Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes
Board of Commissioners Meeting - August 14, 2003

The stated meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Abington was held on Thursday, August 14, 2003 at the Township Administration Building, Abington, PA., with President Barbara C. Ferrara presiding.

CALL TO ORDER: 8:00 p.m.

ROLL CALL: Present: Commissioners WACHTER, LUKER, TURCO,

ZAPPONE, RING, GROSS, O’CONNOR, CARLIN,

MYERS, MCGRATH, DEVORE, GILLESPIE,

KRETSCHMAN, FERRARA

Excused: AGOSTINE

Township Treasurer SOLOMON

Township Solicitor HERDER

Assistant Township Manager LAHAZA

Chief of Police KELLY

Township Engineer POWERS

Finance Director MATIZA

Director of Parks and Recreation WENDELL

Director of Code Enforcement MATTEO

Director of Public Works MICCIOLO

Superintendent of W.W.T.P. LEBER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

COMMENDATIONS:

Commissioners Turco and Zappone presented commendations to the Edge Hill Volunteer Fire Company to thank them for their dedication to the community from the people of Ardsley and one from the Board of Commissioners. Mary Bielowski of the Phyllis Forss Community Outreach presented an award to the Edge Hill Fire Company for their continuous dedication to their annual 6-K memorial run.

MINUTES:

Commissioner Kretschman made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Gross to approve the minutes of the Board of Commissioners meeting of July 10, 2003.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE:

Ordinance #1898 - Amending Ordinance #1868 - Edge Hill Road Sewer District

Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Gross to adopt Ordinance #1898 that amends Ordinance #1868 that provides for the sewering of an additional 40 homes in the Edge Hill Road sewer district.

Commissioner Ferrara opened the Public Hearing at 8:02 p.m.

Commissioner Ferrara asked for any comments from the Commissioners. There were none.

Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments in favor of the ordinance. There were none.

Commissioner Ferrara asked for any public comments in disfavor of the ordinance. There were none.

Commissioner Ferrara made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Ring to close the Hearing. The Hearing was closed at 8:03 p.m.

MOTION to adopt this ordinance passed 14-0.

Ordinance #1898
Hazard Mitigation Program - 962 Irvin Road

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to accept Federal and State funding for the acquisition and demolition of 962 Irvin Road and to appropriate $9,750 (3% match requirement) from the 2003 Contingency Fund.

Commissioner Gross stated $243,000 is coming from the Federal Govt., $71,500 from the State, and $9,750 is the 3% match from the Township.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Ring to designate Burton T. Conway, Township Manager, as the Township’s agent for this project.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

PennDOT Snow & Ice Agreement

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to continue our agreement with PennDOT for snow and ice removal on PennDOT roadways for the 2003-04 season for a payment of $42,165.90.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Montgomery County Snow and Ice Agreement

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to enter into an agreement with Montgomery County for snow and ice removal for the 2003-04 winter season on Easton Road from Moreland Road to the Cheltenham Township border for a payment of $7,798.80.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Sewer Rate Change Notification Expense

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to authorize Contingency Fund expenditures of $7,048.97 from Wastewater Acct. No. 02-10-200-5299 to Heinz Graphic Services for preparation and mailing of sewer rate change notifications to Abington residents.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Bid Award - Two Leaf Machine Re-power Units

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to accept the lowest responsible bid and enter into a contract with Old Dominion Brush in the amount of $17,800 for two re-power units for leaf machines.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

CODE ENFORCEMENT AND LAND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

The Committee had no business at this time.

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE:

McKinley Fire Company Removal from Abington Fire Department - Ordinance #1899

Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner McGrath to advertise Ordinance #1899, amending Chapter 12 of the Code of the Township of Abington, to eliminate McKinley Fire Company No. 1 from the Abington Fire Department and to set a date for a public hearing.

