The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 18017 was called to order by Chairman John N. Diacogiannis at the Hanover Township Municipal Building, 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18017 at 7:30 P.M.

 

            Present were Supervisors Colon, Salvesen, Nagle and Walbert, Engineer Birdsall, Solicitor Broughal, and Township Manager John J. Finnigan, Jr. Public Works Director Kevin Healy was plowing snow and not present.

 

            The Pledge of Allegiance was performed.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Nagle, seconded by Mr. Salvesen, the Board approved the Agenda, with the deletion of the Executive Session.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Nagle, seconded by Mr. Colon, the Board approved the minutes, as written, from the meeting of the Board of Supervisors dated January 22, 2008.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

            Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Walbert, the Board approved the List of Bills and Transfers dated February 12, 2008 as prepared by the Secretary/Treasurer, and to enter the signed List of Bills by the Secretary/Treasurer and the Board of Supervisors as an attachment to the minutes.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

            Mr. Jerry Leighty of 1641 Allen Circle was present to discuss trash collection and the reasoning for breaking out the trash amount from the real estate tax bill and billing the trash and recycling separately. Mr. Leighty distributed a spreadsheet labeled “Obligation (Taxes) to Hanover Township”.

            Mr. Diacogiannis responded to Mr. Leighty.

            Mr. Nagle responded to Mr. Leighty in regards to fairness and assessment.

 

            Mr. Albert Young of Wellesley Road was present regarding Trash Collection/Taxes.

            Mr. Walbert responded to Mr. Young.

            Mr. Diacogiannis directed the Township Manager to get the information requested to Mr. Young.

           

            Mr. Don Loring of Lord Byron Drive was present to comment on informing of the residents about these changes.

            Mr. Finnigan responded to Mr. Loring.

            Mr. Diacogiannis responded and spoke about the letter he sent to the residents.

           

 

 

PLANNING & ZONING

            Mr. Walbert introduced the Petition for Zoning Variance for a sign at PNC Bank – 10 Stoke Park Road in the Limited Business District.

            Mr. Finnigan explained the requested variance.

            The Board agreed to let the Zoning Hearing Board take care of the request.

 

            A discussion was held on the Draft Floodplain Ordinance.

            Mr. Birdsall explained the details of the draft; the impact is relatively small due to few Township properties being in the 100-year floodplain.

            Mr. Walbert asked about sending the draft to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

            Mr. Broughal asked the Board to allow him to meet with Mr. Birdsall to discuss some issues and get everything worked out before it goes to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.

            Mr. Diacogiannis responded and directed the staff to work on this and then have others like the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission give their input.

 

PUBLIC WORKS

            Mr. Salvesen moved to authorize the Township Manager to enter into an agreement with Gran Turk Equipment Co., Inc. for the purchase of a yard waste vehicle in the amount of $128,608.16.

            Mr. Colon seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

ADMINISTRATION

            Mr. Nagle moved to authorize the Chairman and Secretary to sign the Site Plan Improvements Agreement, Site Plan Maintenance Agreement, and Declaration of Covenant and Agreement for Maintenance of Stormwater Management Facilities for Northgate II Lot 3/Airport Commons Office Complex.

            Mr. Colon seconded the motion.

            Mr. Birdsall noted for the record that the plans may also be signed if security has been supplied to the Township by the Developer.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Nagle moved to authorize the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and Secretary to sign the Municipal Recycling Program Grant Agreement between the (PA) Department of Environmental Protection and Hanover Township.

Mr. Colon seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Nagle moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the Animal Services Agreement between Northampton County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/CAHW and Hanover Township.

Mr. Colon seconded the motion.

Mr. Finnigan explained how this contract differs from the previous contract.

Mr. Loring stated his concerns about feral cats that run along the tree line on his property and wanted clarification on controlling the cat population.

Mr. Leighty stated he sees lots of cats walking the tree-line along Hanover School and stated the community has some kind of obligation to investigate this.

