the Dauphin County Planning Commission for comments and set Aug. 4, 2003, at 7:15 PM as the date for a public hearing on Ordinance 2003-12,Tower related zoning amendment. Motion passed unanimously.
Consent Items. Mrs.
Zimmerman moved, seconded by Mr. Ziltz, to approve the following
consent items.
2.
Authorizing
Execution of Final Solid Waste and Recycling Agreement with Waste Management,
Inc.
Motion passed unanimously.
Authorize Township Park Soda Machine Proposals for
2003. Ms. Fesig recommended the contract be
awarded to Pepsi Cola. Mr. Ziltz
moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorize the Township to sign the contract
for a full service agreement with Pepsi Cola.
Motion passed unanimously.
Authorize Execution of Fire Services Study Contract
– Ted Tocterman. The contract was just
received today. The item was tabled for
review by the Fire Company at their next Company meeting.
Review and Concurrence with House Bill 651 - Language to initiate road
swap and “turn back” of roads between Township to PENNDOT. Central Dauphin School District is exploring
a variety of avenues of funding the improvements to Piketown Rd. agreed upon in
conjunction with the construction of the new high school. This issue is to authorize a bill to be
created to permit a road swap transfer.
This transfer would entail the Township swapping a portion of Piketown
Rd. (a Township road) for a portion of a state road in the Township (for
example Oak Grove Road). This would
make PennDot responsible for the improvements to the road. Some of the concerns include the time frame,
assurances the road would be built, the scope of the project, and what roads
would be swapped. The general consensus
of the Board was a definite maybe.
Resolution – 2003-42 Establishing Fire Tax Fund
Capital Reserve Fund. This issue was discussed with
the Fire Company and the resolution is a direct result of their request. Mr. Millard moved, seconded by Mr.
Ziltz, to pass Resolution 2003-42, authorizing a Fire Tax Fund Capital Reserve
fund. Motion passed unanimously. There was a request to send this resolution
to the Fire Company.
CORRESPONDENCE
Request for meeting from Dr. Hasson, CDSD.
Mr. Fred Weiser, a Fishing Creek Valley School student parent, spoke to
the Board about his concerns on the closing of the school and announced a
parental meeting on the closing on June 18, 2003. He also informed the Board that a group of parents are examining
the School Board’s budget line by line.
After initially receiving cooperation, they now feel they are being
stonewalled. Mr. Rimer clarified the
comments made during the workshop session about the Township threatening to
close the school. The Township received
a complaint about safety issues at the school: chains on the exit doors, doors
not opening from the inside, and roof leakage onto an electrical panel. A notice of violation was issued which
resulted in a quick response from the building maintenance staff. It was a very forward, open process that
continues. There was no citation issued
and no threats of closing anything. Ms.
Marcie Osborn, also a parent, addressed the Board about the last School Board
meeting where there were many negative comments made about West Hanover
Township. Mr. Rimer reported the
following proposed dates for a meeting with Central Dauphin School District:
July 8, 9, 10, 28, 29, 30 or 31. It was
noted that all these dates are after June 23, the date for adoption of the
School District budget for the 2003-04 school year. The feeling was that a meeting after June 23 would serve no
purpose. The Board asked Mr. Rimer to
attempt to schedule a meeting prior to June 23. If that is unsuccessful then the next earliest date.
OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE BOARD
On behalf of Ms. Fesig, Park and Rec coordinator,
Mr. Rimer requested approval to hire 2 additional counselors for the Summer
Playground program. Mr. Ziltz
moved, seconded by Mr. Millard, to authorize the hiring of 2 additional
playground counselors. Motion passed
unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Linda Turns, 8000 Rabbit
Lane. Ms. Turns
questioned what the Township is getting in return for granting an easement to
McNaughton Homes.
Bill Oystermyer, 7936 S.
Appleby Way. Mr.
Oystermyer stated that towers should not be allowed in the conservation
district. He also stated that barking
dogs are becoming a problem in the Township and the ordinance should address
the issue.
SUPERVISORS COMMENTS
Mrs. Zimmerman. Mrs. Zimmerman stated she thinks the School
District knew for quite some time there were problems at Fishing Creek Valley
School.
Mr. Millard. Mr. Millard asked about the Township mission
statement. It appears throughout the
Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Ziltz. Mr. Ziltz asked about the HRG reports
accompanying the invoices for Exit 77 work.
These reports are duplicated and sent to both PennDot and DCED on a
quarterly basis to account for funds spent.
He then addressed the school issue by stating that it appears the School
Board is fed up with West Hanover Township.
He also stated there appeared to be no maintenance at West Hanover
Elementary. The School Board assumed
that waivers for portions of the West Hanover Township ordinances would be
granted and when they were not the blame was placed on the Township for delays
and cost overruns. The several times
the School District appeared before the Board of Supervisors, they were poorly
prepared, unable to answer appropriate questions, and did not offer viable
alternatives. Mr. Ziltz did also
caution that there were only 2 school board members here and not to assume they
spoke for the entire school board. He
also clarified the total permitting fee costs:
Building
permit fee $227,668.00
Zoning
permit fees $117,705.00
Electrical
permit fees $18,932.00
Plumbing
permit fees $898.00
Total
permit costs $365,203.00
ADJOURNMENT. 10:20 PM