Commissioner Ferrara stated the public hearing will be set for September 30, 2003 at 7:30 p.m. at the Township Building.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Commissioner O’Connor made a MOTION to AMEND the MOTION to have the public hearing at the Board meeting on September 11, 2003. Commissioner McGrath seconded the MOTION.

Commissioner Myers stated she feels a separate meeting date would be appropriate because there might be a lot of public comment.

MOTION was passed to AMEND the MOTION to have the public hearing held at the Board of Commissioners meeting on September 11, 2003 at 8:00 p.m. 10-4 Commissioners Myers, Gillespie, Ring and DeVore opposed.

Commissioner Wachter suggested having the hearing at the end of the meeting.

Chief Kelly commented a separate date was set for strategic reasons. Is it appropriate to have an executive session at this time?

Solicitor Herder replied no. There is no pending litigation and no other reason for an Executive Session.

UPS Emergency Power Supply Purchase

Commissioner Myers made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner McGrath to authorize an expenditure of $1,351.20 from Contingency Account #01-01-002-5299 to Rage Battery Company for 16 UPS batteries; and authorization to expend a contingency sum not to exceed $2,500 for a power consumption and load balancing study.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE:

Hillside Condemnation

Commissioner Wachter made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Gillespie to authorize an expenditure not to exceed $35,000 from Contingency Acct. # 01-01-002-5299 for the Hillside Cemetery condemnation matter.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer Max M. Solomon stated for July 2003, $1,158,629 was deposited into Fleet Bank, YTD $10,512,2113. We collected 69,529 in Real Estate Taxes, YTD $19,128,216.

Investments

Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Ring to approve the investments for the month of June, 2003 as previously circulated to the Board. It was noted that investments for the month totaled $3,461,000. Interest rates ranged from 2.000% to 3.075%.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Expenditures/Salaries and Wages

Motion to:

Approve the June, 2003 expenditures as previously circulated to the Board, in the amount of $2,265,563.39 and salaries and wages in the amount of $1,241,697.23.

Authorize the proper officials to sign vouchers in payment of bills and contracts as they mature for the month of September, 2003.

Roll Call resulted in the MOTION being PASSED 14-0.

Training and Conference Expenses

Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner O’Connor to approve the Advance and Travel Expense activity for June, 2003 as previously circulated to the Board. Advances and Travel Expense Reports were $84.00 and $7,915.34, respectively. Six (6) month expenses total $29,122.42.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Clearing Fund/Deferred Revenue and Expense/Petty Cash

Commissioner Luker made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Ring to approve the Clearing Fund, deferred revenue/expense activity and petty cash balances for the month of June, 2003 as previously circulated to the Board.

Petty Cash balances were approved as per Finance Committee Report.

Clearing Fund receipts and disbursements for the month of June, 2003 were $1.98 and ($0.00), respectively.

Deferred Revenue/Expense receipts and disbursements for the month of June, 2003 were $69,108.27 and ($57,679.11), respectively.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

Commissioner Ferrara commented that her first Earned Income Tax bill arrived on July 21, 2003, and she was startled to see that if she did not pay it before August 1, 2003, she would be penalized. She received a letter from Berkheimer stating they mailed the bill on July 7, 2003.

She referred the matter to the Finance Committee to communicate with Berkheimer that no one should be penalized for a late payment for the first quarter.

Commissioner Luker stated he will take it up at the Finance Committee meeting next week.

PENSION COMMITTEE:

Proposal for Defined Benefit Plans - Investment Review

Commissioner Gross made a MOTION, seconded by Commissioner Wachter to authorize Plan Administrator to enter into an agreement with Aon Investment Consulting to prepare an investment review for both uniformed and non-uniformed pension plans. Total cost not to exceed $7,000 which will be shared equally by both plans.

MOTION was ADOPTED 14-0.

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Julie Greenbaum, President of the Rydal/Meadowbrook Civic Association, stated we are holding a candidates’ forum on October 20, 2003 at the auditorium on the Penn State campus, moderated by the League of Women Voters. We have invited the candidates for Wards 1, 11, & 13.  The Civic Association is non-profit and she asked that this be announced on Channel 43.