Mr. Salvesen stated that feral cats can be taken to Animals in Distress.

Mr. Nagle stated feral cats can also be taken to the Center for Animal Health and Welfare in Williams Township.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

            Mr. Nagle moved to authorize the Chairman and the Secretary to sign the “Return of Taxes for the Year 2007” form for Northampton County.

            Mr. Walbert seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Nagle moved to authorize the Chairman and the Secretary to sign the Amendment to Subdivision Improvements Agreement for Traditions of America PA VI.

          Mr. Finnigan explained the details of the amendment.

            Mr. Broughal stated that the east side of Senate Drive requires each home buyer to sign a Hold Harmless Agreement.

            Mr. Walbert seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Salvesen aye.

 

Mr. Nagle moved that the Board approve the following Ordinance to authorize the Township to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement for the purpose of joining the Lehigh Valley Insurance Cooperative (LVIC) and the Pennsylvania Municipal Health Insurance Cooperative (PMHIC) and to participate as a member in the LVIC and PMHIC and that the Chairman and Secretary be authorized to sign the Ordinance.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 08 – 03

 

AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE TOWNSHIP OF HANOVER, COUNTY OF NORTHAMPTON, COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA AUTHORIZING HANOVER TOWNSHIP, NORTHAMPTON COUNTY TO JOIN WITH OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS AS A MEMBER OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY INSURANCE COOPERATIVE (LVIC) AND PENNSYLVANIA MUNICIPAL HEALTH INSURANCE COOPERATIVE (PMHIC), TO ENTER INTO AN INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF JOINING THE LVIC AND PMHIC AND TO PARTICIPATE AS A MEMBER OF THE LVIC AND PMHIC.

 

            Mr. Walbert seconded the motion.

            Mr. Salvesen asked how much this will save us.

            Mr. Finnigan stated a minimum of $17,000.00 with the maximum of $40,000.00.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

 

DEVELOPMENTS

            Mr. Colon moved that the Board, as recommended by the Township Engineer, approve to adopt the terms and conditions relative to the Preliminary/Record Plan for Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, prepared and provided to the Developer/Owner for signature, and the Township Secretary notify the Developer/Owner of the Board’s action relative to this matter as follows:

 

CONDITIONS:

 

1.         The Developer/Owner shall provide a space on the plan for adding Uniform Parcel Identification Numbers for Lot 1 and Lot 2. 

 

2.         The Developer/Owner shall sign the Deed of Dedication for the cul-de-sac right-of-way.  (SALDO Section 159-30E.(9).).

 

3.         The Developer/Owner shall acknowledge that the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Lot Consolidation Plans for Parcel “E” (Lot 1) shall be revised to show Lot 2, if the Cul-de-sac Subdivision is recorded prior to the recording of the Lot Consolidation Plan.  (SALDO Section 159-30C.(7).)

 

4.         The Developer/Owner shall pay all current fees, including any outstanding plans and appeals account charges.  (SALDO Section 159-36J.).

 

5.         The Developer/Owner shall provide two (2) Mylars for recording the plan and ten (10) copies of the plan which are signed and notarized by the Owner and sealed by the Engineer.  (SALDO Section 159-34B.).

 

6.         The Developer/Owner shall meet all conditions of the Preliminary/Record Plan approval, and the Record Plan shall be recorded within twelve (12) months of Conditional Plan approval, and agrees that if such conditions are not met, the conditional Preliminary/Record Plan approval shall be considered void, and the application for Preliminary/Record Plan approval shall be considered void and withdrawn.

           

Mr. Colon further moved, that the granting of conditional approval of this plan recognizes that the Township is agreeing to the following on the Cul-de-sac Subdivision Plan:

 

A.        That the Board of Supervisors waive the requirement that the Developer show existing features of the land, i.e., contours, trees, etc.  (SALDO Section 159-29C).

