WARWICK TOWNSHIP

Board of Supervisors’ Public Meeting Minutes

MAY 16, 2005

 

 

Members Present:          Judith A. Algeo, Chair                            

                                    Edward P. Thompson, Vice Chairman                  

                                   

Members Absent:           Bert Parrish, Member

                                                                                   

Others Present:              Herb Gery, Township Engineer

                                    Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor

                                    Tom Scott, Assistant Manager

                                    Linda Grant, Recording Secretary

                       

 

n       CALL TO ORDER:

 

The Warwick Township Board of Supervisors’ May 16, 2005 public meeting, held at Warwick Township Administration Office, 1733 Township Greene, Jamison, PA., was called to order at 7:00 p.m., by Chair, Judith Algeo, who then led attendees in the pledge of allegiance.

 

n       APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

 

_ May 2, 2005 (exhibit)

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to approve the Board of Supervisors’ public meeting minutes for May 2, 2005 as submitted.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

 

Motion passed unanimously.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo, in favor; B. Parrish, absent)

 

n       EXECUTIVE SESSION:

 

            Chair Algeo announced that the Board of Supervisors had met in Executive Session prior to this evening’s meeting to discuss matters of litigation.

 

n       CITIZEN COMMENTS:   There were no citizen comments.

 

n       ASSISTANT MANAGER’S REPORT:  

 

_ Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Survey (exhibit)

 

            Tom Scott, Assistant Manager, reported that the Comprehensive Plan Committee is proposing a questionnaire-survey to all residents and households in Warwick Township.  Mr. Scott noted this is an additional expense from what was authorized in 2004 for the Comprehensive Plan with the Bucks County Planning Commission.

 

            David Zipf, Bucks County Planning Commission, reported that he wanted to run this survey by the Board and to ask about respondents.  Mr. Zipf is asking if the Board wants to survey all property owners, which includes businesses and people who own buildings but live elsewhere.  The committee is recommending that everyone be surveyed.  Mr. Zipf noted that the

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County could copy the 11” x 17” survey  with an 8½” x 11” map insert,  in preparation for mailing at a cost of 16¢ per sheet with an approximate cost of $900.  Mr. Zipf notes that Chalfont has a folding machine that Warwick might possibly borrow.  Mr. Zipf said that instead of the insert being sent out with a  blank side, the Township could insert information they want the residents to have or the Township could seek sponsors to help allay the cost of the mailing. 

 

            There was brief discussion as to the breakdown of the map designating where residents live and whether it should be divided by polling district, or simply using numbers or letters.

 

            Mr. Thompson asked about putting a return date on the survey.  Mr. Zipf said the committee felt the survey should be returned two weeks from the date it is mailed to the residents.  Mr. Thompson asked if the survey is going to be online where people could fill it out.

Katrina Harding explained that may result in a biased survey, noting that some residents without computers or internet access, for whatever reason, would not be included in the survey. 

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to approve the Resident Survey for the Warwick Township Comprehensive Plan, at a cost of $900 plus postage, not to exceed $5,000.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

    

Motion passed.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo – in favor; B. Parrish – absent)

 

_ Water and Sewer Authority – Valley Road Facility Pump Station / ACT 537 Change -            discussion (exhibit)

 

            Tom Scott presented this amendment to ACT 537 for work to be done at the Valley Road Pumping Facility. 

 

            Ken Heydt, Carroll Engineering, explained that he is here for administrative paperwork this evening.  Mr. Heydt reported that this ACT 537 revision for the Valley Road pump station is essentially pulling the pumps out and putting in new pumps because of the potential need in that drainage area over the ultimate capacity of the planning period of approximately twenty years.  It is also a result of the school going in and the Berlinger property.  The pump stations are performing differently than what was planned.  The Authority has gone out on an upgrade and next Monday night they will award that project to do improvements to the Valley Road pump station.  Mr. Heydt said he has a letter from DEP stating that he does not have to do this, but he would like to do this in order to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. 