Commissioner Ferrara stated it is the opinion of the Township and Board that it is important not to put political information on Channel 43. It is for municipal and school information to be disseminated to the community.

Ms. Greenbaum stated that she read the guidelines, and this is exactly what the channel is supposed to be doing. This is not a political announcement; they are not endorsing anyone.

Commissioner Ferrara reiterated the channel is for municipal and School District information, not for other kinds of announcements. Once this kind of announcement is allowed, it becomes difficult to stop other announcements, even if it is stated that they are informational only. She said the candidates’ forum could not be on 43.

Ms. Greenbaum asked would the Board be willing to review those guidelines at the next Public Affairs meeting?

Commissioner Ferrara replied the decision has been made by staff and supported by our Solicitor and the Board to keep the channel for municipal purposes only.

Commissioner Gillespie asked Ms. Greenbaum, why does she want those Commissioners to attend this meeting?

Ms. Greenbaum replied it is an open invitation to the entire Abington community.

Victor Kreviens, 840 Maple Avenue, commended Chief Kelly and his department for catching the people who were robbing homes in Abington and surrounding counties during real estate open houses.

Adele and Ed Zaucha, 64 Moredon Road, Alice and Bob Wershoski, 54 Moredon Road, Judene Irvine, 1380 Old Ford Road, and Larry Schwalb, 38 Moredon Road spoke about Lorimer Creek. The County is shoring up the bank opposite the side of the creek where they live, to the detriment of their homes. Their yards are filling with water, and they have been putting money into foundation work. The County has built up the bank so high that the water is being forced against the bridge, which is not stable. Nearby land development is also contributing to their problem.

Commissioner Wachter stated it is a serious problem, and he has discussed it with Mr. Powers and Mr. Matteo.

Mr. Powers stated this is on the capital list, and we have been negotiating with DEP to let us put boulders along the bank. The bridge is the County’s responsibility to maintain and operate.

Ms. Zaucha asked who can she contact regarding the bridge?

Mr. Powers replied the County Commissioners.

Commissioner Ferrara asked has he looked at the bridge?

Mr. Powers replied yes, it is falling down.

Commissioner Ferrara and Township Engineer Powers stated that the DEP will not allow the Township to dredge or take other useful measures, because this is a trout stream. We have unsuccessfully tried willow sticks, and now are planning to use large boulders to shore up the bank on their side. These are being unearthed as we do sewer digging.

Commissioner Ferrara suggested to Mr. Powers to have a meeting with the residents to discuss where the boulders will be placed.

Mr. Wershoski commented we are also losing trees.

Commissioner Ferrara said the six affected homeowners should write to the County Commissioners and to their State Representative.

Commissioner Ferrara directed Mr. Lahaza to send a memo to Mr. Conway regarding sending a letter to the County Commissioners, and stated Commissioner Wachter will make sure the meeting with the residents will take place quickly.

REMARKS OF COMMISSIONERS:

Commissioner Wachter commended the Police Dept. and Chief Kelly for apprehending the "open house" burglars.

Commissioner Gross congratulated Commissioner Kretschman on the birth of his new daughter.

Commissioner McGrath thanked Mr. Matteo and his staff for addressing the problems that occur this time of the year. She thanked Dave Rondinelli, Joe Conover, Chief Kelly, Mr. Matteo, and Commissioner Myers for a successful Pre-National Night Out at the Abington Town Shopping Center, on August 4, 2003.

Commissioner O’Connor thanked the Engineering Dept. for their hard work on 962 Irvin Road.

Commissioner Kretschman announced the birth of his second child, Audrey.

Commissioner Ferrara stated the burglaries of the open houses were occurring in other Townships, and it wasn’t until the suspects came to Abington Township that it took very little time to apprehend them. She is proud to be a resident in this Township and congratulated the Police Force for a job well done.

ADJOURNMENT: 8:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Burton T. Conway, Secretary

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