 

            Mr. Colon further moved that the Township Secretary be authorized to notify the Developer of the Board’s action.

            Mr. Salvesen seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert abstain, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Colon noted for the record that the Developer of Northgate I, Kayamoco, LTD, has granted the Board an extension of six (6) months to August 18, 2008.

 

Mr. Colon noted for the record that the Developer of 2346 Jacksonville Road has granted the Board an extension of six (6) months to August 18, 2008.

 

          Mr. Colon moved that the Board approve to grant Becker Minor Subdivision, for the Improvements Agreement, an extension to May 31, 2008.

            Mr. Salvesen seconded the motion.

            Mr. Birdsall updated the Board on this development.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Colon moved that the Board grant, as recommended by the Township Engineer, the reduction in “Escrow” for the Hanover Corporate Center 2 Subdivision Escrow Release Request No. 3, in the amount of $2,488,800.27, on the following conditions:

1.         That the Developer addresses the NCCD reports dated January 29, 2008 listing Erosion and Sedimentation violations for the On Site work and separate Off Site HOP work prior to any release of Security;

 

2.         That security for the work remaining plus contingencies be maintained in the amount of $3,505,818.70 and that the amount be confirmed by the lending institution; and

 

3.         That the Developer adheres to Township Policy #25 (payment of Plans & Appeals Accounts).

Mr. Colon further moved to notify the Developer of the Board’s action relative to this matter.

            Mr. Salvesen seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

            Mr. Colon moved to authorize the Secretary to notify the owner/developer of Monocacy Farms to be prepared to have public improvements dedicated by August 15, 2008. 

            Mr. Salvesen seconded the motion.

            Mr. Birdsall stated this is the large development where DeLuca Homes has been building and we want to make sure it does not inadvertently push the Township into a November acceptance and then lose the liquid fuels funds.

            Mr. Finnigan explained the status and conditions of the roads currently.

            Mr. Diacogiannis asked that the Engineer supply the Board with progress reports.

            Mr. Birdsall stated he will do that monthly.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

Mr. Colon moved to authorize the Secretary to notify the owner/developer of Hanover Pointe to be prepared to have public improvements dedicated by August 15, 2008.

            Mr. Finnigan explained the current road conditions. There are about 5 units to be built.

            Mr. Nagle seconded the motion.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

 

 

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR

            It was noted that no one wished to offer any comment.

 

ROAD REPORTS

            Mr. Nagle – Road District #1 & 5, Mr. Walbert – Road District #2, Mr. Salvesen – Road District #3, Mr. Colon – Road District #4 and Mr. Diacogiannis – Road District #6 had nothing to report.

 

ENGINEER’S REPORT

            Mr. Birdsall had nothing to report.

 

SOLICITOR’S REPORT

            Mr. Broughal had nothing to report.

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

            Mr. Healy was not in attendance.

 

MANAGER’S REPORT

            Mr. Finnigan reported on the following:

·        Discussed the Sands Casino which will be in the City of Bethlehem. Part of the enacting legislature allows the 5 contiguous municipalities to the City of Bethlehem to share in the impact the Casino would have on their municipality.

·        Referenced the Website Design Proposal; received 1 proposal and 2 others have not submitted.

·        Distributed and discussed a chart on the calls he received regarding the refuse changes.

 

            Mr. Salvesen asked, with the addition of the roads from the DeLuca – Monocacy Farms development, what the grand total miles of roads will be for the Township.

            Mr. Finnigan stated around 55 miles.

 

            Mr. Diacogiannis authorized the Township Manager to set up a meeting with Eastern District - Public Sewer Eastern District #3 customers to explain what will be happening in their district this year and into next year.

            Mr. Birdsall stated that this is about 12 families.

           

            Upon motion of Mr. Nagle, seconded by Mr. Colon, the Board approved adjournment at 8:50 P.M.

Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.

 

 

 

                                                                                                Stacy C. Milo

                                                                                                Secretary/Treasurer