 

            Chair Algeo explained that she cannot vote on anything that has to do with Pulte since her firm,  Eastburn and Gray, at some point had some involvement with Pulte.  Because of Mr. Parrish’s absence, Mr. Thompson cannot do a vote since there is not a second signature here for that resolution this evening.  Ms. Algeo suggested bringing this item to the next meeting.  Mr. Heydt thinks this was already approved, possibly eight or nine months ago.  Mr. Scott said that there is a resolution for Bridge Valley, ACT 537 Amendment, that was passed in February of 2004.  Tom said he received another booklet from Mr. Courduff with a lot of the same documents in it, asking for a second resolution for Phase II. 

 

            Trevor Smith, Horizon Engineering, said that back in February, the Board had approved this for the full 119 units of the Pulte subdivision.  Shortly after that, it surfaced that the Valley Road Pump station needed additional capacity for 29 units through the end of this year.  DEP approved that planning module for 29 units and further requested that we approach this from a two phase process.  Essentially, the board has already approved a planning module for the 419 units, we are merely going through paperwork.  Actually, that planning module was written to

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say that at such time as the Valley Road Pump Station was upgraded to full capacity, this planning module that the Board had approved and the DEP has now approved, would

automatically kick in and serve as the planning document for that project.  This is essentially the same document except for the additional 90 units and the DEP is requesting a separate resolution.   Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor, suggests that it must be determined whether the Board can sign this between meetings or if the Board  needs to vote on this in public as a separate document.

 

            During further discussion, Mr. Thompson asked why this affects ACT 537 if this is basically only upgrading the pumps at the Valley Road station.  Mr. Heydt explained that we have maxed out the drainage area.  Ms. Algeo said she understands that this will make capacity for the houses at Berlinger and what the school is bringing in.  Mr. Heydt explained expansion of Valley Road to accommodate the current zoning on the books, of all the properties located within the drainage area.  Mr. Thompson stated that he has no problem increasing capacity for the school and for Bridge Valley, but he has a problem with increasing capacity for future development.  Mr. Heydt said zoning is not changing, this is just to provide public services.  Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor, explained that the Board is saying that they have approved the construction of this development and these lots, but don’t necessarily want to size the pumping station to accommodate maximum development on every single lot.  Mr. Heydt said that doing this project piece-a-meal is not practical.  Ms. Eberle said she believes the Board feels that not every 537 plan anticipates build-out at the highest possible density and that as long as there are ten acre parcels that are suitable for on-site sewage, we would like to continue to make that the first option instead of going right to public sewer.  There is an environmental benefit to be gained from that.  Ms. Eberle also feels the Board does not have a problem with re-visiting the issue every time a property develops even if it is not terribly expedient.  Mr. Thompson agreed and Ms. Algeo said that the Planning Commission did not make a recommendation because they  did not have a chance to get answers to their questions. 

 

            Mr. Heydt noted that this change will add approximately 88,000 gallons per day to the entire volume of the pump station.  Ms. Eberle suggested that the Board of Supervisors meet with the Water and Sewer Authority to work something out. 

 

            The Board of Supervisors took no action on this matter.  Ms. Algeo asked Tom Scott to talk with Mr. Tom Courduff to see about a meeting.

 

_ Warwick Lea – Request Dedication Punchlist

 

            Tom Scott presented a request from Cutler Group for generation of a dedication punchlist. 

 

            Mr. Thompson asked about a fence going up on the entire Hahn property, in front of Warwick Lea, and said he thought there was some restriction on that open space.  Ms. Eberle said she will look into the matter.

