The regular semi-monthly meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Hanover Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 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, Road Superintendent Vince Milite for Public Works Director Healy, and Township Manager Finnigan.
The Pledge of Allegiance was performed.
Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved the Agenda with a correction under Public Works.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved the minutes, as written, from the meeting of the Board of Supervisors dated March 13, 2007.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
Upon motion of Mr. Salvesen, seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved the List of Bills and Transfers dated March 27, 2007 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
It was noted that no one had any comments.
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN
Mr. Diacogiannis had nothing to report.
REPORT OF THE VICE-CHAIRMAN
Mr. Walbert had nothing to report.
APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
Mr. Nagle
moved that the Board approve to accept, with regret, the resignation of Kelly Gould, from the Special
Events Committee, effective immediately. Mr. Nagle further moved to
send Ms. Gould a letter thanking her for her service
to the Committee and the 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 accept, with regret, the resignation of Joseph
Hilton, from the Airport
Advisory Committee,
effective immediately. Mr. Nagle further moved to send Mr. Hilton a
letter thanking him for his years of dedication and service to the Committee
and the Township.
Mr. Colon seconded the motion.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
SUPERVISOR’S COMMENTS
Mr. Nagle
commented on the fire activity that occurred Saturday night on Woodside Road;
the house is located next door to him. He commented that the Township Volunteer
Fire Company did an outstanding job.
PUBLIC WORKS
Mr. Finnigan stated that we sent out letters in February requesting proposals for the 2007 mulching of the Township trees. We only received one sealed proposal and received another proposal by fax, which is not a sealed proposal and that person was notified that they were disqualified.
Mr. Finnigan opened the sealed proposal which was from Chris’s Lawn Service for 481 trees, double-ground hardwood mulch which appears to meet the qualifications. The proposal amount is $2,545.00.
The proposal is within the Township Manager’s authority to approve; therefore no motion was needed for approval.
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Finnigan stated that the Capital Purchases Policy is still being worked on and will be on the April 10, 2007 Agenda for adoption.
Mr. Nagle moved that the Board approve to adopt Policy 54, Employee Travel Expenses, as revised and presented to the Board tonight.
Policy 54
Employee Travel Expenses
It shall be the policy of the Board of Supervisors of Hanover Township to reimburse employees, including Supervisors, for expenses incurred attending training seminars or conferences.
The maximum amount permitted, unless approved by the Board of Supervisors, is as follows:
Cost of lodging: Reasonable rate based on government/market (lease costly available) rate
Breakfast: $12.00
Lunch: $20.00
Dinner: $40.00
All reimbursements require the submission of a receipt for expenses in excess of ten dollars
($10.00).
Employees will not be reimbursed for expenses incurred by spouses, life partners or dependants.
Expenses for alcoholic beverages and other non-necessities will not be reimbursed.
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, Township Manager and
Secretary to sign the agreement,
for Community Development Block Grant program funds for the removal of
architectural barriers at Westgate Park, between the County of Northampton and
Hanover Township.
Mr. Walbert seconded the motion.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr.
Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
Mr. Nagle moved that the Board
approve to authorize the Township Solicitor to advertise the proposed ordinance
for Act 167, which amends Ordinance No. 98-2, the Stormwater Management
Ordinance.
Mr. Walbert seconded the motion.
Mr. Broughal stated we are amending
the storm water management act because of federal mandate that requires us to
update in accordance with the amendments to Act 167. Mr. Broughal advised the
Board that there is a very short timeline for this and it needs to be on the
April 10, 2007 Agenda.
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 authorization form, authorizing our independent auditor, Todd
Bushta, to use the PA DCED system and electronically file our audit with PA
DCED effective until rescinded.
Mr. Colon seconded the motion.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr.
Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
A discussion was held on a letter
from Pointe North Apartments regarding the use of ATV’s (All Terrain Vehicles)
between their two properties which cross Township property.
Mr. Diacogiannis directed the
Township Manager to send a letter denying the request and state the reasons
why.
DEVELOPMENTS
Mr. Colon moved
that the Board approve, as recommended by the Township Engineer, to grant the
Developer of Dewire Estates 14 Lot R1-S Subdivision the
requested release for Escrow Release Number 2 in the amount of $64,410.75
conditioned upon the following:
1.
That the Developer acknowledges
that the security provided by Bank of America (Irrevocable Standby Letter of
Credit Number 68016353) as required by the Subdivision
Improvements Agreement, will remain at a minimum of $368,866.45, for the work
remaining, plus contingencies; and
2.
That the Developer adheres to
Township Policy Number 25 (payment of Plans and Appeals Accounts).
Mr. Colon further moved to notify the Owner/Developer of the Board’s action relative to this matter.
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 had any comments.
ROAD REPORTS
Mr. Walbert – Road District #1, Mr. Salvesen – Road District #2, Mr. Diacogiannis – Road District #3, Mr. Colon – Road District #4 and Mr. Nagle – Road District #5 & #6 had nothing to report.
ENGINEER’S REPORT
Mr. Birdsall had nothing to report.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
Mr. Broughal reported on two zoning ordinance amendments that will be coming up; one is the C-2 rezoning for Lot 3 of the Holiday Inn and the other is the Charter School. Mr. Broughal stated the public hearing will be scheduled for the first meeting in June.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Mr. Milite had nothing to report.
MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Finnigan stated in 2005 we had the Recreation Advisory Board submit recommendations for equipment at Crawford Park. Now that we know it is being used for soccer we can figure out where to put the equipment. Spoke with the company who gave us the low bid, which is also the State contract, so it doesn’t need to be bid. Received an updated quote for the equipment and installation. We budgeted $75,000 this year. The price is $29,730.42 after a discount of $9,600 because we are a member of US Commodities and the installation will be before May 30. The excavation and installation is $22,650.00. We were going to do some of the work ourselves, but once we got the price for excavation and compared it to the price it would cost us, it’s less expensive to let the contractor do it.
Mr. Finnigan stated he would just need authorization to sign the agreement with Bidding Recreation Inc.
Mr. Colon moved to authorize the Township Manager to sign the agreement with Bidding Recreation Inc. in Harrisburg for the purchase and installation of playground equipment at Crawford Park at the quote amount of $52, 380.42.
Mr. Nagle seconded the motion.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr. Diacogiannis aye.
Mr. Finnigan reported on the following:
Mr. Finnigan discussed the possible improvements at the Delta Manor Park.
Mr. Colon asked Mr. Finnigan to elaborate on
the concession stand use at the Community Center.
Mr. Finnigan stated there is
a vendor in there selling frozen drinks that we have a contract with. Mr.
Broughal reviewed the contract and found it to be fine.
Mr. Diacogiannis stated that
it seems to take up a lot of space and it is in an area where there seems to be
a lot of activity and could cause some problems.
Upon motion of Mr. Colon,
seconded by Mr. Nagle, the Board approved adjournment at 8:09 P.M.
Mr. Colon aye, Mr. Salvesen aye, Mr. Nagle aye, Mr. Walbert aye, Mr.
Diacogiannis aye.
Stacy
C. Milo
Secretary/Treasurer