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to authorize CKS to create a punchlist for Warwick Lea.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

 

Motion passed.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo – in favor; B. Parrish – absent)

 

 

 

 

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n        SOLICITOR’S REPORT:

 

_ Verizon – Authorization to Advertise Intergovernmental Agreement/Ordinance

 

            Mary Eberle, Township Solicitor, explained that Verizon is doing the fiber optics to the premises and will be providing a very high speed connection to everybody’s individual house through the use of fiber optics.  Every municipality anticipates that Verizon will, in a very short period of time, be offering video services which we need to create a franchise situation where Warwick Township gets 5% of their revenues for using our right of ways, the same as Warwick gets 5% of Comcast revenues.  Verizon may take a different position than that.  A great number of municipalities in Bucks County are going together to hire the services of Fred Polman, who is an attorney who specializes in telecommunications matters to negotiate our franchise with Verizon.  Warwick’s participation will benefit the Township, not only because you are able to secure the services of an attorney who specializes in this area, but also because there is power in numbers for the municipality.  Verizon wants to serve the area very badly, and the list of municipalities who are joining this agreement, and Verizon has to deal with a lot of big municipalities to be able to provide those services.  Being part of this will give Warwick more clout than operating alone.  This agreement calls for a division of Mr. Polman’s bills based on a per capita basis.  Ms. Algeo believes Warwick’s share is around four hundred and some dollars.  Ms. Eberle said in order to do this, Warwick needs to enact an intergovernmental cooperation ordinance and she is asking for authorization to advertise this ordinance so the Board can enter into this agreement at the next meeting.

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to authorize the Solicitor to advertise the Verizon Intergovernmental Agreement / Ordinance for consideration of adoption at the next meeting.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

 

Motion passed.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo – in favor; B. Parrish – absent)

 

n        ENGINEER’S REPORT:

 

_ Award Bid – Guinea Lane Sidewalk (exhibit)

 

            Herb Gery, Township Engineer, reported that Gorecon Construction Company was the lowest bidder at a bid price of $55,100.

 

            Mr. Thompson asked if some of the bituminous area work could be done by the road crew.  Ralph Carp, Public Works Director, distributed a cost analysis for pending projects of 2005.  Mr. Carp gave a very conservative cost for doing this project in-house which made some assumptions of our average hourly rate, etc.   During discussion mowing season, vacation time, the cost to put a man on the road and wear and tear on equipment was noted.  Mr. Thompson asked about a start and completion date.  Mr. Gery said we tell the contractor when to start and then they have sixty days to complete.

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to award Guinea Lane Sidewalk Project bid to Gorecon Construction of Doylestown, in the amount of $55,100.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

 

 

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            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

 

Motion passed.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo – in favor; B. Parrish – absent)

 

_ Bridge Valley at Furlong, Phase 2, Escrow Release No. 1 (exhibit)

 

            This matter was tabled.

 

n        FINANCIAL REPORT:

 

_ Bill Payments – May 16, 2005 (exhibit)

 

            Tom Scott, Assistant Manager, presented Bill Payments for May 16, 2005, as follows:

 

General Fund

check No. 11137 - 11182

 

 

 

$        60,710.17

 

 

Highway Aid Fund

check No. 2420 – 2423

 

1,116.38

Parks & Recreation Fund

6,338.62

check No. 3146 – 3154

 

 

 

Open Space Fund

check No. 295

 

 756.31

                                                        TOTAL

$68,971.48

 

 

Motion by Mr. Thompson to approve Bill Payments for May 16, 2005, subject to audit.

Second to motion by Ms. Algeo.

 

            Chair Algeo invited comment or discussion.  There being none, the vote was called.

 

Motion passed.  (E. Thompson, J. Algeo – in favor; B. Parrish – absent)

 

n        OLD BUSINESS:

 

            Mr. Thompson noted a problem with the drinking fountain at the hockey rink. 

 

n        ANNOUNCEMENTS:

 

            Administrative Offices will be closed on Monday, May 30 for the Memorial Day Holiday.

 

n        PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

            There was no public comment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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n        ADJOURNMENT:

 

            The May 16, 2005, Warwick Township Board of Supervisors’ Work Session meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

                                                                       

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                        Gail V. Weniger,

                                                                                    Township Manager/Secretary

 

These minutes were approved at the

Board of Supervisors’ meeting held:  JUNE 6, 2005